Business Discussions

Greetings and salutations my friends. I hope this week has treated you well. Today I'd like to share an article from inc.com that discusses why businesses hit a "revenue ceiling" and what you should do if that happens. Let's find out...   They Max Out Their Personal ReachWhat happens:The list of personal and professional contacts has come to an end. Customer acquisition takes a toll on their bank account because it's difficult to sell to someone you don't know.   Why it happens:Often times, startups will lean solely on their own network instead of asking themselves a few make-or-break questions: Does this idea have legs and is the product any good? How much is the product worth? How should I market and sell it? Will customers adopt and use it?   What to do: Remove sales data for people in your network and figure out why strangers are buying from you and build from that.   They Exhaust Their Early AdoptersWhat happens: For every product that goe

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Hello. Akwaaba! Marrhaba! I want to share my own entrepreneurship journey. I started my company in June 2014. I had just about $150.00 to $250.00 in my bank accounts after I registered and starting working in the living room of my friend. It was a difficult moment in New York City, but with my hopes and dreams as guiding principles, I did not give up in trying. My close friends know I have good ideas, and needed to put those ideas into good use. I have never been to business school and didn’t know much about financial systems. All I had was the about to turn problems into solutions.Example solutions I delivered include: graphic design using Adobe products, excel data reports.  logo concepts using paper & pencil before visual works, and turning my client website content into working HTML/CSS3 website pages. I did it many good stuff and enjoy creative works.Over 7 years since the foundation, I now find myself at cross roads: how do I run a profitable business

Hey QuickBooks Community! How are you doing? Quick question for you! How often do you use a Pros and Cons list to make decisions? Here are several reasons why this would be important in any decision-making!     Creating a pros and cons list brings clarity to complex decisions by breaking them down into simpler components. The pros and cons list helps identify the trade-offs associated with different options. Listing the pros and cons of a decision helps provide a balanced evaluation of the situation. It allows you to articulate the reasoning behind your choice, address concerns, and engage in constructive dialogue. By considering the positives and negatives, you can gain greater confidence in your decision.   A pros and cons approach ensures a more thoughtful and comprehensive decision-making process, leading to more informed choices and better outcomes. Sounds good, right? I hope you enjoyed this quick read and truly see the benefits! Until next time, take care.

Happy Friday! Before you leave the office today, I wanted to share an article with you from inc.com. This post offers simple phrases that can change how you do business for the better.   We've all heard the saying, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." Although cliché, it's very true. The same can be said about asking for things that you need. You'll never get them if you don't ask.   Three magic wordsThe writer explains a simple phrase they've learned to rely on in the business world - "Is it possible _____?" Fill in the blank for yourself and you may be pleasantly surprised at the answer you receive.   Before you askAsking some pointed questions takes guts, there's not denying that. To be sure you have the best chance at a positive answer you need to nail down what your business needs. "Knowing your business strengths, priorities, and shortcomings is essential for pinpointing opportunities as they arise and making them a reality. All you need is the confide

  Hello Community! Do you have a hard time delegating tasks to others, especially when running your business? If so, then you’re not alone. According to this article in the QuickBooks Blog, delegation means giving up some control and putting your trust in others. Let’s go over a few tips shared that will help you overcome your fears and delegate more effectively!   Hire the right people Allow for learning Communicate Effectively Set delegation boundaries Back off   Delegation allows you to work on growing a successful business, improving your leadership skills, and also building a team that’s efficient. Delegating effectively gives your employees confidence and makes them feel even more invested in your business because you’re placing that trust on them. For more details on each of these tips shared, make sure to check out the full article here as well as this awesome video on delegation by Hector Garcia.   See you next time!

It's important to recognize the resilience and hard work you (small business owners) have weathered throughout the challenging years. This month of May is a reminder to acknowledge and support your vital role in our communities and economies. Whether you are a small business owner or not, you can still show appreciation to other small business owners. Here are some ideas on how to do so:     Leave positive reviews: Leaving positive reviews online is a great way to show appreciation to small business owners. It helps attract new customers and shows the business owner that their hard work is paying off. Share on social media: Share your positive experiences with small businesses on social media. This helps spread the word and encourages others to shop locally. Refer friends and family: Word-of-mouth referrals are extremely valuable to small businesses. If you had a great experience with a small business, tell your friends and family about it and encourage them to give it a tr

Are you interested in knowing several tips on conserving water in your business? Our QuickBooks Blog shares a few points for small business owners to save water and reduce bills. Let's look at some!   Fix leaky faucets and toilets. Install low-flow faucets and showerheads. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean outdoor spaces. Collect and reuse rainwater. Upgrade to water-efficient appliances. Monitor water usage regularly. Educate employees on water conservation. Use drought-tolerant plants for landscaping.   By implementing these tips, you can save water, reduce water bills, and help protect the environment.What are your thoughts? Perhaps you may have some tips to add to the list.  Feel free to share with us below! We love when you interact. We'll return with more insights and tips soon, so stay tuned! Bye for now.

