Business Discussions

 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

Trying to understand personal property tax for business in Wa state. Do I list every paperclip, file folder and packs of copier paper? Or just big things  like desks and shelves? 

I have small consulting agency, and I understand that I need good website for my clients. I found the freelancer and he tell me that it will cost around $1500. Than I found another variant, it is to use professional theme for creation, for example from templatemonster - https://www.templatemonster.com/ there are many good templates and themes. I like something like this - https://www.templatemonster.com/wordpress-themes/63375.html it is theme for WP. How do you think it is good chose? And another question, can I make all this work by myself? Or I need to find some help?

We want to track orders at trade shows then import back into our QB Premier file at HQ. Is there any applications that allow for this? I know you can use a couple of mobile apps (like QB mobile app) that interface with QB online but we are using Quickbooks Premier Manufacturing so this would not work for us.

  If you’re an accountant or a bookkeeper, you’re so good at number-crunching you can probably do it in your sleep. As a finance professional, you know that plenty of small business owners don’t have the time, skills or inclination to track every one of their dollars and cents with accuracy and precision. That’s why they hire you!   Of course, entrepreneurs aren’t alone in this lack of interest and understanding about money matters. Financial Literacy Month (FLM) was created to help address this nation-wide concern. For accountants, FLM is a 30-day opportunity to spread awareness about the importance of financial literacy and to give it a boost, both for your current and prospective clients.   Here are four strategies to consider for this FLM and beyond.   Offer some free services. Everyone, not just business owners, benefits from better understanding their finances. Spread the word about FLM by offering a free introductory workshop or seminar about the servi

Hey, it's Coach Julie from the Momentum to $1 Million group right here in the QuickBooks community! If you've got a burning business question...or just feeling a bit burned out and need a little boost, I'm in the M2$1M group RIGHT NOW for a real-time chat about whatever's on your mind, so click over and see you there!! J. 

Hey, it's Coach Julie from the Momentum to $1 Million group right here in the QuickBooks community! If you've got a burning business question...or just feeling a bit burned out and need a little boost, I'll be in the M2$1M group in just a few minutes for a real-time chat about whatever's on your mind - today at 11 AM Pacific/2 PM Eastern. See you there!! J. 

QB Community members love exchanging ideas, insights and inspiration. Not yet a member? Click HERE to register, and join the conversation today!   Crowdfunding sites like Indiegogo and Kickstarter can help launch new products with the help of a few (or a few thousand) investors. Some enterprising entrepreneurs, like the ones featured below, rely on crowdsourced money to bring to market eco-friendly products designed to generate profits and help make the world a better place. All of the following campaigns were successfully funded between 2012 and 2017. We checked in on them to see where they are today. Read on -- and get ready to be amazed!     Product: WakaWaka Portable Light and Power Founders: Maurits Groen & Camille van Gestel Year launched: 2014 Funding/backers: Raised $296,588 from 2,257 backers on Kickstarter What is it? WakaWaka means “shine bright” in Swahili, which is a perfect name for this solar-powered portable light and power pack. Globally, more

Many consumers today are willing to pay more for sustainably produced goods (see: Why Green Business is the New Cash Crop), so it’s no wonder businesses are eager to brand themselves as being some shade of green. As a small business owner, you know there’s no shortage of eco-terms (see: Defining Eco-Business Terms), eco-certifications and eco-credentials to consider when you’re choosing a supplier, looking for a manufacturer or branding your own product or service.   In the comments section below, tell us:     Here are some of the eco-terms we see most often: Sustainable Environmentally-friendly/conscious Green Eco-minded Recycled Upcycled

March was Women’s History Month, which gave us a chance to shine the spotlight on some of the amazing women business owners in our community and beyond. On April 10th, we acknowledge Equal Pay Day*. The date itself is a somber reminder of the significant gender-based pay-gap in the United States, since the date marks how far into 2018 a woman needs to work to earn what a man was paid in 2017. Based on 2016 U.S. Census data, women make 80 cents for every dollar a man earns, and moms earn even less -- 70 cents for every dollar paid to a dad.   The bad news gets even worse when we consider ethnicity, with African-American women averaging 63 cents on the dollar, Native American women bringing in 57 cents and Latinas getting only 54 cents for every dollar earned by a white, non-Hispanic man. Asian-American women average only 87 cents.   These grim statistics got us wondering:      Thanks for sharing your experiences in the space below.   (*