Author: Complete Controller

By: Jennifer Brazer

Jennifer is the author of From Cubicle to Cloud and Founder/CEO of Complete Controller, a pioneering financial services firm that helps entrepreneurs break free of traditional constraints and scale their businesses to new heights.

Fact Checked By: Brittany McMillen

Proven Ways to Fund a Startup: Unlock Your Business Potential

Start-up funding options include bootstrapping with personal savings, securing venture capital from investors, applying for SBA loans, launching crowdfunding campaigns, pursuing revenue-based financing, leveraging AI-powered investor matching platforms, and exploring decentralized finance alternatives. Each method offers distinct advantages based on your business stage, risk tolerance, and growth objectives.

I’ve spent over two decades as CEO of Complete Controller working alongside thousands of entrepreneurs across every industry imaginable, and I’ve witnessed firsthand how the right funding strategy can transform a struggling start-up into a thriving enterprise. The landscape has evolved dramatically since I launched my own company, with innovative financing options like AI-powered investor matching and revenue-based financing joining traditional methods like angel investment and bank loans. This guide walks you through proven funding strategies that actually work, complete with real-world case studies and actionable insights that will help you secure the capital you need while maintaining control of your vision.

What are your options for start-up funding?

• Bootstrap funding, venture capital, angel investors, SBA loans, crowdfunding, revenue-based financing, AI-powered matching, DeFi loans
• Bootstrap funding uses personal resources to maintain full ownership control
• Venture capital provides large investments in exchange for equity stakes
• Revenue-based financing offers capital without diluting ownership
• AI matching platforms connect start-ups with compatible investors automatically

Bootstrap Funding: Build Your Start-Up Without Outside Capital

Bootstrapping remains the most common funding method for start-ups, with 77% of small businesses relying on personal savings to launch their ventures. This approach gives founders complete control over their business decisions while forcing them to validate their business model through actual revenue generation rather than investor enthusiasm.

The statistics tell a compelling story about bootstrapping success. While 90% of bootstrapped start-ups fail within five years, those that survive have a 3.6x higher chance of achieving profitability compared to venture-backed companies. This paradox exists because bootstrapped companies must generate revenue immediately to survive, creating stronger business fundamentals from day one.

Personal resources and revenue reinvestment

Smart bootstrapping combines multiple funding sources to minimize risk while maximizing runway. Successful founders typically blend:

• Personal savings and credit cards for initial expenses
• Revenue from early customers to fund growth
• Business credit lines secured against assets
• Strategic partnerships that reduce cash needs
• Pre-sales and deposits to finance production

My own experience at Complete Controller validates this approach. We bootstrapped our initial growth using a combination of personal investment and early client revenues, which forced us to perfect our service offering before scaling. This discipline created the foundation for sustainable growth that external funding alone could never have provided.

SBA loans and government programs

Small Business Administration loans offer attractive terms for qualified start-ups, with interest rates typically 2-3% below conventional business loans. The SBA 7(a) program provides up to $5 million for working capital and equipment, while microloans offer smaller amounts for early-stage businesses.

Key advantages of SBA financing include:

• Lower down payment requirements (10% vs. 20-30%)
• Longer repayment terms (up to 25 years)
• No prepayment penalties
• Fixed or variable rate options
• Counseling and support services

The application process requires detailed financial projections and a solid business plan, but the favorable terms make it worthwhile for founders who qualify.

Venture Capital and Angel Investment Strategies

The venture capital ecosystem invested $170.6 billion across 17,000 deals in 2023, making it a viable option for high-growth start-ups. Understanding how to navigate this landscape separates successful founders from those who waste months chasing incompatible investors.

Identifying the right investors for your stage

Different investors specialize in specific stages and sectors. Pre-seed investors like Y Combinator and Techstars focus on early validation, typically investing $125,000-$500,000 in exchange for 5-10% equity. Series A firms expect proven traction with $1-2 million in annual revenue before considering investment.

Top pre-seed funding sources include:

• Y Combinator: $500K for 7% equity, plus mentorship
• 500 Startups: $150K for 6% equity, global network access
• Techstars: $120K investment, 90-day accelerator program
• Balderton Capital: Europe-focused, $500K-$2M checks
• Twenty Seven Ventures: EdTech specialist, $250K-$1M range

Crafting your pitch and due diligence preparation

Investors evaluate thousands of pitches annually, funding less than 1% of companies they review. Your pitch must demonstrate clear market opportunity, competitive advantage, and realistic financial projections within the first 30 seconds.

Essential pitch components:

• Problem-solution fit validated by customer data
• Total addressable market exceeding $1 billion
• Business model with clear path to profitability
• Team credentials proving execution capability
• Use of funds tied to specific milestones
• Exit strategy aligning with investor timelines

Modern founders increasingly use AI-powered platforms like DocSend to track investor engagement and optimize their pitch materials based on viewing patterns. This data-driven approach increases close rates by 34% according to recent studies.

Revenue-Based Financing: The Equity-Free Alternative

Revenue-based financing (RBF) has exploded from $6.4 billion in 2023 to a projected $178.3 billion market by 2033, offering start-ups capital without equity dilution. Companies like Clearco and Pipe advance funds in exchange for a percentage of future revenues, typically 3-12% until reaching a predetermined return cap.

