Gabrielle M. Luoma, CPA, PLLC

2009 has been a year of serious contemplation by most business owners. I see this past year as a year of repositioning. Repositioning in business can mean different things to different people. Here are some different areas that businesses have been reviewing:

1.  Do you have the best clients?

Reevaluating your client list is probably the first thing to look at when planning your future year. Your marketing plan should focus on the best client fit for you. If the current client list does not fit your focus, think about whether or not you should keep particular clients. Follow the 80/20 rule in these matters. If 80% of your stress comes from 20% of a particular client then reevaluate whether keeping them is worth the trouble. You will need room for the new clients coming in 2010.

2. Are your products and services the best out there? If not, what should you do to improve?

Take a step back and ask a few of your valued customers. They are sure to be honest and will give you some insight into your business. Look at the services that produce the most return on their investment and focus on those. How do you know which products and services are doing the best? Financial analysis or reviewing your books for that information is the easiest and most efficient way.

3.  Are you losing time on different projects? Are we missing critical moments that are costing the company money and time?

Review current systems to see if there are inefficiencies. Flowchart them or put them on a piece of paper and then tear the system apart. Bring your team in to evaluate them with you. You never know what ideas will come out of this analysis that could save you thousands of dollars.

4.  Have you evaluated your strengths and weaknesses, opportunity and threats?

It’s called a SWOT analysis. This analysis can help you decide on which areas need to be focused on most. This should be done at least once a year.

5.  Are you totally lost at this point and feeling all alone? Do you have so many issues you don’t know where to begin?

You need a business coach to help you get through the hard stuff. Business or Executive Coaching is a great way to keep business owners motivated and moving. They keep you accountable for making progress and can give you tons of helpful hints, ideas and development opportunities.

In 2010, businesses that do the hard work now will definitely reap the benefits and will be more successful. Ultimately, you will have to ask a lot of questions of yourself and others before you can have a realistic view of the future. Your bookkeeping and financial records can answer the important ones that matter most. If you’re confused how they can help or don’t know where to begin, please give us a call. We can help.

Hint: It’s not just people who own their own businesses or work in accounting.

QuickBooks is by far the most popular accounting software among small- to medium-sized businesses, sole proprietors, work-at-home moms, and anyone who wants to keep track of their own billing, invoicing, and finances. Although there are plenty of competitors out there, none come close to rivaling the stability and features of QuickBooks. It hooks in seamlessly to other applications, is compatible with virtually all computer systems, and has a simple, user-friendly interface.

Although it’s easy to get up and running with QuickBooks, you could just be scratching the surface of what it has to offer. Some basic training will help you uncover hidden features and capabilities, taking you beyond the basics to get the most out of your software.

QuickBooks training can serve as a significant benefit for administrative assistants, office managers, secretaries, virtual assistants, financial services professionals, independent entrepreneurs, and anyone who works with budgets. Training from a qualified CPA can help you use the software to:

• Increase productivity and efficiency when creating quotes and estimates, sending invoices, and performing other finance-related tasks
• Upload bank account information into your software
• Reduce overhead costs
• Train your accounting department to work more efficiently
• Improve your career prospects by enhancing your resume and demonstrating your commitment to learning new technologies
• Troubleshoot common issues and resolve them faster
• Find task shortcuts to streamline daily operations
• Create detailed reports of revenue and expenses, along with graphs and charts to track trends
• Keep all of your important tax and finance information current and in one centralized place, greatly reducing headache and hassle during the next tax season

At the office of Gabrielle Luoma, CPA, we offer in-depth QuickBooks training courses for all levels of users. Whether you’re just getting started and want to get familiar with the basics or you’re an intermediate user ready to master more advanced functions, we’ll provide you with customized curriculum to meet your needs. We know you’re busy, so we tailor our courses to meet your schedule and lifestyle. QuickBooks education is an affordable way to streamline daily operations, expand your client base, and boost your profits.