Name : Reena Vokoun, Founder Business : Passion Fit Location : Mountain View, CA Launched : 2014   Reena Vokoun spent several years working in marketing, sales and business development for Fortune 500 companies such as Google, Yahoo, Reebok and GE before fully embracing her entrepreneurial dream. That’s when she boldly launch Passion Fit, a whole-person mindfulness and wellness company offering fitness classes, consulting and workshops.   Reena credits her Indian-American upbringing, her family life and her experiences both as a student and an employee as major influencers in her unique approach to Passion Fit. She’d witnessed her fellow students’ and colleagues’ struggles with being stressed out and overworked. She saw how a lack of work-life balance can negatively impact our mental, physical and emotional health. Today, Reena is motivated in business by her passion for educating others and helping them become healthier, more balanced individuals.   Reena will be selling her goods at the Bazaar at QB Connect 2018 in San Jose (November 5-7th). Click here to reserve your ticket today for this exciting event!         Hi Reena! Tell us how you started Passion Fit and about all the various components of your business.   I initially started Passion Fit as a YouTube channel offering health and fitness videos. I also blogged on topics such as fitness, nutrition, mindfulness, work-life balance and healthy lifestyles. Those channels helped me to build my brand and grow a strong following. Now, I've created signature fitness and dance classes that I offer locally in the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as wellness workshops and one-on-one consulting. I am often hired to do speaking engagements for companies, non-profits, universities, schools and the media as well. Currently I’m in the process of designing an activewear line of apparel and accessories, and I’m preparing to write my first book, hopefully in 2019.   Wow! You sound busy! What have you learned as you’ve grown your business?   I've learned that you need to really understand the needs of your target audience and build content, services and products that meet their needs. It’s also important that you market and message to clients in a way that speaks to them and addresses the challenges they may be facing.   I’ve also learned that I love to create and build content, concepts, products and services from the ground up that help people live healthier and happier lives. I strive to be authentic and unique in everything I put out in the market. The creative process and opportunity to help others really fulfills me personally and professionally.   What has been most challenging or surprising about starting and running your own business?   There can be rejections, roadblocks and lots of uncertainty when starting and running your own business. You have to be resilient, believe in what you're doing, trust your instincts and keep going, even when times get tough. If something doesn't work, you have to think creatively to find new solutions, try different outlets and stay laser-focused on your end goals.       Tell us about your “mindset” as a self-employed person.   As an entrepreneur, I have a fluidity between my personal and professional life because, in many ways, my company and brand are extensions of myself. New ideas and creativity strike me at different moments, and I try to embrace them when they come. However, I also try to be present for my family and friends and enjoy taking time out of my day to focus on others and meet their needs. This is why I think it's really critical to have balance. We all need to take time away from work to focus on family, friends and self-care but also have the flexibility to take a call or address something work-related when needed.   How are you gearing up now for the busy holiday season ahead?   I'm planning out my marketing campaigns, promotions and events around the holidays. I'm also hoping to launch my online store and new activewear line in time for Black Friday and the rest of the holiday shopping season.   What do you hope to gain from attending QuickBooks Connect?   First of all, I'm honored to have been selected to have my business featured at the QuickBooks Connect conference! At QuickBooks Connect I hope to build greater awareness around my company, meet fellow entrepreneurs, attend some sessions and listen to key speakers to network, learn, grow, inspire and be inspired!   We hope you’ll join us at QB Connect 2018 in San Jose. Already registered? Hop on over to our QB Connect group to get a head-start on connecting, sharing and learning!   Now it’s your turn QB Community members, how long did it take you to turn your idea into an official business? What steps did you take to make it happen?   Want to weigh in but not yet a QB Community member? Click HERE to sign up in a flash! ... View more

Name : Mitch Daugherty, co-founder Organization : Built Oregon & Little Boxes Location : Portland, OR Launched : 2014 Built Oregon, which owns Little Boxes, started as a storytelling venture by co-founders Mitch Daugherty (left) and Terry St. Marie. Their initial idea was to tell the stories of Oregon entrepreneurs via podcast and articles. A successful crowdfunding campaign and a few stories later, they realized they’d unearthed a goldmine of local consumer-product entrepreneurs. Mitch and Terry brainstormed about how to elevate and help these small, local businesses, and the current iteration of Built Oregon took shape. Now, after four years of operating as a nonprofit, Built Oregon has shone the spotlight on many of Oregon’s small consumer-product businesses (think: chocolate, kombucha, beer, coffee, hot sauce, jewelry and more) by offering an accelerator program and an annual festival. Another key promotional event is Little Boxes, a three-day, post-Thanksgiving shopping scavenger hunt where shoppers collect codes by visiting and purchasing from participating (small, of course) retailers. Then they enter the codes in the Little Boxes app for a chance to win prizes. We spoke with Mitch Daugherty about why shopping local really matters and how he and the board of Built Oregon take an entrepreneurial approach to running their nonprofit: They learn what their target market wants and needs and then provide it.   Hi Mitch! Tell us about your not-for-profit organization, Built Oregon. Built Oregon focuses on supporting, connecting and accelerating Oregon’s consumer-product companies. We do this through community events, providing access to resources and mentors, creating retail channel opportunities and by launching the nation’s first nonprofit consumer-product accelerator in 2019. How did you start this organization? About four years ago, we used Kickstarter to help us launch Built Oregon as a storytelling platform to talk about companies across Oregon. We raised enough money to launch the organization and secure the funding needed to write 80 stories, host 30 podcasts and develop 15 events. As we evolved, the focus became more about consumer products. In 2017 we recruited board members who could help us determine how this new organization could create impact in Oregon. We spent the past two years meeting and listening to the community and launching the Built Up Festival, a celebration of Oregon-made products.   Participants at this year’s Built Up Festival in Portland   One of your biggest events, Little Boxes, is coming up. Tell us about it and why it attracts shoppers to small businesses. Little Boxes is a community-focused shopping and discovery event that happens the weekend after Thanksgiving. The event is supported by an app that promotes and celebrates shopping small and local. The app gamifies the shopping experience -- every visit and every purchase from participating retailers earns the user chances to win prizes. Portland is a community that truly supports shopping local. There are a multitude of neighborhoods lined with local retailers and shops. Throughout the year, people support these businesses and, around the holiday season — when the huge retail push happens — it’s more important than ever to bring awareness about shopping locally. From huge sales and discounts to free shipping and the latest gadgets, big retailers dominate the PR/media cycle during the holidays. We see the Little Boxes digital engagement as a way to promote shopping local in a way that makes people pause and think about how they will spend their dollars. It creates a shared experience with thousands of other community members who are also playing the game. Instead of waiting in a massive -- and, likely, grumpy -- crowd at 4 a.m. on Black Friday, you can grab a locally brewed coffee and visit with friends in your neighborhood, all while getting the chance to win prizes.     Built Oregon supports the work of other entrepreneurs and makers. Why did you feel your community needed such an organization? There were a few reasons we founded Built Oregon, and those reasons have evolved the organization to what it is today. The initial reason was to build awareness of consumer-product companies, entrepreneurship and innovation across the state. At the time we launched, much of the media and consumer focus was on technology companies. After meeting and listening to many founders and support organizations, we realized that Oregon has a definite competitive advantage when it comes to consumer products. The advantage is based on an incredible legacy and is something we should support and amplify. The consumer-product industry provides entrepreneurial opportunities to a broad base of founders and offers many points of access into the business economy. Unlike the discrete skill set required to form a technology company, practically anyone can begin a food or product company -- from residents of rural towns to underrepresented communities in urban areas. We see our role as being a network providing connections to help these companies move forward. How do we do that? For one example, we have a program called “Bridges” that connects entrepreneurs of color to retail opportunities.     You say in your Manifesto that you approach this nonprofit work from the point of view of an entrepreneur. What does look like in your operations? Although most of us on the board come from entrepreneurial backgrounds and have served on a variety of boards and organizations, we knew we didn’t have all the answers. That’s why we have spent four years listening to and helping the consumer-product ecosystem. It was, and continues to be, critically important that the founders of these companies let us know what is needed in the ecosystem. In other words, you approach your small businesses like an entrepreneur would -- learning what the customers want in order to serve them best. They intimately know the challenges and opportunities ahead because they are grinding away every day. Our events, programs and future plans will always be based on what the founders tell us is needed most. Approaching it from this point of view helps to ensure we are doing something that will actually make a difference. Why is it important to shop local and support community business? There is a well known multiplier effect when shopping local. On average, 48% of each purchase at local independent businesses is recirculated locally. That means your dollar continues to get spent in the very neighborhoods where you are shopping during Little Boxes. In addition, events like Little Boxes create awareness around businesses and, hopefully, lead to more year-round support. What would you say to budding entrepreneurs just starting out or who are simply contemplating self-employment? Entrepreneurship is a struggle that is rewarding and debilitating at the same time. Be willing to ask for help and create a support network of peers to help you through the challenges. Look for a few key mentors who can help you navigate what you may not know. Launching a company can be so rewarding in the end, but the struggle early on is real. I think budding entrepreneurs need to realize how truly hard it is to start a company since media tends to glamorize the success and hide the mental toll. Now it’s your turn QB Community members, why is shopping local important to you? Want to weigh in but not yet a QB Community member? Click HERE to sign up in a flash! ... View more

