Business Discussions

I am an independent contractor with good time-management skills (hello, I bill by the hour). One of my regular clients...not so much. She prefers to give me my assignments via phone, and much of these conversations involve her thinking out loud and using me as a sounding board for unrelated projects. This wouldn't be too bad (hello, I bill by the hour) but I manage multiple clients and there simply aren't enough hours in the day for me to engage in these marathon phone conversations AND meet my deliverables. I have suggested multiple times that she communicate her exact project needs via email - saving me time saves her money, after all - but she continues to prefer "brief" phone calls that frankly never are. After years as a contractor I have learned NEVER TO TURN DOWN A GIG but this is getting to be a significant problem that impacts my other work commitments. Any suggestions on how to handle this tactfully?

Here nearby where I live, the #12 startup metro area in America, there are MANY different entities/orgs that put on events for those who are just starting up who wish to hone their idea(s) and receive on the spot feedback. Pitch events can definitely be your friend. They will / can help with these soft skills- as you hone them via ongoing drip development: Public speaking ( thought ) leadership Critical thinking ( ability to think on one's feet ) Discernment Passion & burning desire ( dreams/vision ) Financial wisdom

When you run your own business, time is a precious commodity. What strategies do you use to make the most of every minute? Tell us – and then click on the article below to find out how other members manage their time:   Beyond Apps: Low-Tech Tips For Managing Your Precious Time

... by building strong width & depth based relationships. It's been called social capital. Always put the transactions second to the relationships which you create, cultivate ( seeding/farming ), & sustain, let alone replicate.

Name: SJ Barakony Company: Service Before Self Leadership Founded: 2011 After more than a decade working in the corporate world, SJ Barakony realized he was downright uninspired. Rather than join a truly gloomy statistic – 87% of workers report feeling disengaged from their job – SJ spent some time soul-searching and researching new career options. The upshot? He decided to trade his traditional daily grind for an entrepreneurial adventure as an educational disrupter & innovator and founder of Service Before Self Leadership (SBSL), an educational-solutions provider focused on the intersection of service, leadership and education. What was the tipping point that inspired you to turn your “side passion” into a full-time business? I spent many years as part of the conventional workforce, doing various jobs such as project- and order management and network planning. Then a friend asked me, “Have you considered having more than one source of income?” The floodgates opened. I

There is a clear intersection of economics ( finances/money ) , education ( lifelong learning/non credentialized ) , & entrepreneurship ( ownership ) as you develop your idea. The Gig Economy favors founders who have this kind of vision & it also rewards those who creatively disrupt tired/staid industries.

Hello community, I just started my LLC a few months ago and things have been running smoothly so far. My business is renting out goods and I have had three jobs through the same client so far. I have charged this client sales tax twice already and now for the third invoice they told me they have a resale certificate and also sent it to me.  They have not asked me to pay the collected sales tax from the first 2x invoices back but I am wondering what I should do in this case. I am sure they won't ask me to pay it back but for example they would give me a budget of $5,000 for the first job, which I charged like this: $441 in Sales Tax + $4559 for the rental.  I am sure if I ask them to revise the invoice from the past to $5,000 without sales tax then they might do that for me. Would that be smart to do though? Thank you kindly in advance for the help. Best

 What’s on your mind right now? We know folks who work for themselves have plenty to say about the business of doing business. That’s why we want to share your insights, ideas and best practices. Today, we’re spending a few minutes with Kimberly Caccavo. Kimberly and Kate Nowlan are cofounders of GRACEDBYGRIT, a multimillion dollar company selling premium athletic wear for women. GRACEDBYGRIT has more than 50,000 loyal customers and a rock-solid reputation for giving back to local charities and national organizations, so it’s hard to believe Kimberly and Kate once had to rely on sheer grit -- along with an unwavering belief in their business -- to even get the company off the ground. Here, Kimberly recalls those tough early days of pitching the business to a room of mostly male investors, all with very little interest in doling out dollars to a company led by women.   Kimberly, tell us your early experiences with fundraising for GRACEDBYGRIT. Every entrepreneur is famil

Recently one of our clients has presented a question to us about nonbank trustees and custodians and I am very unfamiliar with the topic.  Does anyone in the community have experience as a Nonbank trustee or custodian that could help provide some guidance?  This is related to self-directed IRA's and other investment activities.   Any knowledge would be greatly appreciated!!  

What will your new year bring? Are you hoping to launch a successful crowdfunding campaign, hire your first employee or simply get better at balancing work and family? Whatever your goal, a new year is always a great time to dream big.  Thing is, we know it’s tough enough to clearly define business goals, let alone meet them. That’s why we’ve asked business owner and consultant Sarah Harrison to share some practical ideas for turning business dreams into reality. Sarah’s wisdom comes from experience: This former product-team manager left her full-time job feeling burned-out and exhausted. When she decided to start working for herself, Sarah applied the same systems she used successfully during her career to to create systems for her own goal-setting, planning and accountability. Here, Sarah explains her tried-and-tested strategies for setting and achieving goals in your business -- or even in your life.  1. Commit to creating syst

   

"Dreams are lovely. But they are just dreams. Fleeting, ephemeral, pretty. But dreams do not come true just because you dream them. It's hard work that makes things happen. It's hard work that creates change." -- Shonda Rhimes Watch Shonda on the QB Connect 2017 San Jose Main Stage. Shonda shares about how she determined to take over the world through television, her rejection of the idea of "impostor sydrome" and lots, lots more. Enjoy!

   

Now’s the time of year when everyone vows to make changes for the better. When it comes to improving your business, maybe you’re determined to boost revenue or take email marketing to a new level. But plenty of folks think New Year’s Resolutions are a waste of time. Weigh in:   Will you make New Year's Resolutions for your business? Why -- or why not?      If you’re pro-resolutions, tell us about your goals for 2018. We can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this one!

   

   

The end of the year is a good time to reflect on what makes you happy. When it comes to your business, what makes you most thankful? The freedom to work for yourself? The satisfaction of supporting your family? The flexibility to scale at your own pace?   Tell us: What makes you most thankful to be running your own business?   Maybe your greatest appreciation is for the folks who’ve helped you along the way. Who do you want to thank this holiday season?

   

What the best ways can you recommend?

If you’re overwhelmed at work, maybe it’s time to bring on your first employee.   Are you planning to hire in 2018? If not, what’s stopping you?   Here's some reading that could help you out:   Employees on Your Mind? Some Hints Before You Hire   And tell us, what's on your mind when it comes to hiring employees? Use the reply space below to start the conversation!

   

   

   

   

Happy Friday, QB Community! Welcome to our round-up of inspiring and thought-provoking conversations happening in our community this week. Click the links below to see what you may have missed. You just might find the information you’ve been looking for! Spotlight This week, meet an enterprising QB Community member who’s launched three different crowdfunding campaigns -- and met her financing goals every time. You Said It! Q & A with Community Member Danielle Vincent Burning Question Customers -- you can’t live without ‘em. But marketing and outreach take time and money, not to mention a solid strategy for building a strong customer base. Tell us: How Will You Get More Customers Next Year? Let’s Talk QuickBooks As the year winds down, chances are “Get paid on time” is at the top of your list of resolutions for 2018. Fortunately, QuickBooks Online has key features to help you achieve this important goal. Use Recurring Sales Receipts to Get Paid On Time with QuickBooks Online QB Con