Shared Expertise & Insights

In today’s complex business landscape, companies face multifaceted financial challenges that demand both tactical accounting expertise and strategic business acumen. Engaging a full-service accounting firm that seamlessly integrates accounting and business strategy services can be a game-changer for businesses seeking to optimize their financial performance and drive sustainable growth.

First and foremost, a full-service accounting firm like ThinkCFO offers comprehensive accounting solutions that go beyond basic bookkeeping. From managing payroll, accounts payable, and receivables to preparing financial statements and ensuring compliance with tax regulations, these firms handle the day-to-day financial tasks with precision and efficiency. By outsourcing these functions to experts, businesses can free up valuable time and resources, allowing them to focus on core operations and strategic initiatives.

Moreover, what sets ThinkCFO apart is their ability to provide strategic business guidance and insights based on a deep understanding of their clients’ financial data. With access to real-time financial information and analysis, ThinkCFO can offer valuable strategic advice on budgeting, cash flow management, investment decisions, and growth strategies. Whether it’s identifying cost-saving opportunities, optimizing pricing strategies, or assessing the financial feasibility of expansion plans, their expertise can help businesses make informed decisions that drive profitability and long-term success.

Additionally, ThinkCFO acts as trusted advisors, offering proactive guidance and support tailored to their clients’ specific needs and goals. By taking a holistic approach to financial management, these firms can anticipate challenges, identify opportunities, and develop customized solutions to address their clients’ unique circumstances. Whether it’s navigating economic uncertainties, restructuring debt, or planning for succession, businesses can rely on their accounting firm to provide strategic guidance every step of the way.

Furthermore, the integration of accounting and business strategy services fosters collaboration and synergy between financial professionals and business leaders. By aligning financial goals with broader business objectives, these firms help create a unified vision for success and ensure that financial decisions support the company’s strategic direction. This alignment not only enhances financial performance but also strengthens organizational resilience and agility in the face of change.

In conclusion, the benefits of hiring a full-service accounting firm that provides both accounting and business strategy services are undeniable. From streamlining financial operations and ensuring compliance to offering strategic guidance and driving business growth, these firms play a critical role in maximizing business success. By leveraging their expertise and insights, businesses can navigate today’s complex financial landscape with confidence and achieve their long-term objectives.

For small business owners, key performance indicators (KPIs) serve as vital metrics to assess the health and success of their operations. Here are five key performance indicators that small business owners are often interested in tracking:

1. Revenue Growth: This KPI measures the rate at which a business’s revenue is increasing over time. It provides insight into the business’s ability to attract and retain customers, expand market share, and generate sustainable income.

2. Profit Margin: Profit margin is the ratio of a business’s net profit to its total revenue, expressed as a percentage. It indicates how efficiently a business is managing its expenses and generating profit from its operations. Small business owners closely monitor profit margins to ensure profitability and identify opportunities for cost optimization.

3. Cash Flow: Cash flow measures the movement of cash into and out of a business over a specific period. It reflects the liquidity and financial stability of a business and its ability to meet short-term obligations, such as paying bills, salaries, and suppliers. Small business owners prioritize maintaining positive cash flow to sustain operations and support growth initiatives.

4. Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC): CAC represents the average cost incurred by a business to acquire a new customer. It includes expenses related to marketing, sales, and customer acquisition activities. Small business owners track CAC to evaluate the effectiveness of their marketing and sales strategies, optimize resource allocation, and ensure a healthy return on investment (ROI) for customer acquisition efforts.

5. Customer Lifetime Value (CLV): CLV quantifies the total value a customer brings to a business over the entire duration of their relationship. It considers factors such as purchase frequency, average order value, and customer retention rate. Small business owners use CLV to identify their most valuable customers, prioritize customer retention efforts, and tailor marketing strategies to maximize long-term profitability.

By monitoring these key performance indicators, small business owners can gain valuable insights into their financial performance, make informed decisions, and drive sustainable growth and success.

Calculating the breakeven point helps businesses determine the level of sales needed to cover all fixed and variable costs, resulting in neither profit nor loss. Here’s how to calculate it:

Identify Fixed Costs: Fixed costs are expenses that remain constant regardless of the level of production or sales. Examples include rent, salaries, insurance premiums, and depreciation. Add up all fixed costs for a specific period (e.g., monthly or annually).

