With Business, the ‘risk’ is something that naturally tags along. You cannot expect to face little or no risks at all. But there is always a way out.

Why do so many organizations embark on high-risk plans without demanding a robust project guarantee?

Projects fail for various reasons. Recent universal studies specify that poor risk management is a common cause. Active project managers intend to resolve high levels of contact before they happen via methodical risk management procedures.

Most projects are characteristically exposed to many risks and are frequently noteworthy in scale, complexity, and determination. Favoritism toward being overoptimistic can typically negatively impact large-scale projects.

Incomplete or inadequate info increases exposure that habitually results in over-estimating aids and underestimating charges. Managing macro and micro-level events linked to accomplishing project deliverables while balancing the needs of numerous stakeholders has become progressively vital.

Measuring risks at both portfolios and workstream levels helps upsurge confidence that hazards are understood.

Project Risk Management

This risk management emphasizes recognizing, responding to, and analyzing project events.

It should be intended to recognize and handle levels of doubt analytically and probable threats to achieve project aims effectively.

Risk management procedures should be reiterative throughout a plan’s life cycle and fixed in project management preparation and events. Smaller projects frequently require little work and interrupted monitoring.

Complex projects require formalized processes to analyze, handle, and report risks.

Good reporting depends on explicit descriptions of all contacts, their influence on the projects, and possible costs for extenuation and inaction. Difficulties happen when there is poor visibility of jeopardies at a portfolio, and project levels or risk management tactics are ad hoc and unpredictable.

Project and Portfolio Risk Assessments

Project and portfolio risk valuations should be assumed to comprehend their risk profiles and related threats and to attain business aims.

Assessments should classify the action plans to address the recognized risks and assign executive accountability for achieving them. It would be best if you approved added risk assessments on designated projects.

Risk management processes are ongoing and monitored through a project’s life cycle. Regular risk reports offer Project Sponsors, Steering Groups, and Senior Responsible Officers better discern projects’ risk profiles.

Whether you are accountable for overseeing or managing a project, a robust project guarantee will help you address the hazards that threaten its victory.

With a few risk management steps, you can deliver an efficient and straightforward risk management process.

Identify the risk

Start your process by recognizing risks affecting your project and outcomes.

Analyze the risk

Once the risk is identified, you can determine every chance’s possibility or consequence. This way, you can understand the nature of the risk and its potential to affect your objectives and project goals. Secure the information in the Project Risk Register.

Evaluate the risk

You may now evaluate or rank the risks by determining their magnitude, a combination of possibilities and consequences. You decide if the risk is acceptable or severe enough to seek treatment. Add these risks to your Project Risk Management.

Treat the risk

 Treat the risk, better known as Risk Response Planning, helps you access the highest-ranked risks and create a plan to treat or modify them to accomplish acceptable risk levels. In this step, create risk mitigation approaches, contingencies, and preventive strategies. Then, add the risk treatment measures to the highest-ranking or most severe risks again to the Project Risk Register.

Monitor & review the risk

In this step, take your register of Project Risk and use it to monitor, review, and track risks.

Risks are all about uncertainty. Putting a framework around it can effectively de-risk the project. Meaning you can move confidently to achieve your goals. When you manage and identify a comprehensive list of project risks, you can reduce unwelcome surprises and discover opportunities. Risk management is a way to help resolve problems when they show up, as well as help in making plans to treat them. The whole process allows you to avoid impulsive reactions to rectify issues that you can anticipate. The result is that you will minimize the influences of the project threats and capture opportunities that arise. 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.

When attempting to figure out how to double your cash, putting resources into the financial exchange is ideal for expanding your riches. The financial business can be unsafe, and you may lose some money. Be that as it may, you can likewise bring in cash, putting resources into the securities exchange. Imagine a scenario where you don’t have a great deal of money to contribute or know where to begin. You can even now put resources into the securities exchange and develop your cash. The key is to start contributing right away. The sooner you start contributing, the less money you need to spare due to self-multiplying dividends.

Numerous individuals accept the securities exchange is the best way to develop riches. Because of crowdfunding, the land is a suitable venture choice for additional individuals. You used to require noteworthy measures of cash to put resources into the ground. On the other hand, you are expected to deal with a property. Crowdfunding lets you discover land ventures with insignificant assets. It likewise permits you to abstain from dealing with the property yourself.

Bank accounts are an exemplary method of increasing cash. While multiplying your money with a bank account will take years, they are reliable methods of developing your money without exertion. Financing costs on investment accounts used to be fundamentally higher in past years. Before the Great Recession, they were approaching five percent. Presently, it’s elusive—anything over one percent.

Suppose you are investing in retiring one day, sending your children to college, or even buying a dream home for a long time. In that case, it is vital to ask relevant questions, such as how long it will take you to double your investment and how long it will last until you can liquidate the asset. There are some simple ways to invest and double your money in a reasonable time.