  Names: Arun & Anne-Michelle Frances Business: Ohana Board Shop Location: San Jose, CA Launched: 2005   Arun and Anne-Michelle Frances opened their first skate and surf board shop in busy, bustling Silicon Valley. Why did this married couple opt for an urban location rather than, say, near the beach? Because Ohana Board Shop’s target market is overworked 9-to-5ers in the heart of the Valley.   Anne-Michelle and Arun, both former stressed-out, exhausted techies, built their brand to help customers reconnect with the passions and hobbies they abandoned due to work and family commitments. Ohana means “family” in Hawaiian, and the Frances fam, including their four children, are proud to run a family business built on a their deep commitment to ohana. Offering boards and also camps, lessons and camping/surfing trips, Arun and Anne-Michelle want everyone to feel part of a big, welcoming family. Their mantra? “Less egos, more amigos!”   Arun & Anne-Michelle will be selling their goods at the Bazaar at QB Connect 2018 in San Jose (November 5-7th). Click here to reserve your ticket today for this exciting event!     Hi Arun and Anne-Michelle! What is Ohana Board Shop all about?   It was Arun's childhood dream to have a shop that people could walk into and feel comfortable. No bad vibes, no attitude, just a place where beginners aren’t intimidated about asking questions that might be seen as dumb. We all start out as beginners when we try something new, and we believe helping each other get to the next level with a strong sense of community and support is the way to go.     We wanted our shop to be relaxed, with a family feel and a fun, laid back atmosphere. We serve our customers with good vibes and top-notch customer service. We've always shared this philosophy with our employees and emphasize the importance of treating people with respect, kindness and gratitude.       What’s one thing you know now that you wish you’d known when you were starting out in business?   Our business is so much stronger when we collaborate. As a husband and wife team, we often take on the responsibilities that each of us are good at without consulting with the other. Once we changed that outlook and began working together on all aspects of the business -- from hiring employees to jointly coaching our water sports day camps -- the entire business began to flourish.   What has been most satisfying about starting and running your own business?   The freedom to create our own schedule is the reason that we work so hard! We have four children, three of whom are in co-op schools that we volunteer at weekly, and one child we homeschool. When the forecast calls for beautiful weather, we bring in employees to staff the shop so our family can play hooky and enjoy time at the lake, in the ocean or at a skatepark. We travel where and when we want, and our business meetings, networking and product demonstrations all happen in our happy places.   What has been most challenging or surprising about starting and running your own business?   Employees have always been the most challenging and surprising aspect of running our business. No one cares about the business as much as we do, and it is so important to create a strong company culture for our employees to emulate. It's difficult to ascertain which employees are a good fit after an interview. However, we are getting better at the hiring process, and we are currently stoked with our staff!   Tell us about your “mindset” as a self-employed person.   We work hard, and we play hard. We are motivated to provide for our family. We love learning from others who have already been successful in business. When you are an entrepreneur, you are always a student. There is always a better, faster, more efficient way to do everything, from email marketing and social media to ecommerce and building brand awareness. In the end, being real with people, establishing relationships, creating strong connections, building our community and providing superior customer service makes us thrive and gives us the energy to do it over and over again.   How are you gearing up now for the busy holiday season ahead?   To have a successful holiday season, we are placing orders, setting budgets, calculating shipping times, managing social media and email marketing outlets and training employees! We are taking all of our Ohana-branded retail (apparel, hats, skateboard decks) online for easy purchasing, and we’re offering free local delivery during the season. We’ll also be adding our Ohana “experiences” (lessons and camps) to our website for purchase as holiday gifts. We love to host customer appreciation parties where we release our latest lines, host guests in our retail space and take time out of the crazy holiday rush to relax and just be.       What do you hope to gain from attending QuickBooks Connect?   We love QuickBooks Connect! This will be our third year attending, and we have learned so much valuable information for our business that is above and beyond any other conference or meeting we have ever attended. Each of the classes are designed for entrepreneurs and small business owners from the day-to-day operations all the way through to the big picture of the business, with everything in between. When we attend QB Connect together, we become stronger as a business and as a team.   We hope you’ll join us at QB Connect 2018 in San Jose. Already registered? Hop on over to our QB Connect group to get a head-start on connecting, sharing and learning!   Now it’s your turn   QB Community members, how long did it take you to turn your idea into an official business? What steps did you take to make it happen?   Want to weigh in but not yet a QB Community member? Click HERE to sign up in a flash! ... View more

  Name : Andrea Cwik Business : Bliss & Bale Location : Mountain View, CA Launched : 2015   When Andrea Cwik worked in corporate communications in Silicon Valley, she saw individuals and work teams regularly send and receive gift baskets. She learned that most of the items in these baskets ended up in the trash bin. Why? They were low quality or simply impersonal. Andrea had a big idea: What if she made gift boxes filled with things people actually wanted? Like fresh, local food items, beautiful artisan-made goods and even fancy tequila? ¡Sí, por favor! Today, as founder of Bliss & Bale in Mountain View, CA, Andrea loves helping her customers give personal, curated gifts to anyone from their mom to a corporate client. Goodbye, trash bin!   We spoke with Andrea about why she loves working for herself, and why she believes customer service is a really big deal.   Andrea will be selling her gift boxes at the Bazaar at QB Connect 2018 in San Jose (November 5-7th). Click here to reserve your ticket today for this exciting event!       Hi Andrea! Tell us all about your gift business, Bliss & Bale.   At Bliss & Bale we help businesses gift better. My customers are usually corporate clients or medium- to small businesses looking to gift their clients in a memorable way. I also have an ecommerce shop filled with a wide variety of gift boxes for every occasion and recipient.   After years of working in the corporate world, what motivated to start your own business? I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, and I’d been wanting to start my own business for a while. I didn’t know exactly what that would look like, but then I saw there was a big need in the market for really good gifts. In the gift basket industry, the baskets were filled with things the recipients didn’t actually want, so there was a lot of waste. I saw an opportunity to be environmentally conscious, and I wanted to give gifts people wanted to keep and not toss. I learned I could customize these gift boxes to a client’s brand, making the gifts and the giver more memorable.   I do this by hand selecting every gift and getting to know most of the vendors who supply the items I place in the boxes. Customization is huge for gifting, and it requires thinking about the recipient and the giver. For example, if we’re working with a photographer, we might send a box of cookies with the photographer’s logo on them as a thank you for booking packages or we might send a box to other vendors who referred business. I also work with really big clients like Apple, Google and Facebook.   What did it take to turn your idea into a real business?   I did a lot of research about starting a business and getting the right resources in place to set up my ecommerce shop. I went to the NY Now Convention, which is where I met many of the vendors I currently work with. I’ve also spent a lot of time selecting the products, curating them and getting the word out about my business.   The first marketing I ever did for Bliss & Bale was a giant email blast to all my personal and professional contacts that said I’m starting a new business and here’s my website. From there, things grew by word of mouth, and some bloggers approached me to feature me on their blogs. Instagram and Pinterest have been important marketing tools for me, as well.       What’s one thing you know now that you wish you’d known when you were starting out in business?   I wish that I’d put more time into the setting-up processes, especially with accounting. As a creative entrepreneur, the numbers were never the first thing that I would take care of. I’d leave it to the end of the year and then try to work backwards, which isn’t a great method.   What has been most satisfying about starting and running your own business?   I love being able to create my own schedule and set my own hours. I have three small kids, and I need a lot of flexibility to be an active mom and still run a business.   I’m excited about the continued growth of my business. A year ago I was still working at my corporate job. One year later, I’ve now gone full-time with Bliss & Bale, and my business has doubled. I’m finding myself evolving from solopreneur to hiring my first employee. We ran the business out of a room in our house for the first two years, but it grew so fast that it was just taking over everything. We remodeled our garage and made an actual studio for me.   What has been most challenging or surprising about starting and running your own business?   At first, the biggest challenge was getting the word out and getting the marketing done. That first email I sent out only got me so far -- after those orders were done I thought, “Now what do I do?” I decided to focus on networking events that were highly targeted to the clients I wanted to work with, and that decision helped me grow Bliss & Bale. Showing up in person, bringing my product and building up relationships really mattered.   How are you gearing up now for the busy holiday season ahead?   I have to increase my inventory, and now I’m realizing I have to increase staff, too. Predicting what I need and when I need it has been the second most difficult thing for me as I grow this business. In the past year, my business has grown so much, and I’m still learning what the inventory should look like from season to season.       What do you hope to gain from attending QuickBooks Connect?   I’m so excited for the opportunity to meet other entrepreneurs, to connect with other business people and to learn from the keynote speakers there. Of course, I’m excited to get my product out there and meet new clients!   Tell us one more thing we haven’t asked you about.   For me, customer service is first and foremost, and, sadly, it’s absent from some companies these days. When customers support a small business, they want personalized attention. I try to provide it for each and every customer by working with their budget and their brand. I take care of everything from building the gift boxes to handwriting the notes to shipping the gifts, often on a really tight deadline.   We hope you’ll join us at QB Connect 2018 in San Jose. Already registered? Hop on over to our QB Connect group to get a head-start on connecting, sharing and learning!   Now it’s your turn   QB Community members, how long did it take you to turn your idea into an official business? What steps did you take to make it happen?   Want to weigh in but not yet a QB Community member? Click HERE to sign up in a flash! ... View more

  Name : Janna Willoughby-Lohr Business : Papercraft Miracles Location : Buffalo, NY Launched : March 2013   Janna WIlloughby-Lohr says she was born to become an entrepreneur. She came up with her business idea for Papercraft Miracles while in college, and, in 2013, she launched her career as a full-time business owner. Now, Janna is busy enough at work to hire an employee, but she still makes time to give back to her community. Janna donates part of her profits to Gay & Lesbian Youth Services in Buffalo. She also serves on the board of the Buffalo/Niagara Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners where she speak to high school girls interested in becoming entrepreneurs.   Janna will be selling her Papercraft Miracles products at the Bazaar at QB Connect 2018 in San Jose (November 5-7th). Click here to reserve your ticket today for this exciting event!     Hi Janna! Tell us about your business, Papercraft Miracles.   Papercraft Miracles is an eco-friendly stationery and bookbinding studio. We specialize in decorative handmade papers, plantable paper, seed bombs and handbound books. We also provide graphic design services, book design and layout and we teach workshops. All of our products are handmade at our solar-powered studio with love and a little bit of magic. Our primary customer base is women between 25-55 and anyone who has a tactile nature combined with a deep respect for the environment.   What did it take to turn your idea into a real product?   I came up with the idea of my business while I was in college, and, in fact, I built my college major around it. Since the business is technically my art for sale, I didn’t need a prototype or anything like that, although I’m constantly working on new product development. Turning my idea into a functioning business took several years of real-life experience in running someone else’s business first.     What’s one thing you know now that you wish you’d known when you were starting out in business?   I wish I had known how integral the internet would become to the world and what Facebook would turn into. I would have spent much more time earlier on developing my website and online presence.   What has been most satisfying about starting and running your own business?   I love being able to change someone’s whole day with my art. Frequently someone will come up to my table at a show. They’ll be looking at the pieces, and then I start telling them about the products -- how they are made, what they are made from and the story behind their existence. Before I know it, they are smiling and sending out good energy in a way that they weren’t doing before. My company lets people own an experience they can enjoy again and again.   What has been most challenging or surprising about starting and running your own business?   The biggest challenge has been time management. I work at home with my two boys who are both under the age of four. The time I have available to work is really limited. I have grown my company as much as I can by myself, and I have just hired my first employee to help keep up with the constant demand for my products.       Entrepreneurs tend to think “differently” from people who work a traditional 9-5 job. Tell us about your “mindset” as a self-employed person.     When I had a 9-5 job, I was eager to stop thinking about work at 5 p.m. Working for myself, I am always thinking about my company, and I love it. Dreaming about the future possibilities and planning how to get there is such a fun adventure.   What do you hope to gain from attending QuickBooks Connect?   I hope to gain more customers, of course. I really hope to get contacts from across the country to increase my network of people to learn from. I’m always learning through talking to other people, and I expect to learn a lot at Connect!   We hope you’ll join us at QB Connect 2018 in San Jose. Already registered? Hop on over to our QB Connect group to get a head-start on connecting, sharing and learning!   Now it’s your turn   QB Community members, how long did it take you to turn your idea into an official business? What steps did you take to make it happen?   Want to weigh in but not yet a QB Community member? Click HERE to sign up in a flash! ... View more

