Business Discussions

    I have been trying to teach my fellow accounting professionals that VIDEO will be the new standard and people will see having a website-only as irrelevant as they see business cards for companies that do not have a website today...       If you are consistently creating new content in youtube (or other video plaforms) that explains who you are, what you do, how you do it, and WHY you do it... and use that as a platform to build a community which will in turn be your clients.  you will be ahead of the game of all your peers within your industry... It is not too late, start creating video content now!   Here are the slides to the presentation: https://qbcommunity.com/ooxbu36397/attachments/ooxbu36397/QuickBooksConnect/133/1/YouTube_is_the_new_business_card.pdf

Certain benefits offered to your employees, such as group outtings or special meals, go a long way in boosting morale. Team-building activities are a great way to build stronger relationships with and between your employees.    While necessary, it may be difficult to gauge how much to spend and what the tangible return will be.   How do you monetarily valuate these types of investments? Why are these types of benefits valuable for your business in the short and long-term? How do you justify spending that may or may not have a clear or direct "return on investment" (i.e. ROI)? 

Hi! My husband has W2. I work as independent contractor on 1099MISC. We file taxes jointly in California. By using 'safe harbour' rule, how shoud I calculate taxes we paid last year? Should I consider only my earning or our household gross income? I assume I should also take care of estimated state tax myself and QB does not file it. How is it calculated? Should I use my own earnings or household income? Thanks!

  For the past 50 years, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has recognized a select group of entrepreneurs from all across the country to be honored for their awesome achievements. The celebration is part of National Small Business Week, which this year happens from April 29 through May 5.   Established by Presidential Proclamation each year since 1963, the awards are designed to highlight the assistance and mentorship programs provided by the SBA. New this year: a series of virtual conferences hosted by industry experts.    Since all of us in the QB Community LOVE any opportunity to celebrate the dedication and drive of people who work for themselves, you won't be surprised to learn we'll be recognizing some amazing small business owners as part of our own campaign. We can't wait to share more inspiring stories of entrepreneurial perseverance and triumph!   In the meantime, there's tons of great learning available all next w

  Names: Kimberly Leeper & Aaron Armstrong Business: Oasis Edible Naturescapes Location: Seattle, WA Launched: 2016   Seattle-based Kimberly Leeper and Aaron Armstrong were each doing their own natural-landscaping thing when they met and decided to merge their solo endeavors into a partnership. Today, about a year and a half into planting the seed of Oasis Edible Naturescapes, they are busy making gardens beautiful while learning on the go about what it takes to run and grow a company. We spoke with Kimberly about why eating your garden is good for the environment and how seasonal work like theirs requires a special balancing act. Kimberly, what did you and Aaron do before you were entrepreneurs? Shortly after moving to Seattle in 1995, I became an environmental educator with Seattle Parks and other local organizations while also working as a public school teacher. I always loved native plants and wildlife habitats, and my role as a naturalist educator led me to become

First unit sold? First client who wasn't a friend of yours? First time you saw your ad on a billboard? What's your "a-ha" moment?

If money is earned thru Venmo. Do you have to report it? Also, i keep hearing that there is a $20,000 and or a 200 transaction limit that needs to be reached before anything needs to be submitted. So I would like to know if anyone can clear that up..  

I am professional in the following :- online investment programs- forex - trading- packages & shares- cryptocurrency investment- real estate investment I need investor or business partner or venture capitalist to fund my project I tried venture capital and angel investors but doesn't work because I don't have team or company I am individual I want to fund my investment plan where can I find it can you help  

Three cheers for Kat Gordon! Kat is an ad woman, a rock-star entrepreneur and the visionary behind the 3% Conference aimed at moving the needle for women in advertising. Kat’s commitment to bringing in more female creative directors has now earned her the prestigious 2018 Visionary/Founder of the Year award from Ad Age. Specifically, Kat has been recognized for introducing “3% Certification,” a program to help advertising agencies assess and improve their own “gender friendliness.” Wahoo! We love Kat’s dedication to shaking things up in her own industry. Back in 2010, she was frustrated (to say the least) by the fact that although women control 80% of all consumer spending power, only three percent of advertising creative directors are women (and even fewer are people of color). When Kat started talking, people started listening – and taking action. Today, thanks to Kat and her hard-working team, the needle is moving, with the percentage of women creative directors up from 3% to 11% a