¿Qué tal? Happy Cinco de Mayo, my Community Family! Before you head out to celebrate, I have this short, sweet, and to-the-point article from Forbes that discusses two things most people forget to do when building a Personal Brand. Want to know what they said? Come closer...     Identify your unique value proposition: It's important to define what sets you apart from others in your field and to articulate it clearly. Consider your strengths, skills, and experiences and how they can add value to your audience or potential clients.   Develop a consistent brand image: Creating a consistent brand image across all platforms and channels is crucial for building a strong personal brand. This includes everything from your website and social media profiles to your email signature and business cards.   Knowing how to execute this effectively will assist in a successful personal brand! I hope you found this post informative and valuable. Thanks for reading, and I'll catch

  Happy Wednesday! May is Small Business Success month so I want to spend some time commemorating owners and going over some ways we can all celebrate local small businesses in our community. Here are some activities you can take part in this month:   Say thanksThe best thing you can do during this month is simply spreading awareness and appreciation for any small business that you love. A simple thank you can go a really long way to any business owner.Invest and partnerA bigger way to help is investing in a business in order to help them grow. And if you’re already a business owner, you can even try partnering with one.Share your storyRemember to share your story if you’re someone that started their own business! A new business owner may benefit from your advice and your story.   These are only a few to share but I want to hear from you! How do you celebrate Small Business Success month? Feel free to share in the comments below. See you next time!

When I started my QB based business, I was not sure how long it would take to various things so I billed by the hour. A recent 2023 virtual seminar was pretty good and advocated for flat fee billing, as when you get efficient and skilled, you can make more money and the customers can know what its going to cost every month.  Just sharing that I got a new client and their prior bookkeeper (who was also QB certified) and when I got into the books they were not in good shape. I should have bid this by the hour to get the books cleaned during introduction period, then a flat fee. Its been a bit of mess cleaning up as a sales feed program had loading errors and missing invoices and payments so the A/R aging showed where the bodies were buried. Hope this helps, I learned the hard way.

Happpy Fridayyyyy everyone! Are you looking forward to the weekend? I know I am. Before we disconnect for the weekend, I have an interesting article that presents insights from 24 business leaders on the keys to delivering top-quality customer service. The leaders emphasize the importance of empathy, communication, and going above and beyond to exceed customer expectations. The following are the key takeaways from the article:     Prioritize Empathy: Business leaders stress the importance of empathy in understanding customer needs and addressing their concerns. Empathy can help build trust and establish strong relationships with customers. Communicate Effectively: Clear communication is essential in providing top-quality customer service. Business leaders recommend active listening, providing clear instructions, and maintaining open lines of communication to ensure customer satisfaction. Exceed Expectations: To deliver exceptional customer service, businesses should go abov

Hi friends! We've reached the middle of the week and steadily cruising toward the weekend. Today I want to share a few pointers to help you find your workflow. Let's dive in... Use a journal or planner to write down important dates and tasks. Dedicate certain days for certain tasks. This will help you keep all of your appointments and duties organized and allow you to anticipate what's coming next. Work in 20-minute increments. Set a timer when starting a task and work at until the timer goes off. Take a short 5-minute break afterward before starting the next thing on your list. I've personally used this tip and found it to be super helpful, especially when I'm really busy or facing tasks that I don't really want to do. Working for an allotted time period will keep you from getting rundown and overwhelmed. Create a vision board and place it where you can see it everyday. Look over your board whenever you need some motivation or a reminder or your goals. And of course add things when

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Hello all! Thanks for taking a moment to visit us here in the Community. Today I want to share a post from the QuickBooks Blog that, just being completely honest, had never heard of! Given that fact, I felt it was worth sharing with you all as well. Here's some informative info about financial therapy...   We know there are different forms of therapy for just about anything you can think of but one I had never considered may be one of the most important - finances. Financial therapy "offers to help small business owners (and individuals) repair and improve their relationship with money — so they can move forward with clarity and confidence." Furthermore, can be referred to as the intersection between money and emotions.   Financial therapists are not to be confused with financial advisors. Therapists focus more on your mental barriers that are driving financial decisions and/or holding you back from financial freedom, where as an advisor would focus solely on the ac

Good afternoon Community! I'm stopping by to share an article I recently read posted on inc.com that talks about the most common mistakes leaders make when crafting a business strategy. If you're looking for what not to do when it comes to business strategy, this one's for you.   Lack of a clear frameworkA good foundation is key to pretty much every aspect of life, and a business strategy is no different. The writer here mentions solid framework captures and connects strategy data and insights to key decisions and action plans. A good place to start is to answer the question of why your business exists and core values, then slowly branching out to ideal market and analyzing the competition.   No meeting rhythmsOften times leaders go in to business meetings looking at the broader picture; discussing actions that will take place quarters or maybe even years into the future. This can leave your (and yourself) feeling overwhelmed and with no sense of what to be doing&nb