How revenue-based financing works

RBF providers analyze your recurring revenue streams and advance capital based on predictable cash flows. Unlike traditional loans with fixed monthly payments, RBF adjusts to your business performance—you pay more when revenues are strong and less during slow periods.

Typical RBF terms include:

• Funding amounts from $50K to $10 million
• Repayment caps of 1.3x to 2.5x the advance
• Revenue share percentages of 5-15%
• No personal guarantees or collateral required
• Funding decisions within 24-48 hours
• Transparent fee structures without hidden costs

Comparing RBF providers and terms

Leading revenue based financing platforms serve different market segments:

• Clearco: E-commerce focus, $10K-$10M funding, 6-12 month terms
• Pipe: SaaS specialists, trades recurring revenue for upfront capital
• Lighter Capital: Tech companies, up to $4M with 3-5 year terms
• Capchase: B2B software, advances against contracted revenue
• Flow Capital: Canadian market, 2-8% revenue share rates

The key is matching your business model to the right provider. E-commerce companies with seasonal spikes benefit from Clearco’s flexibility, while SaaS businesses prefer Pipe’s annual contract monetization.

AI-Powered Funding and Emerging Technologies

Artificial intelligence transforms how start-ups connect with investors, reducing the average fundraising timeline from 6-9 months to 2-3 months. These platforms analyze thousands of data points to identify compatibility between founders and funders, dramatically improving success rates.

Automated investor matching platforms

Modern AI tools go beyond basic keyword matching to evaluate deep compatibility factors. Platforms like Signal.vc and OpenVC analyze your business metrics, team composition, and growth trajectory to identify investors with relevant portfolio companies and investment theses.

Key features of AI-powered platforms:

• Predictive scoring of investor-founder fit
• Automated warm introduction requests
• Real-time tracking of investor interest signals
• Portfolio analysis for competitive insights
• Pitch deck optimization recommendations

These tools particularly benefit tips for startups on avoiding equity dilution by connecting founders with investors offering favorable terms based on algorithmic matching rather than desperation.

Decentralized finance and blockchain solutions

Decentralized finance funding options for startups represent the cutting edge of alternative financing. Platforms like Aave and Compound enable global lending without traditional intermediaries, though volatility and regulatory uncertainty limit mainstream adoption.

DeFi advantages for start-ups:

• 24/7 global market access
• No credit checks or lengthy approvals
• Programmable loan terms via smart contracts
• Lower fees than traditional financing
• Transparent interest rates and conditions

Current limitations include cryptocurrency price volatility, technical complexity, and evolving regulations. Most experts recommend DeFi as a supplementary funding source rather than primary capital strategy.

Crowdfunding Campaigns That Actually Succeed

Crowdfunding success requires more than posting your project online and hoping for viral attention. The most successful campaigns, like Oculus Rift’s $2.4 million raise that led to Facebook’s $3 billion acquisition, follow proven formulas for community engagement and momentum building.

Choosing between equity and reward models

Reward-based platforms like Kickstarter work best for consumer products with broad appeal, while equity crowdfunding through StartEngine or Republic suits B2B companies seeking smaller investors. Kickstarter alone facilitated $706 million in pledges during 2024, with technology and design categories showing highest success rates.

Platform comparison for start-ups:

• Kickstarter: Product pre-sales, 36% success rate, all-or-nothing funding
• Indiegogo: Flexible funding options, international reach, 9% platform fee
• StartEngine: Equity crowdfunding, $10-$75 million raises, SEC compliance
• Republic: Accredited and retail investors, $50K minimum raise
• SeedInvest: Curated deals, 1% acceptance rate, premium investors

Building community and momentum

Pebble Smartwatch’s $10.2 million Kickstarter campaign succeeded by involving backers in product development decisions, creating evangelist customers before launch. This community-driven approach generates 5x more funding than traditional product launches.

Proven crowdfunding strategies:

• Launch with 30% funding secured from your network
• Create exclusive backer rewards and early bird pricing
• Post updates every 48-72 hours during the campaign
• Respond to comments within 4 hours maximum
• Leverage press coverage in week two for momentum
• Plan stretch goals that expand product value

Recent success stories like Frost Giant Studios’ $2.4 million raise (2,280% of goal) demonstrate that combining passionate communities with professional campaign management creates extraordinary results.

Pre-Seed Funding: Validating Your Concept

Pre-seed funding bridges the gap between initial idea and product-market fit, typically ranging from $50,000 to $500,000. This stage focuses on validating assumptions rather than scaling operations, making it crucial for founders to choose investors who understand early-stage challenges.

Accelerators and incubator programs

Top accelerators provide more than capital—they offer mentorship, network access, and credibility that dramatically improves success odds. Y Combinator alumni have a combined valuation exceeding $600 billion, demonstrating the long-term value of quality programs.

Leading programs for different stages:

• Y Combinator: 3-month program, $500K investment, 1,000+ alumni network
• Techstars: Industry-specific programs, corporate partnerships
• 500 Startups: International focus, growth hacking expertise
• AngelPad: Smaller cohorts, hands-on mentorship
• Founder Institute: Pre-idea stage, global chapters

Selection criteria emphasize team quality over current traction. Successful applicants demonstrate clear thinking about customer problems and willingness to iterate based on feedback.

