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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

  Happy Wednesday Community! Have you noticed how TikTok has now influenced every other social media platform to create their own version of short form content? Well, I came across this article from Sprout Social the other day on LinkedIn that emphasized that short-form video format is here to stay and worth investing in for the long term. It also shared 8 ways in which you can get more from your short-from video strategy and I wanted to share these with you all. Let’s take a look!   Start  by doing your research Don’t be afraid to experiment Schedule your videos Reuse videos across platforms Find the right content mix Lean into your community Leverage content that humanizes your brand Engage, engage, engage!   Investing in short-form content is definitely worth it for the long run. Start getting inspired by scrolling through your social media feeds and seeing what appeals to you! If you’ve already been building out your strategy, please share with us w

Are you looking for another sales channel to sell your products? Well, you are in luck! Hi, there, and welcome back to our Discussion page! Today, I will be sharing this article from our QuickBooks Blog about popular indirect sales channels. Let's see what they had to say:   Online MarketplacesAmazon, eBay, Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, and similar platforms are examples of online marketplaces. Two benefits of this are that you have a bigger pool of customers to reach, and this can assist with reducing marketing costs.   DistributorsAlthough they are mainly a wholesale business, distributors can save you money on hiring and training costs. Also, you could have the ability to reinvest in your business because there is no need to maintain a retail location.   Foreign DistributorsThis gives your company the ability to access a new customer base. Also, foreign distributors focus more on custom formalities and paperwork, which allows you to focus on other operations.   Out

Before you switch over to weekend mode, I've got an article for you I came across on entrepreneur.com. It shares some great info about increasing your brand awareness and credibility. Let's take a look...   Stand outFeatures and ratings from big names can certainly make you stand out, but it can also be done more simply. Social proof, for example clout, presence, network, and searchability all work together to increase the probability of gaining authentication of your social platforms.   Influencer marketingIt's a popular notion in today's day and age, and those with the title do just that - influence. Another way to increase your brand awareness and credibility is to work with influencers. You and the individual can work out a deal for them to mention, or better yet, show them using your product or service and relay how great it is. Potential customers will often think, "Well if they're using it, it must be good!"   How toNow you may be thinking, "This is all great

Happy Wednesday Community! Today I wanted to touch base on the added benefits that continuous learning brings us in our adult lives. Continuous learning doesn’t have to be as extensive as adding another degree to your plate, but it can be something such as getting certified in a new subject, attending a webinar, reading up on a new topic, etc. This is anything that fills your knowledge base just a little bit higher every time. I wanted to share with you some benefits this can bring to you that I found from a blog post from accu data here. Let’s take a look!   Employees can develop new skills that will benefit the company. Continuing education opportunities can improve employee retention. You can advertise continuing development opportunities to prospective new hires. Continuing education may be required for legal compliance. Ongoing training empowers your organization to stay up-to-date with current trends.   I believe the benefits from this are huge and I found these

I am setting up a multi member LLC for a rental home.  Any suggestions on necessary chart of accounts for this type of business?

Hello Community! Today we will be talking about cash flows. According to this article in the QuickBooks Blog, having a positive cash flow is important for the success of your business. It helps make sure you can pay bills, buy equipment and inventory, Invest in new growth opportunities, & repay debt. In a cash flow statement, you will notice that there’s 3 different key types or sections. Let’s take a look at what these are:   Operating: An operating cash flow includes cash from core business activities that involve the sale or production of your goods or services. For example a customer payment, an inventory purchase, or payroll. Investing: Investing cash flow is money you spend on fixed assets such as equipment. It can also be cash you bring in from selling equipment. Financing: This is the money you pay or receive from lenders, investors, or other creditors.     It’s important to remember that cash flow statements provide valuable insi

  Do you want people to remember what you're saying? Look no further! Inc.com shared this article about three simple steps that make every speech unforgettable. Here is what they had to say:   Make no more than three main points.According to scientists, humans can only keep three to five items simultaneously in the short term. So when explaining complex situations, condense them into more straightforward points when communicating.   Explain the same concepts in multiple ways.The keys are to give a straightforward explanation, follow it up with a metaphor, and end with a real-world example. The author shared this.   The fact: When demand is greater than supply, prices rise, and when supply is greater than demand, prices fall. The metaphor: Illustration of a village marketplace where there's only one baker selling bread, and then three other bakers open up booths. The real-world example: Noticed that when the economy slows, prices at the pump often go down

I am looking to find a peer that is in or has a client in the locum, or professional staffing services industries that I could collaborate and share best practices with.

