Author: Complete Controller

Bankruptcy is a legal proceeding involving a business owner who cannot repay the outstanding debts of his business. The bankruptcy procedure begins with a petition registered by the debtor or on behalf of creditors, which is less likely to happen. All the debtor’s assets are determined and evaluated, and you might utilize them to repay a section of outstanding debt.

Acknowledging Bankruptcy

Filing for bankruptcy would be the last thing business owners would wish for. Bankruptcy offers a business a fresh beginning by forgiving debts that cannot be paid while giving creditors a chance to get a few measures of repayment based on a business’s assets available for liquidation. Practically, the ability to file for bankruptcy benefits the comprehensive economy by permitting companies another chance to gain credit and by providing creditors with a section of debt repayment. Upon the victorious completion of bankruptcy proceedings, the debtor gets relieved of the debt requirements formerly incurred for filing bankruptcy. 

In any state, all bankruptcy cases are overseen through the federal courts. Every decision in federal bankruptcy cases is taken by a bankruptcy judge, including whether a debtor can file or if they will be discharged of their debts. Usually, there is minimal contact between the judge and the debtor unless the creditor objects. 

Is Bankruptcy an Instrument of Freedom?

Generally, bankruptcy can be an instrument of freedom in some cases. As a business owner, if you are under a pile of debt, you do not have sufficient assets for repayment, and you are constantly pressured by lenders, filing for bankruptcy would be the most feasible option. However, even after being declared bankrupt, there is no guarantee that the creditors will stop bugging you. 

After filing for bankruptcy, you will have no assets as a backup. You will have to begin from nothing unless a large enterprise requires a few tough decisions made in the ownership, including cost-cutting, bookkeeping scrutiny, and restructuring. 

Additionally, your bankruptcy will be a public record matter that can be accessed by potential creditors, property owners, and employees. You might face a more daunting time while applying for another loan. The lending institutions will discover your history and assume it will be hard for you to repay the loan. Yet, are these errors an obstacle compared to your mounting debt? If you’ve nothing left to lose anymore and there is no way out, filing bankruptcy would be a wiser option. 

Merits and Demerits of Bankruptcy

Filing for bankruptcy can relieve all your legal obligations to pay your loans and save your business or the ability to function financially, depending on the type of bankruptcy petition you will file. Also, it can lower your credit rating, making it harder to get a loan, credit card, mortgage, or purchase an official place. 

If you are considering declaring bankruptcy, your credit might already be damaged. Any lenders or creditors you apply to for a loan will examine the discharge on your report. Debtors do not significantly have a right to a shot. When a bankruptcy petition has been declared in court, lenders receive a notice requiring filing a complaint in the court before the deadline. This leads to the filing of an adversary proceeding to recover the cash owed a lien. 

Merits: 

In some cases, filing for bankruptcy proves to be an innovative idea for the following reasons. 

1. You will become free of debt legally.
2. Creditors will no longer pressure you. 
3. You will make a fresh start. 

Demerits: 

Filings for bankruptcy contain numerous demerits, which are as follows. 

1. The court will be allowed to seize your business and personal assets. 
2. Securing a mortgage will become problematic. 
3. You will become a public domain, and everyone can access you then. 

Can a Business Owner Get Freedom After Filing for Bankruptcy?

Declaring bankruptcy is like a trip to the iceberg. Either you will pay for the case registration or hire an attorney for this purpose, but that will cost you a decent amount of money. Visiting the court and telling them you do not have money will not save you. As sarcastic as it sounds, you will have to make a payment to prove your tragic situation. 

Conclusion 

In the intricate business landscape, bankruptcy is a pivotal yet daunting recourse, representing both a lifeline and a labyrinth of challenges for struggling entrepreneurs. While it offers relief from insurmountable debts and creditor pressures, bankruptcy also entails significant trade-offs, including the potential seizure of assets, constraints on future credit, and public disclosure of financial woes. Despite its promise of a fresh start, the decision to file for bankruptcy demands careful consideration of its merits and demerits and the enduring implications for personal and professional life.