Alternative pre-seed strategies

Beyond traditional accelerators, innovative funding mechanisms help founders validate best startup ideas without premature dilution:

• Revenue-based advances: Companies like Founderpath provide capital against future SaaS revenues
• Rolling SAFEs: Continuous fundraising without setting valuations
• Syndicate funding: AngelList enables smaller checks from multiple investors
• Grant programs: Government and corporate grants offer non-dilutive capital
• Customer funding: Pre-sales, deposits, and pilot programs generate early revenue

The key is maintaining flexibility while building momentum toward larger funding rounds.

Final Thoughts: Your Funding Roadmap

Securing start-up funding requires matching your business model, growth stage, and goals with appropriate capital sources. The landscape has expanded far beyond traditional venture capital to include revenue-based financing, AI-powered matching, and decentralized alternatives that preserve founder control while providing necessary resources.

Every funding decision shapes your company’s trajectory. Bootstrap funding maintains complete control but limits growth speed. Venture capital accelerates expansion at the cost of equity dilution. Revenue-based financing preserves ownership while requiring stable revenues. The optimal strategy often combines multiple sources based on evolving needs.

Success comes from understanding these trade-offs and building relationships before you need capital. Start conversations with potential funders six months before fundraising. Develop clear metrics demonstrating progress. Most importantly, focus on building a fundable business rather than chasing funding for its own sake.

The path from idea to sustainable business has never offered more options—or required more strategic thinking. Take time to evaluate each funding source against your long-term vision. The right capital partner does more than write checks; they provide expertise, connections, and support through inevitable challenges.

Ready to build a financial foundation that attracts the right investors and positions your start-up for sustainable growth? The team at Complete Controller specializes in helping entrepreneurs implement financial systems that demonstrate credibility and scalability to potential funders. Visit CompleteController.com to discover how our expertise can accelerate your funding journey and transform your start-up vision into reality.

FAQ

What is the minimum revenue needed to qualify for revenue-based financing?

Most RBF providers require $10,000-$50,000 in monthly recurring revenue with at least 6 months of operating history. E-commerce businesses need $500,000+ annual revenue, while SaaS companies can qualify with $20,000 MRR depending on growth rates and customer retention metrics.

How long does the venture capital fundraising process typically take?

Traditional VC fundraising takes 3-9 months from initial pitch to closing, with most rounds averaging 6 months. The timeline includes initial meetings (2-4 weeks), due diligence (4-8 weeks), term sheet negotiation (2-3 weeks), and legal documentation (3-4 weeks). AI-powered platforms can reduce this to 2-3 months total.

What percentage of equity should founders expect to give up in pre-seed funding?

Pre-seed rounds typically dilute 5-15% equity depending on investment amount and valuation. Accelerators like Y Combinator take 7% for $500,000, while angel investors might take 10-20% for similar amounts. Founders should plan for 20-30% total dilution through Series A to maintain control.

Which crowdfunding platform has the highest success rate for tech startups?

Kickstarter shows 36% overall success rate with technology projects achieving 20% success, while Indiegogo reports 9% fixed funding success. For equity crowdfunding, StartEngine and Republic approve only 1-3% of applicants but show 75%+ funding success for approved campaigns, making curation a key success factor.

How do I know if my startup is ready for venture capital investment?

VC readiness indicators include $1M+ annual recurring revenue, 20%+ monthly growth rate, proven product-market fit with 100+ paying customers, a scalable business model with 70%+ gross margins, and a clear path to $100M+ revenue within 5-7 years. Earlier stage companies should focus on angel investors or pre-seed funds.

Sources

• Allied Market Research. (2024). “Revenue-Based Financing Market Size, Growth 2033.” https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/revenue-based-financing-market-A07537
• B2B Ecosystem. (2024). “Case Studies: Crowdfunding Success in Online Communities.” https://www.b2becosystem.com/blog/case-studies-crowdfunding-success-in-online-communities/
• CEI Gateway. (2025). “13 Startup Funding Trends to Watch in 2025.” https://www.ceigateway.com/startup-funding-trends-2025
• Daglar-Cizmeci, M. (2019). “Bootstrapping Statistics: Starting a Business From Scratch.” Medium. https://daglar-cizmeci.com/bootstrapping-statistics/
• Debunk Media. (2024). “Imagine This: A Virtual Reality Fantasy.” https://debunk.media/imagine-this-a-virtual-reality-fantasy/
• Investopedia. (2024). “Companies That Succeeded With Bootstrapping.” https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/082814/companies-succeeded-bootstrapping.asp
• Investopedia. “Revenue Based Financing.” https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/revenue-based-financing.asp
• LivePlan. (2025). “7 Key Ways to Fund Your Business Growth in 2025.” LivePlan Blog.
• NerdWallet. (2024). “Startup Funding: What It Is and How to Get Capital for a Business.” https://www.nerdwallet.com/startup-funding
• PreferredCFO. (2025). “From Bootstrap to Billions: Your Ultimate Guide to Raising Capital in 2025.” PreferredCFO Insights.
• SeedLegals. (2025). “Startup Funding Strategies for 2025.” SeedLegals Blog.
• Wikipedia. “Decentralized Finance.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decentralized_finance
• Wikipedia. “Venture Capital.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venture_capital
• Wise. (2025). “Startup Financing: 11 Ways to Fund Your Startup in 2025.” Wise Blog.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

Working from home has become a reality for many people. However, teams will need technologies to help them collaborate and stay productive when working remotely to avoid this becoming a nightmare.

