Business Discussions

We've talked a lot about social media and how it can help your business grow. Let's say things are going really well and the social media aspect of your business has become increasingly more difficult to keep up with. Have you ever considered hiring a social media manager? Here are a few things one could do for you: Management This one is pretty straight forward; it's even in the job title! A social media manager will be able to do just that - manage, across all platforms. Engagement Engaging on social media is done through replies, comments, and direct messages. Again, one of those things that can be really time consuming especially when there's a lot of it do. A social media manager will get this done for you! Graphic Design Have you ever heard the saying, "We eat with our eyes first"? The same can be said about consumers when choosing a company to do business with. Help in the graphic design department will take your business to the next level. Product Photography Even more

  Happy Wednesday! I was scrolling through LinkedIn the other day and I came across this article by Sprout Social. I found it super insightful as it discussed social media accessibility best practices and how it can help bring people together but also cause exclusion. According to Sprout Social, “Social media accessibility is the practice of designing and developing social media content and posts that provide a smooth, inclusive experience for everyone”. Today I wanted to share the 8 guidelines that are talked about in this article with you:   Add alt text to images Make your text accessible Be mindful of emojis Add closed captions and subtitles to videos Make your visual content accessible Use inclusive language Prioritize inclusivity in your images Make accessibility and inclusion part of your routine   These guidelines are important to consider as non-accessible content can cause all sorts of disruptive experiences for viewers. The goal is that your socia

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

Good afternoon, Community! Thanks for taking the time to join us today. I'm sure you've noticed that there are QR codes everywhere and used for just about everything these days. If you're wondering how you can create your own, check out this post I found on entrepreneur.com. Here's what it had to say...   Download a free QR code generatorThere are several options available for both iPhone and Android.   Pick the QR data formatThe format options describe what kind of data is provided to the user who scans the QR code. Once the QR code is scanned, the device will launch whatever applicable program is needed. A few options include: simple text, website URLs, and contact cards.   Enter your dataNext is to enter the relevant data into the fields of your QR code generator. Pro tip: Try to keep any data or text under 300 characters, as older phones have trouble with QR codes that have more than 300 characters long (digits or text).   Start sharing your QR codeVirtuall

Hello again! Thanks for being here in the Business Discussion space. Today I would like to have an anatomy lesson. No, probably not the first one that comes to mind, but the anatomy of a proposal! We know that proposals are forms used to present your products and/or services (often as packages) to potential clients. Let's look...   HeaderOff to an easy start. The header will made up of your logo, and any other graphics you'd like to include.   WelcomeWelcome your client to your business. Present your name and business info like telephone number, email, address.   About MeTo further elaborate on your welcome, use this area to present a short bio about you and/or your business and how you help clients.   Your ProcessList key details about your work that will intrigue your client to work with you even more so. Explain why your business is unique and better than the rest.   ItemsList the different packages, bundles, or items for your client to choose from. You may

When last have you been able to relax truly? I know it can be very busy as business owners, but it is necessary. Here are a few ways to do so:     Deep Breathing: Practice deep breathing exercises to help slow down your heart rate and promote a sense of calm. Inhale deeply through your nose, hold it for a few seconds, and exhale slowly through your mouth. Meditation: Set aside a few minutes each day for meditation. Find a quiet space, sit comfortably, and focus on your breath or a specific point of concentration. Meditation can help reduce stress and increase mindfulness. Take a Walk in Nature: Spending time outdoors can be incredibly calming. Take a walk in a park or nature reserve, immerse yourself in the beauty of nature, and let the fresh air rejuvenate you. Listen to Music: Choose soothing or calming music that helps you unwind. Create a playlist of your favorite relaxing tunes and listen to them while you sit back, close your eyes, and let the music wash over you. Pra

Trying to improve your Company's Youtube channel? Dr. Steve Turley shares several steps he took to successfully grow his company to over 1 million subscribers on Entreprenuer.com. Here are a few tips! Define Your Audience Create Engaging Content Optimize Video Titles and Descriptions Use Eye-Catching Thumbnails Implement Keyword Research and Optimization Leverage Social Media Platforms Collaborate with Influencers and Creators Analyze Data and Make Informed Decisions   Please take a few minutes and review the article for more information and let the growth begin! Until next time, be safe and enjoy your weekend.

