Starting or taking over your business’ accounting system can be confusing. So, let’s start by introducing some basic accounting concepts, principles & terms. First, it’s good to ask yourself, “Why is accounting an essential building block in my business?” Most people assume this is true and leave it at that. But in more concrete terms, …
Do you ever wonder if you’re using QuickBooks to its fullest potential? Check out a training program for QuickBooks to learn how to make it work for you. Are you one of the millions of businesses using QuickBooks for in-house accounting? Do you ever find the program frustrating? Do you ever wonder if you’re using …
January to December… Our calendar encourages us to divide our personal and business lives into those 12-month chunks of time. But what could happen if we decided to break out of that traditional mind-set – especially when it comes to business planning? My “15-Month-Year” Business Planning & Coaching Session I recently sat in …
Your Accounts Payable information needs to be accurate (i.e., “clean”) if you want to use the results to help gauge the financial health of your company. “Accounts Payable” Explained… Even if you are new to business, you may have heard the term “Accounts Payable.” If you haven’t worked as a bookkeeper or accountant, here’s an …
In this interview, Diane and Dave Sullivan (host of The Roofer Show podcast) dive into what Diane calls the “Gross Profit Rollercoaster.” They explore why ‘highs and lows’ happen in a business (when the numbers aren’t lining up), and how to avoid those ups and downs. Why this matters to you: As Dave says, “You …
QuickBooks Desktop Cloud Hosting Jake Reeves (Director of Sales at Summit) joins Diane as she does a live (and “real-life”) demonstration of how cloud hosting REALLY works for QuickBooks desktop! Why this matters to you: See how you can set up your own cloud hosting “desktop.” Get answers about how cloud hosting can work for YOUR …
… Here’s the podcast: To run a profitable roofing business, you have to understand the basics of accounting and the basics of setting up your financial system. Find out how understanding your accounting system and making a few proactive updates can lead to increased profitability. What you’ll hear in this episode: Reorganize your Chart of …
Download your Choosing a QuickBooks ProAdvisor eBook… Recently, a participant in one of the online forums that I like to ‘attend’ asked “What should I look for when I choose my next accountant?” As a QuickBooks ProAdvisor who’s worked with many different clients within the construction, manufacturing, and various other industries (and ‘in the wake’ …
It’s That Time of Year Again – TAX TIME! And guess what? I’ve been working with clients who have been turning their numbers over to their tax accountants starting the middle of January! Do you dread January, February, March – and beyond – because those months seem to turn into “Franken-tax” time? Are you asking …
Construction accounting is a unique type of accounting that requires specific financial management tools. Here’s what you need to know. Construction Accounting… As the owner of a remodeling or custom building company, you likely bring a huge list of abilities and talents to your daily work life! From the tangible job skills to the energy …
How To Solve the Tax Time Nightmare If you’re someone who dreads January, February, March – and beyond – because those months seem to turn into “Franken-tax” time, you may be asking yourself: “How do other companies do it? What would it be like if I was ALL DONE with tax-related chores by the middle …
Company owners sometimes ask me: “Should balance adjustments arising from account reconciliation problems cause me any concern?” Do QuickBooks Account Reconciliation Discrepancies Matter? Account reconciliation is crucial; here’s why… You want to be certain that you and your bank, credit card companies, and lenders agree on the amounts shown in your books. (If not, you …
Want your company to be more profitable? Almost all business owners are constantly working to make their company more profitable. And that’s a good thing, right? It probably is, as long as you achieve it morally and ethically. But is it worth it? Here Are 12 Benefits of Running a More Profitable Company These benefits …
Bulletproof Accounting for Long Term Business Survival Diane and host of The Best Business Podcast, Daryl Urbanski, reveal proven “success habits” that small and medium-sized business owners can use to leapfrog the competition and thrive. Why this matters to you: In this podcast, Diane delivers some simple (and high-value) startup and accounting system tips that …
What Does a Broken Month-End Close Do To Your Business? Messy financials aren’t just a nuisance — they’re a risk. Every month that ends with guesswork, missing reports, or last-minute scrambles leaves your company flying blind. Learn why getting your books right isn’t optional — and how it impacts your entire team. Let’s be real. …
What might you be able to accomplish for your company if you create employer or employee shadowing teams for a couple of hours? Or even a couple of days? Employer or Employee Job Shadowing – Could It Work For YOUR Company? A client recently told me that she wasn’t as pleased with the performance of a couple …
These best practices for QuickBooks payments can improve your profitability as well as the speed and accuracy of your incoming and outgoing payments. In the case of best practices for QuickBooks payments, the rewards are clear. Pump up your cash flow. (More cash-on-hand means less-stressed owners + happier, more-responsive vendors.) Eliminate costly late fees and …
The accounting blogs listed below are some of the most reputable and informative online. I wanted to create a quality resource for people seeking any additional accounting advice, so below, you’ll find what I believe to be some of the top accounting blogs. As an endorsement, I’ve created a badge for them to display so …
Learn how to implement a management accounting system – so you can make informed business decisions each day! Did you know there are different types of accountants and accounting viewpoints? Many business owners don’t. There are a handful of different kinds of accounting systems, but the two main kinds are management accounting and financial accounting. …
Are you one of the many small-business owners taking on your own accounting? Let QuickBooks desktop help you like it’s helped millions others. In recent years, many small- and midsize-business owners have been steering away from using trained accountants for their financial needs and, instead, have taken on the responsibility internally – either by doing …
Have you ever wondered how financial & accounting software could benefit your business? Learn to manage your own finances with QuickBooks… Every business faces the challenges associated with accounting. But for mid-sized and small businesses especially, the challenges associated with managing money can mean the difference between success and failure. As a small-business owner, you …
This article by Dan Rooks describes the various kinds of accountants and their roles. Info Plus President, Diane Gilson, contributed some thoughts and background information. Dan is co-founder and CEO of Decisive Systems, Inc., a software company that measures the operating cost of heavy equipment. Besides creating “Tools to make smart machine owners smarter”, DSI also …
Month-End Closing Workflow: Why It Matters (More Than You Think) A strong month-end closing workflow helps you Catch missing costs Protect profit, and Make decisions based on numbers you can trust The story… A bookkeeper closes the month and the numbers look fine. A week later, a $15,000 flooring bill shows up. At that point, …
Close your books without chaos… Why a comprehensive month-end close protects your profit If your month-end close feels like a mad scramble, you’re not alone. Most businesses don’t have a “real” close. They have a monthly cycle of patching, guessing, and hoping the reports are close enough. But here’s the truth: your reports are only …
Your QuickBooks Chart of Accounts is the foundation for your critical company reports. What unfortunate events can occur when it isn’t set up in the best possible way? Your QuickBooks Chart Of Accounts How you set up your Chart of Accounts in QuickBooks is one of the most important decisions you can make. It determines whether …
How to use QuickBooks most effectively can be a challenge. But, to help you, here are a series of QuickBooks “how-to” tips from BuildYourNumbers.com! How To Use QuickBooks Do you use QuickBooks to manage your accounting? For years, mid-sized and small-business owners have found QuickBooks Desktop, QuickBooks Online, and Enterprise Solutions to be the most …
“Why aren’t we making more money? We’re busier than ever, I’m working harder than ever, but things just aren’t coming together like they should!” If this story sounds or feels familiar, you may want to sit in on this meeting to pick up some ideas on how to create Estimate vs. Actual Reports… It Just …