Many people have found themselves working from home in the last year. For some, working from home is a dream come true (excluding the circumstances that conspired to make that a necessity).

However, working from home has a variety of obstacles, which amplify when remote workers are required to engage with other team members. Teams will need tools to connect online, collaborate in real-time, and operate as if they were still in the same building to keep productivity and morale high. It is crucial. And these days, relying just on email, the occasional to-do list, and video conferencing isn’t cutting it.

Integration is crucial, and distant team members require online collaboration and project management solutions that combine capabilities like instant messaging, video conferences, screen sharing, and time tracking to help them complete their tasks. Let’s look at some of the most effective online collaboration solutions now available.

Google Workspace

Google needs no introduction, but the corporation is much more than web searches and the browser when it comes to search.

Google Workspace provides communication capabilities like Hangouts, Meet, and Chat and remote collaboration tools like Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

User subscriptions start at $6 per month.

Atlassian Jira

Atlassian Jira is a software development tool that allows users to plan software, manage and prioritize the development process, release software, and receive reports on all project stages. Please choose how you want to work, whether with an out-of-the-box workflow or one tailored to your team’s needs.

Jira can interact with over 3,000 different apps and third-party services. There is a free edition for individuals with fewer than ten members, and pricing starts at $7 per month and per person.

Jira Software, Confluence, Jira Service Desk, and Jira Core are also free to use in the cloud.

Monday.com

Monday.com is one of the most popular project management tools available today. Even though it is newer than specific legacy systems, it has quickly become a favorite among remote workers due to its extensive feature set and overall flexibility.

Monday isn’t the cheapest project management software on the market, but what it lacks in pricing is functionality. The prices should still be reasonable if your squad isn’t too big. On the base plan, a team of five will pay $49 per month.

Trello

Without Trello, no list of remote collaboration tools would be complete. Trello is one of the most straightforward ways to collaborate and track who is responsible for what in a project. Its simplistic style is preferred by teams that don’t require many bells and whistles.

Trello’s popularity stems from its free use and non-restrictive policy toward non-paying users. Those on the free plan can create as many boards as they like without a paid subscription.

Zoom

Zoom has experienced a massive increase in user growth since working from home became the new standard. Although it wasn’t popular before the cultural transition, it has long been a market leader in video conferencing.

Zoom’s free plan is relatively tolerant of users who don’t want to subscribe. The sole significant restriction is a 40-minute time limit on group meetings. However, regardless of your plan, one-on-one sessions have no time limit.

If you have 1,999 or more hosts, Zoom’s enterprise subscription is a mere $1 per month per host.

Microsoft SharePoint/Teams

Microsoft has a lot to offer in terms of teamwork. Microsoft Teams and SharePoint are two distinct platforms with distinct capabilities. SharePoint is a collaboration tool that works nicely with the rest of the Office 365 suite. On the other hand, Microsoft Teams is a central location where distant employees can chat, meet, phone, and collaborate.

Despite their differences, you can integrate the two platforms. Microsoft Teams is free, whereas SharePoint costs $5 per month and user.

With the expansion of working from home and remote work, it’s great that we don’t have to rely on haphazard systems. It would include cobbled-together services, such as email in one app, video conferencing in another, file sharing in still another, and projects and to-do lists in yet another. Integration is crucial not only for efficiency and production but also for providing remote worker assistance. Giving remote workers the tools they need to interact in real-time and doing it on a platform that makes it as simple as possible allows team members to focus on their projects instead of fighting with the tools.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

After all other options have run out, a moneylender is the supplier of liquidity to budgetary establishments that are encountering monetary troubles. Generally, in creating nations, the moneylender is the national bank after all other options have run out. The national bank must forestall bank runs or frenzies from spreading to different banks because of a lack of liquidity. The Federal Reserve gives liquidity to influenced banks, whose absence of liquidity will probably affect the economy.

There was a time when financial institutions were the only means to get a financial loan. However, since the crisis began, banks have left competitors and many. So many people nowadays find it possible to face the economic necessities that are supposed to be undertaken with other alternative solutions. In this post, we see some of them:

Microloans

These are small loans ranging from approximately $50 to $300. It is possible to order them online through authentic platforms. Its main advantages are the ease of getting the money, providing some basic information, and the speed with which it reaches the account (in some cases in 10 minutes).

Microloans are helpful when we have just started our business and have some small debt that we must face immediately. In addition, the credit terms are flexible at the time of return, with periods of up to one month. Of course, we must remember that the longer we take to repay the money, the more interest we must bear, sometimes relatively high.

Crowdfunding

At this point, you have likely already heard of crowdfunding or crowdfunding. It is a method of collective financing in which many people interested in a project decide to become its investors. The Internet and social networks make it possible to publicize the business idea quickly, which triggers the potential number of investors.

Although it seems reserved for innovative technology companies, more and more patrons are willing to finance other projects. There are already platforms dedicated exclusively to environmental, sports, or health initiatives.

FFF

Or what is the same as “family, fools and friends.” None of us like asking our relatives for money, but if they give us a hand, they will make things much easier for us: zero interest and total flexibility to repay the small loan. However, we must recognize that this is not an option for everyone. If our acquaintances do not have a stable economic situation, the last thing we want is to put them in a bind.

Business Angels

Business angels are ideal if you want to start a great project and need a significant investment. They deal with investment professionals who operate very closely with entrepreneurs, which is why they are also called “proximity investors.”