Navigating this tumultuous terrain requires resilience, resourcefulness, and, often, professional guidance to mitigate risks and maximize opportunities for recovery. Whether bankruptcy ultimately leads to liberation or further hardship hinges on many factors, underscoring the importance of informed decision-making and a steadfast commitment to rebuilding stronger in the face of adversity.

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.

Ladies and their abilities are the most underrated assets in numerous enterprises. About making the account a vocation, the female portrayal keeps declining. Even though forty-nine percent of our money-related workers and representatives are female, only fifteen percent reach an official level. After meeting individuals from the Finance Council in Forbes who were female officials, women are always crossing confinements and breaking barriers. Below are a couple of aspects to consider for ladies in microfinance.

Gender Gap

The gender gap in finance is both a challenge and an opportunity. It is not a new notion that the finance business industry is unmistakably male-dominated. It has been characterized by an expression called “an old boys club,” where many men in this field are second-generation associates or were recommended by a relative. This is a common reason ladies regularly have trouble getting the recognition they deserve. Nonetheless, like many other fields, including academics or sports, finance is an open door for women to come and claim their place.

Finance is about More Than Just Money: About Making a Difference

A vocation in finance is more than a means to get through regular day-to-day existence and costs. Numerous ladies have determined that their places in finance are a calling and a reason. They awaken each day a flame in their eyes since they recognize what they do has an enormous effect on families and individuals around them.

It is true that the general population associated with the finance business considers their work as a constructive calling affecting the lives of individuals, families, organizations, and so on across the globe. Many consider the finance industry an emotionally supportive network to help individuals who cannot create adequate reserve funds save more cash through consistent help and direction.

A Finance Professional Never Stops Learning

Notwithstanding kindness, the ladies who work in “The Forbes Finance Council” advised that they enjoy the chance to utilize scholarly incitement to enable them to remain inspired throughout their careers. Money-related markets change and are affected by everything. From small to significant changes, two days are rarely the same as business needs continually advance and change, compelling individuals to do their best without fail.

Ladies Are Creating the Future of Finance

Ladies working for the “Forbes Finance Council” are resolved to make a name for themselves by establishing new companies. Inviting new activities alongside building up another culture works advantageously, and they have confidence in doing it by making their brand. After the ascent of fintech, financial and fintech firms can now appreciate new stories. Therefore, such organizations play a significant role in assisting and providing better choices.

The Future Is Bright for Women in Finance

It is a fact that there is an immense gender gap regarding financial support ventures. The female individuals from the “Forbes Finance Council” are changing the course, and their endeavors are enhancing and improving the mindset of women in finance.

What was once considered a boy’s club full of nepotism, women in the financial industry have empowered other women to consider finance a viable career path. Similarly, women support other women outside of the industry by assisting and guiding them in their finances.

Conclusion

In conclusion, despite the persisting gender gap in finance, women are rewriting the narrative and reshaping the industry. With determination and resilience, they break barriers, establish their presence in leadership roles, and empower others. Finance is not just about numbers; it’s about making a difference, and women drive positive change. As pioneers in the field, they are creating opportunities for themselves and paving the way for future generations of women in finance. Overall, they are building a brighter, more inclusive future where finance is no longer seen as a “boys’ club,” but as a realm of equal opportunity and empowerment for all.

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.

An accounting department of any business needs to be neatly tucked in and presented as a clean slate. Any business with a fine accounting department prospers because of the clarity in the financial statements. Having clean finances could serve many purposes for business owners and could have many advantages. Still, the most important is that it gives the business owner an unobstructed vision for the future.

Different individuals could accept working in the accounts department, but each department has differing positions. The employee’s duties separate these positions once they join your company. A competent accountant must be able to analyze your financial statement, clear out all your credit by the time the accounting cycle concludes, and calculate profit, loss, and net income.

Understanding these positions and hiring the right person for your business can be challenging. We have broken down each class to help you know them better and make sound decisions.

CFO (Chief Financial Officer)

A CFO is placed on a high pedestal within the accounting department. They are the authority constantly in talks with the business owners as they report the financial findings to them. They oversee all the stakeholders and how they may be affected by the different decisions taken within the department. The chief financial officer combines past data with future statistics to come to plausible conclusions so that you can make appropriate decisions. Preparing reports and strategies for risk management are also included in the job of a CFO.