Hello All! Welcome, Welcome to our Business Discussion segment! Today, I want to reach out to new business owners. Now that you are more knowledgeable about how a business works, are you familiar with business vocabulary? Below, I have listed some business English vocabulary words guaranteed to be spoken in offices, between companies, or even in international languages. Building your business vocabulary allows you to better communicated vital thoughts and concepts to others in the business environment.     Unique selling proposition differentiates a product or service from competitors. Commodity-product that can be traded or sold in large quantities Opportunity cost- the loss of choosing one action over another. Forecast- predicts various business functions. Lucrative- total money spent is more than what is received. Make redundant- dismiss for economic reasons. Merger-joining of two or more companies to make one standard company.   These are just a f

Welcome to the Business Discussion board, ladies and gentleman. Today I'm stopping by to share an article from the QuickBooks Firm of the Future site that outlines how to improve client, customer, or even just business relationships as a whole. Here's what the writer had to say...   Types of business relationships Network: Within the business realm, network relationships are those that are made up of colleagues and other connections that open opportunities. Internal: These types of relationships consist of employees and contractors who help the business run. External: External business relationships are those made between you and your client who benefits from your product or service.   Now that you know what kind of relationships there are within a business, here are a few pointers on how to improve them:   Systematize everythingEverything around us functions by way of systems, so business shouldn't be any different. "A system is a standard pro

Welcome back to another Business Discussion chat. Today I want to share a few points with you that can be considered hard lessons to learn in the business world. Here are a few that you may have experienced before or can prepare for in the future.   You will have bad days. Breaks are so important and necessary. Be "ok" with failing. Imposter syndrome is real. You can't do everything. What got you here, won't get you there. As your success grows, not everyone will go with you.   These are just a few lessons that can be hard to learn in the business world. While difficult to go through, they're not reasons to give up. Keep pushing forward on your road to success! What are some lessons you've learned along the way as a business owner? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Have you ever thought about hosting an event for your business? This may sound like a lot of preparations, resources, time, and money, and it could depend on your budget and other factors, but there are many benefits to doing so. Our Resource Center shared some reasons why it is worth it. Here are my top four that were mentioned:       Brand Awareness-this opens the door to interacting with potential customers and establishing meaningful connections through your product and services. Network opportunity-it was mentioned that the ultimate reason why people love to show up to events is to connect with like-minded individuals. This could also open up a relationship where your business could expand in a way you didnt think. Creating a sense of community- everyone wants to feel like they belong or are part of a community that cares for them. Know your audience better- how can you target an audience if you are not sure what they want? Well, this is the key. Knowing this and

  Happy Wednesday Community! Have you been wanting to change your current social media strategy or simply try something different? If so, then you’re in the right place. Today I want to go over a topic that I came across on my linkedIn this morning: Experimentation when it comes to your social strategy.   This could be a new social media network or feature which you can then determine if it’s effective for your target audience. Experimentation can also reveal faster ways to reach your goals, help you avoid costly mistakes and uncover new information about your audience.   Here are 7 steps to running a social media experiment according to Sprout Social:   Formulate a hypothesis Choose the right type of social media experiment Select your metrics and the network you want to test Define the duration of the social media experiment Select your variables and control Conduct the social media experiment Analyze and share the results of your experiment   Do you have

Taxes can be... taxing. I recently read a new article posted on the QuickBooks Blog that offers a tax preparation checklist for small businesses. If you want to get the upper hand on tax season, let's take a look at what it says.     Understand the types of business taxes Income tax: Taxes paid on the profits made by the company. Estimated tax: Quarterly tax payments that may be required. Excise tax: Additional taxes on certain goods and services. Self-employment taxes: Social Security and Medicare for earnings. Employment taxes: Social Security, Medicare, and federal unemployment taxes.   Know what business tax forms you need to file Schedule C: Return with Form 1040 to report income as a sole proprietor. Schedule K-1: Use to report income for pass-through entities. You will need to complete Schedule K-1 as an owner of an S corporation or partnership 1099-Misc: Use to report rental income paid to landlords or gross proceeds paid to attorneys. 1099-NEC: Us