Determine Variable Costs per Unit: Variable costs are expenses that vary with the level of production or sales. Examples include raw materials, labor directly tied to production, and utilities. Determine the variable cost per unit produced or sold. This can be done by dividing total variable costs by the number of units produced or sold.

Calculate Contribution Margin per Unit: The contribution margin represents the amount of revenue left after covering variable costs and is used to cover fixed costs and generate profit. It’s calculated by subtracting variable costs per unit from the selling price per unit.

Contribution Margin per Unit = Selling Price per Unit – Variable Cost per Unit

Determine Breakeven Point in Units: To find the breakeven point in units, divide total fixed costs by the contribution margin per unit.

Breakeven Point (in Units) = Total Fixed Costs / Contribution Margin per Unit

Calculate Breakeven Point in Sales Dollars: Multiply the breakeven point in units by the selling price per unit to find the breakeven point in sales dollars.

Breakeven Point (in Sales Dollars) = Breakeven Point (in Units) × Selling Price per Unit

Once you have determined the breakeven point, you can use this information to set sales targets, evaluate pricing strategies, and make informed decisions about production and operating costs. Regularly monitoring your actual sales against the breakeven point can help you assess your business’s financial health and make adjustments as needed.

Small businesses are usually founded by entrepreneurs who have a unique vision and a passion that drives them to work late hours, take chances and believe in what they’re doing. You can be driven, impassioned and have a great idea to fill a niche or serve customers in new ways, but if you don’t attend to the details of the business, like cash flow, you can create a heap of problems for yourself.

No matter where you are in your business, keep these things top of mind:

1. Know when you will break even
The question, “When do I start to turn a profit?” is at the front of every small business owner’s mind. Rather than wonder, set a realistic goal for when you want to break even. This will help you to focus your efforts and provide a numerical benchmark for projecting your cash flow in the near future.

2. Put cash-flow management before profits
This might seem counterintuitive; after all, profits are how you survive. However, if you are not managing  your cash flow, you’ll run into problems that a profitable quarter might not be able to get you out of. Keep things organized and well managed so you can be ready for whatever success comes your way!

3. Secure credit ahead of time
Too often, small business owners wait until they need it to secure credit. This can cause a lot of unnecessary stress, or worse. Take a realistic look at the situation and plan. You might have sufficient cash reserves, but most small business owners should secure as much credit as possible. This is the best way to be prepared for the unexpected.

4. Use a dedicated software to manage your finances
Even if you’re running a small operation and you think that a simple spreadsheet will suffice, it won’t. Think bigger! Most accounting software that is available today allows you to both hone in on the details and look at the big picture of your finances. There are, of course, plenty of other advantages these programs offer, but above all, using a dedicated system to manage your cash flow will keep you organized and on top of your financial dealings and hence, your business.

5. Use a payroll service
It’s tempting to think that you can do payroll all on your own. However, many small business owners have found that having the professionals take care of collecting payroll taxes saves them an enormous amount of time, helps streamline their cash flow and is fully worth the cost.  

6. Accounts payable improvements
There is more than one way to save a dollar and there is more than one way to spend a dollar. Small business owners are always looking for ways to improve efficiencies and reduce costs. In addition to this, they should look at how they are paying their bills. Many credit cards have a cash-back bonus program. Even if you get just 1 percent cash back that could equate to as much as several thousand dollars a month, depending on the amount you spend. However, because credit cards tend to have a higher interest rate, you should only use them if you are sure you will be able to pay your balance off in full.

7. Schedule your payments
You don’t have to pay everything at once; in fact, you shouldn’t. This is not to say you should be delinquent on any payment; rather, to keep sufficient cash on hand, consider dividing your bills into three categories:

Category 1: Must pay — This includes payroll, taxes or rent, things that you must pay in order to keep operating.
Category 2: Important to pay — Sometimes utility bills and insurance payments have penalty-free grace periods, in which case, you might want to take advantage of this.
Category 3: Payment is flexible — Many vendors and suppliers are happy to work out a flexible payment plan. Be honest with them, keep communication open and pay at the agreed-upon time.

8. Keep up on cash coming in
Making sure you get paid is, of course, one of the most important parts of your business operations. The sooner you get paid, the sooner you can put money back into your business and grow. Therefore, it’s vital to send out your invoices in a timely manner and establish clear terms of payment ahead of time. Be sure to factor in the fact that people and other companies are often late with payments, so if you want to receive payment within a month, make your payment terms 14 days.