A CFO has several bookkeepers, controllers, accountants, and clerks reporting back to them to know everything related to the business. They are also in charge of creating new policies for the organization that would affect the company’s finances.

Only an extensive business should need a CFO because of the lack of financial affairs to manage in small businesses.

Bookkeeper

A bookkeeper deals with the numbers that are presented to them. A bookkeeper manages all the financial records of the business. This would include all purchases, due payments, loans, profit, losses, and income.

A competent bookkeeper must cater to the needs of the business by tending to the journals and ledgers that carry all the financial data. Without the help of a bookkeeper, bookkeeping may not be appropriately done by the business owner, which could affect the quality of the business.

A business owner should start looking for a bookkeeper when they enter the business world. A bookkeeper is necessary for even small companies because, unlike a CFO, a bookkeeper must tackle all major and minor financial data of a business that is just as much part of a small business as a large corporation.

Controller

A controller plays the role of a middle person. This happens because clerks and bookkeepers report directly to them while they must write all their findings to a CFO.

The role of a controller is to supervise all the work of an accounting department. They could also play the role of a financial manager in an organization. They focus on helping a CFO create strategic game plans to increase the organization’s cash inflow.

Who to Hire?

This question often confuses a lot of business owners. While starting a business, they are often unaware of the hierarchy of the accounting department. This includes the positions they should be offered according to their company.

Before deciding, you should first assess the size of your business. The length of your business determines the financial data you would have to cater to once the company is up and running. Ensure that you make a thorough analysis to see how much your business can be affected by hiring the right person for it.

If your business is extensive and deals with a giant corporation, you should acquire a CFO and the rest of the subordinates. But a bookkeeper would be enough if your company is limited and has a narrow approach to the market.

Conclusion

In summary, the significance of a well-organized accounting department cannot be overstated in any business setting. A meticulously managed accounting department ensures clarity in financial statements, paving the way for business prosperity and informed decision-making. Understanding the distinct roles within the accounting hierarchy—such as CFOs, bookkeepers, and controllers—is crucial for hiring the right individuals to manage the company’s financial affairs effectively.

While CFOs oversee financial strategies and report directly to business owners, bookkeepers meticulously manage financial records, and controllers serve as intermediaries, supervising accounting operations. Making informed hiring decisions based on the business’s size and complexity ensures optimal resource utilization and positions the company for financial success. Whether it’s a large corporation or a small business, having the right personnel in the accounting department is critical to maintaining financial health and achieving long-term growth.

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.

With the radical changes in the marketing industry, businesses are now reshaping their strategies entirely. Consumers have become more informed in this age of information technology, and reaching them has become a whole new challenge. Among these changes in marketing is using the Internet to reach prospective customers. Lead generation has been the most important of these marketing changes. The question that organizational decision-makers now must answer is whether they should hire a team and buy software for lead generation or outsource the function altogether.  

Before answering this question, it is essential to learn about leads, lead generation, and why they are important and needed.

A Lead

A lead is someone who has expressed an interest in your company’s product or service. In other words, instead of receiving a random call from someone who has purchased your contact information, you will talk to a company or organization with which you have already opened a dialogue. For example, you may have participated in an online survey to learn about caring for your car. It would be less intrusive and more relevant to receive an email from the automaker that hosted the survey on their website than if they had just called you out of nowhere to find out how they could help you take care of your car.

Lead Generation

Lead generation is attracting and converting leads into previously discussed ones. Whenever someone who does not belong to marketing asks you what you do, you cannot just say, “I generate leads through content.” It is better to tell them, “I find new and unique ways to attract people. I want to give them enough gifts to interest them naturally so that they listen to our brand.” It defines lead generation as a way to attract potential customers to your business and convince them to buy your product or service.

Importance of Lead Generation

Lead generation is crucial as it cultivates interest in your business, fostering relationships with potential customers. This paves the way for smoother and more organic sales processes. In the inbound marketing framework, lead generation is the pivotal second step, occurring once you’ve captured an audience’s attention and are prepared to transition them into actionable leads.