  Names: Mallie Testerman & Stephen “Sven” Jobe Business: Sven Ceramics Location San Francisco, CA Launched : 2015   Before opening their own ceramics studio, couple Mallie and Sven worked full-time jobs in the San Francisco Bay Area. Sven worked in construction and landscaping, while Mallie, a writer, ran a non-profit. They decided to become full-time entrepreneurs in 2015, and they’ve never looked back.   Sven’s skills with clay had been honed over many years leading up to opening Sven Ceramics, and Mallie’s photography, writing and marketing skills help spread the word about the business and bring in customers from all over the world.   Today, Sven and Maggie sell their elegant, sturdy wares to cafes, restaurants and to private customers. However, they still make time to run an all-volunteer non-profit group that once a week distributes surplus food from local businesses to families facing hunger in San Francisco.   Mallie & Sven will be selling their pottery at the Bazaar at QB Connect 2018 in San Jose (November 5-7th). Click here to reserve your ticket today for this exciting event!       Hi Mallie and Sven! Tell us about your business, Sven Ceramics.   We make custom pottery and ceramics from start to finish. We formulate and create our own glazes and fire all the pieces manually in our gas kiln. We have two primary customer bases, as we make a lot of pottery and custom pieces for restaurants and cafes locally and internationally, as well as some corporations. We also make pottery for the home and for private consumers including commissioned dining sets. We sell our mugs online and at craft fairs, too.   What did it take to turn your idea into a real product?   Sven studied ceramics in school and was determined to turn his knowledge into a business. We combined our own personal talents and invested in the tools and machinery we needed to open a ceramics studio in our backyard. Sven started making the pottery, and Mallie used her writing and photography skills to create a website, open an Etsy shop and build an Instagram following. Eventually, Mallie began helping in the studio. Our skills and roles in the business have evolved along with our products.   What’s one thing you know now that you wish you’d known when you were starting out in business?   There are so many things we wished we’d known, yet we wouldn’t have changed any part of this journey. One of the greatest challenges in the beginning was knowing our own value and knowing how much to charge for our pottery -- especially for clients using our pottery in cafes and restaurants. We made a lot of decisions without sufficient experience, and we had to learn from those decisions. We’re still learning today. We never dreamed we’d be where we are now with our business, and every step along the way led to this moment.   What has been most satisfying about starting and running your own business?   It’s immensely satisfying knowing people around the world are serving food in homes and restaurants using pottery we created with our own hands. We feel so satisfied after every successful kiln firing or when we collaborate with a chef to make a new piece, create a new glaze color or pack up a large order and ship it out.   It’s deeply satisfying to come out on the other side of every obstacle we encounter -- and we’ve faced more obstacles than we ever anticipated. At the end of the day, the two of us have designed and created every aspect of this business, and we feel truly grateful for its success.           What has been most challenging or surprising about starting and running your own business?   One challenge we never expected was the multitude of factors that affect our product before it reaches its final form. For example, a change in the pH of the water could make the glaze run and drip off of every single mug of a 200 piece order. There are million things that can keep your ceramics from turning out how you expect. Navigating each new situation has actually changed us as people. We have had to become resourceful, creative in new ways, accepting of all situations, determined and patient. To some extent, these are skills all entrepreneurs must possess.   Entrepreneurs tend to think “differently” from people who work a traditional 9-5 job. Tell us about your “mindset” as a self-employed person.   For one thing, there is no leaving the business behind. You never leave your work behind at then end of the day. You have to invest so much time and energy and thought to make it successful. Sink or swim, it’s up to you. You’re always thinking about what’s next, how to make it better, what you can do that is new.   As an entrepreneur, your business is there when you wake up, and it’s there long after 5 p.m. when the mugs still need handling or the bowls need trimming. Even if it means being in the studio till midnight, you just do it. We don’t mind, because this is our business.   How are you gearing up now for the busy holiday season ahead?   It’s wild how early you have to start preparing for the holiday season. We start planning and making pieces in the summer. Thinking about making mugs for Christmas while it’s July is definitely something we never anticipated! Right now, we’re making pottery to sell online and at a few craft fairs during the holiday season, and we’re also are in the midst of filling restaurant orders.   What do you hope to gain from attending QuickBooks Connect?   We are looking forward to learning! We want to know about anything that can make our business more streamlined, efficient or successful. We’d also like to learn more about expanding our business and taking on employees. We’ve been branching out with the pieces we’ve been making, and we’ll have some new items like ceramic lamps to bring with us. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone in November!   We hope you’ll join us at QB Connect 2018 in San Jose. Already registered? Hop on over to our QB Connect group to get a head-start on connecting, sharing and learning!   Now it’s your turn QB Community members, how long did it take you to turn your idea into an official business? What steps did you take to make it happen?   Want to weigh in but not yet a QB Community member? Click HERE to sign up in a flash! ... View more

  With the holiday retail apocalypse upon us, many employers -- especially those in customer-facing businesses and in retail -- will be hiring temporary employees to get their companies through this crazy time of year. Hiring new people isn’t always an easy undertaking. There are job ads to place, interviews to conduct, onboarding and training to oversee, payroll updates … the list goes on. We understand the irony of taking on all the extra work of hiring new employees in order to lighten your workload by … yep, hiring new people.   We’re here to help with some quick tips for hiring high-quality temporary help over the the next few months so you can have a jolly holiday and a happy New Year!   1. Good help doesn't have to be hard to find   You may be tempted to go cheap on the job listing fees since you’re hiring temporary workers, but know that you will attract high quality employees if you spend a little cash to find them. An ad placed with a site like ZipRecruiter will be distributed to 100+ popular job boards ensuring visibility far and wide. Using job posting sites like LinkedIn or Indeed where people are actively looking for employment will quickly connect you to ready-to-work people. Extra bonus: You’ll be able to see their qualifications in their profiles.   Because you’re probably not providing benefits to this group of employees, offering incentives like employee discounts or an invitation to your company holiday party will make your business more attractive when vying for a limited pool of seasonal workers.   One more option? You might consider teaming with a third-party temp agency with pre-screened workers at the ready.   2. Conduct in-person interviews if possible   Meeting a potential hire in person is a necessity if they’ll be working with the public. Especially in retail, employees who are upbeat, positive and can keep a smile on their face even when things get crazy are the kind of team members you want over the holiday season. You’ll be able to assess this kind of quality far better in person than over the phone or through a screen on a video call.   3. Hire high school and college students   With school out for the winter holidays, some young adults may be looking to earn a little extra cash. But you need to know that hiring teenagers means following some very specific labor laws. If you hire your own child, you’ll be eligible for tax breaks, and there is no restriction on the hours they work. Workers age 16 and up also have no hourly restrictions, while those under 16 do. Read up and be informed about your state’s labor laws when it comes to hiring young employees.   4. Know the legal requirements for seasonal workers   Seasonal employees are subject to many of the same labor requirements as permanent, full-time employees such as tax withholding, Medicare contributions and, in some states, workers comp. Again, your state’s Department of Labor will have the specifics for how to treat and employ your seasonal workers.   5. Train them well and welcome them to the team   Even though your seasonal employees won’t be around for that long, you’ll want them to feel empowered as professional, knowledgeable representatives for your business. That means offering a thorough training and then assigning a long-term, senior employee as a point person for any questions or concerns. Encourage your full-time employees to treat the seasonal workers as legitimate teammates so morale stays high and all your team members can work together to best serve your customers.   6. Conduct an exit interview and complete an evaluation -- of your business   When the gig is up, ask your seasonal employees for insights into your business. Although they’ll have had limited exposure to how you operate your business, take their feedback seriously. It can only help you build and grow your business even more successfully ahead of the next hectic holiday season.   For further reading on this topic, visit QuickBooks Resource Center:   Legal Guidelines for Hiring Under-18 Workers What You Need to Know About Hiring Short-Term Employees How to Motivate Seasonal Workers to Perform at the Highest Level Different Types of Workers: Employees, Contractors and More     Now it's your turn   QB Community members, have any tips to share about hiring seasonal or temp workers for your small business?   Want to weigh in but not yet a QB Community member? Click HERE to sign up in a flash! ... View more

  A business plan is your big idea put down on paper. It’s the roadmap for how to start and run your business, and it’s the document you’ll share with potential investors or funders. Presenting a clear, well-thought out, comprehensive business plan is an excellent first step for any new business owner. Another bonus of writing one? As you complete each of the nine sections of the plan, inevitably you’ll further clarify your vision for your business and hone in even more on your ideas and strategies.   So, where do you start? Open a blank document and paste in the nine section categories below. Next, ask yourself a series of key questions to help you explain and describe your endeavor in detail. Last? Share your awesome business plan around and get yourself some investors!   (If you want to take a stab at writing your first business plan but prefer a faster approach for now, Julie Gordon White’s 10-Minute Business Planner is a great way to start.)   The nine sections of a (typical) business plan:   1. Executive summary 2. Company description 3. Market analysis 4. Organization and management 5. Service or product line 6. Marketing and sales 7. Funding request 8. Financial projections 9. Appendix     1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This is the basic -- but super important -- info about your business. Succinctly describe your business and say why it will be a success. Describe your product/service, state your location and provide basic info about your leadership team. If you are planning to ask for funding, also include brief financial information here (you’ll get into more detail in sections 7 and 8).   Answer these questions: 1. What is your business name, what do you sell and where? 2. Who is your target market? 3. Who is the team (it might be just you!) behind this venture? 4. How much money are you seeking?   2. COMPANY DESCRIPTION In this section you’ll go into greater detail about your company and your leadership team. This is where you present all the positive and amazing things about your organization and explain what makes you strong, competitive and sure to succeed. In this section, you’ll also share your mission statement.   Answer these questions: 1. What is your mission statement? 2. Who is behind the company? (Provide names and brief title or description.) 3. What’s great about your business and why are you confident you’ll succeed?   3. MARKET ANALYSIS In order to complete this section, you’ll need to have studied businesses that are similar to yours. The goal is to identify their strengths and weaknesses so you can enter the market as a strong, strategic competitor. Outline what makes you different or better. Remember, you don’t want to denigrate the competition, but you do need to differentiate yourself. Also keep in mind that saying your competition isn’t doing well could reflect badly on the industry you hope to enter, and that could make potential investors wary. Instead, focus on the niche or gap in the market you will be addressing with your awesome business.   Answer these questions: 1. What industry are you entering and who is your target market? 2. Is this a thriving or growing industry? 3. Why is this opportunity interesting? 4. What is your total addressable market (TAM) ? 5. Who is your competition? 6. Why are you better and/or different than your competitors?   4. ORGANIZATION & MANAGEMENT Describe who is involved in your operation and don’t be afraid to sell yourself! Often times investors are investing in people, so be inspiring and tell them why you are worth the funding. Describe the founders/owners and the daily operations team (again, this might just be you!). You may attach resumes or CVs to the business plan appendix and mention that here. Explain how you will structure your company. Will you operate as a corporation ( C or S Corp )? Form a general or limited partnership? Or will your company be a sole proprietorship or an LLC? Also address any special permits or regulations that your business will need in order to operate.   Answer these questions: 1. Who is behind this company? 2. Why are they uniquely suited to operate this business? 3. How will you legally structure your business? 4. Will you operate within or meet specific regulations? 5. Do you need or have a special license, permit, patent or trademark ?   5. SERVICE OR PRODUCT LINE This is where you explain in detail the service(s) you offer and/or the product(s) you sell. You decided to offer these products/services because you fell in love with a problem that they will  help to solve. Explain the problem that you’ve fallen in love with solving (the whole reason behind your business!) -- who experiences this problem? When? Why and how? Explain your solution to the problem and how you will help your customers fix the problem.   List each product or service and the price you will charge. Describe why and how your customer benefits from using your product/service. If you are selling a product, you’ll want to include a timeline that explains its life cycle from idea to research to development to marketing to sales to peak sales to decline. Address how you will reposition your product if decline occurs or the market becomes saturated. If you are still developing or researching your product, describe this process in detail including a timeline.   Answer these questions: 1. What problem have you fallen in love with solving? 2. Who experiences this problem, and how, why and when? 3. What products and services will you offer to help fix this problem and how will they fix it?  4. What will you charge for each product or service? (Include a bulleted list) 5. How will your customer benefit from buying your product/service? 6.  What is the product life cycle? 7.  Will you or have you already filed for a copyright or a patent ?   6. MARKETING & SALES  What is your strategy for actually make a sale? How will you market your product/service? In this section you want to carefully consider this question: How will you get customers and keep them coming back for more? Your answer will guide your marketing and sales strategy. Expect this section to evolve over time as you learn what marketing strategies are (and are not) working.   Answer these questions: 1. How (or via what channel) will you sell your product to your customer? (In a brick-and-mortar store? Online? At markets? With a POS system?) 2. How will you attract and retain customers? 3. What marketing strategy will you implement to reach your target market?   7. FUNDING REQUEST Asking for money is never easy. In your business plan, your challenge is to present a clear, professional and specific financial request to your potential funders. This section and the next will show prospective investors you have carefully thought through the financial expectations and obligations of opening your business.   Here you will outline your financial needs for the next three to five years, and you will describe your plan for using the requested funds. Clearly state your terms and explain your plan for repaying your debts.   Answer these questions: 1. How much funding are you seeking? 2. Are you after debt or equity? What are your terms? 3. What will the funds be used for? 4. What length of time will the funding be necessary? 5. When do you project your revenue will start covering your expenses? 6. How will you repay your debts? 7. What is your exit strategy for selling/leaving the business?   8. FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS Let your potential investor or funder know what kind of financial future you have planned for your business by showing them your three key financial sheets : balance sheet, income statement (or profit & loss statement) and a cash flow statement.   Be positive and convincing about your financial prospects. If you are requesting additional funding to grow an existing business, provide your balance sheets, cash flow statements and income statements for as many years as you have been operational. This is the section to outline any collateral you are putting up against a loan. Outline your financial projections for the next three to five years, and be as specific as possible (for the first year, include financial projections for each quarter). Your projections should be aligned with your funding requests. Use charts and graphs to visually show your business’s financial future.   Answer these questions: 1. What are you financial projections for the first four quarters of your first year in business? (Calculate what you think your weekly/monthly sales will be, subtract overhead and expenses and go from there.) 2. Use these free templates to determine the three key financials for this section: Balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement 3. What does the 3-5 year financial future of your business look like? 4. Are you putting up any of your own collateral against a loan?   9. APPENDIX Use this final section of your business plan to include any additional documents or materials that support the presentation of your successful business venture. For instance, here you can attach your leadership’s resumes or CVs, photos of your product/store space or any legal paperwork you’ve assembled such as permits, patents, licenses or contracts. If you’ve cited any market studies, include them here, as well as any articles from a reputable source about how your industry is thriving.   Ready to learn more about starting and running your business? Check out our comprehensive guide: How to Start a Business: Resources for Everything You Need to Know   Related articles from the QuickBooks Resource Center & Community: A Woman’s One Stop Resource for Starting and Financing a Business 4 Little Known Factors That Affect Your Business Plan When is the Right Time to Create a Business Plan? What the Heck is 'Proof of Concept' & 10 Other Startup Terms Defined ... View more

