Ask the Accountant… Question: I’ve seen an offer from QuickBooks to set up QuickBooks Online for free. Should I use that? Answer: QuickBooks wants as many businesses as possible to be in QB Online (QBO), and they are using many means to convince businesses to switch from QB Desktop or to start their business in…
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Do You See Gratitude as a Business Strategy?
As we ease back into the rhythm of work after the Thanksgiving holiday, it’s important to remember that an “attitude of gratitude” isn’t something that should end when the turkey runs out. Being grateful and saying “thank you” is something that we can keep up all year long. In fact, picking up the phone or…
Read MoreThe Embarrassment Factor
About 10 years ago I had some discussions with the owner of a company interested in learning more about Proforma. After a few conversations, he decided to maintain the status quo and not move forward. Fast forward 10 years. I get an email from a consultant telling me that the owner of that company has…
Read MoreChanging Field Widths in QuickBooks Premier
Ask the Accountant… Question: Can I save changes to field widths that I have made to screens in QuickBooks Premier? Answer: Yes! Make the changes to the field widths on your screen. Leave the screen open, and go to: Edit > Preferences > Desktop View > Click “Save Current Desktop.” That should save your field…
Read MoreGetting a Handle on Your Time
In her best-selling book, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” author Marie Kondo identifies high levels of clarity and focus that result from eliminating unnecessary items from our personal and professional lives. Removing “clutter” brings with it an almost overwhelming sense of relief and an ability to spend more time and attention on the things that matter most. The same principal can be applied to our quest to make more efficient use of our time. To “de-clutter,” we must first identify and yes, write down how we spend our time…
Read MoreIndustrial Labels: The Profitable Product Category You Might Not Know
In our previous post, we looked at reasons for distributors to sell industrial labels. Unlike many other products, industrial labels are highly repeatable. They offer recurring revenue (“print annuities”), they are sticky, and more. But what exactly are industrial labels? How do they differ from prime labels that most distributors are familiar with? Industrial labels…
Read MoreThese Are the Good Old Days
Some days, when we are in the thick of the battle of growing our business, we just want to get to a brighter future. I understand. For the first several years of starting and growing Proforma, I had more than my fair share of worries. After 45 years of growing a business, here are a…
Read MoreDo You Believe In You?
I love Ed Mylett. Recently, I heard Ed talk about identifying the individual who holds the greatest importance in believing in our worth and potential. Most of us may think it is of the utmost importance that our prospects believe in us and our value. Fact is, as Ed said, the most important person you…
Read MoreItems Purchased: Are They Inventory?
Ask the Accountant… Question: When I buy items from suppliers, isn’t that inventory? Answer: In our industry, we order items that have been customized specifically for one customer. We rarely take possession of the items – only so we can deliver them to the customer ourselves or our customer will pick them up. These instances…
Read MoreBe Unreasonable
When it comes to goal setting, most folks who have goals (sadly many folks go through life without specific, articulated goals) choose reasonable, achievable goals. I know some will cling to the S.M.A.R.T. goal process, meaning goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. I agree with all of these except “achievable.” When we…
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