Outsourcing

After understanding what leads and lead generation are, it is essential to answer the main question regarding how to complete this process. Having an inbound team equipped with the best software may seem the right choice, but it is not. You may just be adding up costs and may not be getting the right results. The trend of outsourcing functions in which your company struggles is always the right decision. A lead generation company can work hard for you and produce better results.

It allows you to focus on the quality of your products and services and leave lead generation to the experts. Outsourcing should be at a relatively lower cost than you would incur hiring an in-house team and buying lead generation software.

Conclusion

Consumers have become more informed through the internet, and purchasing habits have changed with the prevalence of eCommerce. As a result, reaching customers and potential customers has become increasingly difficult. Fortunately, the internet has become an essential asset with the change in information and commerce. Using software or an outsourced service to generate marketing leads is equally valuable.

The number of lead generation companies and services may seem overwhelming for a buyer to process. However, thorough research of potential companies and an accurate assessment of business resources can make the lead-generation process less intimidating and more manageable.

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.

With the evolution of advanced technology and the easy availability of accounting systems, it is now a widespread practice among businesses to have multiple filing cabinets, including private ones, to protect confidential financial information. However, access to these cabinets must only be provided to specific, trustworthy individuals or employees. It is because it can be a daunting task if not done accurately and efficiently.

What causes an accounting filing system to subside? The possibilities say that you ignored it in the first place. You must have sorted all the files randomly without considering them initially. Only labeling the files will not make the system efficient. To implement an accounting system in your business that will record any document, all you require is a separate section for every report. 

For SMEs and large enterprises, filing cabinets provide numerous benefits. It offers easy access to any document that we require now. Separating the documents into different folders can significantly reduce employees’ valuable time while searching for the files. It grants them additional time to spend on more productive operations and activities. 

Significance of Accounting Filing System

Every business must deal with large volumes of documentation and files regularly. These files contain important and confidential information regarding the company and its customers. For this reason, protecting these documents from theft or damage is a significant priority. 

A sound accounting filing system can massively reduce the time and effort spent managing a company’s finances. It also makes the annual budgeting and strategizing much more manageable because it makes the pivotal information readily available. Solutions for occasional accounting problems can be found in the filing cabinet; another reason for its implementation is structuring the system. 

Businesses usually organize their financial records in an accounting filing system by considering the following pointers.

Categorizing the Files

Primarily, you will be required to arrange the files into categories. Dort, go through the present piles of documents and organize everything into separate piles within similar types. This point should focus not on the evaluation but on assorting similar files together. For instance, credit card bills and financial bank statements both fall under the category of finances. Later, the sub-categorizing chore will step in. 

Creating Sub-Categories

Once you have rearranged all the files according to their respective categories, you will sub-categorize them so that it would be easy to find them when needed. Finances for any accounting department can be subdivided into checking accounts, credit card accounts, and savings accounts. Be specific with the arranging activity; do not just randomly label them. This arrangement will help you identify the required files instantly. 

Coding with Colors

The main categories for all the documents must be assigned with assorted colors to be distinct from the rest. You can also hang them in the file folders within their respective categories. For instance, if you have chosen green color for financial documents, its sub-categories will be in shades of green. It will save you valuable time while filing the recovering files. Psychologically, the human brain functions better when documents are highlighted with assorted colors. Implement a filing system that permits you to work efficiently through each category without mixing up the information. 

Creating Labels

After you have highlighted the files with colors, it is time to label them. There are two kinds of labels, including general labeling and specific labeling. An available title is done on the credit cards, while the specific one is done on the Master cards and Visas. After labeling the documents, try to arrange them alphabetically so you can swiftly move to the next step. Let’s label similar files nearby.

Filing the Drawers

The last step of this procedure is filing the drawers. By now, you must have sorted most of the documents, and you need to put them in a place where you can access and identify them quickly. Arrange all the documents in the file alphabetically and correctly to ensure their safety within the drawers. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, establishing and maintaining an efficient accounting filing system is crucial for businesses of all sizes. The task has become more manageable with the evolution of technology and the availability of advanced accounting systems. However, ensuring access only to trustworthy individuals is essential to protect confidential financial information. Neglecting to organize and maintain the filing system properly can lead to inefficiency and difficulty accessing vital documents.

