Why the Last Quarter Separates Franchise Owners Who Planned From Those Who Didn’t

Q4 doesn’t create financial habits for franchise owners. It reveals them. This blog walks through why the last quarter separates the franchise owners who planned from the ones who didn’t, covering how habits either hold or fall apart when the pace increases across multiple locations, why cash flow management is a year-round discipline that gets tested hardest in Q4, how decision making on hiring, expansion, and pricing is only as good as the data behind it, and why year end planning only works if it happens before year end. The core message is that the franchise owners who finish the year strong built the right habits early enough that Q4 felt like a payoff rather than a fire drill.

The Year End Financial Checklist Every Franchise Owner Needs Right Now

The franchise owners who close out the year strong don’t do it by scrambling in December. They do it by being deliberate in October and November while there’s still time to change outcomes. This blog walks through the year end financial checklist every franchise owner should be working through right now, covering getting books current before November, reviewing each location’s performance separately, knowing your tax position before December, settling outstanding receivables, confirming royalty and fee obligations are clean, and setting clear financial goals for 2027 before January arrives.

How to Set Financial Boundaries With Clients That Actually Protect Your Business

Most small business owners have payment terms, a late fee policy, and some version of a scope agreement. What most don’t have is the habit of enforcing any of it. This blog walks through what financial boundaries actually look like in practice, from payment terms that get held not just written down, to catching scope creep before it becomes a pattern, why deposits protect both sides of a client relationship, what a collections process that actually works looks like, and what it means when a client pushes back on reasonable terms. Financial boundaries aren’t about being difficult. They’re what make a business sustainable enough to grow.

Bookkeeping Firms Don't Have a Tool Problem. They Have a Too Many Tools Problem.

Financial Cents surveyed 261 bookkeeping firms and the clearest thing that came back was that firms don't want more tools. They want fewer. This blog breaks down what the 2026 Tech Stack Report actually found, what tool sprawl is costing firms in real and specific terms, why most AI products are pointing at the wrong problem, and what Decimal is building to address everything that happens around the books, not just in them.

Is Your Small Business Ready for Its First Hire: Here Is How to Tell

Hiring a first employee is one of the most significant decisions a small business owner makes and affordability is only part of the equation. This blog walks through the five questions every owner should be able to answer before making the hire, covering whether revenue is consistent enough to sustain a salary through slow periods, whether the workload genuinely requires more capacity, whether cash flow holds up under a stress test, whether the compliance infrastructure is ready, and whether the role is specific enough to set the hire up for success. The core message is that good timing on a first hire isn't just about being able to afford it. It's about being ready for everything that comes with it.

The Case for Owning a Decimal Franchise Over Starting Your Own Accounting Firm

Starting an accounting firm from scratch is a legitimate path but the honest conversation about what it actually requires, years of infrastructure building, brand development, and costly wrong turns, doesn't get had often enough. This blog makes the case for the Decimal franchise model as a smarter alternative, covering what independent firm founders actually spend their first years doing, what a Decimal franchise starts with instead, the specific market it was built to serve, the trade-offs worth understanding going in, and who the model is actually the right fit for. The tone is honest rather than promotional, written for someone seriously weighing their options.

What to Bring to Your Year End Meeting With Your Accountant and Why It Matters

Most small business owners show up to their year end accountant meeting underprepared and walk out having had a compliance conversation when they could have had a strategic one. This blog breaks down exactly what to bring to make the meeting genuinely useful, covering current financial statements, a summary of major financial events during the year, outstanding receivables and payables, decisions coming up in the next 12 months, questions that have been sitting unanswered all year, and a clear sense of goals for the year ahead. The core message is that the difference between a productive year end meeting and a forgettable one is almost entirely in how prepared you walk in.

The Financial Habits That Separate Small Businesses That Grow From Ones That Struggle

The difference between a small business that feels financially stable and one that's always catching up almost never comes down to luck. This blog breaks down the financial habits that separate businesses that grow from ones that struggle, covering knowing your numbers without having to dig for them, keeping personal and business finances completely separate, reviewing financials on a set schedule, staying current on bookkeeping, planning for taxes throughout the year, maintaining a cash reserve, and having the right support in place. The core message is that the gap between thriving and struggling financially is almost always a habits gap, and habits are buildable.

