Business Planning & Consulting

It’s not uncommon for employees to grumble about having to attend too many meetings. Sometimes they have a point; an excessive number of meetings can become a problem at some companies. However, there’s one kind of meeting that business owners and their leadership teams should never scrimp on: strategic planning. That doesn’t mean you need […]

Even at the best of times, the future is unpredictable. As anyone who has run a business for any length of time understands, there will often be challenges, many of which are unexpected — such as a global pandemic — coming straight out of left field. Here are four strategies your small company can use to […]

Let’s say you decide to, or are asked to, guarantee a loan to your corporation. Before agreeing to act as a guarantor, endorser or indemnitor of a debt obligation of your closely held corporation, be aware of the possible tax implications. If your corporation defaults on the loan and you’re required to pay principal or […]

Private businesses implemented new lease accounting rules in 2022, resulting in a major shift in how leases are reported for “book” purposes. While the tax rules for leases haven’t changed, the new accounting rules can have notable implications for how the tax rules play out. New Accounting Rules The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issues standards […]

How much money is your business spending on insurance products? Insurance is often a major business expense, and it can be a lifesaver when the unexpected happens. However, higher spending doesn’t necessarily equate to better coverage. Rather than focusing on just the price, it’s important to match insurance products and coverage levels with your business’s risk management […]

Once a business is up and running, one fundamental aspect of operations that’s easy to take for granted is billing. Often, a system of various processes is put in place and leadership might consider occasional billing mistakes to be part of the “cost of doing business.” However, to keep your company financially fit, it’s imperative to […]

Businesses are rightly encouraged to regularly generate professionally prepared financial statements. Doing so is important for both understanding your own financial position and providing accurate, comprehensive information to stakeholders such as investors, lenders and advisors. However, keep in mind that financial statements are historical records. They depict the state of the company at a given point […]

Do you have an idea for a new venture with social benefits or environmental applications? You can set up as a for-profit entity — such as a C corporation, S corporation or limited liability company — with charitable functions. Or, if your key objectives are more altruistic, you may want to consider an alternative: forming […]

Businesses that operate in the retail or restaurant spheres have it relatively easy when it comes to collections. They generally take payments right at a point-of-sale terminal and customers go on their merry ways. (These enterprises face many other challenges, of course.) For other types of companies, it’s not so easy. Collections can be particularly challenging […]

Business owners and their leadership teams are rightly urged to engage in regular strategic planning to move their companies, thoughtfully and consciously, in a positive direction. However, no matter how sound a set of strategic objectives might be, it’s always important to bear in mind that your competitors have plans of their own. That’s why […]