Archive of Small Business Financial Articles

First QTR

Outsource or Hire? 5 Questions to Ask Yourself Small businesses can leverage outsourcing to boost efficiency and focus on strategic tasks. Ask if overhead costs, time optimization, skill gaps, tech proficiency, and growth ambitions justify outsourcing.... more 5 Things You Must Know Before Going into Business with Someone Choosing a business partner is crucial for success. Prioritize character, shared vision, complementary skills, track record, and financial stability. Formalize agreements and roles for clear communication and accountability. A thorough vetting process is essential to avoid pitfalls.... more Revenue, Profits, Cash Flow-What's the Difference? Revenue is sales income, profits are what’s left after expenses, and cash flow is immediate liquidity. All crucial for business growth and sustainability, requiring careful management.... more Do You Need a Partner or Investor? Pros and Cons of... Investors offer capital with potential control, while partners bring shared responsibilities and varied expertise. Choose based on business needs and compatibility.... more Employers Chase Creativity in Offering New Benefits and Perks In today’s job market, employers vie for talent with creative perks: flexible hours, extended vacations, family leave, health packages, student loan reimbursement, career development, and travel coverage.... more Business Owners Face New Retirement Risks Retiring business owners grapple with rising healthcare costs, mortgages, and family financial strains. Strategic retirement planning, focusing on inflation, market shifts, and longevity risks, requires realistic time horizon assumptions for sustained income.... more

Second QTR

Planning on Selling Your Business? Critical Questions to Ask Now Selling your business requires proactive planning. Key questions to address: Why sell? What’s your exit strategy? Is the business saleable? What’s its true value? Consult advisors to ensure the best outcome.... more Why It’s Important to Know Your Business’s Debt Capacity Knowing your business’s debt capacity is vital for strategic planning, seizing opportunities, and speeding up loans. It measures how much debt you can handle while maintaining repayment ability.... more You Can Manage Your Business, But Can You Manage Your Time? Efficient time management for business owners entails prioritizing tasks, delegating non-essential functions, and outsourcing weaknesses.... more 5 Ways to Build a Business Support Network Build a strong business support network: join associations, attend meetings, engage online, form groups, seek mentors.... more Negotiating Tips for Getting a Business Loan Prepare thoroughly before negotiating a business loan: Develop a comprehensive business plan, maintain transparency, understand personal financial standing, and build a relationship with lenders. Early preparation is key to securing favorable terms.... more Why Your Small Business Needs a Business Credit Card A business credit card keeps finances separate, reduces personal liability, improves cash management, offers higher credit limits, controls expenses, and provides cash back rewards.... more

Third QTR

How to Establish and Build Business Credit Discover essential steps to establish and build business credit, separate personal and business finances, and strengthen your business’s credit profile for long-term success.... more How to Create an Effective Elevator Speech Master the art of the elevator pitch with these six steps. Learn how to craft a compelling, concise, and natural speech to effectively promote yourself or your business in 60 seconds.... more The Versatility of Life Insurance for Business Owners Discover the versatility of life insurance for business owners. Learn how it can protect your family, replace key personnel, fund buy-sell agreements, and support deferred compensation plans while maximizing tax benefits.... more Solid Bookkeeping is the Backbone of a Successful Business Discover why solid bookkeeping is crucial for your business success. Learn the benefits, challenges, and tips for selecting the right bookkeeping service to ensure financial stability and growth.... more Fueling Your Growth: How SBA Loans Can Help Your Small Business... SBA loans offer capital, favorable terms, and flexibility, helping small businesses expand, stabilize, and thrive. They fund equipment, real estate, working capital, and more, enabling confident growth.... more Why Valuing Your Business Matters (and How to Increase its Value) Discover why valuing your business is crucial for informed decisions, strategic planning, attracting talent, and securing investments. Learn steps to boost your business value for long-term success and profitability.... more

Fourth QTR

Turning Your Passion into a Thriving Business Discover how to turn your passion into a thriving business with strategic planning, market research, financial projections, and effective marketing. Learn the steps to transform your side hustle into a successful full-time venture.... more