Good afternoon! I hope everyone is having a wonderful day. Do you listen to podcasts often? If that's your thing I think you'll enjoy this post that was shared on the QuickBooks Blog. It covers a new small business podcast from QuickBooks in collaboration with iHeart Radio called "Mind the Buisness". The two hosts interview small business owners to find out more about their success stories as well as covering pointers on how to get you there. Here are a few of the topics discussed: How to Raise Capital and Find Funding For Your Small Business Knowing Your Best Audience For the Best Marketing Strategy Money Management to Keep You on the Right Track     If you follow the link above you can bookmark the page to listen to episodes and find out more. Be sure to check back every week when new episodes are shared. We'd love to hear from you too! What are some of your favorite business podcasts? Let's chat in the comments.

It's hump day and I'm back to share some great small business tactics to help you along your path to success. Today I want to talk about the foundations of a successful small business. Let's take a closer look...     Good product or service One of the most fundamental aspects of a successful business is a good product or service that you can rely on. Passion and drive Next up is having passion and drive. If you aren't passionate and driven to work at your business it makes it difficult to be successful. No shame When you're a small business owner, YOU have to be your biggest advocate. Don't sell yourself short! For example, when you're asked what you do for a living, answer boldly with a response like "I own my own business." Not something like, "Oh I just work from home and make crafts." A professional brand Branding relays the legitimacy of your business. This is one area to not skimp on. Take this to the professionals to get the best results. Portfolio and testi

Thank you for joining me in the Talk About Your Business Discussion today. I have an interesting read titled "Streamlining Client Onboarding for Efficient Business Growth" from "Firm of the Future," which offers valuable insights on optimizing client onboarding processes. Here are a few takeaways that I thought would be instrumental:   Comprehending the Process: A clear understanding of the client onboarding process is crucial. It involves initial contact, information gathering, goal setting, and project scope definition. This understanding allows businesses to create efficient workflows and ensure a smooth transition from a prospect to a satisfied client. Leveraging Technology: Incorporating technology improves efficiency. For example, customer relationship management (CRM) systems centralize client data, track interactions, and automate tasks. Other cloud-based collaboration tools also facilitate seamless communication and document sharing, enhancing the overall client experie

Greetings and salutations my friends. I hope this week has treated you well. Today I'd like to share an article from inc.com that discusses why businesses hit a "revenue ceiling" and what you should do if that happens. Let's find out...   They Max Out Their Personal ReachWhat happens:The list of personal and professional contacts has come to an end. Customer acquisition takes a toll on their bank account because it's difficult to sell to someone you don't know.   Why it happens:Often times, startups will lean solely on their own network instead of asking themselves a few make-or-break questions: Does this idea have legs and is the product any good? How much is the product worth? How should I market and sell it? Will customers adopt and use it?   What to do: Remove sales data for people in your network and figure out why strangers are buying from you and build from that.   They Exhaust Their Early AdoptersWhat happens: For every product that goe

Credit Memo   Blue Rounded Border Cred.DES Blue small rounded borders with no fill. Download   Blue Rounded Fill Cred.DES Blue small rounded borders filled with a lighter shade of blue. Download   Blue Square Border Cred.DES Blue square borders with no fill. Download   Blue Square Fill Cred.DES Blue square borders filled with a lighter shade of blue. Download   Credit Card Cust Copy Cred.DES For use with QuickBooks Merchant Account Service only. Credit Memo - Customer Copy This is a generic Credit Memo with additional fields to support the credit card features provided by QuickBooks Merchant Account Service. Show more... Download   Credit Card Merch Copy Cred.DES For use with QuickBooks Merchant Account Service only. Credit Memo - Merchant Copy This is a generic Credit Memo with additional fields to support the credit card features provided by QuickBooks Merchant Account Service. Show more... Download  