The First 90 Days: What Every New Franchise Owner Should Be Doing Financially

The first 90 days of franchise ownership are intense and financial management often gets deprioritized in the middle of everything else. This blog walks new franchise owners through what actually needs to happen financially in that opening period, covering getting the right infrastructure in place in week one, tracking every transaction from day one, building a complete picture of opening costs, watching cash flow weekly while revenue is still ramping, understanding unit economics by day 60, and having a proper financial review with an accountant before the 90 days are up. The core message is that the financial habits built in the first 90 days set the tone for how well the business gets managed for years to come.

Q3 Estimated Taxes: How to Stop Getting Caught Off Guard Every Single Quarter

September 15 arrives on the same date every year and still manages to catch small business owners off guard. This blog breaks down why estimated taxes keep sneaking up on people, what you're actually required to pay and how to calculate it, and the simple system that eliminates the scramble for good, covering a tax savings account funded as revenue comes in, monthly book reconciliation, quarterly tax estimates done four weeks before each deadline, and working with an accountant before the deadline rather than after. The core message is that estimated taxes stop feeling like a surprise bill the moment you build a system simple enough to actually follow.

How to Read Your Q3 Results and Know Where Your Year Is Heading

Nine months of data tells a clear story about where the year is heading but most business owners don't fully extract what their Q3 numbers are actually saying before walking into Q4. This blog walks through how to read Q3 results properly, from doing the math on what Q4 needs to deliver, reading the trend across all three quarters, digging into what actually drove performance, checking cash against what Q4 will cost, and turning the analysis into a specific plan rather than a general intention to finish strong.

The Signs Your Accounting Firm Is Ready for More Clients and the Signs It Isn't

Growth is the goal for most accounting firms but taking on more clients before the firm is actually ready to serve them well is one of the fastest ways to damage what's been built. This blog lays out the clear signals that a firm is ready to grow its client base and the equally clear signals that the internal work needs to happen first, covering client service quality, team capacity, process consistency, technology adoption, service clarity, and leadership depth. The core message is that sustainable growth starts with an honest assessment of where the firm actually is, not where it wants to be.

September Is the Wake Up Call Most Small Business Owners Are Not Ready For

September has a way of making the financial reality of the year impossible to ignore, and for a lot of small business owners that moment of clarity is uncomfortable. This blog breaks down what September is actually telling business owners, from eight months of data that paint a pretty clear picture of how the year will end, to Q3 estimated taxes due on the 15th, Q4 preparation that should already be underway, and the deferred decisions that are running out of runway. The core message is that September doesn't require panic but it does require attention, and the owners who finish the year strong are the ones who paid attention when it arrived.

Why Every Franchise Owner Needs a Financial Dashboard and How to Build One

A financial dashboard gives franchise owners the real-time visibility they need to catch problems before they become serious, but most owners are running without one. This blog explains why franchise businesses need a dashboard more than most, what metrics actually belong in it including revenue by location, gross margin, cash position, royalty obligations, receivables aging, and payroll as a percentage of revenue, and how to build one without expensive software. It also highlights how Decimal's franchise accounting services provide the clean, current books and consolidated reporting that make a dashboard genuinely useful rather than just decorative.

Why Separating Personal and Business Finances Is Non-Negotiable for Small Business Owners

Most small business owners know they should separate personal and business finances and a surprising number still don't, at least not fully. This blog breaks down what mixing actually looks like in practice, what it costs in terms of financial clarity, tax complications, lending credibility, and liability protection, what proper separation actually requires, how to fix it if it's already a problem, and why it matters more as the business grows. The core message is that clean financial separation isn't glamorous but almost everything else about managing business finances well depends on it.

