“Cashflow is oxygen”: financial wisdom from SmartSweets founder Tara Bosch

In this My MoneySense column, Bosch talks about the financial lessons that shaped her journey, from the power of cash flow and strategic debt to the value of investing in herself and trusting her instincts. She shares how her approach to money is guided by curiosity, purpose and long-term thinking, offering practical insights for founders and anyone looking to increase both wealth and impact.

Catch her this week as she returns to the study – this time as a dragon to invest in others.

Who are your money heroes?

I’ve always been inspired by people who invest with purpose and conviction, especially women who have created entirely new categories. Sara Blakely was a great early role model for me. She didn’t wait for permission or login details. She trusted her gut and then invested in other women to boost those who came behind her.

The people I respect the most think through the lens of a “marathon versus sprint” and measure success in impact as much as returns. That mentality has shaped the way I build and how I invest.

How do you prefer to spend your free time?

I recharge by moving my body, being in nature, on our pony paradise farm and being around the people I love. Traveling is a great challenge for me, not only because of the experience, but also because it broadens the perspective.

I am endlessly curious. I love learning, whether that’s through books, podcasts or meeting founders who think differently than me. Even my free time usually involves some form of growth.

If money were no object, what would you be doing now?

To be honest, I don’t think I would change anything and I would do exactly what I’m doing now. Financial freedom isn’t about working so you don’t have to. I feel most alive building things that challenge the status quo and make people’s lives better. Money as no object to me still means investing in even more mission-driven founders and ideas.

What was your earliest memory of money?

I grew up the daughter of a mother who became a single mother in my teens, and my grandmother supported us financially throughout my life. That shaped me deeply. There was always love and support, but there was also the realization that money mattered.

I started working at 13 and had several full-time jobs throughout my teenage and college years. That created an early drive for independence. I learned that money equals options, and options equals freedom.

What’s the first thing you remember buying with your own money?

My first car! I saved $4,500 and my Grandma generously offered to match that, and I bought my trusty 2009 Honda Fit Hatchback. It made me feel confident and independent. It was less about the car and more about the feeling of earning something.

What was your first job?

I worked at McDonalds. I saved every penny I earned. I have always been a saver by nature, not out of fear, but because I enjoyed knowing I was building towards something bigger.

What was the biggest money lesson you learned as an adult?

Cash flow is oxygen – in life and in business.

What’s the best money advice you’ve ever received?

Invest in yourself: your skills, your health and your mentality. These are assets that form a composition in a way that money alone can never achieve. The highest return investments I’ve made have always been in personal growth.

What’s the worst money advice you’ve ever received?

Play it safe. If I had played it ‘safe’, SmartSweets wouldn’t exist. The most meaningful opportunities in my life came from taking calculated risks that didn’t make sense on paper. Safety does not build categories; courage.

Would you rather receive a large amount of money at once or a smaller amount every week/month for life?

A large amount of money, if I can use it purposefully. I believe in strategically investing capital to create long-term impact and value. Money is a tool; I’d rather have the flexibility to build with it.

What do you think is the most underrated financial advice?

Financing doesn’t have to look traditional. When I started SmartSweets, raising equity felt impossible. Instead, I secured a $105,000 debt financing loan and used debt to scale. That decision allowed me to maintain majority control, provide meaningful equity to entry-level employees, and provide equity to advisors who were critical to our growth.