Business Discussions

"Success isn't owned. It's leased, and rent is due every day." -- JJ Watt   Do you agree? If so, how do you put the time in toward earning success each day? If not, how do you describe the process of getting where you want to be in business?

What is the best method to earn online?

How do you keep track of your finances?

Got any good Black Friday stories? Share those, too!

Does any one have experience with setting up accounts for partnership with customer where you provide the hardware and they are providing software instead of the customer paying for the hardware we are to receive a percentage of the sales. So my company will remain the owners of the hardware. I am not sure how to set this asset up and account for COGS.  Any direction is helpful. Thank youLeslie

 In this Ways to Grow episode, Sonja and Meeka of One of A Kind Hats give their two cents on what traits make a small business owner successful.   “Have nerve, guts. That’s what it takes.”     What do you think? Just starting out? What questions do you have about how to kick-off your awesome business idea?  Share in the space below :-)

      We couldn't help but be curious when we heard that brothers Adam and Shaun Lee quit their day jobs to make oil-can guitars. We had to hear their story.   Like many entrepreneurs, they decided to run a Kickstarter campaign to help them get their company, Bohemian Guitars, off the ground. Never in a million years did they guess they would raise 168% of their original goal, or struggle with fulfilling the perks they promised their backers. Here they share with us their lessons learned running a crowdfunding campaign and partnering with famous musicians like Hozier.   We'll let Adam and Shaun take it from here...       Name: Adam & Shaun Lee Business: Bohemian Guitars Started: 2012   You both grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa. How did you end up starting Bohemian Guitars in Atlanta?   Johannesburg has one of the highest crime rates in the world, so our parents moved us to Atlanta when

Your "elevator pitch" is the way you quickly and concisely describe your business or services, say, in the few seconds it takes to ride an elevator with a prospective client, investor or other interested party.   Having one can help a lot when opportunities knock, expectedly or unexpectedly.     What's yours? Share it with the Community below :-)

  Becoming successfully self-employed is no easy feat. However, after talking to so many of you about how you created your jobs and how you found your first customers, we passionately believe in the opportunity to tap into this powerful community to successfully make the leap to self-employment.   Whether you want to hone your skills as an independent contractor, kick off freelance work, work from home or sell on Etsy, your fellow members and their stories enable all of us to learn faster and realize success sooner with fewer mistakes along the way.   If you haven't checked out The Handbook for How to Be Self-Employed, Part Oneor Part Two that covers launching your business, stop right here and head there first (spoilers ahead!). In this section we'll be covering a few of the hardest questions we've had around growing a business on your own. That includes word-of-mouth advertising, making money and building a reputation.   The Handbook for How toBe Self-Employed: P

This discussion has been moved to "Do More with QuickBooks."

    As Thanksgiving approaches, we (in the United States, at least) tend to keep gratitude in our thoughts a little more than usual. That’s great! One of the many awesome things about giving thanks is what we think of as the “boomerang effect.” When you send some appreciation out into the world, more often than not, a little appreciation will come right back atcha’.   With this in mind, here are some ideas to noodle over this November – and beyond. Don’t be fooled into thinking only big gestures matter when it comes to giving thanks. A little effort really does go a long way.   Thank your customers!   Plenty of our community members have shared tips for reminding customers how much you value them (this post has lots of great ideas). Here are eight ways entrepreneurs can say, Thanks for your business!   Offer a surprise gift with a minimum purchase Provide no-charge delivery for a minimum order or for any referral Create a challenge or contest and reward