Is Your Accounting Firm Ready for What Comes Next: The Operational Maturity Checklist

Feeling like a firm is running well and actually being built for what comes next are two different things. This blog presents a practical operational maturity checklist for accounting firm leaders across six dimensions: process and standardization, technology and integration, people and capacity, client relationships and retention, financial visibility and KPIs, and leadership depth. The core message is that operational maturity isn't about whether the firm is doing fine right now but whether it's built to handle growth, competition, and market pressure without the cracks showing.

How to Protect Your Business During the End of Summer Slowdown

The end of summer slowdown is predictable for many small businesses but that doesn't mean it has to be painful. This blog walks through how to protect the business during the quieter weeks of late August, covering how to confirm whether a slowdown actually applies to your specific business, tightening receivables before it hits, reviewing fixed costs against projected revenue, using the slower pace productively to catch up on work that matters, and building the pipeline for a strong September. The core message is that the businesses that dread this time of year are the ones that didn't see it coming.

What Your Business Credit Score Is Telling Lenders and Why Small Business Owners Should Care

Most small business owners know their personal credit score matters but pay far less attention to their business credit score, and that gap tends to surface at the worst possible moment. This blog breaks down what a business credit score actually measures, why it affects far more than just loan applications including vendor terms, insurance premiums, and lease approvals, the common habits that quietly damage it, how to build and protect it intentionally, and what a strong profile actually opens up for a business. The core message is that business credit is worth actively managing, not just thinking about when you need it.

The Royalty and Fee Mistakes Franchise Owners Make and How to Avoid Them

Royalties and fees are a permanent feature of franchise ownership but a lot of franchise owners don't fully understand how they work until the obligations are already creating cash flow stress. This blog covers the most common mistakes franchise owners make around their fee obligations, from underestimating the cumulative weight of all fees combined to miscalculating royalties on gross revenue, missing payment deadlines, failing to track fee categories separately, and not planning for increases that were always contractually permitted. The core message is that managing fees well is a habit built from day one, not something to figure out after the fact.

Are You Charging Enough: How Small Business Owners Can Evaluate Their Pricing

Most small business owners set their prices early and rarely revisit them, even as costs quietly rise and margins compress. This blog walks through how to evaluate whether current pricing is actually working, covering gross margin trends as the clearest signal, what it means when clients say yes too easily, how to honestly compare against the market, how to calculate an effective hourly rate even without hourly pricing, and whether your best clients would actually leave if you raised prices. The core message is that pricing is one of the most powerful levers a small business owner has and most aren't pulling it nearly enough.

What to Do With Your Business Finances Right Now Before Summer Officially EndsS

The window between now and Labor Day is short but one of the most useful moments in the business calendar if you use it deliberately. This blog walks small business owners through the financial moves worth making before summer officially ends, covering getting books fully current before Q4 starts, running a quick cash flow check for the next 60 days, chasing outstanding invoices while clients are still reachable, reviewing year to date expenses for cost creep, setting specific Q4 financial priorities before the quarter arrives, and having the conversations that keep getting deferred. The core message is that the business owners who show up in September with a clear financial picture are the ones who finish the year strong.

How Accounting Firms Can Drive Real Growth by Adding Advisory Services

Compliance work built the accounting profession but it's becoming harder to grow on as automation compresses delivery time, competition compresses margins, and clients expect more. This blog makes the case for advisory services as the next real growth lever for accounting firms, covering what advisory work actually looks like in practice, why most firms struggle to make the shift despite knowing they should, what it actually takes to build it deliberately, and the compounding advantage that follows once the transition is made. The core message is that the window to make this shift is open right now and the firms moving into advisory today are building advantages that will be significantly harder to build later.

End of Summer Expense Audit: What Every Small Business Owner Should Be Doing Right Now

The end of summer is one of the best windows in the calendar to audit business expenses before Q4 arrives. This blog walks small business owners through exactly how to do it, starting with recurring costs where unnoticed spending tends to hide, moving through major variable cost categories, flagging expenses that haven't delivered a return, identifying what Q4 will actually require, and turning the findings into a concrete action list. The core message is that businesses that manage expenses well don't do it by being frugal, they do it by being intentional.