The Rule of 72

Before investing, you should calculate how much it will take to double it based on the interest rate you receive. All you must do is take 72 and divide by the interest rate you receive for your investment. It will tell you the number of years it will take you to achieve twice as much money. For example, 72 divided by an interest rate of 12 shows that it will take six years to double. If it takes you two periods to achieve the objective investment index, you know it will take 12 years to complete it.

Mutual Funds

There are trustworthy mutual funds such as “Legg Mason,” “Vanguard,” and “American Funds” that, with their diversified investments, have achieved interest of 10% to 12% over time. These investments have variations in risk levels and possible rewards that can be adjusted to your investment objectives. The funds may have different types of national and foreign bonds and stocks. Your investment does not have to be significant. Some funds allow a monthly contribution of $25. However, it makes little sense to invest in mutual funds if you keep them there for six years or more.

Hard Assets

Suppose the objective of your investment is a little more conservative. In that case, you have more extended periods to reach the goals or have a higher security level. Hard assets such as silver or gold may be ideal for you. These investments tend to fluctuate at 6 and 8 percent interest over time, so they tend to double their value every 12 years. However, you can feel safe knowing that silver and gold are always in high demand.

Real Estate

Suppose you have a significant sum of money to invest and don’t mind adding effort. In that case, real estate is the fastest way to double your investment. The concept is simple: you buy and rent the property, creating a passive income. Alternatively, you can buy a mortgage in a bearish economy, fix the stuff, and then sell it when it improves.

Credit Card Bills

First, you shouldn’t need to be a credit card owner if you earn the lowest income. People with average income will have to pay credit card bills on time without delaying and becoming debtors. If you ignore this fact, you won’t be eligible for a further loan in the future. It will be a strict restriction for at least 7 to 10 years per the credit card report’s rules. The related precautions can double your capital.   

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.

When you plan on releasing a new app, it does not guarantee massive success as soon as it’s launched! There is no doubt how competitive today’s app market can be. To stand out in the crowd, you must develop an intriguing and creative app idea that comes with productive and compelling features and business-driven app advertising strategies.

There are always specific protocols to follow in every field. Launching your app may sound fun and easy, but that’s only limited to the way it seems. You have no idea about the competition ahead of you, marketing tips and tricks that people won’t tell you, and you won’t be able to understand unless you’re in the game!

Here is a list of a few vital things to anticipate before launching an app that would make the path to success smoother.

Know the Market Competition

Believe it or not, but knowing the market and competition has a huge impact!

You must know the market well before and when to launch the app and what the market demands! Furthermore, doing detailed market research on your competitors would be best. It would help if you researched what services your competitors are providing and how consumers react to those facilities.

Therefore, you must find the loopholes and develop an innovative solution that can professionally resolve consumers’ problems. Proper market research will help you set clear intentions for your business and develop an impactful tactic.

A Strategic Approach to Pricing

Determining the app pricing model can be decisive! So, if your goal is to launch an application on the App Store that would grasp a vast market base, the freemium pricing model can be the best choice for you. Otherwise, a subscription or paid rating model can work best if your object solves any issue for a forte audience.

However, depending on the purpose your app will serve, you must choose the unsurpassed option. Before setting a price, you must find answers to the following questions.

1. What is the cost of your competitive apps?
2. How much money would you need to have your application running?
3. What extra features should you provide if a user chooses in-app purchases?

Optimizing the Application for an App Store Search

Launching your application on the App Store is not the end of your tasks. You need to optimize the use appropriately so that the standing is not affected. According to experts, the below-mentioned are significant aspects that greatly influence the ranking of an app.

• The use of the keywords in the app description or name
• Branding and visuals used in your app
• Total number of positive reviews generated by the app
• Total number of app downloads

You can make your business a success in many ways, but there are always a few specific points or rules to follow to get to that point. For example, a student must go through a whole process to enroll at an institution. Then, he must perform well and follow the rules and regulations; every subject requires a whole new concept and tactics. Then there are many students; everyone graduates, but some graduate with higher numbers and rankings while others struggle. Similarly, everyone and anyone can start a business, but those who study and follow the protocols and fulfill the requirements can only succeed and make their way to the top. 

According to research on app ranking tactics, the correct placement or order of the keywords in the app title can automatically boost your ranking by almost 10.3% on the app store.

Apart from all the mentioned aspects, you need to expect other points, such as planning and designing branded screenshots and fascinating visuals to serve the marketing goals. Furthermore, you must pay special attention to getting reliable and honest recommendations. This will help people understand the value of using your app.

Keep trying, follow the steps, and never give up! Good luck!

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 assortment of tasks carried out by an entrepreneur on his own makes him, by force, an “expert” in many subjects for which he has not previously had training and had probably never thought to dedicate his time. Once he accomplishes the billing, hiring, insurance, rent, taxes, and success, there becomes a match with a need to grow to consolidate; the business started and stayed in the market.