Courtney & Celia, co-owners of Caramel Caravan   Names : Courtney Robinson & Celia Glowka Business : Caramel Caravan Location : Redwood City, CA & online Launched : 2017   Celia and Courtney met at the Santa Clara University Food and Agriculture Institute while completing their MBA degrees. For a graduation gift, they each received a Kitchen Aid mixer from their moms, and they took it as a sign they were meant to whip up delicious sweets in tandem. Since launching Caramel Caravan about a year and a half ago, now, they’re enjoying a successful retail and wholesale business. Currently, they’re renovating a 1957 vintage trailer which is literally the "caramel caravan" they’ll use for pop ups and events starting in November.   Courtney and Celia will be selling their Caramel Caravan confections at the Bazaar at QB Connect 2018 in San Jose (November 5-7th). Click here to reserve your ticket today for this exciting event!     Hello Courtney and Celia! Tell us about your business.   At Caramel Caravan we make completely handcrafted, small batch caramels and caramel treats using local suppliers like Gilt Edge butter and Clover Cream. Our caramels are rich but less sweet than the caramels of days gone past. We sell to boutiques, small markets, flower delivery companies, gift box companies and more. We find our caramels are often used for gifts, and they resonate especially well with women.   What did it take to turn your idea into a real product?   Having a good partner is super motivating and helped use turn our idea into a reality. We knew we both had the same desire for a deeper personal fulfillment in our work. Neither of our salaried jobs were bad, but we wanted something different. Courtney had this great caramel recipe that was resonating with people, and we ran with it.   What’s one thing you know now that you wish you’d known when you were starting out in business?   We started out offering caramels and baked goods. Then we realized these were two separate businesses. Caramels were a consumer packaged good and our baked goods were not. We decided it was better to do one thing really well, and we found we had a lot of room to try different flavors making just the caramels. This not only simplified the actual concept, but also the operations of the business. Each new product has its own can of worms (sorry, that's gross)!   What has been most satisfying about starting and running your own business?   We love seeing the great response we get from customers. Also, it’s so satisfying to grow our sales, especially by selling to other businesses we love. It makes us feel more like a legitimate business. We’ve also enjoyed the ongoing opportunity to learn about all aspects of business. We’re setting goals and mostly achieving them!   We both find working for ourselves is incredibly motivating. We love being involved in all aspects of the business and building something that has meaning to us.     What has been most challenging or surprising about starting and running your own business?   When you launch a new idea, there is always a measure of self-doubt because the future is unknown. We are both natural overthinkers, and we tend to downplay our abilities, which, of course, increases that self doubt.   On a more practical level, we've had a hard time finding a kitchen space that works for us without investing in our own kitchen. Right now we use a shared professional kitchen space.   How are you gearing up now for the busy holiday season ahead?   We just purchased a vintage caramel twist wrapper from the 1950s. We are also hiring people to assist with caramel production as one half of this partnership is having a baby. That will be interesting!   What do you hope to gain from attending QuickBooks Connect?   We are always pressed for time, but we love connecting with other small businesses  and startups, especially those in food, beverage or consumer packaged goods. Sharing experiences can be so helpful because you definitely cannot find all the answers on the internet. Since we run all aspects of our business -- from production and social media to inventory management, sales and more -- we're also looking forward to jumping into a few sessions to give us a deeper understanding of topics we have questions about.   We hope you’ll join us at QB Connect 2018 in San Jose. Already registered? Hop on over to our QB Connect group to get a head-start on connecting, sharing and learning!   Now it’s your turn   QB Community members, how long did it take you to turn your idea into an official business? What steps did you take to make it happen?   Want to weigh in but not yet a QB Community member? Click HERE to sign up in a flash! ... View more

  Name: Jane Lee Business : Wildebeest Location : San Francisco, CA Launched : 2011   When Jane Lee adopted her “little mutt” from the San Francisco SPCA in 2010 she was inspired to create hipper, more chic dog accessories than the ones she was currently seeing on the market. She put her product-design background to work and launched Wildebeest in 2011, offering collars, leashes, treat bags and more via her online store and in numerous locations throughout the world.   Jane will be selling her Wildebeest goods at the Bazaar at QB Connect 2018 in San Jose (November 5-7th). Click here to reserve your ticket today for this exciting event!     Hi Jane! Tell us about your business.   In 2010 I adopted Shelby, a little mutt from the SPCA and was suddenly exposed to this market filled with underwhelming selection of dog accessories. I never thought I would get into the dog product business, but I made this shaggy bed for Shelby and she loved it. I thought I could share more unique designs with the pet world. I just decided to go for it! I had no previous experience in running a business, so you could say Wildebeest was born out of 99% passion!   What’s one thing you know now that you wish you’d known when you were starting out in business?   I think if I had known more at the beginning, it actually would have been harder for me to start a business. I've learned a ton as I go, and I think continuing to learn on the job is a fine way to grow and evolve my business.   What has been most satisfying about starting and running your own business?   First and foremost, I love being able to create the products I believe in. Seeing how those creations integrate into other people's lives is rewarding and humbling at the same time.     What has been most challenging or surprising about starting and running your own business?   Being a sole owner can be tough. Sometimes I wish I had a business partner who I could bounce ideas off of and make decisions with. It’s been a huge blessing to add a couple of employees over the years. It can be crazy and overwhelming when you’re spread so thin trying to do a million things operating a business.   Entrepreneurs tend to think “differently” from people who work a traditional 9-5 job. Tell us about your “mindset” as a self-employed person.   As an entrepreneur, I think you work harder and become more resilient. You build this sense of pride, and you also feel responsible for keeping your business healthy. In my case, I often working overtime or tinker with different ideas in my free time. I enjoy it, and I’m a workaholic, so working for myself suits me!       How are you gearing up now for the busy holiday season ahead?   We're planning a big production of all our products to ramp up our inventory. We’re also trying to come up with one more new design for the winter season. Fingers crossed!   Jane, what do you hope to gain from attending QuickBooks Connect?   I’m looking forward to more brand and product exposure. We love doing events where we can directly engage with customers because we can learn so much. It’s valuable to find out what customers are looking for and what products work and don't work. And it's always fun to have customers show us their pup's photos!   We hope you’ll join us at QB Connect 2018 in San Jose. Already registered? Hop on over to our QB Connect group to get a head-start on connecting, sharing and learning!       QB Community members, how long did it take you to turn your idea into an official business? What steps did you take to make it happen?   Want to weigh in but not yet a QB Community member? Click HERE to sign up in a flash! ... View more