First QTR

Life Stage Planning for Business Owners Break your retirement planning strategy into pieces. It is easier to accomplish. At any stage having a savings safety net is essential. Here are some ideas for saving for retirement.... more How Technology is Leveling the Playing Field for Small Businesses Small businesses are leaner and agile when competing against larger companies. Now technology allows you to amplify your advantages while competing on a level playing field.... more Post-Business Sale Planning for Business Owners Selling your business makes changes to your balance sheet. It may be challenging to families attempting to keep a certain lifestyle. Here are ideas for planning for your sale and the next chapter of your life.... more Finding the Right Bookkeeping Service for Your Business Hiring a bookkeeping service does not have to be an expensive proposition compared to hiring an employee. It is a far better investment than the cost of the business owner’s valuable time.... more Risk Management is Key to Business Growth Risk management is understanding your business’s risk exposure. For small businesses an initial risk management plan can be as easy as following these simple steps.... more Small Businesses Must Embrace the Gig Economy Businesses are embracing the benefits of creating a digital workplace to attract temporary and permanent employees.... more

Second QTR

Building Business Credit Be prepared for the time when your business will need capital. Building your credit should be a key component of your strategy well before you need it. Here are some ideas.... more Employers Gain More Traction and Better Serve Employees with a Roth... Currently, about half of employer sponsored plans include a Roth 401K provision. Here is basic information on the Roth 401K and why you may want to consider it in your plan options.... more Why Businesses Must Make Customer Service Their Top Priority Make customer retention a priority by creating a team to provide superior customer service. When your customers are happy, they become your greatest assets to expand your customer base.... more Business Owners' Misconceptions About Cash Flow There is a large percentage of businesses that fail due to a poor understanding of cash flow. Here is some basic information on why you should implement sound cash flow management practices.... more Preventing Wire Transfer Fraud Will your business become a victim of wire transfer fraud? Know what to look for to prevent it and take action if it does occur... more Why Working 24/7 Doesn’t Lead to Business Success You created your business to have a better life. Working all the time is not healthy for you or your business. Learn how to take a break.... more

Third QTR

What are You Going to do When You Retire? Don’t leave a gaping hole in your life when you decide to retire. Being engaged outside of work helps you to be happier in all facets of your life. Here are some ideas.... more Rules to Follow When Borrowing Money for Your Business Banks are more willing to lend than they have been for several years. Know what you need to do to ahead of time before you need the capital. Here are some ideas.... more The Advantages of a 401k over a SEP or SIMPLE for... The 401k plan is quickly becoming the plan of choice for its greater capacity and flexibility for business owners. Here are the advantages over other plans.... more When is the Best Time to Sell Your Business? Focus on the things you can control when you start thinking about selling your business. View it through the buyer's eyes and fix the things that would require a buyer to walk away.... more 5 Steps to Improve Business Cash Flow Take the following steps to begin making positive strides toward an improved cash flow situation. Make them the key to effective cash management on a continuing basis.... more Putting Together a Winning Financial Advisory Team for Business Owners Business owners need a 360 degree perspective on their business and personal financial needs. Having a collaboration of advisors from several different disciplines to forge a coordinated plan is essential.... more

Fourth QTR

How a Business Credit Report Differs From a Personal Credit Report Most businesses start with personal credit, but evolving to business credit is crucial. Learn the distinctions and steps to build and manage robust business credit.... more Business Owners’ Wealth Exposed. Time to Layer Up on Liability Coverage Securing Business Owners’ Wealth: Beyond Business Liability, Personal Assets Remain Exposed. Opt for Personal Umbrella Liability Coverage as Cost-Effective Protection Against Growing Litigation Risks. Comprehensive Risk Management Essential in Today’s Environment.... more 3 Steps to Reduce Your Credit Card Processing Costs Cut Credit Card Processing Costs in 3 Steps: Understand Fee Structure, Opt for Interchange Plus Pricing, and Negotiate Cancellation Fees. Protect Your Profit Margins!... more 5 Tax-Advantaged Ways to Take Income from Your Business 5 tax-advantaged ways to increase business income: Section 179 deductions, CODG expenses, excess inventory control, and hiring kids. Boost take-home earnings with expert advice.... more 5 Tips for Boosting Your Entrepreneurial Confidence Boost entrepreneurial confidence: Embrace failures, celebrate small wins, take action, use power poses, seek knowledge, and grow as a successful leader.... more Why Business Partners Shouldn't Put Off Their Estate Planning When a business partner dies partners must take crucial steps to insure the continuation of their business. Learn why they should not to put off this planning.... more