 QB Community member Andrew Cameron (@CoherentCreativ) spent years working on the branding campaigns of corporate giants including Mercedes, KFC, and Kodak. This past February he started Coherent Creative, his own branding and design firm dedicated to helping smaller businesses make their mark. We asked Andrew why visual branding is so important for 'the little guy', and what advice he has for small business and self-employed with very little budget for logo design.   Please tell us a bit about your professional journey so far – what you do, your experience working for larger companies, and your recent move toward opening up your own shop catering to smaller businesses.   I've been doing this all my working life – a long time now.  Starting as a 'junior' in a Design Studio in a very vibrant part of  London (Notting Hill) – creating mechanical artwork even before the advent of Macs! Since then, I've worked at printers, newspapers, and ad

Going green in business may be trendy, but it’s also smart. Research shows that consumers will pay more for eco-branded products and creative entrepreneurs are taking note. In fact, quite a few of our QB Community members have businesses that are friendly to the environment! Here are seven self-employed folks who prove that sustainability is both good for the planet, as well as their bottom lines.   Andrew Wickens - Lower Park Hats When he was 27 years old, Andrew Wickens hopped down from Northern California to Mexico to learn Spanish. Five years later, he returned to San Francisco as a bone fide entrepreneur. His business? Designing and making hats. Not just any hats, mind you -- Andrew roams the world looking for eye-catching fabrics that reflect their native culture. Today, Andrew’s internationally-sourced Lower Park Hats are a fair-trade favorite at markets and festivals around the United States and abroad. Hats Off to Andrew Wickens and His Globally Inspired, Ethically-Sourc

I closed a business in 2011 and I have the equipment in storage since then. I am paying for storage and would like to stop that as soon as possible. Not sure were to start to get rid of that equipment. It's worth some money and I don't have the time to sell them. Any ideas?

I am a new self employed business person.I have tracked all of my spending, etc on Quickbooks, and it shows my business is running at a loss right now - which I expected as it is new.But, I dont know if I need to file a tax return, as quickbooks says I owe nothing for this first quarter of 2018.

  The more you know about your money, the more likely you are to make smart, informed business decisions. Download and use the following worksheets to help you assess how your business is doing – and how to make it even better.    Net Income statement Your net income statement will help you determine how much money your business is bringing in compared with your outgoing expenses for operations, production, staff and more. Calculate your net income by subtracting your revenue from your expenses. Download a free net income worksheet   Balance Sheet Analyze your balance sheet monthly and quarterly for a precise snapshot of your business’s financial health. This worksheet will track liabilities, assets, income, expenses and capital so you know what you can cover – and what you can’t. Download a free balance sheet   Cash Flow statement How much money is moving in and out of your business? Your all-important cash flow statement will show you where your dollars are

  Earth Day is this Sunday, April 22. Are you doing anything to celebrate? Here in the QB Community we've been thinking about eco-business quite a bit lately! We kicked off the month with a thoughtful letter from our fearless leader, @LeslieBarber on Why Green Business Is the New Cash Crop We looked around here and found 7 QB Community Members Doing Green Business With all these green-y terms floating around, we got down to Defining Eco-Business Terms We’ve All Heard (But May Not Fully Understand) We caught up with some past crowdfunding campaigns to find out Where Are They Now? 8 Eco-Minded Crowdfunded Businesses And last but not least, we asked you about your thoughts on green business with the QUESTION: What Does Eco-Branding Mean to You?  QB Community members: It's your turn! What are you up to for Earth Day (or any day) that involves or supports green business? Want to weigh in but not yet a QB Community member? Click HERE to si

    One of the biggest elements to starting a new business is getting your funding together. If you haven’t made a sale yet, how are you going to pay for materials, marketing, a website? Some entrepreneurs turn to crowdfunding, while others borrow from family or friends or a bank, and still others go the bootstrapping route until the cash starts flowing. In their own words, members from the QB Community (and a couple famous entrepreneurs thrown into the mix for extra inspiration) tell how they launched their companies. Celebrity or not, these business owners all prove that with a great idea, a lot of passion and any amount of money you can get your business started! $0: Julie Ball, Founder of Sparkle Hustle Grow subscription boxes      “I did a pre-launch a couple months before I sent out the first boxes. I held a contest through social media to give away a one-year box subscription, and as a result, I was able to grow an email list. From there, I did a pre

 Here’s a list of six financial terms every business owner should know. If you haven’t yet committed them all to memory, we predict you will soon!       Here are more posts to help you boost your financial literacy:   Financial Literacy Basics When You’re Just Starting Out Financial Literacy Basics When You’re Planning for Retirement 4 Ways Accountants Can Put Financial Literacy in the Spotlight Bookmark this page so you can find all our financial literacy articles in one convenient place! Before you go QB Community members, which financial equations do you zero-in on most often? Why is that one so important?