In September we got inside your head! We explored how entrepreneurs, small business owners and freelance workers approach all things business, from creatively solving problems and staying motivated 24/7 to turning an epiphany into action and an idea into a product. Read on -- and be prepared to be impressed.   Researching the Brain of an Entrepreneur The Mindset of an Entrepreneur: Driven, Creative, Logical, Fierce! Our fearless leader, @LeslieBarber, kicked off the month by writing about her own entrepreneurial mindset. She reminds us, “You know better than anyone that being your own boss is an exciting, exhausting and rewarding journey.” 6 Key Findings From Intuit’s Work/Life Balance Survey of Self-Employed Workers (With Graphs!) Intuit conducted a survey of 1,000 self-employed people on the topic of work/life balance to find out if the benefits of entrepreneurship outweigh the drawbacks, and uncovered some surprising trends. You Said It: What QB Community Members Have to Say 12 Successful Business Owners on How Much Mindset Matters What does having the right “mindset” truly mean for entrepreneurs and what does it actually look like in the real world? Twelve entrepreneurs tell us about the mindset that keeps them motivated and helps them muscle through the ups and downs of being self-employed. Epiphanies R Us! The Ah-Ha Moment Behind 8 Amazing Businesses From morning sickness to chemotherapy, here are just a few tales from QB Community members about the epiphanies, ah-ha moments and lightning bolts of inspiration that inspired them to start their businesses. Important Questions 14 Small Biz Owners Have for Other Small Biz Owners There is no better resource for a business owner than another business owner. These are some of the questions your peers are asking about running and growing their businesses. Do you have answers to any of these questions? Please share what you know! How 4 Entrepreneurs Started Their Own Accounting Businesses We asked four numbers-minded entrepreneurs in the QB Community how and why they started up their own accounting and consulting firms. Here’s what they told us. Know Thyself: What Kind of Entrepreneur Are You? 8 Traits of Successful Entrepreneurs: Which Ones Do You Value the Most? Which of these typical entrepreneurial qualities do you think help you the most when it comes to starting, running and growing a business? 8 Entrepreneurial Personality Types: Which One Are You? The Opportunity Grabber, The Do It My Way-er, The Legacy Carrier, The Creative Maker, The Accidental Entrepreneur, The Fresh Starter, The Parent-Innovator, or The Partner(s)? 3 Amazing Entrepreneurs Told Us How They Think PROFILE: Erica Liu Williams’ Gr8nola Is “Clean,” Crunchy and Craved by Techies Just a few months after selling her first batch of gr8nola at a local farmer’s market, Erica was selected to be a food vendor supplying gr8nola to Google’s campuses and micro-kitchens. PROFILE: Photographer Meta Mesdag Fulfills Her Dream of Building a Family Oyster Farm Meta decided earlier this year to start a “mariculture” business -- an ocean farm where she, her husband and kids will grow (and then sell) oysters, clams, mussels and kelp. Did she know anything about mariculture when she dreamt up the idea? No. Did that stop her from starting it up? Absolutely not. PROFILE: Two Friends on Two Continents Built a Business, Zuri, from Just One Dress Inspired by the bold and beautiful textile prints in eastern Africa, Ashleigh & Sandra set out to sell a single style of dress in an array of ever-changing patterns made at a sustainable, carbon-neutral factory in Kenya. They talk about how they got started in business with no budget, how they adjust their mindset when things get tough and what it takes to partner across two continents. A New Audio Series Launched! LISTEN: QB Community Conversations with Julie Gordon White and Romy Taormina: On Female Entrepreneurship & Telling a Great Story In this new ongoing audio series, Community Conversations, Leslie Barber sits down with small business owners to discuss what’s great and what’s tough about working for yourself. You’ll hear loads of ideas, insights and inspiration. We invite you to sit back, listen and learn!       Want to weigh in but not yet a QB Community member? Click HERE to sign up in a flash!   ... View more

  Name : Chris Viscount Business : Utopian Kitchen Location : Millbrae, CA and online Launched : 2016   Chris Viscount is one of those “accidental entrepreneurs” whose too-good-to-keep-to-himself hobby became a business. He was experimenting with various flavors of nut butters and trying them out on his friends. Their enthusiastic response encouraged him to start selling. Now, his nut butters are a staple at Bay Area farmers markets and doing a good business online, too. Chris continues to work his day job and operates Utopian Kitchen on the side. Since he enjoys staying busy, Chris is thrilled to be doing what he loves.   Chris will be selling Utopian Kitchen nut butters at the Bazaar at QB Connect 2018 in San Jose (November 5-7th). Click here to reserve your ticket today for this exciting event!   Hi Chris! Tell us about your business.   Utopian Kitchen produces unique flavor creations of peanut butter that push the boundary of "typical" peanut butter. The majority of our flavors start with a base of honey roasted peanuts, and we create several delicious flavors from there. The original honey roasted is the most popular. We also make chocolate toffee crunch, white chocolate pretzel, cinnamon raisin and toasted coconut & dark chocolate. We also offer more traditional flavors such as roasted, salted peanut- and almond butter.   Our primary customer base is anyone who likes nut butters. Because we have the traditional roasted-salted flavors along with other interesting flavors, our customers are diverse. We cater to people who don't like to stray too far from the peanut butter “norm” and to folks who want a new twist on the flavors they grew up with.   What did it take to turn your idea into a real product?     It all happened really fast, but I would say just taking action. When you believe in something, you put in the work to make it a reality. I saw an opportunity at the local farmer’s market and, encouraged by the good reviews I was receiving from friends, I decided to take action and start the business. It was fun, but it’s also hard when you're first starting out. You have to deal with all the paperwork associated with licenses and permits -- and know who to contact when you need help! The hardest part for me was creating a brand name for the company, as well as developing a logo and a look for the company. Then there’s thinking through all the supplies -- the list goes on.   What’s one thing you know now that you wish you’d known when you were starting out in business?   I wish I’d known not to rush into things. There have been a few instances where I've rushed into an opportunity before evaluating the true opportunity and doing my research into the value of it. Although I want to grow and expand the business, I have learned to be more prudent and make sure any new opportunity fits with my overall vision for the company.       What has been most satisfying about starting and running your own business?   Hands down the most satisfying thing is when customers come back and tell me they love my product. I'll never forget when I skipped a week at the farmer's market. When I came back after the break, about a dozen people came up and said, "Where were you last week? Your peanut butter is so good, and I needed it!" It’s the best feeling to make something other people truly enjoy.   What has been most challenging or surprising about starting and running your own business?   Staying organized. There are so many different aspects to the business to stay on top of. Without any other employees, it gets overwhelming sometimes. Along that line, I use so many different systems to keep track of various information. Often, the systems can’t “talk” to each other. Making sure everything is up to date, correctly entered and tracked takes a lot of work.   Entrepreneurs tend to think “differently” from people who work a traditional 9-5 job. Tell us about your “mindset” as a self-employed person.     I'm not sure it's a mindset, but I would say mine is to never stop. I'm a very active person, and I want to constantly be doing things. With a 9-5 job and my own business, I'm pretty much always working. Even if I'm not "on the job" physically, I'm thinking of ways to improve the business -- how do I expand? What marketing tactics should I try? But that is what I enjoy.   How are you gearing up now for the busy holiday season ahead?   I've finally hired someone to help me in the kitchen making the peanut butters. I've also invested in some equipment that will help me make larger batches. Both of those will help free me up to market the product a little better and to think of some fun gift ideas!   What do you hope to gain from attending QuickBooks Connect?   I’m looking forward to the exposure and learning from other entrepreneurs. There is so much information I am not aware of that I probably should be. QB Connect will be a great opportunity to learn -- and, hopefully, spread the word about Utopian Kitchen.   We hope you’ll join us at QB Connect 2018 in San Jose. Already registered? Hop on over to our QB Connect group to get a head-start on connecting, sharing and learning!   Now it’s your turn   QB Community members, how long did it take you to turn your idea into an official business? What steps did you take to make it happen?   Want to weigh in but not yet a QB Community member? Click HERE to sign up in a flash! ... View more

  Can you smell the pumpkin spice? Fall has officially arrived -- on September 22, to be exact -- and that means crisp days, colorful leaves, warm drinks, sweater paws and new marketing opportunities! With the holiday season fast approaching, there’s no better time than September and October to entice new and current customers to shop with you today -- and come back for more when it’s time for holiday buying.     1. Humor your customers. A lumber store near my house recently changed their marquee to read “Now selling pumpkin spice lumber.” It’s not true, of course, but it is funny! Humor is memorable, so pumpkin spice it up! We can all use some levity, no?   2. Cheer for back to school. Kids have returned to their classrooms, so parents can exhale. Promote a “You survived summer vacation!” deal just for moms and dads.   3. Think seasonally. Tie an autumn sale to the falling leaves. “Our prices are falling just like the leaves outside!” Or vow to “squash the competitor’s prices” in an ad or email promo featuring photos of assorted squash. It’s gourd season after all!   4. Trick or treat. Open your store to trick or treaters on Halloween with candy treats for the kids and holiday coupon treats for the adults -- redeemable in November/December, of course.   5. Beat the rush. If you run a service business, encourage your customers to book with you now to get those gutters/heaters/carpets cleaned before holiday rush. If you sell goods, offer an early-bird discount when customers shop before November first.   6. Be charitable. Offer a discount or freebie for every non-perishable food item/toy/pair of socks/you name it a customer contributes to a charitable organization you collect for during the holidays. Customers remember and appreciate a generous entrepreneur who also makes it easy to give to others.   7. Give thanks. It’s the perfect time of year to show your customers some gratitude for their business. Offer your best, repeat customers a discount code via email, host a customer appreciation event or simply send a card personally thanking them for their business in 2018. (Want more tips for showing how much you appreciate everyone who helps your business grow and succeed? Check out this helpful post .)   8. Get sporty. The sporting season is in full swing with baseball playoffs coming, football starting up and basketball on the horizon, too. Sponsor a local kids’ team or promise a special discount/freebie for every touchdown, homerun, three-pointer or win by your home teams. Twice a year, my realtor sends out magnetic Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Mariners schedules so I stay on top of the games -- and she stays top of mind!   Now it’s your turn   QB Community members, how do you market in the autumn months to get ready for the holiday rush?   Want to weigh in but not yet a QB Community member? Click HERE to sign up in a flash! ... View more

You have questions about running a small business, and our QB Community members have answers! Everyone here knows the importance of building meaningful member-to-member relationships, and there’s no better way to learn, discover and get inspired as an entrepreneur. Best of all? When members share what they know, everyone benefits. Check out this recent QB Community conversation, and you’ll see what we mean!      AmberR asked: I just became a ProAdvisor & opened a company for bookkeeping. I think we will charge set fees instead of hourly, but I don't know where to begin. Can anyone give me examples of what your pricing is? I've done so much research on this and I can't get a grasp on where to start. Whatever info you have would be greatly appreciated!   @hectorgarciacpa answered: I have a two-prong strategy. 1) Give up 90% of the knowledge for FREE via YouTube, Social Media, Blogs, etc, and 2) PRICE that remaining 10% high enough so you may continue to give the other 90% for free. This strategy will require that you ditch the concept of "hourly" rates. That last 10% is very personal and customized, therefore it deserves a well thought out plan.   @JamesOng, QB Community Host answered: Welcome to the community! That is a great question that I am sure hundreds of people here are wondering. Clients usually fall into two categories: client A who say "just do it for me" and client B who wants to learn the process. For client A I tend to charge less because I don't really provide "knowledge" as much as perform labor-by-the-hour. We set a schedule and expectations, I deliver, and the process repeats. For client B I charge about 50% more because I am giving away my secrets, and I make that clear. The initial consultation hours are longer than client A’s sessions and while it seem more expensive up front, what I teach them should (in theory) pay off more in the long-run. My rule of thumb is, charge more for training because it requires you to do more original work in order to cater to the client's individual needs, and generally, these sessions tend to be a little more difficult.   @JenPM answered: One thing that hasn't been mentioned so far is pricing also depends on where you are located and your clients. Big cities are going to have different price points than the small towns. I recommend looking up the salary of an accountant in your area then dividing that by the number of hours in a work year to get the hourly rate. This was my base. Then decide if you want to raise it from here. I also charge differently based on my clients. I serve small businesses and I don't want them to go bankrupt. You also have to factor in the complexity and time you’re going to dedicate to a client. I wait until I actually talk to the person so I can get an idea of how important they think accounting is and to overall just a sense of who they are. Good luck! I'm still trying to hit that sweet spot!  @mcwagner answered: I'm a CPA and I work from home. I charge $150/hour, but only when I'm doing actual work. I don't charge for phone calls and emails, time to the "nearest quarter hour" or anything like that. Clients that are a little more of a pain, with lots of phone calls and nagging will pay a little more.  Easy clients get a little break. I give away a lot of free advice (like here, as well as a couple of other online resources) and I don't mind because my best, highest value is what I can offer to people who become clients, and that happens AFTER the free advice. I want them to remember "that Wagner was a nice guy that seemed to know what he was talking about," so that they will call me in the future, or even recommend me to a friend.  I have tons of clients whom I have never met who came to me via the "free" advice.   What’s your burning question? Our friendly, supportive members have business smarts galore. Got answers or ideas to share? The floor is yours! Click here to find out everything you need to know about starting a discussion or asking a question. Not yet a member? Join QB Community right now and start making the most of this knowledgeable, awesome community! ... View more