When you maintain an independent company, you’re accountable for various obligations. Entrepreneurs are busy from accounting to promoting to building up their items or administration contributions.

But, although the hours of the day of half of the self-employed are extended to 10 or more, as shown by the National Autonomous Study (ENA) and the University of Granada (UGR), the excellent work of a single person is not enough when facing this process of growth. It will be necessary to resort to other external resources of confidence that make it possible.

A good starting point will be to know the value of our business through a company valuation, which will give an approximate figure of what it is worth. That will establish the relevance of what we have before a possible new investor if we think about asking for a loan to expand or if we want to transfer or sell our company.

The large international investment banks (JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs …) oversee the merger and acquisition operations of companies of notable importance. These are long and complex processes, and, for their valuation, they charge ostentatious fees, no doubt beyond the reach of any small business owner. However, other valuations of companies, those offered by brands, can have a number that guides us in any of these situations easily through the Internet, with much lower costs.

 

How do I Use Company Valuations if I Want to Buy?

It can also state that the benefits generated in our activity place us in the position of growing through the purchase of a company. In this case, we can use the valuation of companies to get an idea about how much it would cost us to acquire those that seem most interesting. In light of the figures, the project can continue, materialize in any of them, and test the market to see its viability.

Professionals with more than 15 years of experience carry out these assessments. For their execution, they consider the current value of the gross profits and analyze the company’s situation, comparing it with the evolution of the sector to which it belongs. It authorizes us to know whether the company in question is getting good results or whether these results are online, are better or worse than the average in their sector.

 

However, before embarking on an important adventure, we must proceed further and have a broad overview of how it behaves, the estimates used for the evolution of the sector or sectors in which we move, and also from the perspectives of the geographical areas we cover.

A famous phrase states, “I did not send my ships to fight against the elements” (which has endured in the popular heritage versioning the words of Felipe II after the defeat of the Invincible Armada at the hands of the English). We can have an idea of an unbeatable business and start with the best tools, but if the market circumstances are contradictory, it will be better to keep the sails lifted and wait for it to escalate.

Company valuations are beneficial not only when we think of company sales, purchases, mergers, or the incorporation of partners into their shareholders. It also makes sense to request them when creating a new line of business or making equity transfers.

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.

Beyond just a striking logo, decent branding surges a corporation’s value, provides employees with a path and inspiration, and makes obtaining new clients easier. A brand signifies the sum of an individual’s insight into a company’s customer service, standing, promotion, and logo. Let’s discuss some branding tips and tricks for your business.

Be Transparent

Even if you do not wish people to know who you are today, they will find out if you become successful. Hence, seek to shape a brand that signifies your actual values that you would be proud to characterize. That way, when things are exposed to you, it is not a shock to anybody because they already know, like, and believe you.

Market to the Audience of One

Do not forget that you know who you want to be in your spectators, and you will shape all your advertising materials to demand only that audience of one. It means you place blinders on and are not concerned about turning a few people off who may not buy your merchandise but seek to appeal to a precisely targeted spectator within the niche instead.

Send Information Regularly to the List of Members

One way to guarantee that you stay in touch with your viewers is to send emails to list followers consistently. Another way to do that is to go with the “newsletter” impression, sending a pleasant update every week on what you have shared on social systems and your articles in one spot.

Pay for Ads (Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube)

The days of free advertising are almost over. You can market free content, but that would take a lot longer. If you wish to move things faster, spend money on marketing—at least in these stages. Market your waged and free content to your audience to ensure the most eyes get on the content.

Post-Long-Form Content on Your Blog

Longer content on your blog is more significant than ever. When you post extended content, you are a professional because you can discuss aspects that are not in your audience’s interest. It also signals to search engines that you may be an authority website.

Have a Mobile-Friendly Website

It would help if you had a mobile-first policy, more than a “mobile-friendly” website. Your site needs to work on cell phones and off mobile, but if you design first for the mobile, it will also work fine and look decent off cell phone platforms.

Use the Social Media that Your Audience Likes Most

When you want to be everywhere, use the podium your spectators use more than the others. You may be required to test it out to find out where you increase the most traction, but make sure that your crucial stand as soon as you know where they are.

Attend Live Events

It is best to connect the live event, such as a live webinar, a YouTube live event, or an in-person occasion like a workshop or seminar. In other words, you are leading the crowd, making you the pack leader. Bring the best out of your role!

Be Authentic

Your brand must consider your company’s personality and values. When growing a brand, remember to be genuine about what your brand is like and who your consumers are. Consumers can be disheartened if their experiences with a business are dissimilar from what the branding promised to deliver.

Tell the Story of Your Business

You can start growing your brand in the view of the story of your business — how it all started, what you are hoping to achieve, and who you wish to appeal to the most. Your story must be an essential element of your brand.