  As a new or aspiring business owner, you’ve got so much to think about, learn and understand. If you have trouble keeping profit margins, bottom lines and break-even points straight, don’t sweat it. This guide will help you stay on top of the meaning of all your money matters.   Looking for detailed explanation of each of these terms? You’ll find it right here.     Want to continue boosting your financial literacy? Right this way!   Tool Kit: 7 Key Financial Equations 22 Financial Terms Every Business Owner Should Know Financial Literacy Basics When You’re Planning for Retirement Bookmark this page so you can find all our financial literacy articles in one convenient place   Before you go QB Community members, who do you trust when you need financial guidance for your business? An accountant or finance professional? Your business partner? A friend? Tell us!

    Carrying a large amount of personal debt is always a burden. When it comes to starting or funding a business, reducing that debt can be essential if applying for a loan since your personal assets are often used in determining your financial worthiness. Plus, credit card debt is just one more financial headache when you’re managing business finances as well as personal finances, and who wants extra headaches?   Many of us have been there -- facing down (or ignoring) that giant credit debt monster -- and maybe even tackling that beast more than once. Fortunately, there are a number of resources and strategies that will help you to get your personal credit card debt under control once and for all.   (Thanks to @MFessler for the original question in QB Community!) Be brave and ask yourself the hard questions   Understanding your overall debt is the first step in erasing the balances. Ask yourself the hard questions:   How much credit card debt do you

  We work for ourselves. That can feel like we're the only ones thinking about the health and success of our business. So, what's on your mind right now?

Name: Jimmy Gallagher Business: ASAP Construction Founded: 1969 Jimmy Gallagher was just a kid growing up in Long Island when his dad handed him a shovel and said, “Dig.” Dig he did, helping to create a water main as part of a project for his dad’s ASAP Construction company. Digging turned into driving trucks, operating heavy equipment and, eventually, learning every aspect of running a successful business. Except for a six-year stint as a Naval engineer, working for and then running a construction company is the only job Jimmy’s ever known. Today, nearly forty years after buying the business from his dad, Jimmy is still immensely proud of his long-standing family business, his countless building projects and his ongoing commitment to his Long Island small business community. Jimmy, you’ve worked and lived in same community for decades. What’s that like? In the Navy, I was an engineer on Poseidon submarines. I could have gone anywhere after that, but I chose to come back to the commun

Ask a dozen small business owners how they define the term “financial literacy” and, chances are, you’ll get a dozen different answers. Maybe it means understanding how to stay tax compliant, manage monthly payroll or save for retirement. Maybe it’s always knowing exactly how much cash you have on hand. Maybe, for you, financial literacy is about something else entirely.   Tell us:   As a small business owner, what does “financial literacy” mean to you? Why is this particular aspect of understanding and managing your finances your top priority?   We’re excited to learn from your experience, so please share your response below!   Want to learn more about financial literacy? Here are three posts you might enjoy.   Financial Literacy Basics When You’re Just Starting Out Financial Literacy Basics When You’re Planning for Retirement 4 Ways Accountants Can Put Financial Literacy in the Spotlight   Bookmark this page so you can find all our finan

Name: Maggi Simpkins Business: Maggi Simpkins Fine Jewelry  Founded: 2016 Maggi Simpkins grew up making jewelry as a hobby, but she never imagined doing it to earn a living. A decade ago, however, while Maggi was doing quality control for an online boutique, she vented her creative frustrations by one day whipping up a collection of feather earrings. Her boss loved them. Within a week, Maggi was designing full-time for the private label. Over the next few years, other jewelry-related jobs followed. Maggi was determined to learn everything she could about merchandising, designing, production, materials, diamonds and more. Eventually, she decided to venture out on her own. During her first year of “figuring it out,” Maggi created an engagement ring for a friend. The process was “beautiful and really powerful” -- and the friend was moved to tears. That’s when it clicked: Maggi Simpkins Fine Jewelry would help people tell their love story with decadent, intricate, custom-designed en

Has allowing your customers to make deposit improved your business relationships? Does it help you get paid faster? Why should a business not consider allowing deposits or partial payments on a purchase?   Community Questions: How to Setup Deposits in QuickBooks Online

  When you work for yourself, it’s never too early to start socking away some bucks for retirement. In fact, part of being a financially “literate” entrepreneur means proactively managing your money today so you can enjoy a comfortable retirement in the future. Does that lofty goal seem far-fetched (not to mention far off)? We get it. Let’s think about your options, and take it one step at a time.   Get started today (no, really) The idea of saving for the future may be daunting, especially if your instinct is to put every dollar you generate right back into the business. Here’s a reality check: The earlier you start saving, the longer your retirement savings will have to grow. Trust us, saving small is a lot better than not saving at all. Does $50 a month feels comfortable? If you save $50/month for 40 years with a 6% annual rate of return, your investment will total $100,000!   Set a goal of one day saving up to 15% (or more) of your annual salary.   Understand y