Have you ever walked into your office and been jumped by the bookkeeper? "What's this check for? I can't read your writing. And Jimmy hasn't filled out his time card all week." When you aren't in financial manager mode, these questions can feel like an ambush. Have you ever interrupted your bookkeeper with [...]
Years ago, as The Plumber's Wife, I jumped into the family business. I figured that my husband, Hotrod, would turn wrenches, I would answer the phone and pay bills, and we would get rich. Easy peasy, right? Wrong. We dug a deep hole of debt and struggled to make payroll. Of course, [...]
Sometimes, you need a little help. Suppose your accounting is a mess. Maybe you are behind on your taxes, or just always crunched for cash. If you could fix it all by yourself, wouldn't you have done that by now? You may need more information. You may need a renewed commitment to "get 'er done." And, [...]
Financial Statements – The UN-Complicated Version! When I first learned how to read and use financial reports, I would assemble the information to show my partner and husband, Hot Rod, how we were doing. I’d cover his desk with pages and pages of financial reports. His eyes would glaze over. One day he [...]
The end of the year approaches. Time to assess progress and get ready for a fresh start and new year. NOW is the time to clean up your accounting messes. Like being physically fit, fiscal fitness requires a bit of focus and discipline. The numbers may not be way off. So you and [...]
Your accounting is like the back of the truck, or your top desk drawer. It can get messy. It takes discipline to get things cleaned up and keep them that way. And discipline makes all the difference to your success. So, let's get the financials tight and right by year end 2014. Here [...]
I’ve had about 100 jobs. Yet I can count on one hand the number of times I have shown up on my first day of work and known who my boss was and what my position in the company was. The Organizational Chart is a graphic description of those [...]
I’ve spent a lot of time over the last 20 years helping people clean up financial messes. The messy mess (the smelly smell for Sponge Bob fans) is payroll. Payroll entries are complicated. There is the expense to you and the cash requirements and the amount you withhold, then submit, for payroll taxes for you and [...]
My rookie year… Once upon a time, I quit my real job (restaurant manager – good salary, benefits and someone to cover for me when I wasn’t around) and went to work for my husband, Hot Rod, in his contracting company. It was the dumbest decision I have ever made. It was hell. I left [...]
The following story is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. If you think this story is about you…you are probably right. The Martyr and The Intimidator Leslie is the owner of a roofing company, a business she inherited from her father. Back in the day, her father managed a small crew [...]
