Author: Josh Keppen
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Holiday Customer Demand has Changed: How Small Businesses Can Meet People Where They Are
Smart business leaders are taking note as consumer behavior shifts to satisfy the market’s newest wants and needs — especially now that the holidays are here. Nearly 60% of consumers say they anticipate their holiday plans to change this year, and another 15% say they’re not yet sure what will happen, according to Progressive Grocer.…
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What Does a Bookkeeper Do That I Can’t Do Myself? (Spoiler: Not Much.)
Many experts believe (and vocally declare) that every business needs a bookkeeper. We disagree. Technology’s capabilities have surpassed the need for human involvement in all but the most complex business accounting tasks. So, why do small businesses still phone bookkeepers to help them get organized and compliant? Because they’re in the dark, wondering, “What does…
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SMB Capital Lending: Key Options and What to Consider
Small-business owners (SMBs) can use debt to do one of two things: stay afloat during turbulent times or exploit opportunities to achieve exciting growth. If you’re doing one or the other, then you’re in good company. Business owners everywhere are borrowing for both reasons now more than ever. To decide whether (and how) to use…
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Inspiring Business Stories: 5 Companies that Survived Tough Financial Times
A pandemic is not the only crisis that can thwart a business’s financial success. Calamitous accidents, mismanagement, economic volatility, and other hazards can threaten your company’s trajectory. The good news is that you can learn from other business leaders who have weathered various storms. Here are five true, very inspiring business stories to help you…
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Small Business Tax Relief, Grants, Loans, and More: Resources for Financial Help in 2020 and Beyond
The average small business (<500 employees) has less than a month’s worth of cash on hand. If that describes your company, then it’s imperative you know what to do when an unforeseen expense arises. Financial help comes in many forms. Loans, benevolent gifts, and small business tax relief can all be lifelines to carry you…
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Why and How to Track Business Expenses Separately from Personal Spending
Most small business owners use their personal money to get their business off the ground. In fact, funding your business with personal cash is widely accepted and even encouraged in many industries. Why, then, is it so important not to fund your personal life from your business’s coffers? As a business owner, there are many…
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Blunders, Bottlenecks, and Bloat: 9 Surprising Ways Small Businesses Waste Money on Operating Costs
Businesses are like engines. To produce, your company consumes. And like a more efficient engine, your business can produce the same output while consuming — that is, spending — less. It’s true that you may cut costs on overhead and some capital investments, but the most opportunity to save lies in operating costs. That’s because…
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How Much Does an Accountant Cost (And How to Make the Partnership Profitable)
Warren Buffet famously says that “Accounting is the language of business.” The very best way to learn the language of your business — that is, accounting — is to hire an expert to both help and teach you. If you’re wondering how much does an accountant cost, though? remember, it’ll cost you to continue operating…
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Drowning in Disorganized Accounting Books? Here are Your Options.
Businesses never start out disorganized. Chaotic processes and records become that way over time. No matter how long it took for your accounting books to go from tidy to disordered, messy recordkeeping affects your company’s vitality. Research from office supply retailer Staples found that 53% of thriving or surviving businesses stated they had very organized…
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How to Do Bank Reconciliation in Real Time, Not a Month from Now
The 21st-century economy moves in real time. Why, then, do you still have to wait until the end of the month to see how your business’s finances are doing? The answer is, you don’t. Bank reconciliation is the act of matching and validating your bank’s transactions against those in your internal ledger. The only reason…