What Back to School Season Really Means for Small Business Owners and Their Finances

Back to school season affects small business finances in ways that go well beyond retail. This blog breaks down what the season actually means for cash flow across different business types, from the broad consumer spending shift that softens demand in some categories to the peak periods it creates in others, the staffing transitions that complicate payroll planning, and the reactivation of B2B decision making that typically follows in September. The core message is that back to school season is a predictable pattern and the businesses that navigate it well are the ones that planned around it in August.

Why Multi Location Bookkeeping Is So Hard for Franchise Owners and How to Fix It

Multi location bookkeeping is one of the most common pain points for growing franchise owners and this blog explains exactly why. It covers how the single location playbook breaks down as you scale, the most frequent mistakes multi location owners make including mixed transactions, inadequate chart of accounts setup, falling behind on reconciliation, and over-relying on one person, and what actually works including separate books per location, consolidated reporting, consistent close processes, and the right support structure. The core message is that clean multi location books aren't just a bookkeeping goal, they're what makes franchise growth actually manageable.

How to Use August to Set Your Business Up for a Strong Q4

Q4 arrives faster than most business owners expect and the ones who navigate it well started preparing in August. This blog walks through exactly how to use August to set up a strong Q4, covering how to get an honest read on year to date performance, setting specific Q4 targets, getting books current before the quarter starts, planning around the predictable cash flow pressure points of Q4, reviewing pricing before year end conversations happen, and making the operational fixes that keep getting pushed. The core message is that Q4 rewards preparation and August is the starting point.

Compliance vs Growth: What Separates a Basic Accounting Firm From a Strategic One

Not every accounting firm that claims to be strategic actually is. This blog breaks down the real difference between a compliance-first firm and a growth-oriented one, covering what each model looks like in practice, the structural differences that make advisory work possible or impossible, what to ask to figure out which kind of firm you're currently working with, and why the distinction matters more as a business scales. The core message is that compliance is necessary but it's not enough for businesses that are actively growing or navigating complexity.

Is a Decimal Franchise the Right Business Opportunity for You

This blog makes the case for the Decimal franchise opportunity by being honest about what it actually is and who it's for. It covers what franchisees are buying into, from the training and operational infrastructure to the back-office support and supplier network, the market they'd be serving and why demand is consistent, the profile of someone who would thrive in the model, and what the real commitments and accountability look like. The tone is straightforward rather than promotional, written for someone seriously evaluating a business opportunity rather than someone who needs to be sold to.

Small Business Margins Are Under Pressure: Here Is How to Protect Yours

Rising costs are squeezing small business margins across almost every category and a lot of owners are feeling it without fully understanding where it's coming from. This blog walks through how to actually protect margins under pressure, covering how to get a clear read on where margins stand today, how to audit costs line by line, how to approach pricing that hasn't kept up with cost reality, where internal inefficiencies are quietly costing margin, and how to cut strategically without damaging what's working. The core message is that margin protection isn't a one-time fix but an ongoing discipline.

Why Your Balance Sheet Looks Healthy But Your Business Feels Broke

A healthy balance sheet and a cash-stressed business are not mutually exclusive, and this blog explains exactly why. It covers why assets on a balance sheet are not always liquid, how profitability and cash availability operate on different timelines, why equity does not equal spending power, and what to look at instead when the numbers look fine but the business feels broke. The core message is that the balance sheet is one lens, not the whole picture, and cash flow is what determines how the business actually feels to run.

The Financial Checklist Every New Franchise Owner Needs Before Opening Day

Opening a franchise comes with a proven model and brand support, but the financial infrastructure has to be built from scratch before day one. This blog walks new franchise owners through the complete financial checklist they need before opening, covering dedicated business banking, a franchise-ready chart of accounts, a bookkeeping system that's running before the doors open, a full accounting of startup costs, a conservative six-month operating budget, payroll setup, a tax calendar, and the right accounting partner. The core message is that the franchise owners who hit their stride fastest are the ones who treated the financial setup as seriously as the physical buildout.