Seek Professional Advice

While it might be appealing to design your very own logo to save cash, unless you have the required experience and skills, you will benefit from seeking professional consulting. A professional branding designer or consultant can work with you and develop a brand based on the imagination of your business.

Please Keep it Simple

Keep your branding relevant and straightforward to the people you are trying to lure. Adding too many components, such as images, fonts, and colors, can make your brand challenging to use and recognize.

Be Consistent

Always ensure you are constantly aware of how you use your branding. A great way of managing a brand is to start a manual or style guide. It will contain all the components of your brand, from colors and fonts to conveying style. A great many examples of branding technique guides are obtainable on the internet.

These are effective and helpful ways to brand your business and see yourself flourish in no time. 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.

When businesses consider their customers and acquire new ones, brands must be involved with them. Branding has changed a lot since it was first introduced. The idea of branding is simple – Learn more about what people think about you.

Branding combines many elements, such as your logo, content, and how you make people feel when they connect with your brand.

Effective branding is all about creating a purposeful and active community and building your brand in the best way possible. To do that, you can always use social media, which is an effective platform for interacting with people worldwide. Remember, not all brand efforts are the same; it depends on your goal. Here is how branding can help you and your brand.

Making Your Brand Accessible

Branding has the power to bring your brand and its customers closer together. Customers feel special when they think that a brand is accessible to them. They will always feel like the brand is looking after them and has all the right products and services based on their needs.

Emotional Connection

Branding always targets the emotional aspect of the customer. When people talk to you, they judge you based on how well you communicate with them. When new customers connect with you emotionally, they are more likely to return and be loyal. Targeting emotions helps in getting more sales from promotions.

Brand Loyalty

Branding is all about creating brand loyalty. With the right amount of branding, the relationship between the customer and the brand develops over time, resulting in untainted brand loyalty. Brand loyalty has several benefits, such as people preferring to recommend you to others; they keep buying from you and being a part of your community for a long time.

Focuses on Long-Term Approach

The most significant difference between marketing and branding is that marketing is usually a short-term solution. In contrast, branding is a continuous and constant effort to maintain an image in the business world. For instance, when customers see your logo, they should recognize you quickly. Your products must carry the same promises you made in your commercials. Your communication with the people is always excellent so that people know what you are offering.

How to Build an Online Community?

If you think about how often a brand shouts its messages at its audience. No context, no engagement, and no conversation make the brand look self-centered, spammy, and not trustworthy. Brands, as such, must learn more about their audience’s needs, interests, and behaviors. They should work on solving their customer’s issues and problems. As a result, customers care about the brands and what they have to say in return. It is how you win a customer who later becomes loyal to the brand. Take a quick survey for yourself and notice how the brands function; watch and learn.

Like many things, a community is not going to grow bigger overnight. The most successful communities usually start with small email lists, forum threads, friendly dinners, and more.

They later become something significant as you learn more of its values and become independent ambassadors. To start as small takes a lot of patience, and doing a thing that does not scale, the efforts will pay off in the long run.

Bottom Line

Branding significantly contributes to business success. Regardless of what business you are running, if you want to maintain your market position, you need to focus on getting the right message across, which requires branding. By appearing online and in communities, you can make your business robust, accessible, and well-known to the public.

Branding helps you get closer to the audience you are trying to reach out to and develop a deep connection. Brand loyalty is one of the most significant KPIs of any business, which, in return, delivers exceptional profits. 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 more our world advances into new domains, the better the technology taps into it and opens opportunities for its development. Social media happens to be one such domain that has unleashed new horizons for the business world and how it has worked for them. Calling social media platforms as the most crucial to grow and promote a business wouldn’t be an exaggerated statement because that is how it has worked for them. From helping a company increase brand awareness to increasing its sales, how does social media help you? With everything, perhaps?

The idea is our target audience uses social media platforms just as they spent their time watching movies and playing games earlier. These platforms – by the way, entertain them and ensure that your audience is engaged with them. And the fact that COVID-19 has come right at us without any warnings, keeping us locked and chained in our houses – these platforms have become even more mandatory. If you are not convinced yet, use the guide below and benefit from social media platforms in new ways.

Define Your Goals

The benefits you want to uncover from different social media platforms can only work for you once you clearly define your goals. The more precise you determine your goals, the more benefits these platforms provide. Concise, clear goals – following the SMART goals concept, i.e., specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely goals, help you achieve your end goal promptly. So, while defining your goals when utilizing social media platforms, ensure that you define them following the right strategy – in particular, use the acronym ‘SMART,’ and you’ll find social media working wonders for your brand.

Research Beforehand

Your target audience will likely not use every social media platform. While some find Facebook their go-to social media platform, others can spend most of their time on Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, or whatnot! In such a setting, where options are innumerable, you should choose exactly the one that would work for you according to your research and analytics. However, to narrow your options and cut down on the cost, your analysis would ease the process for you. So, ensure you research the platforms and use them to your advantage.

