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How should your marketing strategy change next year?
The current calendar year is winding down and a fresh 12 months lies ahead. That makes now a good time to think about how you should present yourself to customers and prospects next year. The U.S. economy has undergone notable change in 2022. Namely, rising inflation and persistent supply chain challenges have forced companies to really contemplate…
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Like every business, a start-up needs a sensible budget
An impressive 432,834 new business applications for tax identification numbers were submitted during October 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Indeed, despite the relatively higher costs of doing business these days, plenty of start-ups are still launching. One thing that every new company needs, along with a business plan, is a sensible budget. And that…
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Shine a light on sales prospects to brighten the days ahead
When it comes to sales, most businesses labor under two major mandates: 1) Keep selling to existing customers, and 2) Find new ones. To accomplish the former, your sales staff probably gets some help from the marketing and customer service departments. Succeeding at the latter may be more difficult. Yet perhaps the most discernible way a sales…
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M&A on the way? Consider a QOE report
Whether you’re considering selling your business or acquiring another one, due diligence is a must. In many mergers and acquisitions (M&A), prospective buyers obtain a quality of earnings (QOE) report to evaluate the accuracy and sustainability of the seller’s reported earnings. Sometimes sellers get their own QOE reports to spot potential problems that might derail…
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Manageable growth should be a strategic planning focus
When a company’s leadership engages in strategic planning, growing the business is typically at the top of the agenda. This is as it should be — ambition is part and parcel of being a successful business owner. What’s more, in many industries, failing to grow could leave the company at the mercy of competitors. However,…
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Sometimes businesses need to show customers tough love
“We love our customers!” Many businesses proclaim this at the bottom of their invoices, in their marketing materials and even on the very walls of their physical locations. Obviously, every company needs a solid customer or client base to survive. But, to truly thrive, you need to evaluate which customers are reliably contributing to the…
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How to handle evidence in a fraud investigation at your business
Every business owner should establish strong policies, procedures and internal controls to prevent fraud. But don’t stop there. Also be prepared to act if indications arise that, despite your best efforts, wrongdoing has taken place at your company. How you handle the evidence obtained could determine whether you’ll be able to prove the charges brought…
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Formalizing your business’s BYOD policy
When the pandemic hit about two and a half years ago, thousands of employees suddenly found themselves working from home. In many cases, this meant turning to personal devices to access their work email, handle documents and perform other tasks. Even before COVID, more and more businesses were allowing employees to use their own phones,…
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Evaluating an ESOP from a succession planning perspective
If you’ve been in business for a while, you’ve probably considered many different employee benefits. One option that might have crossed your desk is an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). Strictly defined, an ESOP is considered a retirement plan for employees. But it can also play a role in succession planning by facilitating the transfer of…
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Checking in on your accounts payable processes
Accounts payable is a critical area of concern for every business. However, as a back-office function, it doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. Once in place, accounts payable processes tend to get taken for granted. Following are some tips and best practices for improving your company’s approach. Be strategic Too often, businesses take a…
