The end of the year always sneaks up fast — especially when you're running a business. Between wrapping up projects, handling holiday rushes, or planning for next year, it’s easy for bookkeeping to slide down the to-do list.   But here’s the truth: taking a little time now to clean up your books will make tax season smoother, stress levels lower, and next-year-you very  grateful.   Here are some simple, practical steps to get your finances in order before year-end. 1. Reconci

When meeting new clients, there’s one question I hear over and over: “How can I take my business to the next level?” Some even ask if there is some kind of checklist or template they can use in making this happen. Unfortunately, there is no universal set of tactics that are suited for every business. However, there are a few things that every business needs to have right away (a business banking account; a way to track income and expenses; a dedicated place to work, etc.) On

Most small business owners are aware of the concept associated with outsourcing. However, they might think that it is only applicable for things such as article writing or maybe some website work. These people tend to feel that they simply must keep up with their routine, everyday work. If they don't, won't they lose control of the company? It can be difficult to let go, but in reality your virtual assistant is ideal to help with so many different elements of your daily sched

Keeping appointments and deadlines in a calendar is essential.  Without one, unless you’ve got a fabulous memory (I don’t), things go bad quickly! Unfortunately, many people still struggle with electronic calendar set up, something I see with clients every day. This is how it usually happens: They have a job before they start their business, and they use a calendar associated with their personal email for their personal life. That makes perfect sense.   They start a business

It seems that at least once each week I hear the same five words from friends and clients: “I need to delegate more.” And then,...