September 28, 2023
Medical professionals and nonprofits face unique challenges when it comes to managing their resources effectively, from unprecedented cost pressures, regulatory challenges, and diverse revenue sources. A robust Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) strategy is crucial to navigating these complexities and making data-driven decisions that lead to long-term growth and sustainability. What is Financial Planning and […]
September 11, 2023
In the world of small business finance, staying on top of your numbers is non-negotiable. But it’s not just about crunching numbers; it’s about understanding the story they tell. That’s where your financial statements come in to help you make informed decisions. The three major types of financial statements every small business owner should know […]
September 1, 2023
Your small business might offer the best product or service the market has ever seen, but if your finances aren’t in shape, you’re dead in the water. We know that not everyone’s a number nerd! Regardless of your feelings about your high school math classes, managing finances is one of the most critical aspects of […]
August 28, 2023
An income statement isn’t just a spreadsheet full of numbers designed to make your eyes cross—with the right understanding, the small business income statement tells the financial story of your business. Think of it as a backstage pass to your financial performance, revealing how much money you’re making, where it’s coming from, and where it’s […]
August 9, 2023
In accounting, the job is never done. We know all too well that, with process after process to deadline and cut-off, there’s barely a gap to breathe. But closing your books every month is time well-spent in the long run, helping you keep accurate records and a close eye on your finances throughout the year. […]
July 19, 2023
2023 UPDATE: New developments in independent contractor classification On June 13, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) made a significant decision in The Atlanta Opera, Inc. case, which impacts the classification of workers as employees or independent contractors under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). The NLRB overturned the 2019 standard for classifying workers […]
June 21, 2023
Owning a small business comes with myriad challenges. Don’t let fraud become one of them. It’s a common misconception that fraud can only happen to big corporations. But, according to an Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) report, small businesses (those with fewer than 100 employees) are hit by fraud more frequently than large organizations […]
November 22, 2022
Amid rampant inflation, the Great Resignation, economic uncertainty, and the new normal of the working world, many businesses will soon be adding another challenge to the list: higher tax bills brought about by changes to tax regulations. In this blog post, we take a closer look at some of the big tax changes on the […]
October 28, 2022
It’s no secret that being a business owner can be an incredible opportunity, while also presenting significant challenges on a daily basis. Business owners are battling many different fronts, from keeping employees and customers happy to keeping up with rising demand and the costs associated with doing business. This is especially true when an economic […]
September 28, 2022
Do you have a clear picture of your business’s inventory? Oftentimes business owners will go far too long without reviewing inventory, only to find out it’s in desperate need of cleanup. While the year-end inventory count is a valuable internal control, only checking inventory once a year can lead to incorrect information accumulating over 12 […]
September 23, 2022
The word audit can send a business owner into a nervous panic. But an audit isn’t always a serious issue, especially when conducted internally. Yes, there are audits performed by the IRS if there is reason to believe that taxes have not been paid accurately. However, small business owners often don’t realize that they should […]
July 14, 2022
A budget is an essential part of any business. While developing the budget may sound daunting, it should really empower you as a business owner to make educated and informed decisions. Business budgets will help you prepare financially, relieve the stress of the unknown, and provide support in reaching your business goals. What exactly is […]
May 21, 2022
Key performance indicators (KPIs) are essential for business owners to track over time in order to make well-informed business decisions. This data will help business owners make decisions that directly impact the business today and in the future. KPIs should be monitored on a regular basis (monthly, weekly, etc.). The data being measured needs to […]
March 11, 2022
A real estate portfolio can be a wonderful way to grow your investments and provide a business opportunity for future generations. Whether it be commercial or residential real estate, it is important to keep detailed books for each property. As your portfolio grows, bookkeeping can become time-consuming and overwhelming, leaving you at risk of missing […]
March 3, 2022
In 2020, The Paycheck Protection Program quickly became a lifeline for many small businesses impacted by the pandemic. While the SBA was applauded for the program’s quick rollout, there have been many issues and roadblocks along the way for borrowers. The program has seen continuous eligibility and rule changes, leaving borrowers questioning their eligibility and […]
November 16, 2021
An outsourced CFO provides the financial expertise of an experienced CFO, without the financial commitment of hiring a full-time employee. Outsourced CFOs can be leveraged through a variety of agreements, including part-time, interim, or long-term basis. Seeking the guidance of an experienced CFO from day one can help to set your business up for long-term […]