    We asked six creative entrepreneurs in the QB Community how and why they started their branding and/or marketing agencies. Here is what they told us...       Toby Lewis Thomas, co-owner of Birch, a branding & marketing agency: “While studying photography in school, I became involved in the music industry. I started touring with bands as a videographer/photographer and, shortly after, I decided to pursue it full-time. I rented a studio and started off with really small jobs, but my clients were always happy to recommend me.”   “Back then, content — and particularly video content — was becoming super important. Every brand suddenly wanted to promote itself through video, so finding work wasn’t a problem. The idea of even having "content" was still a reasonably new concept, and brands were looking for advice as well as production skills. I set myself apart from others in the industry by tracking the impact of everything I did. I was committed to finding out what worked and what didn’t work, and I always took the lessons I learned into my next jobs.”   “I met my business partners, James and Elliot, when I rented an office space from them. They had already been running Birch for about four years, and we developed a mutual respect for each other’s work. We collaborated on a few projects before deciding to come together to run Birch as a full-service studio.”   Read Toby’s full story: Meet Creative Agency Owner Toby Lewis Thomas     MIchael Koral, co-founder of Needls, a social media marketing firm : “I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit and I wanted to be my own boss. Two of my friends from childhood had started a web design company and a website brokerage firm. Around 2009, I knew they were having some challenges and I talked with them about working together. We made a good fit!”   “We stumbled on the idea for Needls while trying to drum up more business for those first two companies. We were browsing social media sites looking for people who said they needed to build a website and then we reached out to them. That’s when we thought about writing a script to monitor social media for us. Turns out, we gained a ton more business from doing just that. We knew that if it worked for us, it could work for others as well.”   Read Michael’s full story: Social Media Marketer Michael Koral on Hiring Slow, Firing Fast and Pricing Transparency     Skip Blankley, founder of NoBox Creatives, a digital marketing company: “ It started as another venture called Social Relish, an online marketing and web design business for the restaurant industry. I was focused on that field because I spent a decade working in it. I started that business while I was in a band and playing four or five nights a week, because my days were wide open. But I soon realized it wasn’t just restaurants I wanted to tackle, because they didn’t have the budget or the option to set up a large retainer. So, I launched NoBox Creatives, which provides the same services but for all other industries as well.”   “To be honest, it was a slow and painful transition! I was uncomfortable venturing into other industries and tackling issues for bigger companies with bigger problems. But stepping out of your comfort zone is important, and moving out of the service industry opened up a ton more opportunities for me.”   Read Skip’s full story: How Are You Measuring Your Time? Skip Blankley Shares His Secrets for Getting Organized     Taughnee Golubović, owner of Endeavor Creative, a digital marketing & branding company: “For a long time, I called myself a web designer and worked with just about anyone who needed a website—non-profits, universities, government agencies, bloggers and small businesses. These days, with the advent of so many great DIY website building options, I’ve placed more emphasis on strategy. Now I specifically target very small, service-based businesses looking to attract clients online. As a tiny service-based business myself I’m intimate with the problems we all face trying to get our customers’ attention online.”   Read Taughnee’s full story: How American Expat Taughnee Golubović Lives the Self-Employed Dream in Croatia       Marty McDonald & Rich DeMatteo, co-owners of Bad Rhino, a social media marketing agency: “Quite simply, we went to work. No financing -- we just went out and got our first client and went to work. Once we had the idea for Bad Rhino, Rich and I met for about six straight Saturdays to come up with service offerings focused on social media. We then started to work our network for opportunities and started cold-calling small businesses. Within about 30 days we had our first client, and we’ve been growing ever since.”   Read Marty & Rich’s full story: Bad Rhino Co-Founders Rich and Marty Talk Small Biz Marketing in the Age of Social Media   *** Starting a new business? Check out our guide to Everything You Need to Know to Open a Business for a wealth of resources and inspiration! *** Now It's Your Turn   QB Community members, share your insights on starting up a business so others can learn from your experience!   Want to weigh in but not yet a QB Community member? Click HERE to sign up in a flash! ... View more

    We asked four numbers-minded entrepreneurs in the QB Community how and why they started up their own accounting and consulting firms. Here’s what they told us…       Andrew Berg, co-founder of Berg Partners, accounting & consulting: “ My partner and I decided when we started the business that we didn’t want to work a million hours during tax season to provide our clients with one piece of paper, then walk away and not talk to them again for an entire year. So, our focus shifted to business management and consulting.”   “We help our clients with financial decisions, marketing decisions, HR decisions, strategic decisions, budget, planning — literally anything you can think of that you don't know the answer to. If you want good advice based on your unique financial situation, we’re the people to talk to.”   Read Andrew’s full story: "The Numbers Should Tell the Whole Story." Andrew Berg Shares His Tips for Picking the Right Account       Lynda Artesani, owner of Artesani Bookkeeping: “ Accounting was always my thing, even way back in high school. Later, when my children were small, I had several jobs as a bookkeeper. I ended up working full-time as a building manager in Providence, RI, managing 300 units in an office park. I also worked part-time as a bookkeeper for another residential-apartment rental company.”   “The building manager job ran me down. It was a salaried position, and the owner of the property took advantage of that. He had me working 50-60 hours a week but paid me for 40. It was such a terrible job with a difficult boss that it ultimately inspired me to work for myself. I decided to focus on what gave me the most joy and fulfillment: bookkeeping. When I moved to Florida in 2007 I reopened my business under its current name. Florida is a very business-friendly state, so I was quick to become a business here.” - @lynda   Read Lynda’s full story: Bookkeeper Lynda Artesani Knows Her Numbers -- So Her Clients Don’t Have To       Dawn Brown, CPA and owner of AZ Business Consulting:  “ I spent many years as a CPA and a CFO for companies and clients on the East Coast. I worked on projects that were assigned to me. Not every project was a great fit, and I often felt I wasn’t making a meaningful contribution. I also saw businesses being sold products or services they didn’t need. I wanted to be straightforward with the customer. If I couldn’t help them, I want to send them to someone who could.”   “When my husband and I moved to Phoenix, I decided it was time to cultivate my own group of clients. Plus, I’d been working in the construction industry for quite a while, and I was tired of getting laid off! I kind of stumbled into working in the non-profit sector but quickly realized they have their own set of accounting rules that vary by state. I thought, maybe I can best serve society by helping non-profits perform their mission. I may not be a doctor or a lawyer, but I can use my skills to help people who are helping other people. This goes for working with small businesses, too.”   Read Dawn’s full story: Dawn Brown Is No Ordinary CPA. This “Non-Profit Super Genius” Has a Novel Business Niche      Paul Heffner, CEO/Founder of Finance Pals, accounting & consulting: “ The initial idea for Finance Pals came after a brainstorming session where I looked at what I enjoyed and what I was good at, then at what filled a need in the market. At first I thought I could create business plans and financial projections for brand new companies, but at that stage they’re not ready to pay for consulting.”   “At a Denver Startup Week networking event I met the owner of Great Dental Websites, who needed financial forecasting and bookkeeping help. That’s when I realized I could provide these services for companies that are not quite startups, but are too small to hire full-time finance staff.”   “I updated my LinkedIn profile to show I was up for freelancing, and within a couple of weeks a colleague from my Accenture days reached out to me and became my second client. Originally, Finance Pals was a side business to make some extra cash while I was working on my other business ideas, but when I got my third customer — a referral from one of the other two — I formally launched the company a month later.”   Read Paul’s full story: From Idea to Finding My Target Customer. Meet Paul Heffner     *** Starting a new business? Check out our guide to Everything You Need to Know to Open a Business for a wealth of resources and inspiration! *** Now It's Your Turn   QB Community members, share your insights on starting up a business so others can learn from your experience!   Want to weigh in but not yet a QB Community member? Click HERE to sign up in a flash! ... View more

