The Storm Is Coming. Is Your ABA Business Built on Rock?

The Real Problem

“The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”
— Matthew 7:25

Every business eventually faces the storm.

A missed invoice. A system outage. A platform update that wipes out your workflows. One broken login or failed app—and suddenly, your entire operation is at risk.

The wind doesn’t have to blow hard to knock down something built on sand.

Most ABA business owners are building fast—on software platforms they don’t control. Scheduling tools. Billing platforms. Payroll services. Tools that feel like systems… until they fail. When they do, everything tied to them collapses.

And that brings us to the real question:
What are you building your business on?

Is it rock—internal systems, owned processes, exportable data, and true operational control?
Or is it sand—a stack of third-party platforms that make things easier, but leave you exposed?

At ABA Impact, we help owners build businesses that won’t fall when the storm hits.
That starts with knowing the difference between what makes a system—and what makes it solid.

Because the storm will come. The stream will rise.
And when it does, only what’s built on rock will stand.

What Actually Counts as a System?

Most business owners call anything a “system.”

A software tool. A workflow. A spreadsheet. A checklist. But the truth is: not everything you use is a system. And if you call something a system before it earns that title, you’re already building on sand.

At ABA Impact, we teach that a system must meet three core standards before it qualifies as part of your operational foundation:

1. Safe

It protects your business—not exposes it. That means the process is compliant, secured, and doesn’t introduce risk. If a tool stores client data, payroll records, or billing information without proper encryption, access control, or retention policies, it isn’t safe—and it isn’t a system.

2. Efficient

It saves time, reduces steps, and minimizes the likelihood of human error. Systems are supposed to streamline—not complicate—how work gets done. If something’s clunky, confusing, or requires constant workarounds, it might be a tool, but it’s not a system.

3. Dependable

It works when it’s supposed to. That means it functions consistently, doesn’t randomly fail, and delivers predictable results every time it's used. If your “system” breaks every time the Wi-Fi lags or a team member leaves, it’s not dependable—it’s duct tape.

If something doesn’t meet all three—safe, efficient, and dependable—it isn’t a system. It’s a task. A tool. A liability.

Before you can decide whether a system is Core or Support, you have to ask:
Is it a system at all?

Support Systems are Built for Speed, Not Stability

Once a tool meets the baseline requirements of being safe, efficient, and dependable, it earns the right to be called a system.

But now the real question is:
Can your business continue to function if that system fails?

That’s what separates Support Systems from Core Systems.

What Is a Support System?

A Support System is a system that:

• Increases speed or efficiency
• Makes operations easier or more scalable
• But cannot be depended on in a failure scenario
• Has no built-in fallback if it’s interrupted

Support Systems are performance tools.
They are your GPS—they help you move faster, avoid friction, and streamline the journey.
But if they fail and your business has no alternative plan, you’re stranded.

Support Systems Are Everywhere

Most ABA companies use Support Systems for:

• Billing
• Payroll
• Scheduling
• Client intake
• Data collection
• Team communication

These tools feel like infrastructure—but they aren't. In most cases, the business doesn’t own the process, doesn’t control the data, and doesn’t have a fallback plan in place if the system fails.

Support Systems aren’t the problem.
Relying on them as your foundation is.

Use them to enhance your workflows—but never let them carry the weight of your business.

If there’s no backup—no manual version, no export, no contingency—then you’re not running a system.
You’re gambling on uptime.

Core Systems – Built for Continuity

Support Systems speed you up.
Core Systems keep you standing.

A Core System isn’t just a better tool. It’s a stronger structure. It’s what your business can run on even when nothing else is working.

Core Systems aren’t always faster. They aren’t always automated. They aren’t always elegant.

But they are yours.

They give you full control, full access, and full confidence—because if something breaks, you can still operate.

A System Is Only “Core” If It Meets All Six of These:

1. Accessible

You can access the system and its data at any time. You're not dependent on someone else’s login, dashboard, or integration to get your work done.

2. Controllable

You manage how it functions—its structure, its permissions, its logic. No one can change it without your knowledge or permission.

3. Redundant

Both the workflow and the data are backed up:

• You have a second method to complete the process (manual or offline)
• The data exists in at least one other secure location

4. Retainable

You can keep records for as long as needed—exported, archived, and stored outside of a time-limited platform.

5. Secure

You control the credentials, access levels, and protection. It doesn’t rely on shared logins, casual browser access, or unknown backdoors.

6. Offline-Ready

If the internet goes down, power cuts out, or cloud access is lost, the process can still function—even if slower—using printed documents, spreadsheets, or saved protocols.