October 19, 2021
While your products or services are the backbone of your business, you’ll struggle to succeed without a solid financial understanding and processes. But that doesn’t mean you’re doomed if you didn’t go to school for accounting or pursue an MBA. You simply need to build out the right combination of business financial services. That means […]
October 6, 2021
Mergers and acquisitions have many moving parts. As a business owner, you not only have the responsibility to look out for your company’s best interests, but also the employees, business goals, reputation, and financials. Below are our top six items to consider for successful mergers and acquisitions. 1. Ensure you have the right advisor(s) on […]
October 4, 2021
Your PPP loan was forgiven—what a relief! But now what? If you were one of the millions of business owners who secured a PPP loan to keep your business up and running through the pandemic, you may have ended up with a successful year in spite of it all. Below are a few steps to […]
September 9, 2021
One of the programs the government put into place to aid businesses through the pandemic is the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC), which has seen multiple amendments over time. The ERTC provides a refundable tax credit on qualified wages, including certain health insurance costs to small businesses who have seen a decline in gross receipts […]
August 18, 2021
It’s not uncommon for companies to outsource essential business functions, including IT, bookkeeping, marketing, and human resources. In the course of our work with small and medium-sized businesses, we often encounter those who could use the expertise of a CFO but lack the resources to bring one on as a full-time employee. Many business owners […]
July 30, 2021
Business owners are constantly tracking financial metrics of key performance indicators (KPIs), financial statements, and bank statements. While these financial metrics are key to monitor on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly basis, non-financial metrics are just as important to track. Oftentimes these KPIs can be incredibly insightful to the financial team, CFO, investors, and […]
July 19, 2021
In the early stages, new businesses have a lot of moving parts. Proper handling of the financials is crucial for every type of business; for some, keeping up with the day-to-day of bookkeeping, bill pay, payroll, and cash flow can be overwhelming, especially when business is expanding. But how do you know who to hire? […]
July 6, 2021
As an entrepreneur, it’s essential to know the ins and outs of your business and to be the expert on your product or service. But when you break it all down, do you really understand the business side of things? If you don’t understand the basics of your reports and what the numbers are really […]
June 24, 2021
As we enter the post-pandemic period, the financial world is experiencing pent-up demand from small businesses that are itching to expand. Banks and credit unions are seeing an increase from small business owners looking to take out loans for business expansion while interest rates are historically low. This is a great indicator of economic growth […]
June 3, 2021
We’re halfway through 2021! June is a great time to take a look at your company’s budget and forecast for the remainder of the year. Evaluating the budget and company goals now will make a big difference in your year-end close process. Here are a few things to consider when doing a budget checkup midway […]
May 17, 2021
Restaurants, event venues, and other small businesses impacted by shutdowns have the opportunity to tap into some powerful pandemic relief programs offered by the federal government. The first quarter of 2021 saw lots of changes to COVID-related economic stimulus programs. Below are some of the most significant changes including additional relief designed to help support […]
May 12, 2021
Spring cleaning isn’t just to remove the clutter and accumulated dust from your house. Have you ever considered that your books might benefit from decluttering and a bit of reorganization and review? The end of tax season is a great time to tackle a spring cleaning of your books, particularly if preparing your taxes led […]
April 23, 2021
Growth, whether it be personal or professional, holds a lot of exciting possibilities. It can also be intimidating and downright painful at times. The fear of the unknown, drastic changes that will have to take place, and the steps outside of your comfort zone to grow your business often hold people and businesses back from […]
April 13, 2021
We may be wrapping up the 2020 tax season, but in the blink of an eye January will be here. Will you be left scrambling to get your books together again? Too many business owners wait until the last minute to prepare for tax season, which means they inevitably miss out on many strategic tax […]
March 15, 2021
The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 that President Biden signed into law on March 11, 2021, included a number of provisions aimed at assisting small businesses that have suffered due to the pandemic. Additional funding targets those businesses hit hardest, including entertainment venues, restaurants, and bars. Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) The […]
January 20, 2021
For small business owners, bookkeeping can be a struggle. Many aren’t in a position to add accounting staff, or they see bookkeeping as an area to cut costs by doing it themselves. Almost inevitably, whether it’s because the business grows or there’s just too much else to do, the books fall behind. These are the […]
January 12, 2021