Categorizing files, creating sub-categories, coding with colors, labeling, and filing drawers are essential steps in structuring an effective filing system. A well-organized accounting filing system saves time and effort in managing financial records and facilitates budgeting, strategizing, and solving occasional accounting issues. By implementing these strategies, businesses can streamline their financial processes and safeguard critical information, ultimately contributing to smoother operations and improved productivity.

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.

With over three billion users worldwide, social media is changing our lives faster than we can imagine. One of the first things that comes to mind when planning social branding for your brand is how to take the brand to customers. It may not be clear, but many brands use social media to promote their businesses today. Promoting your business is the way to go. Without promotion, your company may struggle to compete in the market.

Promote Your Business

You can promote your business in many ways; some are intuitive, while others are more streamlined. Business promotion is all about attracting as many customers and clients as possible. Proper methods of business promotion help entrepreneurs give it the recognition it deserves. Not all businesses have equal options at their disposal.

Large corporations enjoy more resources and spend lavishly on marketing and promotion. This is not the case with small and medium-sized businesses. Having limited resources at their disposal, they are primarily dependent on external sources. They borrow money from lending institutions and expect them to continue assisting occasionally.

Social media is fast changing the way we do business. The extent of influence of social media is such that people are willing to believe things about products and companies they hear about. As a result, social branding is here to stay.

Getting Started

Social branding of your business can do wonders you might not have thought about. Remember that using social media to promote your business is a great idea, but only when you know it will work. Unless you are a social media expert, you should not use the social branding of your products and brand from a personal account.

Find a proficient team that specializes in the use of social media. Take a systematic approach when finding social media experts. Conduct interviews and make sure that they understand your goals and have expertise. You need experts, not novices, to shortlist candidates who handle business brands through social media. They should be professional enough to take your brand to the right audience. Likewise, your social branding team should be skillful enough to know the dos and don’ts of social media branding of a business without landing your brand in trouble.

Initiate Branding

One of the first things to know about social branding is that the campaign will use a professional business account, not your account. Some users mistakenly use their accounts and regret all the traffic and disturbance they receive. One reason to hire professional social media experts is that they know what it takes to make and handle the page. Handling the page can become a 24-hour job for some, knowing they might sometimes need to respond at odd hours. Customer queries may come anytime from any region if you are operating globally.

Promoting your business and products in regions where you can efficiently operate is best. Think about expansion later. For now, focus on the areas where your business is in operation. Prepare a business account and give an intro about the company, products, and services it offers. This should help you get some attention initially but do not neglect the page’s content.

Technical Considerations

A social branding page is not an ordinary page by any means. This page will provide the clients with all the information about your product and service. Ensure that the information is prepared correctly, with no grammatical issues. As for products and services, keep details specific early on to avoid elaborating on your business and products. Keep these details for later. A basic introduction should suffice for now, so carry on and ensure the information provided is verifiable through your website and third-party reviews. The latter will take time, so rely on your website for now and ensure the data on the social media page is accurate.

Expand the page and add product and service pages one by one. The information should be interesting enough to intrigue customers about your business. Please pay attention to the content and ensure it is well-written and grammatical mistakes-free. The content should be written by a professional, maintaining a professional tone.

Product pages should have high-resolution images of your products. The services page should accompany quality content images and a service description. Pages must be updated once or twice a month. Make your business page more attractive by announcing contests and planning giveaways whenever possible. It will generate more interest among your page fans, provide updated website links, and urge your fans to visit the page more often.

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.

Small companies can benefit from a Client Relationship Management (CRM) system, but the CRM software must match their requirements.

Regarding customer management, many Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) rely on manual methods such as pen and paper, Excel, and e-mail programs. At the same time, employees in sales and marketing complain about outdated data, a lack of transparency, and a high expenditure of time. Does using a CRM system provide an efficient solution? If so, which CRM system is the right one?

Who Needs a CRM System?

Not every company needs a CRM system, but for many companies, using a CRM system makes sense. Companies that rely on extensive projects, long-term customer relationships, and internal teamwork can experience the most significant advantage. Employees of an agency, a consulting company, or a coaching team who have looked after their customers for years can benefit from a CRM system. Even after prolonged inactivity, it is essential to understand which colleague last spoke to the customer, what was agreed upon, or who was the primary contact. It is vital to have access to the latest data at home, in the office, or a hotel. 

