“Cash flow is oxygen”: Financial wisdom from SmartSweets founder Tara Bosch

Tara Bosch didn’t just build a candy company, she built a global brand with purpose. The founder of SmartSweets challenged the status quo, scaling the business from her kitchen to international shelves, appearing on Dragons’ Den, and then selling it in 2020 for $360 million—all before the age of 30.

In this My MoneySense feature, Bosch opens up 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 has been guided by curiosity, intentionality, and long-term thinking, offering practical insights for founders and anyone looking to grow both wealth and impact.

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

Who are your money heroes?

I have always been inspired by people who invest with purpose and conviction, especially women who have created entirely new categories. Sara Blakely was a huge early example for me. She did not wait for permission or credentials. She trusted her gut and then invested back in other women to lift those up who came behind her.

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

How do you like to spend your free time? 

I recharge by moving my body, being in nature, at our pony paradise farm, and being around the people I love. Travel is a big one for me, not just for the experience but because it expands perspective.

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

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

Honestly, I don’t think I’d change a thing and I would be doing exactly what I am doing right now. Financial freedom isn’t about working so that you don’t have to anymore. 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 about money?

I grew up the daughter of a mom who became a single mom in my teenage years, and my Oma financially supported us throughout my life. That shaped me deeply. There was always love and support, but there was also an awareness that money mattered.

I started working at 13, and worked multiple full time jobs through my teens and college years. That created an early drive for independence. I learned that money equals options, and options equal freedom.

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

My first car! I saved $4,500 and my Oma generously offered to match that, and I purchased 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 myself.

What was your first job?

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

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

Cash flow is oxygen—in life and business.

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

Invest in yourself—your skills, your health, and your mindset. Those are assets that compound in ways money alone never can. The highest-return investments I have 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 would not exist. The most meaningful opportunities in my life came from taking calculated risks that did not look logical on paper. Safety does not build categories; courage does.

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

A large sum, if I can deploy it intentionally. I believe in investing capital strategically to create impact and long-term value. Money is a tool; I would rather have the flexibility to build with it.

What do you think is the most underrated financial advice?

Funding does not have to look traditional. When I was starting SmartSweets, raising equity felt impossible. Instead, I secured a $105K debt financing loan and used debt to scale. That decision allowed me to maintain majority control, give meaningful equity to early employees, and give equity to advisors who were critical to our growth.

Debt is often viewed negatively, but structured responsibly, it can be an incredibly powerful tool.

What is the biggest misconception people have about growing money?

That it is linear or fast. Real wealth compounds quietly over time. Whether it is business equity or investments, the magic happens in consistency. It is usually slower than people want and bigger than they expect.

Can you share a money regret?

I don’t have major regrets, but I wish I had trusted my instincts sooner in certain decisions. Money decisions often feel purely analytical, but intuition is powerful and I have learned to balance both.

What does the word “value” mean to you?

Alignment. Value means spending in ways that support your priorities. I do not mind spending on experiences, travel, learning, or health. Anything that expands perspective and creativity is worth it.

What’s the first major purchase you made as an adult?

The money to boot-strap SmartSweets. There was not a flashy purchase. Every dollar went back into SmartSweets: Inventory, packaging, product development. The business was the investment.

What’s your take on debt?

Debt is neutral; it is a tool. Used carelessly, it creates pressure. Used strategically, it creates leverage. For me, debt financing allowed ownership, control, and long-term value creation. The key is understanding your cash flow and risk tolerance before taking it on.

Featured travel credit cards

What was your most recent splurge?

Travel. Experiences over things, always. The return on perspective is exponential.

What is the last money-related book you read?

I tend to gravitate more toward mindset and long-term thinking books than tactical finance books. I am drawn to books about building, leadership, and compounding impact because money follows value creation.

What is something you always have in your wallet?

A handwritten reminder, something grounding that reconnects me to why I started. When you are building at scale, it is easy to get distracted. Staying rooted in purpose matters.

What is your favourite possession? 

All of Willa, my daughter’s, baby memory boxes. They are filled with the tiniest, most ordinary things, but to me they hold the most extraordinary season of my life. They represent growth, love, and how quickly something small becomes everything. Just like building a company, it reminds me that the early days—even when they feel messy or imperfect—are often the most meaningful.

What’s your next money goal?

To continue building and investing in companies that meaningfully improve people’s lives and to mentor more founders so the impact compounds beyond anything I could ever build alone.

My MoneySense lightning round

Rent or own?

Own, if it aligns with your stage of life and flexibility needs.

Buy or lease?

Depends on the asset and the intention behind it. Ownership builds equity. Flexibility has value, too.

Save or invest?

Both. Save for security, invest for growth.

Budget or not? 

Always know your numbers. Live within your means, but design your means around what matters most.

CBC’s hit series Dragons’ Den will mark its milestone 20th season with a two-episode, Full Circle finale event on Thursday, February 26 at 7 p.m. EST (4:00 PST) and Thursday, March 5 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC and the free CBC Gem streaming service.

Read more from My MoneySense:

• Joanna Griffiths on the money lessons that shaped her life and business
• Don’t be afraid to ask for an advance: Suzanne Bowness on budgeting for freelancers
• Aimee Schalles on confronting your marriage’s hard questions early
• “What a dumb mistake that was”: Dilys D’Cruz on money lessons and “painless saving”

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