Business Discussions

Hello ladies and gentlemen! Thanks for joining us here in the Business Discussion area of the Community. Today I'm dropping by to share an article from sfgate.com that talks about the importance of your target audience as well as how to find it. Let's take a look."A target audience is a specific group likely to be interested in your company's products or services. These individuals share certain characteristics, such as demographic and psychographic traits, that make them the most probable purchasers of your offerings."Identifying your target audience allows you to: "Tailor your marketing messages to meet your audience's specific needs, wants, and characteristics." "Increase the cost-effectiveness of your marketing efforts by focusing resources on the most likely buyers." "Strengthen customer relationships by engaging with them on a more personal and relevant level." How to find your target audience: Conducting Market Research Utilizing Tools and Resources Identifying Target Audienc

Welcome back to the Business Discussion board! Today I'm stopping by to share a list of a few common mistakes small businesses make for you to keep in mind...   Not knowing your competition Constant Self-promotion Setting unrealistic goals Not strategizing Not checking for grammatical errors Not measuring your efforts No interaction with customers Not too painful! But keeping these fresh in your mind will certainly help in daily small business life. What would you add? What's a mistake that you made that you wish someone would have told you about? Let's talk about!

Hello, ladies and gentlemen. Thanks for tuning in for another segment of the Business Discussion page. Today I'm sharing an article from forbes.com that offers some pointers on how to successfully tell your brand's story. Include the elements of good storytelling. Character(s), tone, plot, etc. Be relatable. Showing even the not so great aspects of your story allows for a deeper human connection. Niche down. Don't be everything to everyone. Cater to your specific audience. Test your story. "Write a few variations of your story and review them internally. After choosing your favorite options, run them past a focus group." Show and tell. "We love written brand stories, but the future of the web is in multimedia content. Once you’ve honed your story, it’s time to share it in multiple formats." Live your story. Skepticism is alive and well in today's day and age. Your story shouldn't be full of claims you can't backup. Incorporate feedback. "You don’t need to change your brand story every

Hello again! Welcome to the Business Discussion board. I've previously shared a few ways to answer tough questions and how deal with difficult situations as a small business owner. This post is a new edition - how to politely respond to people asking for your product or services for free. Here are a few ideas:  "Thanks so much for considering me! Please follow this link to the services and price packages that I offer. Let me know if you have any questions."   "This sounds like a great opportunity, thank you for thinking of me! Are you able to confirm that this is a paid opportunity?"   "I appreciate you thinking of me for this opportunity. Unfortunately, I'm unable to take on any unpaid projects at the moment but I'll get back to you if that changes!"   "Thanks for reaching out! I typically charge a flat fee for this kind of advice so I'm unable to answer this via DM but I'll drop a link below so you can schedule a consultation with me."   These are just a few

Hello everyone! Thanks for taking a minute to check out the Business Discussion page. Today I'm sharing an article from the QuickBooks Blog that offers a few options to improve your business efficiency during times of economic downturn.   If you've read any of my posts in the past, you know I'm a fan of starting off with a definition. Business efficiency can be defined as, "how effectively a company uses it's resources (money, labor, materials) to produce an output (products and services)." It also answers the following questions: How productive are my employees? How much waste does our company produce? Are we seeing a positive return on the tools, materials, and talent we invest in? There are several ways to gauge business efficiency. Here are a few of the main areas to focus on: Financial efficiency Overall profitabilityFixed asset turnoverReceivable turnoverInventory turnover Operational efficiency ManufacturingSupply chain managementCustomer serviceAccounting, finance, a

Good afternoon, Community! It's the end of another workweek and I'm stopping by to share a post from inc.com. This article shares insight about how leaders can ask better questions. I have a feeling asking better questions leads to receiving better answers. Let's take a closer look...   In order to ask better questions, you first need to be asking the right questions. Here are some focus points:   Navigating Complexity: Why are we doing the things that we are doing? How are others doing it? And could we do it a different way? Fostering Innovation: Thoughtful questions spark creativity and innovation. They challenge the status quo, inspiring you to think beyond conventional boundaries and explore new avenues for growth. Enhancing Decision Making: Strategic questions form the foundation of sound decision making. They prompt you to consider various perspectives, weigh alternatives, and make informed choices that align with your business objectives.   In addition to a