Choose the Right Platform

Now that you are done with your research and have narrowed down your goals, choosing the right platform is of utmost significance. Your objectives are clear, your goals are set, and you know the same platform your target audience uses. Here comes the time to choose and use the right platform to utilize social media marketing efficiently. On the other hand, if you’re too keen, you can use a bunch of different platforms so that you get to capture a mass audience.

Devise an Action Plan

When you finish selecting the right platform—the one you’ll be using for almost all your social media marketing strategies—ensure you devise an action plan. Create content that gives insight into your brand through texts or infographics. In this way, you’ll find your brand making larger-than-life returns .

Keep Your Audience and Goals on the Same Page

One of the mistakes you make when using different strategies to promote your brand and its offerings is not keeping your audience and organizational goals on the same page. While this confuses your audience, the conflict in your strategies can have unimaginable consequences. For example, your target audience can drift away from your brand, substituting it with others in the market to get the exact product you offer.  

The idea is that with several brands existing in the market, you must be sure of the impact your strategies can make on your brand. Otherwise, your brand will lose its impact on your audience, and they’ll find other brands working for them more than yours. All in all, from your goals to your strategies, you should align your goals in a way that brings you incredible results. Ensure your customers and all your promotional strategies are working at the same pace so there are no conflicts.

Bottom Line

Here are some of the most effective social media marketing methods. Use them to your brand’s advantage and enjoy the results.  

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.

Why should businesses have a strategy to prevent errors and losses? When companies struggle to sustain their productivity and growth, it can directly and indirectly affect employee morale.

Human business errors have become too familiar nowadays, particularly when management has not invested in new technology. Research indicates that human errors may be the third leading cause of new businesses shutting down in the United States. Over the years, progress has been made to mitigate these errors, but it doesn’t seem enough.

Here are strategies that leaders in the business sector can implement to reduce all sorts of errors.

1. Leverage your employees

Motivating your employees is one of the best and most effective ways to prevent business losses. In general, when employees don’t see the bigger picture and how their contribution makes a difference in the company, they don’t care about its growth.

Remember, no matter how much money you have, your employees will always be your biggest asset. Therefore, your employees must invest in the business’s success, allowing them to pay more attention to their work. Here are ways to increase employee morale in your company:

• Career mentoring
• Frequent appreciation events for the employees
• Raises and promotions frequently based on promotions

2. Effective communication

One of the most significant contributors to business errors is miscommunication among employees. Leaders in professional settings, like executives and managers, should come up with initiatives to improve communication. Effective communication between teams can prevent severe financial losses and operational failures from taking place effectively.

Your employees should know that loss prevention is not something the organization takes for granted. As a CEO or director, take regular feedback from your team managers on how everyone is performing. Keep an eye on the factors that are common among all teams. More importantly, communicate regularly and remind them how vital loss prevention is.

3. Clear policies

Your employees need to know what you expect of them to prevent losses. It cannot be done only with a pep talk once a month but should be mentioned clearly in the company policy. A well-documented approach ensures your employees know how you expect things to be done from the very first day and what benefits they can reap if they do.

In addition, your policies should state employees’ responsibilities and how to respond in case of losses. But what if you have suffered losses in the past? In that case, you can make the necessary changes to company policy by conducting an in-depth review of the hiring procedure. Carry out additional background and reference checks, as they might help you find the best talent in the market, increasing your business performance.

4. Update accounting

Okay, let’s take a turn for the obvious. The majority of the errors are caused by business owners’ concerns with finances. There is no denying that businesses run on capital and investment and eventually get returns on those investments. Therefore, don’t forget to check the accounting sheets for transactions, i.e., how much went in and came out. It can take a lot of work, and you might need to hire a neutral party, like a financial auditor, to identify abnormalities in the account.

5. Avoiding diagnostic error

Diagnostic errors don’t just include the wrong diagnosis but also overdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, and partial diagnosis. It is recommended that leaders involve the entire team while diagnosing business problems, emerging from entry-level employees to high-level executives. Businesses need to introduce an environment of co-creativity, where every single individual uses their expertise effectively. Proper execution of a multi-disciplinary approach can reduce the chances of error dramatically.

6. Root cause analysis

Root cause analysis (RCA) is a systematic approach that requires leaders to ask three questions for information collection.

1. What is the problem?
2. How did it take place?
3. How can it be prevented in the future?

Leaders should generally follow a prespecified protocol to start with data collection and reconstruct the whole event, analyzing the sequence of events leading to that error.

Bottom Line

Successful businesses focus on improving, whether it’s their operations or employee performance. Every member of your organization must understand the importance of error reduction and loss prevention. We hope this article helped us better understand how to reduce errors.

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.

Everything You Need to Know About Equity Financing

Equity financing raises business capital by selling ownership shares to investors who become part-owners and share in your company’s risks and rewards. This method of fundraising gives you access to capital without taking on debt, but requires trading partial ownership and control of your business.