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

Every once in a while, we can all use a pick-me-up. If you haven't heard it today or in a while, keep pressing on! I have a few of my favorite quotes that hopefully will inspire you as well or motivate you further. Here it goes!   Martin Luther King, Jr."You will never be completely ready. Start from wherever you are."   Mark Twain"If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door."   Robert Frost"Fall seven times and stand up eight."   John C. Maxwell"Motivation will almost always beat mere talent."   Norman Ralph Augustine"Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell 'em, 'Certainly I can!' Then get busy and find out how to do it."   C.J. Hayden“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”   Feel free to get a sticky note, add your favorite quote, and place it in a spot where you can constantly be reminded and let that drive you! As always, be safe and take care my Community Family!

Does anyone have a pricing template base on number of transactions. I need to give a new client a price quote for my services. Thanks

Hello Dear Community, Hope you are doing fine. I'm the founder Prybox Technologies a B2B start-up based out of Virginia. My startup helps businesses track their purchase orders in real time. The goal is to reduce the manual effort of following up with the suppliers through automation.  I wanted to understand if this is a useful tool for businesses in this community.  

Do you have over 5,000 emails, half of which are not business-related? Many of them are ads, and let's be honest, you only go through some of them. Right now, I'm running out of storage for my Gmail account, and the majority are ad-related.  Steve Strauss with USA Today says it's time for business owners to ditch emails and start texting customers instead. "Between unopened emails, unanswered emails, online newsletters you signed up for – and ones you didn't, flagged mail, junk mail, and other unwanted messages, the fact is, email has become a burden."The approach to texting consumers may be unusual, but it looks promising. Below is a summary of some collected data:   Text marketing campaigns can have up to a 98% open rate. Text reminders result in 40% fewer missed appointments. And businesses generate two times more leads by turning missed calls into text conversations.   The fact is people are more likely to see a text than an email, and missing an appointment or inv

Have any of you seen the movie "The Help"? It's one of my all-time favorite movies and one of the main characters uses the affirmations, "You is kind, you is smart, you is important." What we say to ourselves and about ourselves really impacts our daily lives and thoughts. Here are a few affirmations to remind yourself of to help grow your business...   "I am capable of achieving even my wildest dreams." "I will overcome any challenges I face on the way to achieving my dreams." "I have what it takes to be the most successful version of myself." "My failures do not define me." "My business has a positive impact." "I believe in myself." "I am in alignment with my purpose and path." "Every step I take is a step closer to success in my business."   These affirmations are sure to serve as helpful, positive reminders of what you can do when sometimes it may feel like you can't. You got this! What are some things you do to help you stay motivated? Let's chat in the com

We are just starting to use QBO for an auto repair shop and we are looking for a way to incorporate the concept of Work Orders into the mix.  Each job we do is described by a Work Order.  The Work Orders are aligned to Customers (each customer can have 1 or more Work Orders) and technicians track their time against the Work Orders.  Is there a way to model this within the tool? For extra credit, we'd also like to be able to have a list of cars and then associate specific cars with customers and/or Work Orders.  Is it possible to do this? 

Hello Community! You've reached the Business Discussion page and I'd say you’re ready to discuss... business! Today I want to share an article I found posted on the QuickBooks Resource Center that outlines some tips for marketing a service based business.   Marketing is important for sales as we all know, and marketing for a product can be a breeze. But how do you achieve the same when what you're selling is a service? Service-based business owners, this one's for you! Here are a few pointers to recall the next time you're working on a marketing campaign...   Reel In Customers With IncentivesHaving a hard time reaching new customers? This may be the perfect time to offer incentives. Incentives can come in many forms such as, a giveaway, coupons, discounts for new customers. Be mindful of where you need your prices to be to still profit but be prepared for a growth spurt! There are also several providers available that will help you distribute your incentives to

 Hello, I'm hoping someone can give me guidance to my problem I'm running into. When I receive my Net Payout from DoorDash and UberEats Merchant, I use the "Match Deposit" to my undeposited funds account for which the payouts are affiliated with. Everything matches fine, my issue is how to I then add the deposit to my Income account I have named "Other Sales" for P&L Purposes. I have tried many different ways, but always unable to get it right.  We use daily Journal entries and our DD and UE sales from each day go into our undeposited funds account. Once the payout is received I can get everything to match up. I need help moving the funds to an income account. Hopefully I do not sound redundant, any help would certainly be appreciated!