Business forecasting is a critical process that helps small businesses to plan and manage the company’s financial future. Forecasting enables small business owners to anticipate future trends, identify potential problems, and ultimately make informed decisions on how to allocate resources. Here are some steps that small businesses can take to develop an effective forecasting process:

Historical data: Gathering and analyzing past data is the initial step for forecasting. Users must identify the right historical data they need to collect that allows them to predict the future effectively.

Define goals: Small business owners need to define their goals for the forecast and use these goals to guide their analysis and decision-making. Defining precise goals helps users to make decisions that align with the overall mission of the business.

Select appropriate tools: Selecting the right forecasting tool depends on the type of data being analyzed and the overall size of the business. Excel is a good starting point to analyze and visualize data, but many more sophisticated tools are available that suit different types of businesses.

Integrate efficient processes: Incorporating predictions into a company’s planning and budgeting process can help small business owners prepare for future expenses and optimize profits.

Assess and adapt: Small business forecasting requires continuous assessment and adapting to changes in the business environment so that owners can analyze the plan and modify the strategy as necessary.

It is essential to keep in mind that forecasting is just one piece of the puzzle, and there are other factors, including market volatility, regulatory changes, emerging trends, that may impact future finances.

Running a small business successfully requires a solid financial plan. Budgeting and forecasting are vital components of this plan, helping you manage your finances, make informed decisions, and prepare for the future. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through the process of creating a budget and financial forecast for your small business.

Step 1: Set Your Financial Goals: Define your short-term & long-term financial objectives. Are you looking to increase revenue, reduce costs, or expand your business? Understanding your goals will guide your budget and forecast.

Step 2: Review Your Financial History: Analyze past financial statements, income, and expenses. This historical data will provide insights into your business’s financial performance and trends.

Step 3: Create a Sales Forecast: Estimate your expected sales revenues for the upcoming period. Be as realistic as possible and consider factors like market conditions, seasonality, and industry trends.

Step 4: Project Your Expenses: List all your anticipated expenses, including fixed costs (e.g., rent, utilities) and variable costs (e.g., materials, labor). Make sure to include any upcoming capital expenditures.

Step 5: Develop a Cash Flow Forecast: Create a cash flow projection to track the inflow and outflow of money. This will help you anticipate when you might face cash shortages and take preemptive measures.

Step 6: Build a Budget: Combine your sales forecast and expense projections to create a comprehensive budget. Ensure that your budget aligns with your financial goals.

Step 7: Monitor and Adjust: Regularly track your actual financial performance against your budget. If you notice deviations, make necessary adjustments to stay on course.

Step 8: Scenario Planning: Consider different scenarios, such as best-case and worst-case, to be prepared for unforeseen circumstances. This flexibility is especially valuable for small businesses.

Step 9: Seek Professional Advice: It’s often beneficial to consult with an accountant or financial advisor for expert insights and guidance in the budgeting and forecasting process.

Step 10: Use Technology:  Leverage accounting and financial software to streamline the budgeting and forecasting process. Many user-friendly tools are available for small businesses.

Step 11: Communicate with Your Team: Ensure that your team is aware of and aligned with the budget and financial goals. Encourage their input and cooperation in achieving these objectives.

Step 12: Review and Revise: Continuously revisit and update your budget and forecast. The business environment is dynamic, so your financial plans should adapt accordingly.

Budgeting and forecasting are essential for small business success. By following this step-by-step guide, you can develop a strong financial plan that helps you make informed decisions, manage resources effectively, and navigate your business toward your financial goals. Remember that consistency and adaptability are key to achieving long-term financial stability.

Small business owners often face various challenges when it comes to managing their finances, and accounting mistakes can have significant consequences. Here are some common accounting mistakes that small business owners may make:

Incomplete or Inaccurate Recordkeeping:

Failure to maintain accurate and up-to-date financial records can lead to a range of problems. Incomplete records make it difficult to track income, expenses, and overall financial health.

Mixing Personal and Business Finances:

Using the same bank account or credit card for personal and business expenses can create confusion and complicate financial management. It’s important to keep personal and business finances separate for clarity and easier tax preparation.

Not Reconciling Accounts Regularly:

Failing to reconcile bank statements with internal records can result in discrepancies and make it challenging to identify errors or fraudulent activities. Regular reconciliation helps ensure the accuracy of financial information.

Ignoring Cash Flow Management:

Poor cash flow management is a common issue. Small businesses may struggle with delayed payments, excessive spending, or insufficient reserves. Monitoring cash flow is crucial for maintaining day-to-day operations.

