Business Discussions

Mia Kaplan is a painter and sculptor working near New Orleans, LA. In this “OWN IT. Every day.” series from QuickBooks, she opens up about her inspiring small business and self-employed story. Watch all five episodes to learn how Mia got her start as a teenager, how she’s made it through tough times, how she gives back to her community and more. Mia started painting because it was her passion. But after selling her first painting at 14, it became clear she could turn it into a career. At times, Mia’s had to get a little scrappy to keep a steady income. But diligent organization can help her predict how sales might ebb and flow. Rather than cut into precious family time, Mia wakes up early to start work and works late into the night if she has to. Mia gives back to her community by offering free art classes to local kids. Getting started as a freelancer was hard for Mia. But looking at patterns and tactics that had worked before made it a whole lot easier. You can learn more about M

  Being a business consultant, requires a lot of patience which at times can be somewhat difficult. We all have different “ah-ha” moments along our journey and I wanted to share one of mine that still helps me find that extra bit of patience when I need it most.   A couple years back, I found myself working in the staffing industry, helping to place accounting professionals with local companies. Not only did the experience introduce me to my business partner Mike Snelson, it also introduced me to many of the local bookkeepers who were still deciding if the freelance life was really what they wanted or not. Each week I met with 8-12 accounting professionals (even more unprofessional ones) and listened as they shared their success and failures and then proceeded to question them about their abilities with different accounting platforms, and most importantly with excel.  I will never forget asking the 'candidates" if they were familiar with Pivot Tables, VLO

Welcome to Wellness Works! As a nutrition and fitness professional, I’ve created this series to help you achieve a healthful balance between your mind, your body and your fuel. I’ll offer up tips and strategies for mental, physical and nutritional alignment. The way I see it, when those three systems are ready and raring to go, you’ll run your business better than ever! Your mind Whether you work from your kitchen, a nearby cafe or in an actual office, staying focused on the project at hand can be challenging. Something more interesting than, say, invoicing, is always just a click, tap or swipe away. Then there’s your friendly neighbor who loves to chat, the quick errand you need to run or the dog who would love a walk … Here are a few books designed to help build your focus -- both in your professional life and your personal life. 100% Focused: 25 Great Ways To Improve Your Focus And Concentration (How To Be 100%) Staying Focused In A Hyper World: Book 1; Natural Solutions For ADH

Hello, I am a creative and founded a kids socks company and I really would love to find a partner to handle the “business and operations” side of things. So far my network has failed me, and no one wants to be a partner only a paid employee position. Any advice on how to network better? Thanks!!!

"Success is not a linear trajectory, and it’s important to remember that.”  -- Dan Schmitt, ceramicist  Read more from Dan here in this great QB Community profile: How Ceramicist Dan Schmitt Finds the Balance between Fine Art and Wholesale Success Will you tell us about your trajectory? What's gone well? Where have you hit snags? What would help you right now?  That's what the disucssion space is all about. Leave your comments below!

      Having never touched clay before he took an introductory class in college, Dan Schmitt soon found that he had a natural talent for creating beautiful pieces of tableware and functional pottery. From then on, he knew he wanted to start his own ceramics company, selling minimalist and Japanese-influenced works.    Almost 20 years later, Dan’s creations have appeared in prestigious galleries across the country and are also featured regularly in wholesale stores and at craft shows.    We spoke to the veteran potter about finding support in a shared community of artists, the encouragement provided by early success and how he's learned to manage his business expectations.    Name: Dan Schmitt  Business: Dan Schmitt Pottery  Started: June 1999    How did you create your awesome job?    I went into college planning to pursue a career in sports medicine, but after my first semester I realized that I wasn’t

Are there any other Home Care or Home Health companies out there?  I have been struggling with finding good quality caregivers who want to work. I'll have people apply and not show up for interviews. I'll hire them they don't show up or they come up with some excuse and quit on me with no 2 weeks notice. I'm just wondering if there other companies having the same issue? I'm also wondering where people have been find quality caregivers? I tried Facebook, KSL, Indeed, Ziprecruiter. 

Name: Celeste Ruberti Business: Mane Island Truth Serum To be revealed … Founded: Ongoing since August 2015 The last time we heard from Celeste Ruberti, our frizz-fighting entrepreneur was up to her elbows in natural ingredients. What was Celeste cooking up? A proprietary formula for all those gals (and guys!) who like their curls and waves air-dried, not blow-dried. When we left off, Celeste was feeling rejuvenated after taking a much-needed break from creating a new hair-care product (don’t forget, she’s a full-time hair stylist, too). She was refreshed, organized and ready to tackle logo design, branding, a new website and marketing – all while refining her secret recipe. So where is Celeste today? Let’s find out! Celeste, since we last spoke in June, you’ve probably spent a lot of time just sitting around and eating bonbons. True? Well … I did just take a day off from the salon to catch up on some product-related business. I’ve been creating a huge new blog post: the definitive gu

Deciding who to hire as your first employee can be a tough decision. Don't go into it without hearing what some other small-business and self-employed folks have to say! Watch and learn from this pair of QuickBooks "Ways to Grow" videos!     Josh, the owner of LA’s The Last Bookstore, tells us how he discovers new employees in this episode of "Ways to Grow." It’s easier to find your first employee if you know where to look, says Josh.      In this "Ways to Grow" episode, NOLA BOARDS owners Mandy and Daren share their insights on what qualities to look for when you’re ready to bring someone on.    What can you share about hiring your first employee? QB Community members want to hear about it! Leave your thoughts in the reply section below.    Before you go... Here's more about employees and first-time hiring:  Employees on Your Mind? Some Hints Before You Hire Advice on Hiring First Employee    

I work a lot of time at the computer, and I have pain in my back. Maybe I need new desk and computer chair?