It is one of the most outstanding figures in the business world. One of the most significant advantages of this financing mechanism is that it provides capital, experience, and contacts since the founders have in-depth knowledge of the business and the market.

Public Subsidies

All self-employed workers should periodically check the subsidies we can receive for SMEs and freelancers. If you are considering undertaking, without a doubt, public aid is an excellent way to get money since it usually has no cost. For those of you who are already autonomous or have a company in operation, this method of financing is vital when making investments that allow you to innovate or grow your business.

As counterparts, we cannot forget that subsidies are only aid. We cannot base all our projects on them since they are not easy to obtain, and we will not know what amount we will receive until the last moment. The best thing to do is learn well before asking for a grant from the Development Agency or support for entrepreneurs in your area. About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

The success of the company lies in its profitability. Every small company has a greater chance of growth; it depends upon the effort one makes. A small company’s owner must change its focus on more profit to increase its bottom line. In this digital marketing era, there are various platforms from which a small company can maximize its profit in a limited time.

Entrepreneurs need to change their practices to concentrate more on benefits. This firm has some expertise in helping CEOs and small —to medium-sized organizations re-engineer their strategic policies. You must produce more deals while diminishing costs. Attempt strategically pitching—offering new administrations or products that supplement your present contributions to build your business.

On the other hand, to trim costs, evaluate your managerial capacities. Are there routine assignments you could re-appropriate or dispense with to set aside cash? Would recruiting low-maintenance workers rather than full-time workers to do some of these assignments be more advantageous?

The ideal approach to accomplish a steady income is offering your customers prepaid retainers or continuous installment plans. For instance, rather than a coincidental counseling contract at $125 every hour for an entire day, change your contribution and give them a limited 20-hour retainer plan at $100 every hour. While your hourly rate would be less for this situation, you’ll charge for a more considerable all-out dollar sum and secure your customer in a more drawn-out term course of action.

This may not initially appear worthwhile. However, it builds a relationship and keeps the door open for extra work. Support contracts for administration-based organizations are another approach to creating an additional income stream.

Enhance the Growth and Profit of Any Small Business

• Innovative pricing strategy

Your pricing strategy should favor maximum profit margins rather than straightforwardness, but it’s still effective. It is challenging because the slightest price change drastically affects the conversion rate. A small company’s owner must reconsider and research each variable that hits with a simple price conversion. Companies must focus on the right market, the right consumer services, or product differentiation instead of increasing the price of every product.

• Enhancing customer referrals

Developing a solid relationship with your customers will also enhance the sale of your product. Satisfied customers will give you more referral customers and the chain will continue. Increasing referral support for your product and services can significantly impact the company’s sales, making your business more profitable.

• Cut off costly services and activities

Providing expensive services to your customers is not a wise thing to do. Eliminating unnecessary activities and services will save you time, effort, and cost. Focus on the minor services you can easily offer to your consumers with minimum charge and enhance your business’s profitability.

• Catchy advertisement and promotions

Various advertisements can help you generate traffic for your services quickly. Using creative ideas or relevant content to promote your services can enhance sales at a limited cost. It also minimizes the cost of buying each customer.

• Online digital marketing 

Nowadays, social media is the best platform for enhancing the popularity of products and services. With face-to-face meetings for a product, the online marketing strategy is crucial for the company’s growth. Online selling has become the lifeline for businesses because it simultaneously saves consumers time and energy.

 Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and more can enhance the demand for your product tenfold. These platforms allow you to convey your message to your target market easily, generating potential traffic for your business. Traffic converts into buyers of your services, which will ultimately increase your profit.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

In the ever-evolving world of work, where the gig economy flourishes and freelancing becomes not just an option but a preferred mode of employment for many, mastering the art of budgeting emerges as a crucial skill for survival and success. Unlike their counterparts in traditional 9-to-5 jobs, freelancers navigate a sea of financial uncertainties—irregular income, fluctuating workloads, and the absence of employer-provided benefits. It’s a thrilling yet challenging voyage where the ability to budget effectively can mean the difference between thriving and barely surviving. This article aims to demystify the budgeting process for freelancers, making it an engaging and manageable task that can lead to financial stability and peace of mind.

The Importance of Budgeting for Freelancers

Imagine embarking on a journey without a clear direction, map, or understanding of your resources. This is akin to freelancing without a budget. Proper budgeting enables freelancers to forecast financial ebbs and flows, ensuring they can meet their needs during lean periods and capitalize on times of abundance. It’s not merely about tracking expenses or cutting back on coffee runs; it’s about creating a financial plan that supports your lifestyle, goals, and dreams. 

Moreover, budgeting fosters a sense of control and confidence. It allows freelancers to make informed decisions about the projects they take on, negotiate rates with confidence, and invest in their growth. In essence, a well-structured budget is not just a financial tool but a cornerstone of a successful freelance career.

Steps to Create a Successful Budget for Freelancers

Creating a budget might seem daunting, but with a sprinkle of creativity and a dash of discipline, it can be both fun and rewarding. Here are some steps to guide you through the process:

Understand your income patterns

Start by tracking your income over the past year to identify patterns or cycles. This can help you anticipate lean periods and plan accordingly. Use colorful graphs or charts to visualize your income trends, making the process more engaging.