Lack of Budgeting:

Without a budget, it’s challenging to set financial goals and track performance against them. Small business owners should establish a budget to plan for expenses, allocate resources, and ensure financial stability.

Failure to Monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

Neglecting to track relevant financial KPIs can lead to missed opportunities and delayed responses to financial challenges. Key indicators might include gross profit margin, customer acquisition cost, and average revenue per customer.

Not Understanding Tax Obligations:

Small business owners may make errors related to tax obligations, such as not setting aside enough money for taxes, missing filing deadlines, or not taking advantage of available deductions. It’s essential to stay informed about tax regulations and seek professional advice.

Overlooking Depreciation:

Failing to account for depreciation of assets can distort financial statements and tax liabilities. Businesses should accurately record and calculate depreciation to reflect the true value of their assets over time.

Inadequate Backup and Security:

Insufficient data backup and security measures can result in the loss of financial records or expose sensitive information to security threats. Regularly back up financial data and implement security measures to protect against potential risks.

Not Seeking Professional Help When Needed:

Small business owners may try to handle all aspects of accounting on their own, leading to mistakes due to lack of expertise. It’s advisable to seek professional accounting assistance, especially for complex financial matters.

Avoiding these common accounting mistakes requires attention to detail, organization, and a commitment to staying informed about financial best practices. Seeking guidance from accounting professionals or using accounting software can also be beneficial for small business owners.

Pricing strategies are crucial for businesses to achieve their financial goals, position their products or services in the market, and respond to competitive dynamics. Different pricing strategies can be applied depending on the business’s objectives, target market, and the nature of the products or services. Here are some common pricing strategies:

Cost-Plus Pricing:

Description: Determine the cost of producing a product or service and add a markup to establish the selling price.
Use When: Useful for businesses with clear and easily calculable production costs.

Market-Oriented Pricing:

Description: Set prices based on market conditions, competitor pricing, and customer demand.
Use When: Effective when there is intense competition or when the business wants to align its prices with what the market will bear.

Penetration Pricing:

Description: Set a low initial price to gain a significant market share quickly.
Use When: Suitable for new products entering the market to attract price-sensitive customers and establish a foothold.

Skimming Pricing:

Description: Set a high initial price and gradually reduce it over time.
Use When: Appropriate for products with unique features or innovations, targeting early adopters willing to pay a premium.

Value-Based Pricing:

Description: Set prices based on the perceived value of the product or service to the customer.
Use When: Suitable for products or services where customers are willing to pay based on the perceived benefits or quality.

Dynamic Pricing:

Description: Adjust prices in real-time based on market conditions, demand, or other external factors.
Use When: Applicable in industries where pricing flexibility is essential, such as travel, hospitality, or e-commerce.

Bundle Pricing:

Description: Offer multiple products or services together at a reduced overall price compared to buying each item separately.
Use When: Effective for promoting related products, encouraging upselling, and offering perceived value to customers.

Freemium Pricing:

Description: Offer a basic version of a product or service for free and charge for premium features or additional functionality.
Use When: Common in software, apps, and online services to attract a large user base and monetize through premium offerings.

Geographic Pricing:

Description: Adjust prices based on the location of the customer, considering factors like shipping costs, taxes, and local market conditions.
Use When: Useful for businesses operating in diverse geographic regions with varying cost structures.

Psychological Pricing:

Description: Set prices to create a psychological impact on customers, such as using prices ending in .99 to suggest a lower cost.
Use When: Effective in retail and e-commerce to influence consumer perceptions of value.

It’s important for businesses to continually assess and adjust their pricing strategies based on changes in the market, customer behavior, and competitive landscape. A well-thought-out pricing strategy contributes significantly to a company’s overall success.

A small business treasury management strategy is essential for effectively managing a company’s cash flow, liquidity, and financial assets. While the specifics may vary based on the industry, size, and nature of the business, here’s a general outline for developing a treasury management strategy for a small business:

1) Assessment of Financial Position: Begin by understanding your company’s financial situation. Evaluate your current cash flow, assets, liabilities, and debt obligations.

2) Set Clear Objectives: Define specific objectives for your treasury management, such as optimizing liquidity, reducing risk, and maximizing returns on surplus funds.

3) Cash Flow Forecasting: Regularly forecast your cash flows to ensure you have enough cash on hand to cover operational expenses and invest surplus funds efficiently.

