the guide
The Small Business Money Defense Guide
A forensic accountant’s toolkit for spotting fraud, leakage, and costly mistakes — before they become expensive.
By Chad Thompson, CPA — 30 years following the numbers through fraud matters, disputes, and financial records that didn't tell the whole story.
THE PROBLEM
The Money Leaves Trails
Most small business fraud doesn't start with a criminal mastermind. It starts with access — a credit card, a payroll login, refund authority, a cash drawer — that nobody is reviewing. In case after case, the evidence wasn't hidden in a secret ledger. It was sitting in the ordinary records no one was reading closely enough: the credit card statement, the payroll register, the refund report, the vendor list.
That’s why I built a simple, repeatable review system — one that any owner can actually use without needing to become a forensic accountant.
the toolkit
One Guide. A Complete Review System.
The Guide comes with the Toolkit files that make it practical — not just something you read once.
inside the guide
Nine Parts. One Repeatable System.
| 01 | Trust Is Not a Control Why good people plus no review still adds up to risk. |
| 02 | The Rule of Person, Document, and Frequency Turning "we keep an eye on it" into an actual control. |
| 03 | The 15-Minute Monthly Money Review The core habit — ten steps, one question each month. |
| 04 | The Numbers That Should Agree Eight comparisons that catch what conversation won't. |
| 05 | Ratios Tell Stories What a shifting percentage is trying to tell you. |
| 06 | Access Creates Risk Mapping who can touch money — and who's watching. |
| 07 | Insurance Is Not a Control The questions to ask before you need the answers. |
| 08 | What to Do When Something Looks Wrong The first six moves, in order. |
| 09 | Implementation Plan A 30-day roadmap that makes review normal. |
who it's for
Every Business Is Different. The Principle Isn't.
A dental practice, a contractor, and a retail store each face different risks and keep different records. The Guide shows you which ratios and records matter most for yours.
the accountant
Chad Thompson, CPA
I'm a forensic accountant with 30 years of experience following the numbers through fraud matters, business interruptions, damages disputes, valuations, and financial records that didn't tell the whole story.
This Guide turns the patterns from real cases into a review system any owner can run without a major time commitment.
common questions
A Few Questions Owners Ask
| Is this legal, tax, or accounting advice? No. This is an educational toolkit designed to help you build better review habits. It is not a substitute for professional advice. For questions specific to your business, consult your CPA, attorney, or other qualified advisor. |
| Do I need to be an accountant or have special training to use this? No. The core system is designed for busy small business owners. Most people can complete the monthly review in about 15 minutes once their reports are ready. The deeper checklists are optional and can be added over time. |
| What do I actually get? The complete Guide (over 40 pages) plus the full Toolkit it’s built on — including checklists, a Key Metrics Tracker, an Issue Log, and an Employee Access Review Matrix. |
Start With last month.
The system gets easier — and more valuable — the longer you use it.
Join the early access list and be among the first to get the complete Guide + Toolkit when it launches.