The Mid-Year Cash Flow Check Every Small Business Owner Should Run Before August

July is the ideal window to run a mid-year cash flow check before the second half demands arrive. This blog walks small business owners through exactly how to do it: assessing where their cash position actually stands, tightening up accounts receivable before summer makes collections harder, mapping out known expenses through December, identifying the biggest cash flow risks for the second half, and turning what they find into a short list of specific actions before August. The core message is that small adjustments made in July compound positively by December.

Busy Is Not the Same as Growing: What Accounting Firm Leaders Need to Measure

Busy and growing are not the same thing, and a lot of accounting firm leaders are confusing the two. This blog breaks down the metrics that actually tell the story: revenue growth without margin growth as an early warning sign, client retention alongside new client numbers, staff turnover as a hidden tax on growth, capacity utilization as a health check, and realization rate as a signal of whether pricing is actually working. The core message is that real growth is revenue going up alongside the numbers that make it sustainable.

What Your Books Need to Look Like Before You Expand Your Franchise

Opening a second franchise location is a different category of financial complexity than running one. This blog walks franchise owners through what their books need to look like before they expand, covering why the first location's financials need to be spotless, why understanding unit economics is non-negotiable before replicating a model, how to stress test your cash position against a slower than expected ramp-up, why separate books for each location matter from day one, and how to make sure your reporting setup can actually handle multi-location visibility. The core message is that the financial habits that were good enough for one location may not be built for two.

Why Your Business Instincts Are Not Enough Without Real Financial Data Behind Them

Good instincts matter in business, but instinct applied to incomplete information is still incomplete. This blog breaks down why so many small business owners end up making decisions without real financial data, what running on gut feel actually looks like day to day, and what changes when accurate and current financials are actually in place. The core message is that good financial data doesn't replace an owner's instincts. It gives them something real to work with.

How to Turn Your Q1 and Q2 Financial Data Into a Second Half Game Plan

Your Q1 and Q2 numbers are more than a report card. This blog walks small business owners through how to actually use first half financial data to plan a stronger second half, covering how to get an honest read on performance, identify what's working and double down on it, make the calls on what isn't, build a realistic second half forecast, set specific targets for Q3 and Q4, and stay close to the numbers all the way through to December.

What AI Is Actually Being Used For in Accounting Firms Right Now

The AI conversation in accounting tends to stay abstract. This blog brings it down to earth, covering what firms are actually using AI for right now: transaction review and anomaly detection, document summarization and extraction, draft client communications, and categorization assistance. It also addresses where AI still falls short and why the firms getting the most out of it are the ones using it to reduce time on low-judgment work so their people can focus on the work that actually requires expertise.

Half the Year Is Gone: Here Is What Your Business Numbers Should Look Like Right Now

The mid-year mark is one of the most actionable moments in the business calendar. This blog walks small business owners through the five things worth reviewing right now: revenue pace against goals, margin trends compared to last year, cash position heading into the second half, accounts receivable health, and a honest forward look at what the next six months actually hold. The core message is that the owners who finish the year strong are the ones who paid attention at the halfway point.

Inside a Modern Accounting Firm: How the Best Ones Operate Day to Day

The term "modern accounting firm" gets used a lot, but this blog gets specific about what it actually means operationally. It covers how leading firms have shifted from billable hours to value-based pricing, built technology into their core infrastructure, integrated AI into everyday workflows, moved from reactive to proactive client relationships, and structured their teams with clear roles and real development paths. The throughline is that a modern firm isn't defined by any single change but by how all of these pieces work together.

Profit and Loss Statements Explained: What Every Business Owner Should Know

A profit and loss statement is one of the most useful tools a small business owner has, but most owners never learn how to read it properly. This blog breaks down the structure of a P&L from revenue to net income, explains what each section means, and walks owners through what to actually look for when reviewing it. The goal is to help business owners move from passively receiving their financials to actively using them to make better decisions.

Your Balance Sheet Is Trying to Tell You Something: Are You Listening?