Core Doesn’t Mean Fancy

A Core System could be:

• A protected Excel file with your billing process
• A folder in SharePoint with PDF invoices and checklists
• A written SOP for manual payroll entry
• A printed backup schedule on your front desk

It’s not about tech.
It’s about control, access, and resilience.

If your current process fails tomorrow, could your business still operate?
If yes—it’s Core.
If no—it’s Support.

Redundancy – What It Actually Means

Of all the Core System criteria, redundancy is the most misunderstood.

Most business owners think redundancy means, “We have another tool we could use.” Or, “We can always reset the password.” But true redundancy isn’t about convenience—it’s about continuity.

Redundancy means your business does not stop when something breaks.

True Redundancy Has Two Layers:

1. Workflow Redundancy

You have a secondary method—often slower, more manual, but fully operational—that allows the process to continue.

• If your automated billing system fails, you can still issue invoices manually.
• If your scheduling platform goes down, your team knows how to run the calendar locally.
• If your payroll system locks up, you have a calculator, a pay stub template, and a bank-ready file ready to go.

Redundancy means you're never stuck waiting for someone else to fix it.

2. Data Redundancy

Your records, documents, and task history exist in more than one place—and you control access to them.

• Client documents are exported, stored, and backed up in your SharePoint, not just a third-party platform.
• Key files are version-controlled and saved locally, not trapped in a proprietary system.
• Your system isn't “live-only.” You own the archive.

If you lose access to one environment—cloud, tool, login, or software—you haven’t lost the business.

Redundancy Is Proof of Ownership

Redundancy isn’t optional. It’s not “extra.”

It’s how you prove that your systems actually belong to you.

If a process fails and you can’t continue it manually—and you can’t access the data any other way—then the system never belonged to you in the first place. You were just renting it.

Core Systems are redundant by design.
They exist in layers. They give you options. They don’t leave you guessing.

That’s why your business can trust them.

Audit Activity – Classify Your Systems

You can’t secure what you haven’t defined.
Before you start optimizing or automating, you need to get brutally clear on what you’re building on.

Here’s the simple rule:
If it doesn’t pass the test, it doesn’t get to carry your business.

🧪 Step 1: Is It Even a System?

Start with these three questions.
If the answer is no to any of them, stop. It’s not a system.

1. Is it safe?
   Does it protect your data, team, and clients from risk?
2. Is it efficient?
   Does it streamline or standardize the task—not just shift the work?
3. Is it dependable?
   Does it work consistently and predictably, without frequent breakdowns or disruptions?

✅ If you answered “yes” to all 3: it qualifies as a system.
❌ If you answered “no” to even one: it’s a tool, not a system—and it cannot be relied on.

🧱 Step 2: Can It Be Considered a Core System?

Now that it qualifies as a system, test whether it’s strong enough to serve as a Core System—something your business can depend on fully, even in a failure scenario.

You must answer yes to all of the following:

1. Is it accessible?
   Can you reach the system and its data without external dependencies or bottlenecks?
2. Is it controllable?
   Do you decide how it functions—its setup, permissions, structure, and flow?
3. Is it redundant?
   If it fails, do you have an alternative process and another copy of the data?
4. Is it retainable?
   Can you archive or export the data long-term, outside of the system itself?
5. Is it secure?
   Do you manage credentials, MFA, and access? Or are you exposed to shared logins or unknown users?
6. Is it offline-ready?
   Could you keep operating—even slowly—without internet or a platform login?

✅ If you answered “yes” to all 6: it’s a Core System
❌ If you answered “no” to any: it’s a Support System—use it for speed, but never build on it.

🗂️ Example Audit Table

You don’t need perfect systems.
You need honest ones—and backups that work.

This audit will show you where your business is exposed, and where you need to reinforce before you grow.

Build with Control, Accelerate with Support

Support Systems are powerful.
They help you move faster. Scale smoother. Reduce human error. You should use them.

But they are not your foundation.

Your business cannot afford to collapse the moment a platform changes terms, locks an account, or goes offline.

Core Systems aren’t optional. They’re structural.

They give you ownership.
They give you continuity.
They give you margin when the unexpected hits.

This isn’t about going low-tech or ditching automation.
It’s about designing your company to stand when pressure comes.

When the rain comes down… when the stream rises…
When the system breaks… when the login fails…
Your business will stand—if it’s built on rock.

So ask yourself:
Are you building for speed… or for survival?

Because in business, just like in life—only what’s built on rock will last.