Associates depend on quickly becoming familiar with CRM data without relying on other colleagues. Many associates using a CRM system are grateful when simple marketing or sales tasks can be completed through the system without consuming work days. A CRM software with a simple range of functions is sufficient. When entering the world of CRM, less is often more.

Sales Model

Does your sales team contact countless potential new customers daily where the sales process is similar or partially automated? The high cycle rate forces you to conduct subsequent analysis and control: who made how many calls, how long they last, and how many calls are necessary to achieve a conclusion? Are personal recommendations a more important channel for you than a sales force with glowing telephone receivers? Then, you will be much happier with a CRM system, and using software that focuses on these processes makes sense.  

User-Friendliness

Complicated CRM software remains complicated, even if you manage to navigate it finally. New employees and occasional users will appreciate simplicity, and the data quality will increase enormously if the software is not complicated. When testing user-friendliness, rely primarily on your gut feeling. Is the user guidance logical and comprehensible? Can you find everything right away? Is the online assistance helpful?

Installation

What applies to a user-friendly system also applies to the technical set-up: keep it simple. If you need a service provider for every change, problems simply remain, and data is duplicated from merged files. Modern CRM systems can usually be set up and easily used online. A test or demonstration account can be set up quickly, and Software as a Service (SaaS) is convenient. 

Software that runs in the cloud does not need to be installed or maintained and can be accessed via the web browser. A simple username and password combination is enough to access the CRM system. Other advantages include not being tied to a specific device or location, only needing an Internet connection, and decentralized teams have access at any time.

Flexible Contract Terms

In the past, CRM systems had to be purchased as software, which was usually costly. SaaS solutions, on the other hand, are rented and billed monthly. The cost starts at $5-$10 per user. This flexibility is often required for growing companies, so new employees are simply added. If the software used no longer works after the founding years, a change can be made quickly without significant initial investments. Check which format you can export your data in the event of a termination.

Important Functions

As unique as every company may be, some functions are standard in day-to-day CRM business. In addition to these essential functions, the “look and feel” of the software should have priority in CRM selection over basic features and function comparison. If you feel comfortable with the tool, you will only use the CRM system long-term. Even if one tool has more functions, it is not necessarily better. The simpler, more precise, and more intuitive a CRM system is, the more efficient it is. Most importantly, the functions suitable for your application are available.

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.

Anyone founding a company or developing a new product needs a plan, but unrealistic, high-spirited assumptions are often made.

It is a fact that many companies fail, and it is common and expected in the business industry. Nobody can see into the future and know what will and will not be successful, yet many strategists and managers think they can calculate and plan the future only to wonder why things go wrong. A coherent business plan is essential to avoid wasting money when buying a company, entering a new market, or developing a new product.

Question Planning Assumptions

A key reason for failure is that the planners do not question their assumptions; they pretend that products sell as if there is no competition. This view comes from Rita Gunther McGrath and Ian C. MacMillan, professors from Columbia Business School in New York and Wharton School in Philadelphia.

With this drastic assessment, they want to point out how important it is to clarify the assumptions and implicit hypotheses of the planning and question them. They have to be tested and, if necessary, adjusted if the planning wants something to do with reality. McGrath and MacMillan advocate paying attention to the following when planning strategic decisions.

Start Profitability Planning

Most business plans are based on forecast sales and turnover figures: that’s how much will be sold. Whether this is realistic and whether the business is profitable remains open. Instead, planning should start with profitability: What profit should the new business generate overall?

The other financial parameters are derived from this number, notably the required turnover and the investments and running costs incurred. This makes it easy to see whether the planning is realistic and what orders of magnitude sales have to reach to achieve the target return. It can be assessed whether the sales figures are possible.

Calculate Permissible Costs

In most cases, the costs for a project can be estimated quite accurately. All relevant expenses should be included in the total cost accounting. Ideally, the planned process to manufacture products or provide services can be described in detail. Then, the costs can be determined using process cost accounting. They make it clear whether the desired return can be achieved.

Together with the sales figures, the market price per product unit can also be determined and compared with the competition. If doubts arise and the required costs and the desired return result in a necessary turnover that can only be achieved with many question marks, strategists should refrain from doing so.