Hi friends. Welcome back to the Business Discussion board. Today I have a bit of insight to help you be more productive. Let's talk about how to deal with task paralysis.What is task paralysis you ask? Also referred to as overwhelm freeze, task paralysis is when your mind sees your to-do list as a threat. When we encounter threats, we either fight, flight, or freeze. With a larger to-do list the threat may be recognized as potential failure or letting others down.Here are some tips to help you unfreeze and tackle your tasks: Acknowledge your negative emotions. Think of ways to add reward and accountability to your task. Do something to increase your dopamine like listening to music while you're working or eating a snack before you get started. Move your body for a little while before you get started to get your mind out of the frozen state. Work in a different area. Start small with something that feels the most doable. Don't wait until you have "more time" or it "feels right." Starti

Hey Community! Today I want to talk about an article I read on the QuickBooks Blog. This particular post discusses ways to fund your business without relying solely on your own pockets. Here are a few examples:  Fundraising is a skill As a business owner, it's pretty safe to say you have a large skillset. One of those skills can actually be fundraising. This comes with practicing your pitch, taking advice on how to better convey your message, and creating documents to back up your statement. "Fundraising, like any skill, is one that can be learned, one that can be improved, and one that can be perfected over time."   Learning from "no""You either win or you learn. There's no such thing as losing." This is what the writer had to say about receiving the answer "no" when requesting money. Using no as an opportunity to learn and better perfect your approach.   People invest in people, not companiesBuilding your network and relationships is key to business ownership. Wh

Hello, Community! I hope you're doing well and ready for a great weekend. Before you leave for the day, I wanted to share an article from inc.com that talks about making your brand AI visible. Let's take a look at it...   SEO (Search Engine Optimization) hasn’t disappeared, but AI visibility is now the new layer of discovery. Here are five strategies to make sure your brand shows up in AI‑generated answers.   1. Write citation-ready content blocksYou want your content to be fact-dense and modular, meaning you’re prioritizing definitions and quick comparisons. Adding or converting to step-by-step guides and decision helpers gets your content noticed. You’re outlining how your audience can decide between their choices.   2. Strengthen your entity signalsAI models need to understand who your brand is. Align your brand name consistently online by using similar descriptions and categories when highlighting products or services and founders. You can build

Good afternoon! Welcome back to the Business Discussion board. Today we're facing a fear! Something that we do to ourselves that can limit growth, especially in a business ownership role. And that is limiting beliefs. Here's how to overcome them...   Change Your Relationship With FailureNot scoring the winning goal, not getting the promotion, going into debt, you get the idea of these few examples of what our structured ideas of failure looks like. Entrepreneurship forces you to re-arrange our relationship with failure. Rather than seeing it in the traditional sense, "failure" will look like: not being resourceful, being a poor leader, being too afraid to make mistakes, and not learning from those mistakes once they’re made. Remember, struggle is a necessary part of the process.   Identity Your Largest Fear and Face ItSay your biggest fear is actually starting your business; what better way than to dive in head-first? Register your business name and tell 5 people close to you

Welcome to the "Talk About Your Business Page"! We're happy to have you here. I'd love to share a great article from the QuickBooks Firm of the Future site that covers data analytics and how it can fuel your small business and mid-market growth.   Before doing a deep dive into analytics, you need to be able to answer a few questions about your business to make sure you're on the right track to begin with:   Are we focused on the right things? Is our quality where it needs to be? How are we doing financially? Where are our opportunities and challenges? Are our customers happy? Are our employees happy?   Once you've answered those questions and are satisfied with your answer you can move onto the business analytics.   One of the most important metrics to consider is the IRR, or Internal Return on Investment. This figure will tell you how attractive your business is to customers.   Here are a few other metrics to take a look at:   Unit economics