Most small business owners pay attention to their P&L and largely ignore their balance sheet. This blog makes the case for why that's a mistake. It breaks down what the balance sheet actually shows, walks through what each section reveals about assets, liabilities, and equity, and explains the specific questions a balance sheet can answer that a P&L simply can't. The core message is that a business can be profitable and financially fragile at the same time, and the balance sheet is where that fragility shows up first.

How to Tell If Your Business Is Actually Financially Healthy

Financial health isn't just about revenue or profit, it's a combination of indicators that together show whether a business is stable, sustainable, and ready to grow. This blog walks small business owners through the key signs of a financially healthy business, covering cash flow consistency, margin trends, cash reserves, receivables management, debt levels, and whether the owner actually understands their own numbers.

What Your Business Financials Need to Look Like Before You Apply for Credit

Getting approved for a business loan or line of credit has as much to do with preparation as it does with the strength of the business itself. This blog walks small business owners through what lenders actually look at, from clean and current books to cash flow history, personal and business credit, and how to frame a specific and credible ask. The core message is that the best time to prepare for financing is long before you actually need it.

Post-Tax Strategy: How to Use Your Numbers to Grow Your Business

Tax season provides a clear, organized view of your business’s financial performance. This blog explains how to use that information to drive growth by identifying profit drivers, spotting patterns, and making targeted adjustments. By maintaining financial discipline and aligning your numbers with your goals, you can turn tax insights into better decisions throughout the year.

How to Set Up an Accounting System That Supports Business Growth

As businesses grow, their accounting systems need to evolve with them. This guide explains how to build a scalable accounting system by strengthening fundamentals, standardizing processes, integrating tools, and improving reporting. A well-structured system reduces manual work, supports better decisions, and keeps financial operations aligned with growth.

How to Gain Clear Financial Visibility for Better Business Decisions

Financial visibility isn’t about having more data. It’s about having clear, accurate, and timely information you can actually use. This guide explains how to improve visibility by keeping books up to date, focusing on key metrics, reducing reporting delays, and building consistent review habits. With better visibility, businesses can make faster, more confident decisions.

How to Create a Quarterly Budget That Actually Works

A quarterly budget should reflect how your business actually operates — not outdated assumptions. This guide explains how to build a budget that works by using real performance data, separating fixed and variable costs, planning around cash flow, and focusing on high-impact spending. A flexible, simple approach makes budgeting more useful and easier to maintain throughout the quarter.

Where to Focus Financially in Q2 for Better Business Performance

Q2 is the time to shift from observation to action. After reviewing Q1 performance, businesses can improve results by focusing on cash flow visibility, refining expenses, stabilizing revenue, and improving financial reporting. This guide highlights where to focus in Q2 to make more intentional, data-driven decisions and strengthen overall business performance.

Q2 Planning Guide: What Your Q1 Numbers Are Telling You

Q1 provides real financial data that can guide smarter decisions for the rest of the year. This blog explains how to use your Q1 performance to plan for Q2 — from identifying revenue patterns and expense drift to improving cash flow and fixing operational bottlenecks. Small, targeted adjustments now can lead to stronger financial control and better outcomes in the months ahead.

Final Tax Review Guide: How to Avoid Filing Mistakes Before the Deadline

Last-minute tax filing errors are often caused by small oversights — mismatched reports, missing income, miscategorized expenses, or duplicate transactions. This guide walks through what to review before submitting your business tax return so you can avoid corrections, penalties, and unnecessary stress.

Business Tax Extension Guide: What to Do If You Can't File on Time

Not being ready to file your business taxes isn’t uncommon — but what you do next matters. This guide explains how tax extensions work, why you still need to estimate and pay on time, and how to use the extra time to clean up your books and file accurately. Taking the right steps early helps you stay compliant and avoid unnecessary penalties.

Small Business Tax Filing Checklist: What to Do Before the Deadline

Filing business taxes at the last minute doesn’t have to mean chaos. This checklist walks through the key steps small business owners should complete before the deadline — from updating books and reconciling accounts to reviewing income, expenses, and financial reports. A focused final review helps ensure accuracy, reduce errors, and make tax filing smoother.