Hey QuickBooks Community Members! Running a business can be a highly rewarding experience, but it can also be very demanding and stressful. As a business owner, it's essential to take care of your mental health. Here are some tips to help you maintain your mental well-being:     Prioritize self-care: Make sure to set aside time for yourself and engage in activities that you enjoy. This could be anything from exercising, reading a book, or spending time with loved ones. Taking care of yourself will help you recharge and be more productive. Maintain a work-life balance: Running a business can easily consume all of your time and energy, but it's essential to find a healthy balance between work and personal life. Set boundaries and stick to them. Create a schedule that works for you and your business, and try to stick to it as much as possible. Seek support: Running a business can be lonely, but you don't have to do it alone. Seek support from friends, family, or even professio

Hello Community! Have you struggled with finding ways to raise funds for your new business or simply want to know how to go about it? If so, then you’ll want to hang on tight. In episode 1 of our QuickBooks Small Business Success Stories Podcast, they chat about 3 pointers you can use to raise funds for your new business. Let’s take a look at what the episode in the QuickBooks Blog has to say.   Fundraising is a skill you can learn: According to Kumordzie, a combination of practicing her spiel, taking advice on how to better convey her message, and creating documents to back up her pitch was a recipe for success. It is a skill that can be learned and improved on so don’t get discouraged! You learn from “no”:  Anytime you get a “no” as a response, you only come out ahead. This is a time to take this as a learning opportunity and not as a loss. Having the perfect pitch takes time and practice. People invest in people, not companies: It’s important to build rela

Hello. I use QB and we have a Manufacturing facility , We sell/distribute the products we manufacture.. we also service those products manufactured and sold by us. Can you assist me with a structure for this business platform we've created? We need to use QB to track and organize our company. Can you assist or suggest a QB video?

Looking for someone willing to sell a multi-user version of QB Desktop Premiere 2016 to 2019.  We need a 2 user version or higher.  I know people retire older versions for newer ones so I was hoping to find someone willing to part with their older one.  Intuit says they do not sell additional licenses for ours any longer.   

  Welcome to the Business Discussion Board! How are you guys doing today? Before you leave for the day, I found this article by Brit+Co about "7 Common Business Mistakes and How to Avoid Them". They also list some of the most common errors entrepreneurs and small business owners make.  Here are a few that I believe will guide you to success:   First on the list is failing to plan for the long term. Many business owners are so focused on the day-to-day operations of their business that they need to remember to think about the future. To avoid this mistake, business owners should create a long-term plan that outlines their goals and objectives for the next five to ten years.   Second, business owners often need help to delegate effectively. While trying to do everything yourself can be tempting, this approach can quickly lead to burnout and decreased productivity. Instead, business owners should delegate tasks to employees or hire additional staff to help lighten the

Good afternoon ladies and gents! Thanks for checking out the Business Discussion board. Have you ever been in a job interview and you get asked one of those "tell me about a time when ______." questions? And all of sudden your palms get a little sweaty and you start rambling a bit. Here's a handy way to help you answer those tough questions. Just remember to SOAR!     SituationThe setting. Where were you and what was going on.   ObstacleThe problem you were faced with.   ActionWhat you did to solve the problem.   ResultThe results of your actions.   Answering the question with the SOAR method allows you to present a great answer without overwhelming your audience (or interviewer). Just a quick tip to remember the next time you're asked a similar question. How about you? Do you have any interview tips? Let's chat about it in the comments!

Hello! As you may know, nonprofits require specialized operations and tools, such as a CRM and a financial software to organize their revenue and expenses. The good news is that the nonprofit edition of QuickBooks Online enables professionals to use language specific to nonprofits as they set up their system.   It’s important to note, however, that before getting started with Quickbooks, your organization will need to migrate any current data you have into the QuickBooks cloud. Don’t worry! I will go share the 6 steps you must take according to this article in Firm of the Future. Here’s the checklist you’ll want to go by:   1.Gather and organize your date2. Review your general ledger architecture3. Use data mapping to match your old fields to your new system4. Input your beginning balances and upload data5. Perform final reconciliations6. Review your finances   Once you’ve gone through this checklist and have ensured that everything appears to be in order, the

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  Did someone say Friday? Welcome to the start of the weekend!  How are you guys doing? I hope everyone is doing well. Anyway, I just wanted to share this article by Sfweekly about valuable strategies to improve your business revenue for our Business Discussions. There were a few key points that stood out to me and found useful to survive in this competitive market.Add Complementary Services/Products:Adding this complementary service or product enhances the value of the item through the customer's perspective. If you can not afford to give away the service or products freely, you could offer a special discount. Although this could be a quick way to increase your profit margins, it can also help maintain customers and lure potential buyers. If you are not sure where to start, research prominent companies' tactics and make adjustments that will fit your business needs. I will share a recent example of this, my friend and I went to a lovely restaurant for dinner and were offere