List your expenses

Categorize your expenses into essentials (rent, groceries, utilities) and non-essentials (dining out, subscriptions). Remember to include irregular expenses such as taxes and health insurance. To make this step more enjoyable, get creative by using apps or spreadsheets with custom themes.

Set financial goals

Whether it’s saving for a vacation, buying new equipment, or creating an emergency fund, having clear financial goals can motivate you to stick to your budget. Create a vision board or use goal-setting apps to keep your objectives fun and top of mind.

Plan for taxes

As a freelancer, you’re responsible for your taxes, including self-employment tax. Estimate your tax liability and set aside a portion of your income regularly to avoid surprises. Consider using online calculators or financial software to simplify this process.

Build an emergency fund

Aim to save at least three to six months’ worth of living expenses. This fund acts as a financial safety net during unexpected dry spells or emergencies. Challenge yourself to fun savings goals or milestones to make saving less of a chore.

Review and adjust regularly

Your financial situation and goals will evolve, and so will your budget. Set a regular schedule to review your budget, celebrate achievements, and adjust plans as needed. Make it an event—treat yourself to a small reward after each review session to keep things interesting.

A Freelance Fact to Keep in Mind

Did you know that freelancers contribute more to the economy than ever before? According to a recent study, the freelance workforce is growing three times faster than the traditional workforce, contributing nearly $1 trillion to the U.S. economy.  This underscores the significance of freelancing as a viable and important career path and highlights the need for effective budgeting practices within this community.

Conclusion

Budgeting for freelancers is not just about numbers; it’s an art that, when mastered, can lead to a fulfilling and prosperous freelance career. By understanding income patterns, managing expenses, setting goals, planning for taxes, building an emergency fund, and regularly reviewing your budget, you can navigate the financial challenges of freelancing with confidence and ease. Remember, a successful budget is not set in stone; it’s a flexible, living document that evolves with you. So embrace the process, inject some fun and creativity, and watch as your freelance career flourishes.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

Tax planning is a continuous process, and as a business owner, you must plan strategies on a long-term basis. However, a significant catalyst for developing results-oriented tax planning procedures is the accountability factor. Without accountability, you cannot enable people to have that tax-paying mindset.

Tax planning includes considering and actualizing different techniques to limit the duties paid for a given period. Limiting the assessment obligation can provide more cash for an independent venture’s costs, speculation, or development. Along these lines, tax planning can be a wellspring of working capital. Two essential standards apply to burden arranging. Initially, an independent company should never incur extra costs to increase an assessment derivation. While buying vital gear before the assessment year can be an essential duty arranging methodology, it doesn’t suggest making superfluous buys. Second, a private company ought to consistently endeavor to concede charges whenever the situation allows. Conceding charges empower the business to utilize that cash premium free and occasionally even win enthusiasm on it until expecting payments.

Specialists suggest that businesspeople and entrepreneurs have a proper duty to arrange meetings in each expense year. This methodology will allow them to apply their techniques to the current year and then hop on to the following year. It is vital for entrepreneurs to keep up a personal familiarity with tax planning issues and set aside cash. Whether they utilize an expert clerk or bookkeeper, entrepreneurs should keep cautious tabs on their own expense planning to make the most of every conceivable opportunity for conclusions and duty reserve funds.

Nonetheless, proper business planning is essential to ensure success in your business operations. Failure to do so will gradually lead to business failure. Here are a few key areas to help you plan your business’s taxes in the new decade.

Structuring Your Business’s Taxes

When you’re running a business, different factors come into the frame regarding its taxation. One of those critical factors is the type of structure that you can use to conduct business operations. In other words, if you can identify the best design suited for your business, you prepare the equally best tax planning strategies. In hindsight, if you wish to plan your taxation aspects perfectly, you must structure your business perfectly.

Daily Operations

Another essential factor to consider when planning your taxation strategies is monitoring your business’s daily operations. In other words, you need to observe and evaluate the financial activity of your operations daily.

Additionally, like the taxation process, it should implement continuous daily monitoring of financial activities. Through this practice, business owners deduct any expenses incurred and revenue generated in an organized manner. Moreover, by focusing on this area, business owners can efficiently control the taxation movement of their enterprise.

Finalizing Your Year-End

This phase is quite crucial if you want your business to flourish in the long run. Thus, as business owners, you must involve yourself in this process to control your yearly tax returns. In other words, you must ensure that the income is correct while double-checking that no expenses and assets are missing.

You must also monitor the personal income tax return filings and respond adequately to the corporate tax return expenses, along with dividend declarations. These practices can ensure you’re your business has robust taxation planning.

All in all, tax planning is essential for your business’s success. You don’t want to be put on the spot in case your tax returns are misinterpreted. More importantly, as your business grows, so will your tax movement. Thus, it would be best to keep altering your plans as you advance with your business operations.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

Entrepreneurs must understand that it becomes difficult for a business to survive in the market when the amount of cash going out surpasses the amount of cash coming in. All businesses, especially those starting new, must keep a sharp eye on their cash flow to avoid a business collapse.

When it comes to business, having a positive cash flow is the number one priority. A significant fraction of cash flow provides results about the current financial situation. Business owners need to manage and know the different sources of income and cash inflow to allocate their time and energy accordingly.

The job of the business owner or accounting expert is to know the exact figures of the business’s cash flow.  This knowledge is essential because financial business decisions are made on this information, making or breaking the business.  