  Welcome to Tune-In Tuesday, our musical tribute to some aspect of your busy entrepreneurial life! This week, we’re sharing songs in the key of gratitude. When you work for yourself, the constant pressure of running your own business can be overwhelming. That’s why we’re reminding you to take a timeout for thankfulness (even though your to-do list never takes a break). We hope these hand-picked tunes will help you get your gratitude groove on! "Thank You For The Music" - Abba Thank You For Being A Friend" - Andrew Gold "In My Life" - The Beatles “Gracious” - Ben Howard "Thank You For Loving Me" - Bon Jovi "Thank You for Being a Friend" - Cynthia Fee “Alright” - Darius Rucker "Thank You" - Dido "I Have You To Thank" - Gavin DeGraw "Thank You" - India.Arie "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" - James Taylor "Thank You" - Johnny Reid “Everything is Fine” - Josh Turner “I'm Alive” - Kenny Chesney (featuring Dave Matthews Band) “Praying” - Kesha “What a Wonderful World” - Louis

How about a subscription to an industry guru's webinar? An upgrade to your favorite app? A much-needed day off and a spa treatment? Something else entirely?   Share your wish list with us here!

Most organizations will focus on tangable and material/labor costs, however “Do You Know the Cost of Stress to Your Organization?”  

    What do silver earrings, coconut-oil candles, vintage lamps, Earl Grey soaps and beer-can amps have in common? They are just a handful of the countless products made and sold by some highly creative members of our QB Community. These determined folks have figured out how to turn a simple idea into a bona fide business venture. No one says it was easy (it wasn’t!). Yet each and every one of these entrepreneurs is committed to doing whatever it takes to run, and grow, their own business. Want to learn more about what it takes to turn your inspiration into a product – and then into a sale? Read on. For Eric Szeto, Business Is Sweet -- Just Like His Colorful, Delectable Homemade Macarons Dirk Franklin’s “Drink Daddy” Keeps Drinks in Your Glass, Not on the Grass Jose Estela Found His Groove Hand-Tooling Gorgeous Leather Goods Making Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Connects Karla McNeil-Rueda to Home Amps and Speakers Made From Beer Cans? That’s Music to Adam Wegener’s Ears Beyond Cud

         What do homemade macarons, a drink caddy, leather wallets, ethically-sourced chocolate and beer-can amps have in common? Two things. First, these are all products you’ll find for sale at the QuickBooks Connect Bazaar (November 15-17). Happy shopping, everyone! Second, all these products exist thanks to some highly creative and very determined entrepreneurs. Like so many of you in our QB Community, these folks figured out how to turn a simple idea into a bona fide business. Want to learn more about what it takes to turn your inspiration into a product? Read on! For Eric Szeto, Business Is Sweet -- Just Like His Colorful, Delectable Homemade Macarons Dirk Franklin’s “Drink Daddy” Keeps Drinks in Your Glass, Not on the Grass Jose Estela Found His Groove Hand-Tooling Gorgeous Leather Goods Making Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Connects Karla McNeil-Rueda to Home Amps and Speakers Made From Beer Cans? That’s Music to Adam Wegener’s Ears Beyond Cuddly: Sarah Lin’s

  We know managing expenses may not be your absolute favorite task of the week (or the month … or the year … ). We also know having your books in order helps you cut business costs, lower your tax bill and put more money in your pocket in the long run. In other words, carefully and regularly managing your expenses throughout the year is really, really important.   That’s why we’ve asked two accounting whizzes to help us understand how to track expenses without hassle or heartache – and save gobs of money to boot. Robert Stewart and Ryan Walsh are both self-employed accountants who specialize in helping people who work for themselves. Ready? Here we go!   Tip #1: Embrace accuracy   The single most important part of managing your expenses is knowing exactly where all your money is. Whether you manage your own expenses or rely on a professional accountant, your books should be 100% up-to-date to generate an accurate Profit and Loss (P&L) or Balance Sheet.   R