Last-Minute Tax Review: What Every Business Should Double-Check

Before submitting your business tax return, a final review can prevent costly mistakes and unnecessary stress. This guide outlines the key areas to double-check — including financial reports, income accuracy, expense categorization, contractor and payroll data, and supporting documentation — so you can file with confidence and avoid corrections later.

CPA-Ready Financial Reports: What Small Businesses Should Prepare

Preparing CPA-ready financial reports can make tax season faster, smoother, and far less stressful. This guide explains the key reports small businesses should prepare before sending information to their accountant — including the profit and loss statement, balance sheet, and general ledger. Clean, accurate reports help your CPA focus on tax strategy instead of fixing bookkeeping issues.

How to Clean Up Your Accounting Records Before Your CPA Needs Them

Tax season stress often comes from messy bookkeeping, not filing itself. This guide explains how to clean up your accounting records before your CPA needs them — from reconciling accounts and fixing uncategorized transactions to organizing documentation and reviewing outstanding invoices. A proactive cleanup now makes tax prep smoother, faster, and far less stressful.

Behind on Bookkeeping? What to Correct Before Filing Business Taxes

Falling behind on bookkeeping before tax deadlines can create unnecessary stress — and costly mistakes. This guide outlines the key corrections to prioritize before filing business taxes, from reconciling accounts and fixing miscoded transactions to reviewing contractor payments and generating clean financial reports. A focused cleanup now can make tax season smoother and more accurate.

The February Finance Reset: What to Check After January Close

February is the perfect time to review your January month-end close and set your business up for a strong Q1. This guide breaks down what to check after closing January books — from reconciliations and cash flow to spending patterns, outstanding invoices, budgeting adjustments, and early tax prep. A simple February finance reset can help small businesses stay organized, proactive, and financially clear all year long.

Late Invoices, Lost Receipts? Get Back on Track Fast

Late invoices and missing receipts don’t just create admin mess — they slow cash flow and make your books harder to trust. This guide shows how to reset fast by getting invoices out on time, centralizing receipts, catching up with a simple triage approach, and building a lightweight weekly routine so you stay on track going forward.

Vendor Spend Review: A Practical Guide to Cutting Costs and Protecting Margins

Vendor costs tend to grow quietly—through unused tools, overlapping software, and services that no longer deliver real value. This guide walks through how to review vendor spend intentionally, identify hidden waste, and make smart keep/change/cut decisions that protect margins without disrupting operations.

Why You Shouldn’t Push Bookkeeping Into Q1

Pushing bookkeeping into Q1 might feel harmless, but it usually creates bigger problems: unclear financials, a rushed tax season, harder-to-fix errors, and a slower start to the new year. This blog explains why staying on top of your books before year-end protects your cash flow, supports smarter planning, and helps you enter Q1 with clarity and momentum.

Accounting Nightmares: The Small Business Mistakes That Cost You Big

Even the smallest accounting mistakes can turn into big financial nightmares. This blog breaks down the most common (and costly) errors small businesses make — from mixing personal expenses to skipping reconciliations — and how to fix them before they spiral. Learn how to keep your books clean, your reports accurate, and your finances fear-free. 👻

How to Handle High-Volume Vendor Payments

As your business grows, so does your vendor list — and managing all those payments manually can quickly become overwhelming. This guide breaks down how to handle high-volume vendor payments efficiently, from centralizing data and automating tasks to setting smart approval workflows. Learn how to scale payments without sacrificing control or accuracy.

Year-End Financial Fraud: How to Spot It and Stop It Before It Costs You

Year-end is prime time for financial fraud — when distractions are high and oversight slips. This guide breaks down how to spot red flags early, tighten internal controls, and protect your business before small mistakes turn into costly losses.

How to Simplify Year-End Reporting (Without Losing Accuracy)

Year-end reporting doesn’t have to be a mad dash. This guide breaks down how to simplify the process without sacrificing accuracy — from cleaning your data and automating reports to focusing only on the metrics that truly matter. Learn how to turn your year-end reports into powerful tools for smarter decisions, not just paperwork.