  There is no better resource for a business owner than another business owner. These are some of the questions your peers are asking about running and growing their businesses. Do you have answers to any of these questions? Great! Do you have questions in need of an answer? Also great! Tell us in the comments below.   GETTING NOTICED & LEVERAGING SOCIAL MEDIA      Stacia Guzzo, owner of The Handcrafted Honeybee , natural skincare products: “ A couple of my biggest goals for the business are to grow my social media followers and build my email list. Does anyone here have tips on how to find the right people to target for my products? I’d love to hear them!”     David Minnery, owner of Manzanita Kids , wooden baby toys: “When I have the choice of sitting at a computer or making things in my shop, I always choose the shop. However, this leaves a gap in our marketing. I currently spend roughly 30 minutes a day on social media, but I'm wondering if I should be spending more time on it?”     Sarah Petkus, owner of Nest and Burrow Prints and Gifts : “I’d love to know how other small business owners came into contact with well-known magazines and blogs and have their products featured as a result. Should I reach out or wait to be contacted? And, if I do reach out, what do I say?”   Want to learn more? Check out these helpful posts: 9 Tips for Upping Your Social Media Marketing Game How 7 Entrepreneurs Use Instagram to Market Their Businesses 9 Hacks, Tutorials and Tips for Leveraging the Heck Out of Your Social Media Getting Customers: Four Tactics to Help Your Customer Base Soar The Basics of Creating a Great Business Website 5 Common Small Biz Marketing Mistakes & How to Avoid Them     FINDING NEW CUSTOMERS     Jake Baggaley, owner of Jake Baggaley Wedding Photography : “ I would love any suggestions on how to get my work seen by more clients worldwide. Weddings held abroad are always so exciting and rewarding, and I’d love any advice or suggestions on how to extend my customer base!”     Sara Giuffrida, co-owner of Dru Bru , brewery and restaurant: “ I would love to know how other small business owners learn about new opportunities to reach their customers. I feel that we've saturated the beer world, including forums and events, but we want to branch out and tap into other markets like outdoor enthusiasts and concert-goers. I want to know where other businesses get the information that helps them reach new customers.”   Want to learn more? Check out these helpful posts: Getting Customers: Three Ways Your First Customer Can Help You Getting Customers: How to Get Free Marketing and Rave Reviews Getting Customers: Four Tactics to Help Your Customer Base Soar 8 Small Biz Owners on How They Get New Customers     UNDERSTANDING THE BUSINESS SIDE OF BUSINESS     Jeff Langevin, owner of Jeff Langevin Art & Design : “ I want to learn how I can be more proactive about building a successful business, especially in areas where I'm weak — such as tax issues, efficiency, organization and other more management-type things. I want to learn more about the nitty gritty of running a business, not the actual part about what and how I sell my art.”     Jamie Kaczmarczyk, owner of Kolorize , laser cut signs: “I’d like to know some basic ways to use Google Analytics or social media analytics and then learn how to apply the results to my business. I know that some people out there are super knowledgeable about these things and I’d love to find out more!”     Celeste Ruberti, owner Truth Serum , hair care products: “I would like to learn more about things like negotiating contracts with buyers and how to scale up when I'm ready to take my product to market. What are your best tips for negotiating contracts? How should I think about scale when I'm just starting out — and want to get my product into the hands of as many people as possible who will benefit from using it?”   Want to learn more? Check out these helpful posts: How to Start a Business: Resources for Everything You Need to Know Financial Literacy for Entrepreneurs: A Road Map Small Business Accounting Checklist and Infographic: 21 Things to Do and When to Do Them Julie Gordon White Uses Scalable Systems to Grow Businesses to $1M+ 5 Reasons to Scale Your Business (and 5 Reasons Not To) 5 Mistakes Businesses Make When Analyzing Analytics     ACHIEVING A GOOD WORK-LIFE BALANCE     Jenny Wong-Stanley, owner of Art of Plants , handmade wooden planters: ”I’d love to know how other people who handcraft their products balance their lives. If I want to free up some time to spend with my family, is raising prices my only option?”     Kristin Perks, owner of OldSchoolSwank , an online vintage apparel and home goods shop: “I would most like to learn more about the behind-the-scenes, day-to-day life of someone who is also running a small business, with a special focus on time management. I’d like to hear how other self-employed professionals who work from home separate their work and home lives effectively, especially those with children.”     Lyss Aviles, owner of The Lovely Lyss, art and design: “ I would love to learn how others are pricing their services and hear about how they're working smarter, not harder!”   Want to learn more? Check out these helpful posts: 4 Tips for Taking a Vacation Without Putting Your Business on Hold Pricing 101: 4 Strategies to Help You Charge What You’re Worth How to Develop, Price, and Sell Advisory Services Value pricing: How to Price Accounting Services 10 Entrepreneurs Share How They Price Their Goods     GROWING AND HIRING EMPLOYEES     Vana Chupp, owner of Le Papier Studio , fine stationery: “Even though I don’t ever see this business employing 100 people, I’d like to prepare myself for every eventuality. Can anyone here recommend any good books or resources on growing my staff and managing more people? What are the risks and how can I be prepared for surprises that may come along?”     Erin & Nate Moren, owners of Tandem Made , handcrafted furniture: “We would love to understand business growth better and know what our options are. Hiring an employee is intimidating, but maybe there are there other steps we could take?”   Want to learn more? Check out these helpful posts: How to Be Self-Employed Part 3: Growing Your Business Employees on Your Mind? Some Hints Before You Hire QB Community Checklist: Four Questions to Answer Before You Hire VIDEO: Hiring Employees -- Two Small Businesses Share Tips!   QB Community members, what do you want to ask your peers about running a business? Have any answers for the above questions? Do share!   Want to weigh in but not yet a QB Community member? Click HERE to sign up in a flash! ... View more

You have questions about running a small business, and our QB Community members have answers! Everyone here knows the importance of building meaningful member-to-member relationships, and there’s no better way to learn, discover and get inspired as an entrepreneur. Best of all? When members share what they know, everyone benefits. Check out this recent QB Community conversation, and you’ll see what we mean!     @JTcarpentry  asked: Hello, we are still a newer company but have been in business for 4 years, running as a sole proprietorship. Does anyone have some quick and simple advice as to why maybe an S corp would be beneficial to me?      @Acupuncture4U answered: An S corp or LLC protect you against lawsuits. Your business can be sued but your personal property is protected and untouchable. With a Sole Proprietorship if you are sued your personal property becomes a part of the law suit.   @MorganB answered : I'm glad you turned to us here in the Community for assistance. I'd like to help point you in the right direction. To break it down a little, an S corp is a corporation with 100 shareholders or less that has met IRS specifications which enables them to be incorporated but to be taxed like a partnership would.   @qbteachmt answered : As a Sole Proprietor, you can take any money from the business whenever you want to and that is not the taxable event. Even if you don't take any money out, you still report the taxable income and pay income taxes on it. This is called Pass Through Entity . You cannot be on payroll. You are not your own employee. There is C corp and S corp. There are tax regulation advantages to the various entity types. Also, employees start to come into consideration. Under a corporate structure, you are an employee. The US Supreme Court tells us corporations are their own persons -- the corporation cannot do any work. It hires employees. It is separate from you. It hires you as an employee.   @Rustler answered: If your state has state income tax, then your state’s tax treatment of an S corp is something to consider.  At least one state I know of taxes an S corp earnings before it is passed through to the owning shareholders. It is then taxed again on their personal state return.   @mcwagner answered: There are a few pitfalls to an S corp, the main one being that all capital and distributions MUST be proportionate  to the members' ownership percentages. This doesn't always suit the owners' desires. Running payroll is a hassle. A lot of owners think this is what they want, then they don't do the work, thereby negating the advantage they wanted.   What’s your burning question? Our friendly, supportive members have business smarts galore. Got answers or ideas to share? The floor is yours! Click here to find out everything you need to know about starting a discussion or asking a question. Not yet a member? Join QB Community right now and start making the most of this knowledgeable, awesome community! Also see: You Asked & Community Answered: “Which Online Store Do You Prefer & Why?” You Asked & Community Answered: “Which Version of QB Should I Use?” ... View more

  For an entrepreneur, the line between work and non-work (also known as “life”) is often quite blurry. Where does work end when you are your own boss? And where does life begin when you and your business are inextricably intertwined? When you work for yourself, finding a work/life balance that protects and preserves your financial health as well as your mental, physical and emotional health can be as tricky as staying upright on a tightrope. Yet, every day, countless people opt to work for themselves. When it comes to getting the most out of both work and life, do the benefits of entrepreneurship outweigh the drawbacks? Intuit decided to find out.   The company recently conducted a survey of 1,000 self-employed people on the topic of work/life balance. Some of those surveyed (56%) were wholly self-employed, while the rest were also working either part- or full-time jobs in addition to being self-employed. Let’s find out what they had to say!   Stop! Before you read any further, take a guess at the following question (we’ll reveal the answer shortly). Do you think:   A) entrepreneurs are happier than salaried workers even though they work long hours? B) entrepreneurs are less happy than salaried workers because they work long hours?   You’ll find the answer in #3 below!     Key finding #1: For many, self-employment is good news for your work-life balance     One of the biggest benefits of being self-employed is the extra time you’ll have for yourself and your family. More than half (55%) of survey participants report having more time for the former, while 50% have more time for the latter. You’re also more likely than not to have more time to see friends, get some exercise and take vacations. That’s despite the fact that, as we’ll see, many entrepreneurs end up working longer hours.     Key finding #2: Despite longer hours for some, self-employment is generally good news for your health, happiness and income   What did you guess up above? A or B? If you chose A, you are correct! More than two-thirds of the respondents (70%) say they are happier being self-employed, and almost the same number (67%) say they feel more fulfilled. More than half (53%) are earning more money. The positive impact on people’s stress levels is more subtle, but 45% say they are under less stress than before. However, more than 1 in 4 (27%) say their stress levels have risen and a similar number (26%) say their income has dropped since they became self-employed.   Key finding #3: Working for yourself doesn’t necessarily mean longer hours   Although roughly a third say they work longer hours than they did before they became self-employed, a slightly higher proportion (38%) say they actually work fewer hours.   People working longer hours also reported earning more income now than when they worked for someone else. They have a greater sense of fulfilment and lower levels of stress. On the other hand, people working shorter hours reported better personal relationships and higher levels of happiness.   Key finding #4: At the end of the day, work is still, well, work     Many people choose self-employment because it gives them more control over their daily schedule. That reason and many others -- passion, drive, family business, new opportunities and so on -- makes the idea of being your own boss incredibly appealing. However, as the chart above makes clear, the reality of working for yourself doesn’t always match your dream of what it’s like to be self employed. No wonder most entrepreneurs (69 % ) would ditch the “work” thing altogether if they could swing it financially. Hey, we get it -- self-employed folks are only human!       Key finding #5: You have to make personal sacrifices when you are self-employed        Almost two-thirds of respondents (62%) admit they have made personal sacrifices for their work, but most are happy to do so. In fact, despite making sacrifices, more than 61% do it because their work is fundamentally fulfilling.     Key finding #6: Self-employment is rewarding but may not last a lifetime    When asked what they love most about being self-employed, it’s not surprising that the most popular answer was, “I love being my own boss.” The next-best reason? The ability to make your own hours. Being in charge of your own destiny ranked pretty high, too -- obviously, there’s a lot to love about being self-employed!   It’s worth acknowledging, however, that 70% of those surveyed said they would trade in all the perks of self-employment if it came down to making more money, getting a better job or making a change for family reasons.   With that in mind, as well as all the other fascinating, obvious, surprising and occasionally contradictory findings in this new report, we feel compelled to say kudos, once again, to anyone who dares to work for themselves. No one ever said self-employment is easy, but, for countless dedicated, driven, passionate entrepreneurs, at the end of each and every long hard day, it’s worth it.     QB Community members: Do these survey results resonate with you? How would you answer these questions?   Want to weigh in but not yet a QB Community member? Click HERE to sign up in a flash! ... View more

September 13 is National Defy Superstition Day! I’m not totally sure, but I suppose that means today is the day to walk under a ladder or spill salt without expecting any adverse outcomes. Many superstitions are based on the idea that if you do X, a bad thing will happen. But then there’s another kind of superstition: if you do Y, the outcome will be good. Think: MLB players not shaving their beards during playoffs, or performing the sign of the cross before a dive.   It’s not just athletes, business people also have a ton of superstitions! From assuming the power stance before big presentations, to framing the first dollar your business made, to Lucky Cat  watching over your store, to wearing the same tie/socks/undies to important meetings -- all with the hope that things will go the right way.   So, QB Community members, what are your superstitions? And, do they work? ... View more

     Name: Patti Lee-Hoffmann Business : Flutter Eyewear Location :  Redwood City, CA Launched : 2013   As Patti Lee-Hoffmann approached the age of 50, she and her professional woman friends wanted a more stylish version of the typical drugstore reading glasses. As co-founder of a 600+ employee consulting firm, Patti has plenty of experience setting a  goal and achieving it, so she got to work creating the “Manolo Blahniks” of magnifying spectacles. Today, Flutter Eyewear offers chic glasses in many styles and sizes to flatter various face shapes -- and customers can virtually try them on before buying.   Patti told us a little about her business, the very cool charity it supports.   Patti will be selling Flutter Eyewear at the Bazaar at QB Connect 2018 in San Jose (November 5-7th). Click here to reserve your ticket today for this exciting event!   Patti, what did it take to turn your idea into a real product?   We started by hiring consultants and inviting board members with deep knowledge in all aspects of eyewear. A big part of opening an eyewear company is understanding the “presbyopia” market -- that is, the farsightedness some people will experience as they age. Next, we had to procure the raw materials, acquire a more thorough technical knowledge of lenses and hinges and learn about manufacturing.   What’s one thing you know now that you wish you’d known when you were starting out in business?     I wished I had known earlier on to trust my own judgment.         What has been most satisfying about starting and running your own business?   It’s very satisfying to gain happy customers who then become great evangelists for Flutter Eyewear. We also get to support a wonderful program by donating a portion of every sale toward training service dogs (better eyesight for two!). I love writing a big check at the end of every year to Canine Companions for Independence.   What has been most challenging or surprising about starting and running your own business?   Recently, because our business requires global sourcing and manufacturing, the fluctuating and “protectionist” trade tariffs put in place by the White House have been frustrating to deal with.   How are you gearing up now for the busy holiday season ahead?     We are currently stocking up on inventory and manpower for the extra help needed during the season ahead.   What do you hope to gain from attending QuickBooks Connect?     I’m a CPA by training, and I love QuickBooks -- hear me roar! I use it personally and also for business. At QB Connect, I’m looking forward to connecting with a new market of customers who have not yet heard of Flutter Eyewear.   We hope you’ll join us at QB Connect 2018 in San Jose. Already registered? Hop on over to our QB Connect group to get a head-start on connecting, sharing and learning!       QB Community members, how long did it take you to turn your idea into an official business? What steps did you take to make it happen?   Want to weigh in but not yet a QB Community member? Click HERE to sign up in a flash! ... View more