Entrepreneurs must keep business owners updated with accurate day-to-day cash flow so that they can plan better spending. On the other hand, owners who aren’t well aware of the cash flow in the upcoming time put themselves at risk of failing in the market.

From the first day of the business, the focus should be on gaining and maintaining a positive cash flow. A few areas need attention to accomplish this goal. Here are four tips on how to keep your business cash flow positive.

Make a Budget

Understanding the inflow and outflow of cash is essential to develop a spending plan.  Timing is the critical factor in making a budget to know when to buy tools, supplies, and raw materials and how much sales are coming weekly, daily or monthly.

The budget includes everything from salary payments to daily expenses. Every single penny spent is added to the budget. This budget must also include the times when cash inflow and outflow are at their peak.

Track Your Budget

Keeping a check on a budget should not be a timely process. Instead, every business owner must carry out frequent analyses on a budget to ensure higher cash inflow. The actual cash flow must stay in check with the budget to work things and correct them at their roots.

If the budget falls short of the expected values, it is important to find out the reason. However, if the outflow is greater than imagined, figuring out the reason is also crucial. After everything is done and set right and the cause of the differences is determined, the owner can then make alterations and corrections to business planning, budget, or both.

Include a Plan B as a Backup

Having a plan B is the best card that any business can play. Plan B not only aids in the long run but also supports the company, as it helps the company know what measures must be taken if certain troubles arise. No matter how much time is spent creating a budget, every business must be prepared for unexpected expenses.

These expenses might become the cause of financial havoc if the company is not well prepared. So, having a backup plan saves time during times of havoc, and more time is contributed to dealing with the trouble. Plan B must cover the cash inflow to keep the system running when all sources seem to fail and hold the business stable until everything comes back to normal.

Provide Bills Faster

Making the billing process faster and more accurate can help circulate cash quickly. An excellent technique for faster cash inflow is giving discounts to customers who pay bills within ten days. Delaying the billing process to 30 days puts the business under stress, as a business might be in urgent need of cash, but the buyer delays its payments. Such conditions create financial stress on the company.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

Research can sometimes be a tough nut to crack. For some entrepreneurs, it can be a daunting task, putting them through significant inconveniences. Research is one of those tasks that people consider running away from. When it comes to entrepreneurs starting their entrepreneurial ventures, research plays a big part in their success.

The more they research, the faster they achieve more significant milestones and, as a result, gain a competitive advantage over others. The idea is that when entrepreneurs invest time and energy in researching, their goals, planning, vision, and mission stay aligned with each other, and the outcomes only turn out in their favor.  

Another reason research is a good strategy for entrepreneurs is that it overcomes the negatives of poor planning, lack of understanding of the market and how the company operates, bad product development, ineffective communication patterns, sometimes cash flow problems, and underdeveloped infrastructure.

If the entrepreneur carries out poor research, they can fail big time in their venture. Another way to put it would be that knowing how to conduct proper research is one of the most effective strategies to make any entrepreneurial venture big in the industry.

On the other hand, most entrepreneurs and investors spend more time on investments or product launches when they first consider venturing into any industry. They develop the best product and launch it in the market, but the outcomes aren’t as favorable as they could have been.

One reason all their strategies fail is that entrepreneurs don’t put in enough energy to conduct proper research before launching their products. Let’s consider the reasons why not conducting research before launching a product can have severe repercussions on organizations.

Keeps You Organized

Organizing data and information is crucial for your venture’s success. Once you have the relevant information and know-how to manage data, your venture starts to work in your favor. On the other hand, research helps you organize and prioritize the information and data you need for your venture to triumph.

It helps you stick to the most relevant information your brand requires, deleting the ones that only crowd data management software. One strategy to achieve this can be staying updated with current market trends. You can consider visiting different sites and reliable sources and improve relations with active investors working in the industry.

From business statistics to the content and research work available on different sites and networks, the more you tap into them, the better your research will be. It will help you in your next entrepreneurial venture.

Gives Better Insight Into the Market

When you are updated about your market trends, you make better decisions on the next move you need to do better. For instance, when you know what works and does not work in the industry, you create goals and devise strategies according to what fits the industry’s demand.

Once you gain insights into your industry, you can use them to launch your next product or improve the quality of your offerings. You will gain valuable information about the marketplace your venture wants to operate in, as well as knowledge about your brand’s competitors, industry trends, and target audience.

Not only that, but you get clarity on what your competitors like and don’t like, the kind of consumers you should target, and what sort of consumers might not work for you. All in all, effective research helps you achieve milestones in the industry in which you operate.

Business Success

With a gazillion substitutes available in the market, your brand should work on finding the edge that varies it from the rest of the other brands operating in the same domain. With proper research, you get to achieve just that. With the research, you get to identify key competitors and existing and potential competitors that can threaten your company in the long run.

Not only competitors but also customers, this helps you identify your strengths and what gives you the edge over others. As a result, you devise strategies and goals for your brand that fit into what may lead your venture to triumph, and success becomes a done deal for your brand.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

Planning an exit strategy for your business organization can always help you efficiently understand and manage your financial goals. Therefore, it is wise to prepare a comprehensive exit strategy so that the chance of losses decreases, enabling you to tackle and address inconvenient situations rationally. 

What is Meant by “Exit Strategy”?

An exit strategy is a comprehensive contingency plan in which the owner or entrepreneur sells their company ownership to investors. A complete exit strategy allows a business owner to reduce or liquidate their stakes. If the business is running successfully, the strategic plan can also lead to substantial profits. 

