It's fantastic when you love what you do - it makes the work worthwhile! BUT - it's called "business" for a reason. You started your company to make MONEY. Sometimes we forget about that, or we put it to the side and assume it will take care of itself. But you have to pay close attention to your inc...

Did you know that a company can be profitable and STILL go out of business? Your company can look profitable “on paper” but not have enough actual cash to pay operating expenses like your, payroll lease, and utilities. Nothing kills a business faster than a lack of cash flow. In fact, it's the #1 re...

Even the most experienced business owners can get confused about two of the most important financial terms - markups and margins. It requires a much deeper dive into your company to get to the heart of each one, and why they are SO important. But having a strong understanding about how markups and m...

For most creatives, any topic that has to do with finances is NOT one they really want to talk about. But the accounting side of your business is where the money gets made. It's as critical to your company's success as your creativity is!! So, make THIS the day that you really buckle down and get yo...

The key to running a smooth - and less stressful!! - business is by having a full client pipeline! You want to be able to look ahead for the next 12-18 months and know that your income will be solid and you'll be busy. But this isn't a task that can just be reviewed and then checked off of a list. R...

Marketing should be one process in your business that NEVER stops. In fact, just about everything you do is marketing, from how your phone is answered to how you present yourself to a client. Of course the most important tools in your marketing kit are a fabulous website that represents your brand, ...

In a recent blog post, I talked about how you can get back in the driver's seat for your company. Too often in this business we feel out of control, and that keeps us from moving toward our goals with CONFIDENCE. If you're in that place now, where you need to reset everything and move forward, I've ...

Did you know that 43% of people stop working on their resolutions by the end of January?! It's true!! So have you already stopped working toward the goals you set for your business? If you have, you are definitely not alone. We tend to let other things get in the way, including just the day-to-day t...

There is nothing that makes a client crazier than finding out their project is going to be delayed...again. We've all had to deliver that bad news, and it is NOT fun. Not only can it create a domino effect with your OTHER projects, but having major delays can also mean a very unhappy customer. And s...

In business, there is only ONE way to "work smarter, not harder," and that is to systemize what you do most often. In other words, you want to create a streamlined process or plan that you follow every single time for your repeatable tasks. That helps you use YOUR time more efficiently, it helps you...

So many small businesses are started as a passion project - which is AWESOME! Of course you want to be fully committed and excited about what your company has to offer. But then, a few months into your new business, you realize that it IS a business! And it can start to seem very overwhelming becaus...

The first month of the year is a traditional time to organize your home. So why not make it the traditional time to organize your business? We spend a lot of time as CEOs thinking about projects, creativity, products, and marketing, and we often FORGET about the day-to-day office tasks that can real...