Running a small business can feel like you’re constantly spinning in different directions. There’s always so much to do! Between managing clients, keeping up with your team, and ensuring everything is running smoothly, marketing can sometimes feel like a luxury you don’t have the budget for.
Read MoreAs fall rolls in and the leaves start changing, you might be thinking about cozy sweaters, pumpkin patches, and holiday plans. But your accountant? They’re thinking about taxes. Believe it or not, autumn is the perfect time to get ahead on tax prep, and your accountant definitely has a wishlist of things they wish you were doing now to make tax season less stressful.
From organizing paperwork to making smart financial moves, here are five things your accountant wants you to tackle before the year ends to set yourself up for a smooth tax season next year.
Read MoreEmployees are the backbone of any business—they’re the driving force behind a business’ operations and long-term success. They’re trusted individuals who are skilled, creative, and dedicated, enabling a business to forge ahead, innovate, and grow.
As a small business owner, you know that the hiring process—knowing how, when, and who to hire—is a critical part of your business. Building the right workforce, at the right time, can strengthen the productivity and performance of your business, and ultimately help you to achieve your vision and goals.
Just like life, businesses also go through phases that are influenced by various internal and external factors. Understanding these phases can be key to the sustained success and longevity of your business. Whether your business is in a coasting phase, growth phase, or pause phase, each phase serves a purpose in moving your business forward.
By recognizing and managing these phases, and moving intentionally through them, you can make the most of each phase and help to grow and evolve a successful, thriving business.
Read MoreA personal emergency fund can act as a savings buffer and help you face the unexpected without taking a significant financial hit. “Saving for a rainy day” and having emergency savings can give you peace of mind and offer financial security through uncertain times.
Just as unforeseen events can disrupt your personal finances, your business can also face unpredictable challenges that threaten its financial stability. It’s crucial to have an emergency fund for your business to help provide a layer of financial security — expecting the unexpected and being financially prepared can help your business survive any challenges that come your way.
Read MoreIf you find yourself frantically slashing expenses, racking up debt on lines of credit, or worse, dipping into your personal funds just to stay afloat during the off-season, it's time for an intervention. Your finances shouldn't be at the mercy of fleeting trends. You need to take control and implement smarter planning.
Read MoreOne of the most important (but often overlooked) aspects of running your company is addressing the question, “How much should I pay myself?” It’s crucial to pay yourself regularly to maintain financial stability. The whole point of starting a business is typically to create financial freedom and security for yourself and your family. But it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day operations and forget to take care of your own paycheck.
Read MoreSimilar to other decisions you’ve had to make on your own, retirement is another crucial financial topic you must diligently explore to set you and your business up for success.
Small business retirement plans vary in terms of structure, benefits, and suitability, depending on the size of your business and team, your financial situation, and your goals. Choosing the right one for your business can feel daunting, but the sooner you decide which plan is right for you, the better handle you’ll have on your retirement planning.
Read MoreIt's that time of year again — tax season is fast approaching! As a successful small business owner, we know you’re busy enough without stressing about gathering receipts, tallying up expenses, and rushing to file your taxes on time.
But fear not! With a few organizational tips and tricks in place throughout the year, you can reduce your tax prep stress and breeze through tax time next year.
Read MoreJotting down your goals and visualizing their realization is exciting, but it's merely the starting point. Genuine progress happens when we dig deeper and adopt a mindset and lifestyle that aligns with our goals.
This is where establishing financial intentions comes into play. Our intentions propel us forward, even if we temporarily veer off course from an ambitious goal we've set.
Hiring your first employee is like adding a new character to the story of your business. You want to ensure they're a perfect fit, someone who can help you achieve your goals and take your company to the next level. So, let's jump into the exciting world of small business hiring and the employee onboarding process.
Read MoreSmall business scaling is not just about growing your operations, expanding your team, and increasing your offerings, but doing it sustainably and effectively. If you try to grow your business too quickly or too haphazardly, you could find yourself stuck down the road facing burnout, a lack of vision, or even cash flow problems. Learning effective strategies for scaling your small business can help you anticipate common challenges and discover actionable solutions.
Hiring your first employee is like adding a new character to the story of your business. You want to ensure they're a perfect fit, someone who can help you achieve your goals and take your company to the next level. So, let's jump into the exciting world of small business hiring and the employee onboarding process.
Read MoreYou've reached a point where your small business is thriving, and you can no longer be a one-person show. Congratulations! It's time to take that next big step — hiring your first employee. This is a significant leap, and while it might feel a bit overwhelming, we’re here to give you some tips to help make the process more smooth and straightforward.
Hiring your first employee is like adding a new character to the story of your business. You want to ensure they're a perfect fit, someone who can help you achieve your goals and take your company to the next level. So, let's jump into the exciting world of small business hiring and the employee onboarding process.
Read MoreEnsuring that all of your resources are being maximized to their full potential is an essential part of managing your business well. Time management also helps you adapt to the ever-changing business environment, allowing you to keep up with new challenges and embrace new opportunities.
We want to share some of our favorite time management hacks that help keep our business (and personal lives) running smoothly and efficiently.
Read MoreAs a small business owner, you are (by no official definition) a unicorn! Your business origin story is unique, your leadership style is unlike others, and you solve problems and handle challenges in your own way.
So while we don’t want to discredit your uniqueness, we do want to point your attention to a common small business life cycle that most entrepreneurs experience. Knowing these stages can help you prepare for upcoming challenges, face current struggles, and be equipped with knowledge and skills for the future.
Read MoreAnyone who runs their own business knows how thrilling and empowering it can be. Selling a product or service, working when and where you want, and having unlimited earning potential are just a few of the perks. But with all of this freedom comes a good deal of responsibility.
Read MoreDo you ever wonder why some businesses stay afloat in tough times, and other businesses fold even when things seem to be going well? A company could be revolutionary, have raving fans, and appear to be making a profit….and still not stay in business!
Usually, it’s not because a business is better, more popular, or successful on the surface. More likely, it comes down to effective cash flow management. According to research, 38% of startups fail because they run out of money.
Thankfully, the holiday season - with all of its magic - provides a great opportunity to remember what matters most in life. Whether you want to show your team how much you appreciate them, make your family feel extra special, or serve your community, there are plenty of ways to creatively give back this holiday season.
Read MoreNo matter the intention, getting unwanted advice on hot financial topics can be bothersome. As a small business owner, you’ve worked hard to build and manage a business you’re proud of — and with the success you’ve seen, you must be doing something right.
But your well-meaning family can’t always help giving their two cents about what financial moves you should make — whether in your business or your personal life.
You’ve heard it before, and you may hear it again…
Read MoreThe actions we take today can significantly benefit our future selves, whether it’s cleaning up our diet, investing in healthy friendships, or getting our tax paperwork in order.
Come early 2023, I want you to feel prepared — and relieved — that you had the foresight and knowledge to get you and your business ready for tax season. Planning early may seem somewhat insignificant in midst of all the work you’re busy with. But in reality, taxes are a huge part of your business's overall financial health and affect a lot of high-level business decisions.
Read MoreHaving a budget as we head into the festive (and expensive) holiday season will allow you to enjoy exciting activities, delicious meals, and gift-giving. You’ll also spend less time scrambling and stressing over finances when you have a spending plan in place.
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