Photo By Micheile Henderson Every business will have a particular way of tracking and measuring how its business is performing. If you can identify when key indicators deteriorate to a level that causes concern, you can take early action. The easiest cash flow warning trigger tends to be your monthly sales revenue; when it falls below a certain amount, you need to cover overheads or your growth target. The reason… Read more
Photo By Markus Spiske In today’s fast-moving business environment, small businesses face increasing pressure to make well-informed decisions quickly. Whether you’re running a local café, a boutique agency, or an e-commerce store, having a clear and accurate picture of your financial position is crucial. This is where better financial reporting comes into play. While it may seem like just another administrative task, robust financial reporting can be a powerful tool… Read more
Photo By Eric Prouzet Hiring an employee is a significant milestone for any business. Not only are you expanding your team, but you’re freeing up time so you can focus on growing and building your business. Adding someone with new skills and expertise can also enhance your overall capabilities and bring fresh perspectives to the table, enabling you to tackle challenges you couldn’t handle alone. However, making the decision to… Read more
Running a business is much easier when you know what your financial reports are telling you. Three of the most important documents are the balance sheet, the profit and loss account (sometimes called an income statement) and cash flow statement. Think of these as your business’s health check-ups. What is a profit and loss account? A profit and loss account (P&L) measures how much money your business made and spent… Read more
Photo By Eleonora Running a small business is exciting – but let’s be honest, managing the admin side of things can feel overwhelming. Between keeping financial records, looking after daily operations, and ensuring compliance with tax laws, it’s easy to feel buried under endless to-do lists. But here’s the good news: with the right strategies, small business administration doesn’t have to be a headache. Here are some practical steps to… Read more
Photo By Alexander Grey An up-to-date business cash flow forecast can help you manage your business more efficiently. It’s an estimate of the amount of money you expect to flow in and out of your business. It includes all your projected income and expenses and usually covers the next year, though it can also cover a shorter period such as a week or month. Ideally you should develop at least… Read more
Understanding financial statements might sound daunting, but it’s crucial for small business owners to stay on top of their game. Each financial report offers unique insights into different aspects of your company’s health. This listicle will break down the essentials, helping you make informed decisions and ultimately steer your business toward success. 1. Balance sheet What is it? The balance sheet provides a snapshot of your company’s financial position at… Read more
As a small business owner, you’re likely already wearing many hats. But the hat of a financial analyst might seem a little oversized, particularly if your background isn’t in finance or accounting. However, understanding financial ratios can be a game-changer for your business, helping you assess your business’s financial health and make informed decisions. Financial ratios: what are they? Think of financial ratios as a thermometer for your business’s financial… Read more
Photo By Nathan Mullet Start with getting your invoicing right Invoicing is part of good cash flow management. Once you’ve delivered a product or service, don’t wait to invoice. That can hurt your cash flow and your business. You should get into the habit of sending invoices for payment quickly. Consider sending invoices immediately, or on a daily basis, depending on the nature of your work. If you are providing… Read more
Payroll is one of those things that starts out simply enough. You start your business, hire a few employees, and things tick along pretty well. It’s straightforward enough to keep everything in line at first, but what happens to most companies is… they grow! This is a great thing, but it also means that payroll becomes more complicated. As such an important aspect of your business, it’s important that payroll… Read more
With the potential for business life to return to something resembling normal, it’s a good idea to take a look at your budget and see where you may need to shift some of your priorities. Pay attention to how your spending over the past few years affected your business and either helped you achieve, or took you away from, your overall goals. Considering how your business and your employees functioned… Read more
They both work with financial data; they’re both essential for managing a successful business. Yet the roles and duties of a bookkeeper and accountant rarely overlap. If you’re like many business owners, you may not be exactly sure of the differences between a bookkeeper and accountant – and whether you should hire one, or both. An established, growth-focused company will employ the services of both an accountant and bookkeeper. The… 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