About 10 years ago I started teaching yoga which grew into a business.  After 8 years I decided to leave my other job to be a full-time business owner.  At the same time, 3 of the instructors teaching at my studio left to open their own spaces.  One of the studios is less than 1 mile from my studio.  They solicited practitioners and continue to do so, sneakily.  They email and offer free classes to the people who practice at my studio.  Our town has only 30,000 residents.  Every consistent practitioner I can get makes a difference.  I need suggestions on how to get and keep people coming in. 

“Running your own business is a lifestyle choice, and it’s easy to feel as though you’re on your own.”    -- Karla McNeil-Rueda, owner Cru Chocolate   If you’re like Karla McNeil-Rueda, the QuickBooks Community is a place for you to connect, share, learn, grow and support one another with the lifestyle choice we’ve all made.   Making Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Connects Karla McNeil-Rueda to Home

A good way to figure out if you’re ready to bring on an employee is to answer some probing questions. Rhonda suggests you sit down and have a heart-to-heart chat with yourself to find answers to the following:   1. Identify the professional skills you don't have.   2. What would my business look like if I had those skills?   3. How much faster would those skills helps me grow my business?   4. What am I willing to spend to do the things I can’t do alone?   Hungry for more information on the subject of hiring and employee relationships? We’ve got you covered! Check out the following article:   Relationships 101: Employees on Your Mind? Some Hints Before You Hire

There are so many factors that go into owning your own business, and your fellow members are here to help! *Stronger together*  

"Trust your instinct. You should always listen to what other people have to say, but at the end of the day, you have to trust your gut."   -- Travis Toyer, Basik Candle Co.   Check out Travis's profile here!   Travis Toyer Ditched his 9-5 for an Entirely Different Ball of Wax: Hand-Crafted Luxury Candles

  While providing the catering for local classrooms and her husband’s yoga students, Gina D’Orazio was bombarded by people encouraging her to take her products to market. After a whirlwind experience at her first farmer’s market, she could tell that her local, organic and completely vegetarian soups were going to be a total hit. With help from her family and friends, she decided to take the leap and start building a soup empire.   We caught up with Gina to hear more about what her day-to-day is like in the kitchen and what she's hoping to learn next from *you* as she tackles the task of growing her business in 2017.                       Name: Gina D’Orazio Business: Gina Cucina Started: January 2014   What inspired you to create your business?    In 2005 I started cooking for my husband’s yoga retreats. We had just moved to Colorado and we couldn’t find a caterer who could provide completel

      When it comes to making smart decisions about money, Dawn Fotopulos is one of our all-time favorite folks to turn to for answers. Dawn, the CEO of DF Consulting, Inc. and author of Accounting for the Numberphobic: A Survival Guide for Small Business Owners, is one of the most popular speakers at QuickBooks Connect. Why? Because she’s incredibly smart, supportive, funny and direct. Most of all, she’s deeply passionate about helping small businesses succeed.   No surprise, then, that we turn to Dawn for the straight skinny on money matters (because we all know money really, really matters). Today's topic? How to track your cash -- and keep it flowing.    Count every dollar (or pound, euro, dinero, yen, renminbi, rupee … )   Here’s a startling statistic: Dawn says that 75% of small businesses in the United States only have enough cash on hand to operate for 30 days, max. According to JP Morgan Foundation, one-quarter are just two weeks (or one pay

-- Richard Branson   What have *you* learned by doing, and by falling over?

  Welcome to Wellness Works! As a nutrition and fitness professional, I’ve created this series to help you achieve a healthful balance between your mind, your body and your fuel. I’ll offer up tips and strategies for mental, physical and nutritional alignment. The way I see it, when those three systems are ready and raring to go, you’ll run your business better than ever! This week’s hot topics: the power of sharing, five-minute moves and mmmm… muffins. Your mind In the past two months, our country has faced a heart-wrenching series of natural and manmade tragedies. At times like these, it’s okay to let yourself feel vulnerable. In fact, it’s important for your mental, emotional and even physical health to share your feelings, anxieties and fears with trusted friends or family. Even though it might be uncomfortable, it’s also totally okay to ask for, and accept, help from others. On a personal note, I grew up in Napa County and live in Sonoma County, so staying positive during

We love giving our team their birthday's off - it's a little treat that we can do as a small business. What other ways are you giving love to your work family?

Money Matters: Boost Your Cash Flow In Three Simple Steps.   Sounds great, right?   Meet Dawn Fotopulos, one woman on a mission. Dawn earns her living advising small business owners on how they can achieve financial success and admits she views her work as less of a job and more as a crusade.   “Over 50% of small businesses fail in their first four years of operation. That’s outrageous,” Dawn explains. She says there’s a way to change that dreadful statistic: show entrepreneurs exactly how to manage their money.   Want to know how? Click below to read the full story!   Money Matters: Boost Your Cash Flow In Three Simple Steps   Hungry for more?   Here are some more helpful articles about money matters, from Dawn and other QB Community experts:   How to Track Your Cash – and Keep It Flowing Why Your Balance Sheet Is a Truth Serum For How You Run Your Business Find an Extra $500 in Your Business Today Let’s Do the Math: Know Your Target Number &nb

How do you keep your relationship with suppliers humming along? During normal, all-the-time operations? How about during crazy holiday crunch time?   Share your tips and tricks in the reply area below!

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I always do my fun work first, which means the less-interesting tasks can pile up. Like organizing receipts, replacing materials or equipment and the like. I've never figured out a way to keep up on that stuff as I go along.   Wondering if anyone here has tips for me!

Sherlock Holmes or your accountant? Your accountant, she makes more deductions! :smileyvery-happy: Do you have a good accounting joke? Share it!