Make Assumptions Visible

All assumptions should be made visible in every plan. Often, strategists are not aware of the planners, or they are displaced. It is why you should speak to other experienced employees in the company:

• What do they think of the plan?
• What assumptions do they discover?
• Where are the differences of opinion, and what are their reasons?
• Which assumptions are unrealistic?

For example, if the plan is to sell 100,000 pieces of a particular product, you should check how many acquisition talks it takes, how many employees are required, and how much it will cost. This makes it clear whether the bill can work. Making as many invoices as possible is advisable, thus creating transparency.

Question Coherence

With the return targets, the permissible costs, transparent assumptions, coherence, and plausibility can be questioned, and the business assessed. Only when everything fits together and opens is there a chance it will become a successful company. Implementation can now begin.

Define Milestones and Plan Adjustments

In project management, it’s crucial to regularly review and adjust plans to ensure they remain realistic and aligned with project goals. Milestones are established at key intervals or when significant interim results emerge, prompting the evaluation of several factors:

• Changes in framework conditions
• Potential misjudgments of individual factors
• Shifts in assumptions
• The need for corrections to calculations

Having clear termination criteria enables informed decisions on whether to continue the project. Additionally, a checklist of dangerous assumptions in business planning helps identify potential pitfalls, such as overestimating customer interest, underestimating competition, or expecting unwavering support from within the organization. Regularly scrutinizing plans and carefully considering assumptions are essential for successful project execution and risk mitigation.

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.

A person finds ways to increase household income for several reasons, including when a person:

• Wants to improve quality of life
• Wants to get rid of debt or loan
• Is not making enough income to fulfill household requirements

It has been said that money should not be considered the only thing we need to survive, but many people operate in this mindset. Almost everyone has been concerned about income and wealth at one point or another. People often look for new ideas to earn more to boost household income and release financial tension when paying bills. An adequate income allows a person to live a fulfilling and enjoyable life; moreover, it provides diverse life experiences and opportunities to earn more.

A person needs to look for opportunities to earn more to lead to a risky and debt-free life. Some valuable techniques below will help you boost your household income.   

Telecommuting

If a person wants to increase household income, the best and most straightforward technique is to find a telecommuting job. Telecommuting can be taken as a part-time job and allows you to save money efficiently. If someone is comfortable working in technical support or a call center, telecommuting can be done during night or evening hours. They can easily save a handsome amount to fulfill additional household requirements.  

Freelancing

Freelancing provides several opportunities for earning and multiple potential benefits. A person needs to analyze their technical skills and consider how to offer those skills as a service. Requirements to work as a freelancer are:

• A person with technical skills
• Good internet connection
• Ability to deal with multiple customers at a time
• Ability to deliver projects on time.

Freelance work can also be completed outside the traditional 9 am-5 pm work hours and outside of a conventional work environment. This flexibility in schedule and locale allows the freelancer to easily earn more income without interfering with other career obligations. Different platforms offer freelancing services, including various jobs or projects like graphic designing, writing, web development, etc. This way, a person can make massive amounts only by efficiently utilizing skills. This money can be a significant reason to boost household income.

Investments

Making the right investment decision will offer several opportunities to increase earnings. Anyone can make several investment choices, but it is essential to make a wise choice as a high level of risk is a built-in feature of investment. Investments can be part-time, including contributing funds to start a small business, purchasing real estate, or buying company shares.

When starting a business, marketing strategies can be incorporated to make it successful, and your contributions will entitle you to a portion of the profits. Investment provides long-term benefits that help people improve their quality of life, increase household income, and secure their financial future.

Paid Surveys

Paid surveys are considered the quickest way to make extra income. When qualifying surveys are available, a person receives a notification via email. Sign up for multiple survey sites to take maximum advantage of online surveys. The vital thing to consider is that these types of online surveys will not pay large sums as most surveys are less than $5. However, a person can earn upwards of $100 monthly by completing surveys in their spare time. Survey Junkie, Swagbucks, Joany, Vindale Research, and Inbox Dollars are some common platforms that offer paid survey services.