After 20 years as CEO of Complete Controller, I’ve witnessed countless businesses transform through strategic equity financing—and I’ve also seen founders lose their companies by misunderstanding the process. From tech startups raising their first angel round to established companies preparing for IPOs, the principles remain consistent: equity financing can accelerate growth dramatically, but only when you understand both the immediate benefits and long-term implications. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share the real numbers behind dilution, reveal the hidden costs most founders overlook, and provide concrete strategies for maintaining control while scaling your vision.

What is equity financing, and how does it actually work?

• Equity financing involves selling company shares to investors in exchange for funds to grow your business, rather than taking on debt
• Investors become co-owners and share in profits, but you give up partial ownership and some decision-making control
• Key types include angel investors, venture capital, private equity, crowdfunding, and IPOs
• You benefit from expertise and risk-sharing, but dilute your stake and face complex negotiations
• Equity financing is ideal for businesses seeking high growth or unable to access enough debt financing

Equity Financing Explained: What It Is, When to Use It, and Who It’s For

Equity financing fundamentally changes your business structure by introducing new owners who provide capital in exchange for shares. Unlike debt financing where you maintain full ownership while repaying a loan with interest, equity financing creates a partnership where investors share both the upside potential and downside risk of your business.

The mechanics work through share distribution: you determine your company’s valuation, then sell a percentage of ownership at that price. For example, if your business is valued at $5 million and you raise $1 million, you’re selling 20% of your company. These new shareholders gain voting rights, profit participation, and influence over major decisions—the extent depends on your negotiation and share class structure.

When does equity financing make sense?

Early-stage startups with high growth ambitions represent the classic equity financing candidate. These businesses often lack the revenue history or assets required for traditional loans, yet possess tremendous scaling potential that attracts risk-tolerant investors.

Businesses unable to secure loans or requiring substantial capital beyond debt capacity also turn to equity financing. According to the Federal Reserve’s 2024 Small Business Credit Survey, nearly 40% of small businesses carry over $100,000 in debt, with satisfaction in traditional lenders dropping 12-13 points year-over-year. This debt burden and lending frustration drives many entrepreneurs toward equity alternatives.

Who typically uses equity financing?

Technology startups dominate the equity financing landscape, particularly software companies with low marginal costs and global scaling potential. Innovative ventures in biotech, clean energy, and consumer products also frequently use equity financing to fund research, development, and market penetration before generating substantial revenue.

Scaling businesses across all industries tap equity markets when expansion capital needs exceed their borrowing capacity or when they want strategic partners beyond just capital providers.

Types of Equity Financing and Common Sources

Understanding your funding options helps you target the right investors for your stage and needs. Each source brings different expectations, involvement levels, and growth requirements.

Primary funding sources

• Angel investors typically invest $25,000 to $500,000 of personal funds in early-stage companies. They often provide mentorship alongside capital and make decisions quickly compared to institutional investors.
• Venture capital firms manage pooled funds from institutions and wealthy individuals, investing $1 million to $100+ million across multiple rounds. VCs expect explosive growth and typically seek 10x returns within 5-7 years.
• Private equity firms invest in more mature companies, often taking controlling stakes to restructure operations before exit. They bring operational expertise and extensive resources but demand significant influence.
• Crowdfunding platforms democratize investment by allowing numerous small investors to participate. Regulation Crowdfunding permits raising up to $5 million from non-accredited investors, while Regulation A+ allows up to $75 million.
• Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) represent the ultimate equity financing, selling shares to public markets. The 2025 IPO market shows increased selectivity, with only 18 U.S. companies going public by mid-year, though one-quarter achieved profitability compared to just 12% in 2021.

How each source works

Angel investors often invest within weeks of initial contact, providing not just capital but industry connections and operational guidance. They typically take 10-25% equity stakes and remain actively involved in strategic decisions.

Institutional investors like VCs and PE firms conduct extensive due diligence over 3-6 months, examining every aspect of your business. They’ll negotiate complex term sheets governing everything from board composition to liquidation preferences, fundamentally reshaping your corporate governance.

The Real Pros and Cons of Equity Financing

Every funding decision involves trade-offs. Understanding both benefits and drawbacks prevents costly surprises.

Key advantages

No loan repayments or interest burden represents the primary advantage—you receive capital without monthly obligations that strain cash flow. This flexibility proves invaluable during market downturns or unexpected pivots.

Access to mentorship, expertise, and broad networks often exceeds the value of capital itself. Smart investors open doors to customers, partners, and talent that would take years to access independently.

Shared risk means investors have “skin in the game” and work actively to increase company value. Unlike lenders who want repayment regardless of performance, equity investors only profit when you succeed.

Strategic investors bring industry knowledge, operational experience, and credibility that accelerates growth beyond what money alone provides.