4) Bank Relationships: Evaluate your existing banking relationships and explore opportunities for cost savings, better services, and improved terms. Consider negotiating fees and charges.

5) Working Capital Management: Efficiently manage your working capital by monitoring accounts receivable, accounts payable, and inventory. Implement policies to optimize cash conversion cycles.

6) Risk Management: Identify and assess financial risks that your business may face, including interest rate risk, currency risk, and credit risk. Develop strategies to mitigate these risks.

7) Investment Policies: If your business has surplus cash, establish investment policies that dictate where and how to invest excess funds, considering risk tolerance and liquidity needs.

8) Debt Management: If you have debt obligations, create a strategy for managing and servicing debt efficiently. Explore opportunities for refinancing if it can reduce costs.

9) Regular Review and Reporting: Continuously monitor your treasury management practices and periodically review the effectiveness of your strategy. Generate financial reports to track performance against objectives.

10) Contingency Planning: Develop a contingency plan for unexpected financial disruptions, such as economic downturns or emergencies that could impact your cash flow.

A well-thought-out treasury management strategy can help your small business maintain financial stability, make informed financial decisions, and improve overall financial performance. Remember that this strategy should be periodically reviewed and adjusted to accommodate changes in your business’s financial situation and market conditions.

Evaluating a business’s performance using financial statements is a fundamental practice for assessing its financial health and making informed decisions. The primary financial statements used for this purpose are the Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement. Here’s how you can use these statements to evaluate business performance:

1. Income Statement (Profit and Loss Statement):

The income statement provides a summary of a company’s revenues, expenses, and profit or loss over a specific period, typically a month, quarter, or year. Here’s how to use it:

• Revenue Analysis: Examine the revenue sources and trends. Are revenues increasing or decreasing over time? Identify the key revenue drivers.

• Gross Profit Margin: Calculate the gross profit margin (gross profit divided by revenue) to assess the profitability of the core business operations. Is the gross profit margin stable or improving?

• Operating Expenses: Analyze operating expenses. Are they under control, or are they rising faster than revenue, potentially impacting profitability?

• Net Profit: Review the net profit (or loss) to assess the overall profitability of the business. Consider whether the net profit is in line with industry benchmarks or business goals.

• Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT): EBIT is a measure of operating performance before interest and taxes. It helps evaluate the core profitability of the business.

2. Balance Sheet:

The balance sheet provides a snapshot of a company’s financial position at a specific point in time. It consists of assets, liabilities, and equity. Here’s how to use it:

• Liquidity: Assess the company’s liquidity by examining the current assets (e.g., cash, accounts receivable) and comparing them to current liabilities (e.g., accounts payable, short-term debt). A strong current ratio (current assets/current liabilities) indicates good short-term liquidity.

• Debt and Leverage: Review the company’s long-term debt and equity to evaluate its financial leverage. A high level of debt might indicate higher financial risk.

• Assets’ Quality: Analyze the composition of assets. Are there substantial non-current or illiquid assets? Are current assets sufficient to cover short-term obligations?

• Return on Equity (ROE): Calculate the ROE (net income divided by shareholders’ equity) to measure the return generated on shareholders’ investments.

3. Cash Flow Statement:

The cash flow statement provides insights into how cash is generated and used in the business. It consists of three sections: operating, investing, and financing activities.

• Operating Cash Flow: Analyze the cash generated or used by the core operations of the business. Positive operating cash flow is generally a positive sign.

• Investing and Financing Activities: Examine the cash flows related to investing (e.g., capital expenditures) and financing (e.g., loans or equity financing). These can reveal the business’s investment and financing decisions.

4. Ratio Analysis:

In addition to the financial statements, use financial ratios to gain deeper insights into business performance. Key ratios include:

• Profitability Ratios: Examples include the gross profit margin, net profit margin, and return on assets (ROA).

• Liquidity Ratios: Include the current ratio and quick ratio, which assess the company’s ability to cover short-term obligations.

• Solvency Ratios: Include the debt-to-equity ratio and interest coverage ratio to assess financial stability.

• Efficiency Ratios: Include inventory turnover and accounts receivable turnover to gauge operational efficiency.

• Market Ratios: For publicly traded companies, analyze ratios such as the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio and earnings per share (EPS).

Remember that financial analysis is most effective when conducted over multiple periods, allowing you to identify trends and anomalies. Comparing your financial ratios to industry benchmarks and competitors can provide additional context. Additionally, consider the broader economic and industry factors that may impact business performance.