It’s easy to believe that the key skill in giving a presentation is making sure you say the right thing, but studies have shown that 55% of your message comes from non-verbal cues and people remember more if they see something than if they just hear it. This article looks at the eight areas you need to focus on to make the most of that 55%. Your Natural Style Making… Read more
Freelancers in all industries deal with the same problems due to the nature of their work. Typically, freelancers are solo work-from-home contractors that manage every aspect of their business. If you’re thinking of dropping your career as an employee to begin freelancing, consider the following obstacles you will need to navigate. Unfortunately, problems beget more problems, and a shaky foundation quickly leads to a crumbly business, and many regrets about… Read more
Following up on late or non-paying customers is no freelancer’s favorite task. Which is precisely why you need to set payment terms up front – and in writing – before you work with a new client or customer. By communicating and agreeing on the non-negotiables for doing business with you, you’ll avoid awkward misunderstandings, frustrating disputes, and in most cases, the ugly hassle of debt collection. These tips will help… Read more
Ask any successful entrepreneur about their path to greatness and you’ll get the same answer: failure is an inevitable part of the journey. It took Thomas Edison 1,000 failed attempts before he finally invented the light bulb. Tim Ferris received 25 rejections before his bestselling book, “The 4 Hour Workweek” was finally published and sold millions of copies. It’s a fact that 20% of businesses fail in their first year… Read more
Hopefully you have long – and short-term plans for your company and you may even have a strategy for your own development, but have you considered having a personal development plan (or individual development plan) for employees? An employee personal development plan is an action plan that focuses on helping staff improve their knowledge, capabilities, and skills in areas related to your business. Creating such plans shows your staff you’re… Read more
Business Planning for 2020 It’s hard to believe but the year is almost over! If you’re like us we’re currently working on our 2020 business plan (writing 2020 might get a bit of getting used to!) A lot of our clients are doing the same at this time of year – think about their business and their strategy for the year ahead. If you’re looking to make some positive changes… Read more
Quick and efficient payment options benefit both small business owners and their customers. Consumers are used to flexibility – cash, check or charge? – when buying from large retailers. If you’re a cash-or-check only operation, consider how many sales you may be losing – and how your business would grow if your customers could pay with debit or credit cards. If one of your goals is to start selling online,… Read more
While many small business owners prefer brainstorming new ideas to pouring over financial reports, getting a handle on financial analysis can be remarkably empowering. Taking the time to regularly review financial statements can help you assess and improve current performance, avoid risk and make scalable plans for future growth. Protect your company’s financial health by learning your way around these three financial reports. Cash flow statement The cash flow statement… Read more
For business owners who want financial security now and freedom in retirement, having a financial planner on the team is a must. A financial planner will create a customized, strategic action plan to help you achieve your personal financial goals. Getting to know you and your business inside out is the first step a financial planner will take to understand where you are now, where you want to go, and… Read more
Inventory is the lifeblood of your business. It is the largest asset on your balance sheet and your company’s biggest revenue-generator. It goes without saying that poorly managed inventory can do serious damage to your bottom line. Businesses without clear strategies for streamlining the in and out flow of goods will have trouble meeting their customer’s demands and will see mismanaged stock corrode their profits. Follow these tips to ensure… Read more
There are some things in life that go together well and others that definitely do not. Business and personal finances are in the category of items that should not be mixed. Although it may seem like a headache to keep them separate—who wants to manage all those bank accounts?—your life will be greatly simplified once you separate your personal and your business finances, especially your expenses. Paperwork and taxes will… Read more
Se acerca el 15 de abril y todavía no ha recibido todos los documentos que le pide el CPA para terminar su preparación de impuestos. A continuación algunos de los documents más importantes y cómo conseguirlos si no le han llegado por correo. Formulario de ingresos W-2: Su empleador debió haberle entregado su W2 antes del 31 de enero del año en curso. Si no fue así o se perdió… Read more
¿Por qué algunas personas son auditadas y otros no? Muchos alegan que es asunto de suerte o mejor dicho mala suerte. Agentes del IRS han declarado que gran cantidad de auditados son seleccionados al azar por un programa de computadora. Lo que sí es cierto es que cada año por los recortes de presupuesto el IRS examina a menos personas. Por ejemplo en el 2017 sólo 0.60% de los que… Read more
On average, small business owners spend 10 hours each week recording, organizing, and processing financial transactions – everything from accounts receivable and payable, to employee payments, expense receipts and supplier invoices. While the process may be time-consuming (and tedious!), effective bookkeeping is the foundation of sound financial management – which in turn, is the lifeblood of your business. Feeling overwhelmed by mountains of paperwork and complex calculations? Here are three… Read more
Most small business people would agree that their Profit and Loss account (now more correctly called a Statement of Financial Performance) is among the easier – if not the easiest – financial document to understand. It’s typically presented in two parts. The top half of the statement reveals the various sources of income the business has received for the period covered, such as a quarter, half year or full financial… Read more
Many small business owners think they’re saving money by handling their financials themselves. While it’s a real asset to learn bookkeeping basics, cash flow management and your tax obligations, hiring an accountant to oversee your finances has many benefits. Leaving your books to a pro will free up time so you can focus on serving your clients and implementing plans for growth. Here are a few ways an accounting professional… Read more
La Ley de Empleos y Reducción de Impuestos (TCJA) del 2017 fue promulgada con el próposito de fomentar el crecimiento económico y estimular las inversiones de negocios. Todos los dueños de negocios verán cambios en sus preparaciones de impuestos. Es importante conocer los puntos más destacados de la ley. Corporaciones C: Las entidades que llenan sus impuestos en la Forma 1120 son corporaciones C. La tasa de impuestos para las… Read more
The Tax Cuts and Jos Act of 2017 (TCJA) was enacted with the intention of spurring economic growth and stimulating business investments. All business owners will see changes in their tax returns. It is important to sort out the key points of the tax reform. C Corporations: Entities that file their taxes on Form 1120 are C Corporations. The tax rate for C Corporations was reduced from 35 percent to… Read more
Keeping track of sales, earnings, expenses, and purchases is fundamental to the overall health and sustainability of your business. Effective bookkeeping produces the data you need to evaluate your current practices, anticipate challenges, and set attainable future goals. But despite their proven importance, many business owners dread and avoid accounting tasks. In fact, 40% of surveyed entrepreneurs claim that bookkeeping is one the worst parts of running a business! Wondering… Read more
Las familias han estado acostumbradas a reembolsos anuales gracias a diferentes créditos for sus hijos dependientes calificados. Los créditos fueron creados para ayudar económicamente a familias de bajos o moderados recursos. Primero las buenas noticias. El Crédito Tributario por Hijos, conocido en Inglés como Child Tax Credit (CTC), se duplicó a $2,000. La parte reembolsable llamada Crédito Tributario por Hijos Adicional (Additonal Child Tax Credit ACTC), aumentó a $1,400. Se… Read more