Have you registered for QuickBooks Connect 2018 yet? If you haven’t quite gotten around to it, now is the perfect time to put “get my ticket” at the very top of your to-do list. Why? Because the big event (November 5-7th) has sold out in previous years and we don't want you to miss it!   The list of inspiring speakers just keeps on growing. QuickBooks has just announced two awesome new mainstage speakers: actor/writer/director/producer Mindy Kaling (yes, she’s a quadruple-threat!) and one of the best baseball players of all time, Alex Rodriguez . And we haven’t even mentioned the amazing lineup of speakers, panelists and moderators who all know what it takes to succeed in business and want to share what they know with entrepreneurs just like you.     You can see a full (and ever-growing) list of speakers here .   Register for QB Connect today! We’re excited to see you in November in San Jose! ... View more

Meta and her family in Juneau, Alaska  Name: Meta Mesdag Business: Salty Lady Seafood Co .   Location: Juneau, Alaska Launched:  April 2018 Meta Mesdag is a mom of three in Juneau, Alaska. Wanting to be available to her kids, Meta has opened two successful small businesses out of her home. Although both ventures have kept her super busy, Meta decided earlier this year to start a family “mariculture” business -- an ocean farm where she, her husband and kids will grow (and then sell) oysters, clams, mussels and kelp, all of them working together. Did Meta know anything about mariculture when she dreamt up the idea? No. Did that stop her from starting it up? Absolutely not. Here, at the very beginning of her new business journey, she tells us about the challenge of launching her business and how she persevered despite strict regulations -- and some very heavy concrete anchors. Meta has no doubt that she’ll be successful as a mariculture entrepreneur. After meeting this determined, high-energy woman, neither do we!   Hi Meta! Tell us about your brand new business. Salty Lady Seafood Co is a micro-scale, mariculture family farm in Juneau. We cultivate oysters and are in the process of growing kelp, as well. In the next year or two we will hopefully have mussels and clams growing, too. How did you end up owning and running an oyster farm? I currently have a photography business which takes a lot of time away from my kids. They are all fairly young, and they still want to hang out with my husband and me! This spring I started talking to my husband, Alec, about creating a new kind of family-friendly business model. I’ve always thought the ideal business would be all of us together, outside and on the water. Alec is involved in the local Economic Development Council, and he immediately said, “Meta, you need to start a farm. Mariculture is on the rise. It’s the number one greatest economic opportunity for our state -- and you are really good at growing stuff!”   Kids help with "planting" oyster seeds and snapping the growing bags onto the line   So how do you go from a good idea to actually growing oysters in the ocean? We began by researching the current market. We learned about the key players and laws and figured out what our capital investment would be in order for us to succeed. I met with the mariculture director of Alaska and with farmers from Alaska and across the country to learn as much as I could about the industry and the best options for mariculture in our region in Southeast Alaska. Next, it was time to find a site for our farm. We pulled out nautical charts and started picking potential farm sites. We wanted a site that wasn’t too hard to access or too far from home since the whole idea was about family togetherness. We identified and submitted our site picks to the mariculture director, and every single one of them got rejected for various reasons -- too close to other farms, on state park land, too near a wastewater facility. I really started banging my head on a wall after the sixth site rejection. That’s when I got an email from a guy who owned an existing farm. The site was undeveloped, and his plan of cultivating geoduck clams wasn’t working out. We visited the site and, when we viewed it from the beach, I could immediately see it was perfect. The owner transferred his lease to us, and all the doors started to open. We were back in business!   The farm site in Juneau, AK   You’ve never operated an oyster farm before. Why did you believe you could succeed at this type of venture? I believe that there’s no better time than now to start something new. The human brain is crazy malleable and ready to learn. You just have to feed it knowledge, and then you have all the power you need to succeed. I think my formidable tenacity is what kept me from throwing in the towel when most people would have given up during these very difficult start-up months. Building a farm in Alaska can take years. State regulators are overworked, and the statutes guiding the growth and development of the mariculture industry are fairly new and still undefined. Plus, we had to place four massive anchors that weighed-in at four-and-a-half tons onto the seafloor to support the farm. This huge foundational effort took an army of people, including a ferry captain, a backhoe operator, a barge and family members with boats. We spent hours chasing the tide to set the anchors in place. It was dangerous and grueling work, but, with a lot of determination and planning, we got them situated without a scratch. That sounds really hard! How did you deal mentally with such difficult physical and bureaucratic requirements? Compared with securing the farm site and laying the anchor foundations, everything else has seemed relatively easy! I could not have accomplished those major things without the help of folks who believe in me. Once the doors started to open for us in business, I decided I needed to work from faith so I could manage the stresses ahead. I had to trust that what was meant to be would be. Things that were not meant to be I would gladly let go of.   What drives me and keeps me focused is the desire to create a business for my family. I’m providing my kids with the opportunity to grow up in Alaska, with all of us working together to provide sustainably grown seafood for our community.   Meta's youngest child and inspiration for the company logo   That’s so cool, Meta. It sounds like you have a very clear dream. What is your hope for the future of your business? My hope is that we grow a successful business that gives our family an opportunity to work and play together. Ideally, the lines will blend between work and play! One of my main objectives in starting this farm is to help give my children greater opportunities and enough confidence to do what they love, on or off the farm. If I play my cards right, my kids will go off to college with a strong sense of self and a solid work ethic. The dream is that they will have a fruitful family business to come home to in the summers. That way, we can all work together in Juneau with the people we love, doing what we love while also doing something great for our community.    I can almost picture it! Will you keep us posted on your progress, please? Absolutely!     QB Community members, what keeps you going when you come up against huge obstacles in operating your business? Want to weigh in but not yet a QB Community member? Click HERE to sign up in a flash! ... View more

Each and every day, the inspiring self-employed folks in our QuickBooks Community remind us that entrepreneurs find their calling in their own unique way. Some can’t imagine ditching the security of a day job, while others give it up in a flash. We’ve met moms who tailor their career to fit their family life, friends who join forces to bring a business idea to life and sons and daughters who are carrying on family business traditions. If you recognize your own entrepreneurial personality among these eight, let us know. Are you a different type altogether? Tell us more! The Opportunity Grabber You see a niche -- or a gaping hole -- in the market, and you know you’re the one to fill it. You think outside the box and imagine new ways of doing things to appeal to today’s 21st-century customer. You’re outgoing, enthusiastic and you know how to get others excited about your ideas. You’re in good company : Meet Scott Wolfe CEO of zlien, Jennie Nigrosh of The Green Garmento, Leslie Barber of NutraBella and Cozy Friedman of SoCozy Professional Hair Care for Children The Do It My Way-er You learned a particular set of skills at a workplace or in school, and you always knew you’d be happier working on your own, in your own way. You are your own best boss and prefer answering to no one else. You enjoy the flexibility of working for yourself, even if it sometimes gets lonely. Connecting with other entrepreneurs is a great way to refresh! You’re in good company : Meet Maggi Simpkins Fine Jewelry, Gregg Miele of Heart & Soul Gym, Hanna Broer Designs and Lynda Artesani Bookkeeping The Legacy Carrier  You grew up in a family of entrepreneurs who taught you everything you know about running a business. You’re keeping the family company going while also bringing in fresh ideas and resources. With years of experience and an innate knowledge of a particular market, your valuable insights make you a natural mentor for the next generation of business owners. You’re in good company : Meet Scott Beylik of Beylik Family Farms and Jimmy Gallagher of ASAP Construction The Creative Maker You have your own artistic vision and know how to execute what’s in your imagination. Whether you’re making pottery, music or candles, you find deep fulfillment in your creative work. Sometimes making the leap from creating to earning is a struggle, but you’re used to thinking outside the box, so you always make it work. You’re in good company : Meet Gopi Shah Ceramics, singer/songwriter Willa Amai , graphic designer Fabienne Wente and jeweler April Hall The Accidental Entrepreneur   You were minding your own business, enjoying a hobby or honing a skill when people started telling you, “You should do this for a living!” Before you knew it, you quit your day job, and your side-hustle turned into a full-blown business. Now you’re fully entrenched in an operation of your own making. Maybe you took a crash course in marketing and business accounting to ‘keep your company on track. Now that you’re over the shock of becoming a sudden entrepreneur, you found it suits you to a T! You’re in good company : Meet Sadie Scheffer of Bread Srsly, Gina D’Orazio of Gina Cucina, Eric Szeto of Shades of Sugar and Kirk Wells of Whiskey Oak Seasonings The Fresh Starter You were working for The Man for years when you began to suspect it wasn’t your true path to happiness. You wanted something more. You did some soul-searching, talked to some trusted advisors and decided to make a fresh start with your very own business. Now, with a successful company and regular clients, you ask yourself, “Why didn’t I do this sooner?” You’re in good company : Meet Lee Weinstein of Weinstein PR, Travis Troyer of Basik Candle Co. and Sherrie Bainer of GRACEDBYGRIT The Parent-Innovator Like a lot of new parents, you took some time off work to spend with your family and realized you wanted job flexibility all the time. Since having kids changed your entire daily schedule, you created a gig that worked for your family and for you. Maybe you’re a freelancer, putting in hours when you you can, or perhaps you opened a kid-friendly biz that lets you keep kid-friendly hours. However you achieved the work-life balance, you love it --  and, despite all the hard work, you know it makes you a happier person all around. You’re in good company : Meet Nikki Bell of Domestic Divas, Erica Voges of Caustic Threads, Kari Browne , former owner of ELK and LARK cafes, Julie Gordon White of consulting firm The WELL and Olivia Howell of Howell Social Media The Partner(s)   The pair (or more) of you came up with a plan, and then you (and you and you …) made it happen! You’re each other’s biggest fans, and you and your teammate have unique skills to balance the partnership and help your business thrive. Together you weather business ups and downs, shoulder the burdens and bask in the victories. In short, you can’t imagine building and growing a business with anyone else! You’re in good company : Meet the women of TINSEL Experiential Design and Lucy & Nadia of Luna Stationery     QB Community members, do you recognize yourself in any of these personality types? Tell us in the comments! Want to weigh in but not yet a QB Community member? Click HERE to sign up in a flash! ... View more