Conclusion

In conclusion, increasing household income is a common goal driven by aspirations for a better quality of life, debt reduction, or meeting essential needs. While money shouldn’t be the sole focus, it undeniably plays a crucial role in our lives. Seeking additional income sources can alleviate financial stress and open doors to diverse experiences. Telecommuting and freelancing offer flexible options, leveraging technical skills for extra earnings. Strategic investments provide long-term benefits, contributing to financial security. Paid surveys offer quick, albeit modest, supplementary income. By exploring these avenues, individuals can enhance their household income, paving the way for a more fulfilling and financially stable future.

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.

For those thinking of creating a website or having an online project, below are ways to enhance their communication and sales strategy through email marketing.

Email marketing is a direct marketing channel. What was sold in the past via telephone, door-to-door, or mail is now done by email. Communications go directly to the inboxes of current or potential clients without being limited by time zones or distance. Email marketing reaches people 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In short, email marketing works and is here to stay.

Create an Email Marketing Campaign

Create an effective email marketing strategy and analyze the results of the campaigns. Sending strategically written emails includes considering aspects that will:

• Capture a lead
• Attract new customers
• Attract new blog readers
• Increase sales
• Attract more traffic to the website
• Promote social networks
• Serve as a channel to communicate with the current customers

Use a Clean Subscriber List

A clean subscriber list includes individuals who have accepted or requested the sending of emails. It is always better to send 1,000 desired emails than 100,000 unwanted ones. Sending an email to Marketing Campaign Purchase Lists can affect brand reputation and frustrate the subscribers. Moreover, using a former list will likely urge the client to go to the competition if the emails are unwanted.

Clean Lists Periodically

Delete the addresses that do not exist, those that never open the email or those that do not buy. Clean lists will improve the email-opening rates and the perception of Email Service Providers (ESPs).

Lucas Garcia, the co-founder of Social Mood, deleted over 2,000 email addresses. He notes that a recipient who has not opened the email for more than six months, or at all, is not interested in the product or service or does not use that email.

Provide the Option to Leave

Forcing users to log in to unsubscribe will only make them mark the email as SPAM when they cannot unsubscribe. Provide an easy option to leave the subscriber list by including a link in all email marketing campaigns. Email marketing platforms usually ask for this option as an essential step for sending.

Admit and Remedy Errors

Sometimes, email marketing campaign shipments make mistakes and send some emails with code errors, images that do not appear, or incomplete text where the recipient’s name should go. Do not ignore this error and send another communication to ask for forgiveness. As a result, it is essential to have evidence of shipments to review and remedy errors.

Test

If a person wants to launch an email marketing campaign, they should remember that it is not a task of minutes but hours. This can be time-consuming, but it is necessary to repeatedly test the email created and review its content, the size of the campaign, the Call to Action (CTA), and its design, and ensure it has the potential to convert. Testing the email to be seen correctly through different devices and mail clients is essential.

One method to avoid errors is to make a checklist of everything a person needs to review before sending the email:

• Adaptation to devices
• Text-to-Image ratio
• Email Subject
• Sending address
• Spelling mistakes

The CTA

If a subscriber clicks on the CTA in their email marketing campaign’s mail and believes they have won, they are wrong. The CTA is the only door to the sale. Remember to include a link in the CTA that directs the subscriber to a page with the product or service mentioned. Do not route them to the homepage, where they waste time trying to find a way to buy it. A person’s attention span is short, so use the few minutes you have to get their attention and convince them to buy the product.

Conclusion

Email marketing is a powerful tool for enhancing communication and sales strategies in the digital landscape. As a direct marketing channel, it transcends the limitations of time zones and distances, reaching current and potential clients 24/7. The effectiveness of email marketing campaigns lies in their ability to capture leads, attract new customers, drive website traffic, and foster engagement across various platforms. However, success hinges on several key practices, including maintaining a clean subscriber list, providing easy options for unsubscribing, and promptly addressing errors.

Moreover, thorough testing and optimization are essential to ensure emails are well-designed, communicate the intended message effectively, and seamlessly guide recipients toward conversion. By adhering to these principles and continuously refining email marketing strategies, businesses can leverage this dynamic tool to cultivate lasting relationships with their audience and drive tangible results in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

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.