Blog

Everyone has advice for you. They are all eager to share their ideas on how you should run your business, marketing, and managing your...

Your dress code is a guide for how you and your employees represent your business. What kind of impression do you want to make on clients and professional relations? Here are 5 dress code styles to help you decide what fits best for your business and team. 1. Professional/Business Formal – This is going to be your best dressed clothing. For men it means a suit and tie. For women it can mean dress/skirt or a pants suit. I’m personally grateful for this dress code dying out.

Small business owners can sometimes be too frugal with their marketing budget and sometimes they may go the complete opposite direction and overspend. It can be tricky to brainstorm ideas when there is so much work and mental load that already goes into being an entrepreneur and overseeing the daily running of a business. The best advice is to talk with your accountant and cpa to see what kind of budget you have to work with. There are definitely ways that can help both types

Co-written by: Kevin Clark Starting a new business can seem overwhelming and the startup costs can be intimidating. What are the startup costs? The startup costs can include incorporation fees, insurance, equipment, taxes, payroll, office space, and inventory. The type of business and the industry you are going into will make the startup costs different and what applies to one business may not apply to the next. While a salon may need a building that requires monthly rent, a

Co-written by Kevin Clark, CPA Cutting costs in your business can seem daunting, but it can also be an amazing opportunity to improve and grow and make your investment work better for you. A good accountant (especially a CPA) will start by asking a few questions to better understand your business and your objectives. Accounting is personal so try to be open and realistic with your plans and goals so that you get the best guidance possible. Before your appointment take some t

You can’t make everyone happy and that’s okay. You can treat everyone respectfully and do your best as a business owner to repair relationships with dissatisfied customers. Occasionally you will have someone who tries to take advantage of you, but for the most part people just want their expectations met when spending their hard-earned cash. Here are 5 ways to help you deal with customer complaints: 1. First, know the difference between venting a grievance and abusing you

Does it ever seem like your employees are just going through the motions each day? This can really put a drain on the entire atmosphere, bring down customer experiences and disrupt retention rates. It can make you lose out on great opportunities and loyal employees too. Let’s skip the pizza party jokes, assume you already know that appropriate pay is necessary, and that you treat employees kindly if they get sick or have a family emergency. Here are 5 ways to motivate employe

When you’ve already got a great product or service that you’ve poured your heart and soul into, it may be hard to switch gears to focus on building a website. Maybe your business is already thriving. Even the best business needs a strong online presence in today’s digital media driven world. The first step is setting up a great website that represents your brand and business. Before taking that first step make time to deeply consider how you would want your brand perceived by

“Just skip the payroll taxes and expenses, pay your worker’s straight pay and send them a 1099!” I’ve even heard other accountants say those exact words to employers, so when I’m advising a small business owner and they recite this money-saving strategy, I have to blow the whistle and at least throw out a caution flag (is that soccer, or NASCAR?). That’s what accountants do; we can’t help it. But seriously – did you know that there are rules and guidelines that the IRS uses

Do you ever get the feeling that common sense just isn’t very common after all? If you think the tax code is logical and reasonable, you may find yourself claiming expenses for your business that just aren’t deductible. Here, for your information, frustration, and amazement, is a list of the most common attempted deductions that the IRS disallows on a frequent basis. It is possible that some of these expenses could properly be shown on your financial statements and reports

Co-written by Kevin Clark When the year is coming to an end and it's the holiday season, the lights are going up, the shopping and traffic are humming, and small business owners are working hard. For many this is the busiest time of year and can easily become overwhelming instead of joyful. I’ve known and worked with small business owners throughout my professional career, and I’ve witnessed the drive and grit that it takes to finish out the year. You deserve to have time wit

Co-written by Kevin Clark, CPA Social media platforms are a big part of nearly everyone’s everyday life. Some check it religiously throughout the day, some scroll mindlessly, and some use it sparingly. Here are five things to consider before you decide to create a company account for every social media platform available: 1. Do you or a team member have the time to actively manage social media accounts? A successful social media presence takes a lot of time, planning, and

Plants can add to the aesthetic of your workspace or business. It can be hard to know which plants to choose for your space and there’s a plethora of information out there with internet gurus arguing over it on every forum. I believe the most important factor when deciding on a plant is what kind of lighting you have. Low Light . When you want low maintenance and have low light, I think your best option is a ZZ plant or Snake plant. Both can handle lower or brighter light sit

When you start a small business, loyalty is something you'll have to earn from your customers. It’s not enough to just have a good product or service on offer. People are growing more concerned with what a company/brand stands for, how they show up for their community, and what type of work culture they provide their employees. What are some ways you can earn loyalty among your clients? 1. Be invested. Go beyond putting on the customer service voice for your clients and

You’ve been staring at the same dated artwork for the past 5 years. The office chair you once found comfort and support in has lost its integrity. Maybe the entire atmosphere of your office just feels “off” lately and it’s killing your motivation. Go ahead and spruce up your workspace. Wait. Do not take the company card and rush out for an afternoon shopping spree though. Try some of these little refreshers first: Move things around . Sometimes rearranging furniture or reconf

Owning your own business can be exciting, but it can also mean you are responsible for absolutely everything. Payroll and taxes can get complex and may overwhelm as you start up or as your business grows larger. That’s where a CPA, Certified Public Accountant, can help take a big part of the stress out of your professional ventures, leaving you time for what you really want to focus on. There are many reasons to consider having a CPA help but here are some for today: 1. A