Hello Community! Thanks for stopping by. Today I'm sharing an interesting article I read posted on forbes.com. This write-up discusses mental fitness being the next frontier of leadership. Let's take a look...   Dr. Gareth Craze has spent his career at the intersection of behavioral science and leadership development. A psychosocial fitness coach, business school professor, and co-founder of Hard Mind Lab, a consultancy specializing in risk management and employee wellness in Australian heavy industry, Craze has coached leaders across industries on everything from workplace performance to executive resilience.   Mental health has rightfully become a central focus in professional life, but mental fitness represents something altogether different—and potentially more transformative for how we think about leadership performance today."Imagine two leaders with identical experience, judgment, and values," he says. "One is consistently well-rested, physically active, and prop

Are you losing money without realizing it? Many small businesses underestimate the impact of hidden costs on their bottom line. Inefficiencies such as duplicate processes, unmanaged subscriptions, and late payments can quietly drain thousands of dollars each year. In fact, a report from the National Small Business Association found that over 40 percent of small business owners admitted they did not fully track all expenses.   The good news is that awareness is the first step. By closely monitoring your cash flow, reviewing recurring expenses, and automating where possible, you can identify these leaks before they grow. Tools that consolidate financial data and provide actionable insights make it easier than ever to see exactly where money is going and where it can be saved.   Taking small steps, such as auditing subscriptions or renegotiating vendor contracts, can immediately improve your margins. Smart expense management is not just about saving money; it's also about f

I have got several leads coming through from my listing on QB ProAdvisor page...However, the last 2 or 3 were scams and I don't know what they are trying to get at but I can tell they are not straight up a business lead from someone trying to get help with their small business, or accounting help setting up QB.here is the lead I got as email message from the Proadvisor link... - emailed to me... Erica has contacted you from the QuickBooks Find a ProAdvisor directory.Phone:The message that Erica sent:Hi Don Good day My name is Erica Hubbard, I work as a manager at a construction company. We're looking for a professional bookkeeper as a consultant. Your experience would provide valuable guidance to our new project. I came accros your profile on pro intiut We will like to know your comfort time for a remote consultation on: January 12th January 13th January 14th If you are interested, please confirm. I'll send over more project details. Best regards, Erica HubbardReply Peop

So I'm and small auto shop and I cant find a way to manually enter the cost oof the part i sell on an invoice.a few things for youI don't have an inveorty as what i sell almost never repeats and i buy on an as needed basis.  

Hello everyone,I am about to start a home window screen mesh repair business:  You know, if a cat or dog scratches the screen mesh it needs to be replaced.  Sometime these screens get bent and need some hardware on them replaced as well.My question, in Pennsylvania, is the service I am about to offer--replacing the screen mesh--subject to PA sales tax?  My accountant says no but if I were to fabricate an entire new screen for a window then it would be subject to sales tax.  Can anyone confirm this?  I appreciate any info and thanks!

I am not an accountant, just a bookkeeper. Which is the best QB product to conduct my business keeping books for several clients remotely, with clients having different versions of QB?

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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 eve

A reliable supply chain can make day-to-day business feel more manageable. When products arrive on time and inventory levels stay balanced, everything else tends to run more smoothly. That’s why having a clear supply chain strategy matters more than ever, according to your QuickBooks Blog article. They continue to mention a few more things as we still unwrap below.    A strong approach starts with planning for the unexpected. Simple buffers, such as extra inventory, additional lead time, or backup capacity, can help prevent small disruptions from turning into major setbacks. These safeguards give businesses breathing room when things don’t go exactly as planned.   Working with multiple suppliers is another smart move. Diversifying suppliers reduces risk and creates flexibility, especially when delays or shortages arise. Pair that with demand forecasting, and businesses can make better decisions about what to order, when to order, and how much to keep on hand.   Cons