  When you work for yourself, you get to do a lot of things your way. I’m eternally grateful for this freedom, which I’ve enjoyed for most of my professional life as a writer and editor. In the spirit of thankfulness, today I’m reflecting on what “doing it my way” means to me. This morning I got up in the dark (unusually early for me), pulled on my pink fluffy bathrobe and read the paper at the kitchen table. As my caffeine buzz kicked in, my bathrobe and I commuted to work. My daily commute is 14 steps down a flight of stairs into my office/art studio. Okay, technically it’s my office/art studio/husband’s jam room/son’s bike storage unit/tool shed. It’s also my guest room, if you consider an air mattress on the floor a guest room (I do). Yeah, it’s a busy room. But here’s what I love about my office. First, it’s downstairs, which means I can physically and mentally separate myself from my work. Second, I can let things get as messy as I want. Believe me, I do. Right now, it loo

    When you sell goods or products, establishing a relationship with a trusted, reliable supplier is critically important. But it can be daunting to even find, let alone work with, a vendor who can supply packaging and printed materials or even manufacture the product itself. Fortunately, plenty of folks in this community know what it takes to navigate the sometimes-tricky world of suppliers – and how to build a long and happy relationship in the process.   1. I need a vendor. Now what?   When it comes to running your own business, nothing beats talking with other entrepreneurs to help you solve a problem. That’s certainly true when it comes to finding a supplier. Here’s how Basik Candle Co. founder Travis Troyer puts it:   “I love sharing information and ideas with other business owners. Bouncing ideas off of other ‘makers’ has been one of my biggest resources. For example, I spent months trying to find and source things like high quality, reinforced black c

Some say there's a perfect time to send out invoices so that you get paid easily and on time. For example, send them 10 days to two weeks after service. What's true for you?   Frustrated by Late Payments? Some Tips for Tracking Down Your Dollars   Share what's worked (and what hasn't) in the space below!

Hello I'm new. I've looked all over the website and cannot find a place to introduce myself. I've searched the help and support box but, I cannot find the link to introduce myself. I don't have a desktop. All I have is an Android phone. Can somebody please post the link? Thank you David

Someone once said - "Feedback is the breakfast of champions." Personally, I think that pancakes, crispy bacon and maple syrup are the breakfast of champions. However there's no doubt that giving people feedback is absolutely vital to ensure a motivated team who'll deliver results. One of the top three factors that motivate people at work is - feedback. The majority of people want to know how they're doing at work. They want to know when they're doing well and they want to know when they could be doing better. There are a small minority of people who don't want feedback at all; but let's face it; you don't want these people on your team anyway.   Okay, so I'll accept the fact that many people don't want to hear bad things about their job performance, however it depends on how they hear the bad news that'll effect their motivation at work. I'm sure that you'd want to know whether you were doing your job okay - I'm sure I would.   Like many people, I can be very sensitive to ne

  What do custom gift boxes, Earl Grey soaps, smoked seasoning, women’s athletic wear and funky hats have in common? Two things. First, these are all products you’ll find for sale at the QuickBooks Connect Bazaar (November 15-17). Happy shopping, everyone! Second, all these products exist thanks to some highly creative and very determined entrepreneurs. Like so many of you in our QB Community, these folks figured out how to turn a simple idea into a bona fide business. Want to learn more about what it takes to turn your inspiration into a product? Read on! Joanna Misunas Packs Every Sojourn Box with Love -- and Local Artisanal Delights Alana Rivera Grew Etta + Billie From a Side-Gig to a Full-time, Wholesale Success Kirk Wells Had a “Crazy” Idea for a New Business. Trust Us: It’s Smokin’! Kate Nowlan’s GRACEDBYGRIT Designs Help Empower & Protect Athletic Women Hats Off to Andrew Wickens and His Globally Inspired, Ethically-Sourced Caps    

I learned very early on that small gestures can go a long way.   When I had to work on Saturdays at an office in Japan, I spent some of my own money to bring in food - people appreciated it because otherwise there would have been nothing. At my first restaurant job, the owner always cooked us a meal personally at the end of the day and made sure we all sat down to eat together as a team. I often tried to bring my staff samples of coffee from other stores I visted on my weekends so they would get a better understanding of the industry as a whole and know I was thinking about their growth.   All small costs that had long-term impact. How about you?