Business owners, traders, investors, or venture capitalists create a comprehensive exit strategy when they sign onto the business. The plan to escape also includes all the details of what will happen to the enterprise after you have left or sold it. 

7 Types of Exit Strategies

• Mergers and acquisitions: Being acquired by another business can be a productive and profitable exit strategy for organizations and business entrepreneurs.
• Buyouts: This strategy can be a smooth arrangement for a business transition. In a management buyout, individuals from the supervisory group purchase the business from the entrepreneur.
• Liquidations: This strategy highlights all the plans needed to sell the real estate and assets of the business to pay off debts.
• Bankruptcy: When your organization declares bankruptcy, you will not be answerable for any debts your business has made. However, seizing your assets compensates for those obligations.
• Selling your control: If you are not the sole entrepreneur of your business, selling your stake to your accomplice is a speedy and clean exit strategy.
• Initial public offering (IPO): An IPO is a point at which a privately owned business starts offering its products and services to the general population. It is a well-known exit strategy for new businesses.
• Acquihire: This strategy refers to attracting buyers interested in obtaining your business’s talents.  

How to Prepare the Business Finances for a Comprehensive Exit Strategy?

It is vital to develop a proper exit strategy to help the owner when leaving the business. There are several ways to prepare the business finances for a plan to leave. Some of them are as follows: 

• The initial step to developing an exit plan is to record your professional and personal funds precisely. Preparing the business’s finances is a crucial step.
• Consider your choices. Once you have a complete picture of your finances, consider a few different exit strategies to decide on your ideal option.
• Getting a business valuation is also necessary. When you are planning your exit strategy, you will need to realize how much your business is worth. Strategists can assist you with doing your due diligence for a business evaluation so you can determine your organization’s worth. They can also help you set assumptions for possible and potential buyers.
• Another way to prepare business financials is for the owner to calculate the market value of the tangible and intangible assets before selling them. Selling your inventory can help you provide the cash needed to pay off debts. If you have a warehouse full of stock, you need to talk to an inventory liquidator.
• Moreover, all business liabilities must be repaid until and unless the company has gone bankrupt. Informing the creditors is also necessary to pay any outstanding debt. 

The difficulty of shuttering your business starts with how it is organized. For instance, a little sole ownership that you work alone from your home, without any resources and no representatives, is the least demanding and easiest to dissolve. The more complicated the entity is, the more work it might take to loosen up it.

Planning a strategic strategy might seem unimportant and unwanted when you are just starting the company, but this is an obvious and necessary step because planning things for the future and taking vital steps is how to work on the strategies accordingly. It will help your eventual exit and will make it easier to make decisions.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

Customer gain and retention are essential for any new or expanding business. Every business has a customer and purpose. Finding your target customers and how to retain them is crucial for any business to survive and grow.

When developing your business plan, you have to consider multiple factors. Part of the plan should include research and analysis of your target customers and how to retain them. There are several areas of focus when working towards customer gain and retention.

Your primary focus for your target customer is the product or service you offer, overall customer satisfaction, and customer engagement. Here are five main areas of focus regarding customer gain or retention.

Product and Service Quality

 Most companies don’t know that the quality of their products and services binds their customers and clients to them in the long run. Improving the quality of your products and services is the key ingredient you should invest in if you want better results.

It will help your customers stay with you in the long run, and they will also be satisfied with your deliverables. As a result, your brand’s sales will skyrocket, and you’ll capture a good portion of the industry’s market share. 

Customer Satisfaction

Once you have established the quality of your products and services, find ways to satisfy them more with your deliverables. There are several ways to achieve this; all you need to do is choose the proper techniques to ensure that your clients and customers stay satisfied with your brand’s offering.

Whether it’s the brand’s customer service, product quality, or methodology you use, ensure your customers and clients are satisfied in the best way possible. Your strategies will likely result in better customer retention and engagement.

Adapt to Their Needs

If you have been in the entrepreneurial world, you know that adapting to your clients’/customers’ needs is the need of the hour. Those brands are likely to lose market share, customer retention goals, vision, and mission if they don’t adapt to their customers’/clients’ demands.

Most brands achieve this by leaving feedback forms and reviews – either online or when their customers walk into their offices to fill in later when they are done enjoying their services.

Other ways include leaving online surveys and seminars where customers and clients discuss what may or may not work for them in your brand’s products and services. This increases your brand’s awareness, your campaigns gain better results, and your brand achieves milestones it wouldn’t otherwise reach.  

Keep Them Engaged

Keeping your customer engaged with your brand can be quite a bit of a hassle if you have been living under a rock and didn’t know already! However, one of the most significant factors that every brand should consider is to take your brand’s success a notch higher.

When your target audience stays engaged with you, they find a reason to stick around with your brand in the long run. They trust your brand and enjoy spending their hard-earned money on your products and services.

Therefore, you must find a reason to stay engaged with your brand. You can consider devising your social media campaigns to keep your customers guessing what is to come next, which should be your goal. Chances are, results will turn in your favor.

Keep Improving

Last but not least, consider improving your brand every day. Find strategies that work for your brand, and the results will likely turn in your favor. The idea is that the only constant in today’s world is growth. Ensure to strive for your brand’s growth, and the results will be substantial market share, increased sales, and your brand achieving more significant milestones.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.