Business year-end and the subsequent tax season can be tumultuous times for small business owners. If you haven’t kept up with your bookkeeping tasks throughout the year, you find yourself hit with a deluge of work trying to get caught up. We’ve seen many instances where these circumstances have snowballed, leaving the business with several […]
January 4, 2021
The latest COVID-19 stimulus bill is one of the largest pieces of legislation to be passed by Congress and signed into law by the President. The $900 billion bill will provide additional aid to those who have experienced economic hardships as a result of the pandemic. Additional funding for unemployment, individual households, vaccine distribution, and […]
November 16, 2020
One of the biggest year-end tasks, for many businesses, is sending and filing 1099 forms by the January 31, 2021, deadline. For tax year 2020 and beyond, there is a new form that will change the way you report nonemployee compensation. Depending on how many contractors your business has used this year, and how organized […]
October 21, 2020
The vast majority of businesses have depreciable assets: company property, buildings, equipment, vehicles, etc. Because they are used for business purposes, claiming depreciation of these assets helps to reduce the taxable income of the business. As is the case any time you wade into the murky waters of tax, the IRS is always on the […]
July 1, 2020
Updated January 14, 2021 In June of 2020, the ABA Banking Journal reported that 7 out of 10 businesses nationally have received PPP funds. These businesses are focused on ensuring they can use their funds properly and document that use for maximum PPP loan forgiveness. We’ve written several posts to help borrowers understand the program […]
June 24, 2020
Updated January 14, 2021 With the passage of the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (PPPFA), the SBA has released two new loan forgiveness applications. These are designed to make the process a little easier for borrowers who’ve met the PPP requirements and are eligible for loan forgiveness. In either case, you may apply for PPP […]
June 8, 2020
Thanks to the recent passage of the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (PPPFA), forgiveness of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans just got a little easier to navigate. The PPP was established in an effort to aid small business owners affected by COVID-19 and keep workers employed, as part of the $2 trillion CARES (Coronavirus Aid, […]
June 4, 2020
*UPDATE: This post was updated on June 9, 2020, to reflect changes introduced by the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act* When the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was initially launched, there were numerous elements that were unclear for businesses. For many people, the promise of a forgivable loan while their business was reduced or shut down […]
May 21, 2020
Shops, restaurants, studios, and other storefront-based businesses have some good news coming their way at tax time. One of the provisions in the CARES Act has fixed the so-called retail glitch that came out of the 2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). If you’re a business owner who made qualified improvements to real property […]
April 30, 2020
The past couple of months have brought an explosion of changes for businesses. Tax deadline extensions, paid leave requirements, and relief in the form of loans have all affected small businesses to varying degrees. Even if your cash flow is unaffected by the pandemic, there are still changes that will affect your company. Here’s a […]
April 28, 2020
*UPDATE: The passage of the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act on June 5th has materially changed the requirements for PPP loan forgiveness. We have updated this blog to indicate where the requirements have changed. View the current forgiveness applications. Perhaps the most attractive feature of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan is the promise of […]
March 25, 2020
In the flurry of government relief that has been announced in the past couple of weeks, there are a variety of options available to help businesses cover their expenses and support their workers during this time. Last week, we summarized the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which established paid sick leave and expanded FMLA for […]
March 20, 2020
President Trump signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the first national legislation to offer Americans relief from the coronavirus’ impact on the economy, on March 18th. Its provisions will go into effect within 15 days of passage. While this situation continues to evolve and we expect more to come, there are some key provisions […]
March 13, 2020
Wash your hands. Work from home. Use hand sanitizer. Self-quarantine if you’re sick. Wash your hands again. News about the global coronavirus pandemic and corresponding economic activity has many business owners feeling concerned. While no one knows what’s going to happen when all is said and done, we come at this crisis from a unique […]
November 13, 2019
Although tax year 2019 is our second year filing under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), provisions of the law are still confusing to taxpayers, particularly as they impact small businesses. The fourth quarter is the right time for tax planning to reduce or defer your tax liability. Here are some highlighted changes that […]
September 24, 2019
As the end of the year approaches, many business owners are turning their thoughts to strategy and goals for next year. Along with those discussions comes a deep dive into the budget. In some companies, budgeting means copying and pasting from the prior year’s budget, adding a 4% increase across the board, and then adjusting the […]