Hello. Akwaaba! Marrhaba! I want to share my own entrepreneurship journey. I started my company in June 2014. I had just about $150.00 to $250.00 in my bank accounts after I registered and starting working in the living room of my friend. It was a difficult moment in New York City, but with my hopes and dreams as guiding principles, I did not give up in trying. My close friends know I have good ideas, and needed to put those ideas into good use. I have never been to business school and didn’t know much about financial systems. All I had was the about to turn problems into solutions.Example solutions I delivered include: graphic design using Adobe products, excel data reports.  logo concepts using paper & pencil before visual works, and turning my client website content into working HTML/CSS3 website pages. I did it many good stuff and enjoy creative works.Over 7 years since the foundation, I now find myself at cross roads: how do I run a profitable business

Hey QuickBooks Community! How are you doing? Quick question for you! How often do you use a Pros and Cons list to make decisions? Here are several reasons why this would be important in any decision-making!     Creating a pros and cons list brings clarity to complex decisions by breaking them down into simpler components. The pros and cons list helps identify the trade-offs associated with different options. Listing the pros and cons of a decision helps provide a balanced evaluation of the situation. It allows you to articulate the reasoning behind your choice, address concerns, and engage in constructive dialogue. By considering the positives and negatives, you can gain greater confidence in your decision.   A pros and cons approach ensures a more thoughtful and comprehensive decision-making process, leading to more informed choices and better outcomes. Sounds good, right? I hope you enjoyed this quick read and truly see the benefits! Until next time, take care.

Happy Friday! Before you leave the office today, I wanted to share an article with you from inc.com. This post offers simple phrases that can change how you do business for the better.   We've all heard the saying, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." Although cliché, it's very true. The same can be said about asking for things that you need. You'll never get them if you don't ask.   Three magic wordsThe writer explains a simple phrase they've learned to rely on in the business world - "Is it possible _____?" Fill in the blank for yourself and you may be pleasantly surprised at the answer you receive.   Before you askAsking some pointed questions takes guts, there's not denying that. To be sure you have the best chance at a positive answer you need to nail down what your business needs. "Knowing your business strengths, priorities, and shortcomings is essential for pinpointing opportunities as they arise and making them a reality. All you need is the confide

  Hello Community! Do you have a hard time delegating tasks to others, especially when running your business? If so, then you’re not alone. According to this article in the QuickBooks Blog, delegation means giving up some control and putting your trust in others. Let’s go over a few tips shared that will help you overcome your fears and delegate more effectively!   Hire the right people Allow for learning Communicate Effectively Set delegation boundaries Back off   Delegation allows you to work on growing a successful business, improving your leadership skills, and also building a team that’s efficient. Delegating effectively gives your employees confidence and makes them feel even more invested in your business because you’re placing that trust on them. For more details on each of these tips shared, make sure to check out the full article here as well as this awesome video on delegation by Hector Garcia.   See you next time!

It's important to recognize the resilience and hard work you (small business owners) have weathered throughout the challenging years. This month of May is a reminder to acknowledge and support your vital role in our communities and economies. Whether you are a small business owner or not, you can still show appreciation to other small business owners. Here are some ideas on how to do so:     Leave positive reviews: Leaving positive reviews online is a great way to show appreciation to small business owners. It helps attract new customers and shows the business owner that their hard work is paying off. Share on social media: Share your positive experiences with small businesses on social media. This helps spread the word and encourages others to shop locally. Refer friends and family: Word-of-mouth referrals are extremely valuable to small businesses. If you had a great experience with a small business, tell your friends and family about it and encourage them to give it a tr

Are you interested in knowing several tips on conserving water in your business? Our QuickBooks Blog shares a few points for small business owners to save water and reduce bills. Let's look at some!   Fix leaky faucets and toilets. Install low-flow faucets and showerheads. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean outdoor spaces. Collect and reuse rainwater. Upgrade to water-efficient appliances. Monitor water usage regularly. Educate employees on water conservation. Use drought-tolerant plants for landscaping.   By implementing these tips, you can save water, reduce water bills, and help protect the environment.What are your thoughts? Perhaps you may have some tips to add to the list.  Feel free to share with us below! We love when you interact. We'll return with more insights and tips soon, so stay tuned! Bye for now.