Happy Friday, Community, and Happy New Year! As we close out the week and look ahead to the rest of the year, many small business owners are thinking about how artificial intelligence will shape 2026. According to recent predictions from Forbes, AI is no longer just a nice-to-have tool. It is becoming a core part of how businesses operate, grow, and stay competitive.   One major shift is the rise of AI agents that can manage complete workflows, not just answer questions. From forecasting and scheduling to customer support and administrative tasks, AI is expected to handle more end-to-end processes, giving owners back valuable time. Another trend is the move toward industry-specific AI tools designed to solve real problems for niches like retail, accounting, and service-based businesses.   The article also highlights the growing importance of data quality. As AI becomes more powerful, clean and accurate records will matter more than ever. Businesses with organized financial an

Welcome back to the Business Discussion board! We're almost through the first week of 2026. The start of the new year is about starting fresh; a clean slate. With that in mind, I'm sharing an article from the QuickBooks Blog that discusses trying new pricing strategies in 2026.Pricing strategies are about finding the best price for products or services to make solid profits and stay competitive. Based on its goals, a business could choose a strategy like penetration pricing, value-based pricing, price skimming, cost-plus pricing, or competitive pricing.   Here are three key trends emerging for small businesses in 2026: AI-driven dynamic pricing: Artificial intelligence (AI) tools can use real-time analytics to adjust prices based on demand, inventory, and competitor activity. This can maximize revenue and profit margins quickly. Subscription or usage-based models: Many businesses are moving beyond one-time sales by packaging products or services into recurring

With the New Year arriving tomorrow, this Wednesday feels a little different. It is not just the middle of the week. It is the final pause before a fresh chapter begins. For business owners, this moment is decisive.   Before setting new goals or making big plans, it helps to take one last look at the numbers that carried you through this year. Reviewing cash flow, open invoices, and expenses today is not about judgment. It is about awareness. Your numbers tell the real story of what worked, what stretched you, and what deserves more attention going forward.   You do not need to have everything figured out before the clock strikes midnight. Even a short midweek review can bring clarity and confidence as you step into the New Year. It allows you to close out this year intentionally, rather than rushing past it. Tomorrow brings new opportunities, but today offers insight.   Take a few quiet minutes this Wednesday to reflect, review, and reset. The New Year starts stronger w

Good afternoon, folks. I hope everyone is doing great. Today I'm stopping by to share a post from the QuickBooks Blog. This post shares info about NOPAT - what it is and how to calculate it. Let's dive in...   NOPATNOPAT stands for Net Operating Profit After Tax. This formula is used to measure a business’s theoretical income after all taxes, interest, and expenses have been withheld. It's an important figure to know because it shows how much a company could make if it didn’t have any debt, or unlevered free cash flow. Additionally, it is a great indicator of how well a company uses assets to generate profits for core operations.   Operating ProfitOperating profit accounts for all gross profits earned through business operations before interest and taxes are deducted. Or to put it more simply, the amount left over after operating expenses get deducted from a business’s gross revenue.   FormulasThere are two formulas to choose from when calculating NOPAT for your bus

Have you ever wondered what the fastest-growing businesses in 2026 might be? I’ll be honest, I hadn’t given it much thought either until a Miami Herald article caught my eye this morning. It highlighted the small business sectors expected to grow the fastest next year, and it reminded me just how many new opportunities are opening up for entrepreneurs.    Here are the eleven business areas the article highlighted, along with a quick summary of why they are growing:   1. AI and Machine Learning ConsultantsBusinesses need help using AI safely and effectively, and demand is rising as more companies adopt automation and data-driven tools.   2. Cybersecurity ConsultingWith cyber threats increasing, every organization needs protection. Security roles are expected to grow significantly through 2034.   3. Cloud Infrastructure ConsultantsAs more companies move to the cloud, there is a growing demand for experts who can manage migration, data protection, and digital conn