Key disadvantages

Ownership dilution and loss of control represent the fundamental trade-off. As revealed by Quickers Venture’s analysis of 45,000 startups, founders retain only 56.2% after seed rounds, dropping to 36.1% after Series A and just 23% after Series B.

Less privacy and potential for internal conflicts arise when outside investors gain information rights and board seats. Major decisions require approval, and divergent visions can create tension.

Complex and lengthy processes consume significant time and money. The average equity round takes 6 weeks to close after term sheet signing, with full fundraising cycles spanning 5-9 months. Legal fees alone typically cost $50,000 to $150,000.

Future fundraising becomes more complicated as you add investors with different preferences and rights.

Equity Financing Step-By-Step: How the Process Really Works

Successful equity financing requires meticulous preparation and realistic expectations about timelines and requirements.

Preparing for equity financing

Business valuation forms the foundation of negotiations. You’ll need audited financials, growth projections, and comparable company analyses to justify your valuation. Professional valuation services cost $10,000-50,000 but prove essential for credibility.

Pitch materials including executive summaries, detailed business plans, and investor presentations must tell a compelling growth story backed by solid data. Budget 2-3 months for preparation before approaching investors.

Legal and financial due diligence preparation involves organizing corporate documents, contracts, intellectual property records, and compliance materials. Investors will examine everything—disorganization delays funding and reduces valuation.

Negotiating terms and closing the deal

Term sheets outline all economic and control provisions, from valuation and investment amount to board composition and protective provisions. Negotiation typically takes 2-4 weeks with experienced counsel essential for protecting founder interests.

Shareholder agreements formalize all parties’ rights and obligations, covering everything from information rights to tag-along provisions. These complex documents govern your relationship for years—never sign without thorough legal review.

Post-deal obligations include regular financial reporting, board meetings, and investor updates. Budget 10-20% of executive time for investor relations going forward.

What to expect after raising equity

New reporting and accountability standards transform your operations. Monthly financials, quarterly board meetings, and annual audits become mandatory. You’ll need robust business bookkeeping essentials systems to meet investor expectations.

Ongoing investor relations require consistent communication about progress, challenges, and strategic changes. Successful founders treat investors as partners, leveraging their expertise while maintaining vision alignment.

Real-World Case Study: How Equity Financing Fueled Instagram’s Meteoric Rise

Instagram’s journey from startup to billion-dollar acquisition in just two years illustrates equity financing’s transformative potential. Founded in October 2010 by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, the photo-sharing app strategically used three funding rounds to achieve explosive growth.

Their seed round of $500,000 from Baseline Ventures and Andreessen Horowitz provided runway for initial development. By February 2011, with user growth accelerating, they raised $7 million in Series A funding. The pivotal moment came in April 2012 when they closed a $50 million Series B at a $500 million valuation from Sequoia Capital, Thrive Capital, Greylock Partners, and Benchmark Capital.

Days after this funding, Facebook acquired Instagram for $1 billion. The strategic timing wasn’t coincidental—fresh funding demonstrated momentum and gave founders negotiating leverage. Despite dilution across three rounds, the massive exit validated their equity financing strategy. The expertise and credibility from top-tier investors like Sequoia accelerated growth beyond what bootstrapping could achieve.

Despite the Hype: When Equity Financing May Not Be the Right Choice

Hidden costs extend beyond the obvious dilution. Legal fees, compliance requirements, and management time devoted to investor relations can consume 20-30% of raised capital and executive bandwidth.

Long-term ownership dilution often exceeds loan repayment costs for profitable businesses. Borrowing money might preserve more value than selling equity if you can service debt from cash flow.

Tax implications favor debt over equity—interest payments are tax-deductible while dividend payments aren’t. This difference significantly impacts your effective cost of capital.

Preserving founder vision becomes challenging when investors push for strategies misaligned with your values. The pressure for rapid returns can force premature scaling or market strategies that compromise long-term sustainability.

The Human Side: Lessons Learned from the Founder’s Journey

The thrill of closing your first investor meeting with a term sheet fades quickly when negotiating control provisions. I’ve counseled founders who celebrated raising capital only to realize they’d effectively become employees in their own companies. Clear communication about decision rights, board composition, and exit timelines prevents devastating surprises.

Protecting your “why” requires deliberate effort as new voices join leadership. Document your core values and vision before fundraising, then reference these touchstones when investor pressure mounts. The most successful founders I’ve worked with treat investors as advisors while maintaining final decision authority on culture and values.

Conclusion

Equity financing unlocks transformative growth when approached strategically, but success requires understanding both immediate capital benefits and long-term ownership implications. The data tells a clear story: founders who raise multiple rounds typically own less than 25% of their companies, legal costs consume substantial capital, and the process takes far longer than expected. Yet for businesses with explosive growth potential and capital needs exceeding debt capacity, equity financing remains the optimal path. The key lies in timing, preparation, and partnering with investors who share your vision beyond just financial returns.