¿Qué tal? Happy Cinco de Mayo, my Community Family! Before you head out to celebrate, I have this short, sweet, and to-the-point article from Forbes that discusses two things most people forget to do when building a Personal Brand. Want to know what they said? Come closer...     Identify your unique value proposition: It's important to define what sets you apart from others in your field and to articulate it clearly. Consider your strengths, skills, and experiences and how they can add value to your audience or potential clients.   Develop a consistent brand image: Creating a consistent brand image across all platforms and channels is crucial for building a strong personal brand. This includes everything from your website and social media profiles to your email signature and business cards.   Knowing how to execute this effectively will assist in a successful personal brand! I hope you found this post informative and valuable. Thanks for reading, and I'll catch

  Happy Wednesday! May is Small Business Success month so I want to spend some time commemorating owners and going over some ways we can all celebrate local small businesses in our community. Here are some activities you can take part in this month:   Say thanksThe best thing you can do during this month is simply spreading awareness and appreciation for any small business that you love. A simple thank you can go a really long way to any business owner.Invest and partnerA bigger way to help is investing in a business in order to help them grow. And if you’re already a business owner, you can even try partnering with one.Share your storyRemember to share your story if you’re someone that started their own business! A new business owner may benefit from your advice and your story.   These are only a few to share but I want to hear from you! How do you celebrate Small Business Success month? Feel free to share in the comments below. See you next time!

When I started my QB based business, I was not sure how long it would take to various things so I billed by the hour. A recent 2023 virtual seminar was pretty good and advocated for flat fee billing, as when you get efficient and skilled, you can make more money and the customers can know what its going to cost every month.  Just sharing that I got a new client and their prior bookkeeper (who was also QB certified) and when I got into the books they were not in good shape. I should have bid this by the hour to get the books cleaned during introduction period, then a flat fee. Its been a bit of mess cleaning up as a sales feed program had loading errors and missing invoices and payments so the A/R aging showed where the bodies were buried. Hope this helps, I learned the hard way.

Happpy Fridayyyyy everyone! Are you looking forward to the weekend? I know I am. Before we disconnect for the weekend, I have an interesting article that presents insights from 24 business leaders on the keys to delivering top-quality customer service. The leaders emphasize the importance of empathy, communication, and going above and beyond to exceed customer expectations. The following are the key takeaways from the article:     Prioritize Empathy: Business leaders stress the importance of empathy in understanding customer needs and addressing their concerns. Empathy can help build trust and establish strong relationships with customers. Communicate Effectively: Clear communication is essential in providing top-quality customer service. Business leaders recommend active listening, providing clear instructions, and maintaining open lines of communication to ensure customer satisfaction. Exceed Expectations: To deliver exceptional customer service, businesses should go abov

Hi friends! We've reached the middle of the week and steadily cruising toward the weekend. Today I want to share a few pointers to help you find your workflow. Let's dive in... Use a journal or planner to write down important dates and tasks. Dedicate certain days for certain tasks. This will help you keep all of your appointments and duties organized and allow you to anticipate what's coming next. Work in 20-minute increments. Set a timer when starting a task and work at until the timer goes off. Take a short 5-minute break afterward before starting the next thing on your list. I've personally used this tip and found it to be super helpful, especially when I'm really busy or facing tasks that I don't really want to do. Working for an allotted time period will keep you from getting rundown and overwhelmed. Create a vision board and place it where you can see it everyday. Look over your board whenever you need some motivation or a reminder or your goals. And of course add things when

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Hello all! Thanks for taking a moment to visit us here in the Community. Today I want to share a post from the QuickBooks Blog that, just being completely honest, had never heard of! Given that fact, I felt it was worth sharing with you all as well. Here's some informative info about financial therapy...   We know there are different forms of therapy for just about anything you can think of but one I had never considered may be one of the most important - finances. Financial therapy "offers to help small business owners (and individuals) repair and improve their relationship with money — so they can move forward with clarity and confidence." Furthermore, can be referred to as the intersection between money and emotions.   Financial therapists are not to be confused with financial advisors. Therapists focus more on your mental barriers that are driving financial decisions and/or holding you back from financial freedom, where as an advisor would focus solely on the ac