I’ve guided hundreds of businesses through these decisions at Complete Controller, and the difference between success and regret often comes down to preparation and realistic expectations. Visit Complete Controller for expert guidance on preparing your financials, evaluating funding options, and maintaining the startup accounting systems investors expect.

Frequently Asked Questions About Equity Financing

What is the main difference between debt financing and equity financing?

Debt financing involves borrowing money that must be repaid with interest while maintaining full ownership, whereas equity financing means selling ownership stakes without repayment obligations but giving up partial control and future profits to investors.

Who are typical investors in equity financing?

Common equity investors include angel investors (wealthy individuals), venture capital firms, private equity firms, friends and family, crowdfunding participants, and public stock market investors through IPOs.

What do investors gain from equity financing?

Investors receive ownership shares, voting rights on major decisions, a portion of future profits through dividends or exit proceeds, and potential capital appreciation if the company value increases.

Is equity financing right for small businesses?

Equity financing suits small businesses with high growth potential, limited collateral for loans, or those willing to trade control for expertise and funding. It works best for scalable business models rather than lifestyle businesses.

What are the main risks of equity financing?

Primary risks include diluted ownership (often to less than 25% after multiple rounds), loss of decision-making autonomy, complex and expensive deal processes costing $50,000-$150,000 in legal fees, and potential conflicts with investors over strategy and timing.

Sources

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• “Equity Financing – Definition, How it Works, Pros, Cons.” Corporate Finance Institute.
• Feuer, William. “Warby Parker: From Startup to IPO.” CNBC, Sept. 29, 2021.
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• “Series A valuations in 2025: what founders need to know.” Zeni AI. 2025.
• “Founder Ownership in VC-Backed Companies – How Much Do Founders Retain?” Quickers Venture. 2025.
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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. Reviewed By: Brittany McMillen

Brittany McMillen

Brittany McMillen is a seasoned Marketing Manager with a sharp eye for strategy and storytelling. With a background in digital marketing, brand development, and customer engagement, she brings a results-driven mindset to every project. Brittany specializes in crafting compelling content and optimizing user experiences that convert. When she’s not reviewing content, she’s exploring the latest marketing trends or championing small business success.

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1. Consider your investor profile

Before making any decisions, you must first determine your investment profile, considering your risk tolerance. You can be characterized as cautious, moderate, or daring depending on your willingness to accept chances while investing.

It is feasible to design a portfolio that is matched with your profile by recognizing the risks associated with each form of investment.

2. Understand what your personal needs are

It would be best to consider other individual factors besides the investor profile. As a result, it’s critical to evaluate your needs and expectations in terms of return and investing motivations.

For example, if you wish to replenish your emergency reserve, you’ll need to contribute the equivalent of six months’ worth of monthly spending, leaving the money available at any moment. As a result, you’ll want assets that are both safe and liquid.

If you want to enhance your wealth, seeking assets that provide higher financial returns may make sense. To align your selections, you must understand where you aim to go with the financial market’s outcomes.

3. Know your investment horizon

The evaluation of financial objectives is not limited to the amount you wish to earn. It would help if you also considered how much time you have available and how long you want to devote to it.

Consider the topic of retirement. It is usually a long-term investment, lasting more than five years. As a result, having a deadline in your objectives might help you determine if you can pick solutions with higher or lower risk.

It is also an excellent technique for estimating the amount of work required to meet short-, medium-, and long-term goals.

4. Understand your available capital

Another crucial step is to assess how much money you have access to invest in the first place. It is significant because some investments must be accessible with specific minimum values.

Furthermore, it is a problem that obstructs the capacity to diversify the portfolio — the ability to pick numerous assets when beginning an investment. It is worthwhile to create a financial strategy to address this issue.

Using a budget-balancing plan, you may save money and boost your investment capacity.

5. Know the market opportunities

Following this examination, knowing the available options is crucial for understanding how to invest wisely. The financial market is separated into fixed income and variable income.

The first category includes financial assets with pre-established profit margins of which the investor is aware. The second is made up of investments where the financial return is unclear how (or if) it will materialize.

There are various investment options within each class. As a result, it’s critical to understand the features of each one’s safety, liquidity, and profitability – the so-called investing trinity.

You can choose the most appealing chances for your portfolio based on your unique characteristics.

6. Assess the economic scenario

It is worth evaluating the economic and financial scenario, its characteristics, and how the investments work. For example, before purchasing stock on the stock exchange, it is vital to understand its status and the industry in which it operates.

Analyzing macroeconomic prospects might also assist you in determining the market’s features. As a result, you’ll be able to take advantage of excellent chances while also lowering your portfolio’s risk.

On the other hand, economic scenario analysis should have a limited influence on some decisions. For example, a sector’s poor performance over a semester may not influence the total result in the long run.

As a result, it’s also essential to put up a solid, long-term study. That way, you’ll be able to see what the future holds for that time span.

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.