Quarterly Close Checklist: Simple Habits to Keep Your Books Accurate All Year

Quarterly closes aren’t just about catching up — they’re about staying ahead. This guide outlines simple habits to make each quarter smoother, from reconciling accounts to reviewing key reports and cleaning up records. By treating every quarter like a mini year-end, you’ll keep your books accurate, your insights sharper, and your year-end stress-free.

Don’t Let the Holidays Break Your Budget: Q4 Cash Flow Forecasting Made Simple

The holidays bring excitement — and unpredictable cash flow. This blog walks through how to forecast your finances through Q4 so you can manage spending, plan for slower or busier weeks, and avoid year-end surprises. Learn how to stay in control of your money when the season (and spending) ramps up.

Stop Using Spreadsheets for Bill Pay (Seriously)

Still managing your bill pay in a spreadsheet? It’s time to move on. This post breaks down why spreadsheets create more chaos than clarity — from errors and wasted time to missing visibility — and how switching to an automated system can save your business time, money, and sanity.

How to Keep Business Spending Under Control During Busy Season

The busy season is when business thrives — but it’s also when spending can quietly spiral. This article breaks down how to keep costs under control without slowing growth. Learn how to prioritize essential spending, track expenses in real time, and build better financial habits that last long after the rush is over.

The Hidden Mess in Your Books: How to Fix Your Chart of Accounts Before Year-End

Your chart of accounts is the backbone of your bookkeeping — but if it’s cluttered or inconsistent, it can throw your entire financial system off track. This post breaks down how to identify the hidden mess in your accounts, simplify your structure, and build a chart that supports clarity, growth, and clean year-end reporting.

Year-End Financial Audits Made Simple: What to Do Before Auditors Arrive

A year-end financial audit doesn’t have to be stressful — it can actually strengthen your business. This guide walks through how to prepare your books, organize documentation, review internal controls, and align your team before auditors arrive. Learn how to turn your next audit from chaos into confidence.

New Fiscal Year, New Momentum: Smart Financial Moves to Start Strong

A new fiscal year isn’t just a fresh start — it’s a chance to build momentum. This article explores how business owners can transition smoothly into the new year by reflecting on last year’s performance, refreshing budgets, optimizing systems, and setting metrics that truly drive growth. Learn how to start the year smarter, not just busier.

How to Master Year-End Planning for Multi-Entity Businesses (Without Losing Your Sanity)

Managing multiple businesses at year-end can feel overwhelming. This article breaks down how to bring order to the complexity with centralized visibility, standardized reporting, and smart inter-company reconciliation. Learn how multi-entity businesses can close their books efficiently, plan taxes strategically, and step into the new year with clarity and control.

What to Do Now to Make Year-End Close Easier

The best way to make your year-end close easier? Don’t wait for December. This post breaks down what business owners can do right now to simplify their books, organize documentation, and plan ahead — turning what’s usually a stressful scramble into a smooth, confident close.

How Decimal Helps You Finish the Year Strong

Year-end doesn’t have to be chaotic. This blog explores how Decimal helps businesses stay organized, accurate, and stress-free through the close of the year — from maintaining clean books to preparing for tax season and planning ahead. Learn how a proactive approach can turn your year-end from overwhelm into confidence.

2025 1099 Filing

Stay compliant for 2025. We handle your 1099-NEC filing quickly and accurately so you can focus on your business.

Money in Motion: How to Master Cash Flow (Before It Masters You)

Cash flow is the heartbeat of your business — but even profitable companies can feel the pinch when money moves slower than expected. In this guide, we break down how to track, forecast, and optimize your cash flow so you can stay in control, anticipate challenges, and make smarter financial decisions before crunch time hits.

Don’t Get Spooked by Your Finances: October Tricks and Treats for Business Success

October is the perfect time to take the fear out of your finances. This blog breaks down five common “financial tricks” — from cash flow scares to tax-time surprises — and turns them into simple “treats” that help your business stay healthy, organized, and stress-free before year-end.

Year-End Close Without the Chaos: A Practical Guide for Business Owners

A chaotic year-end close doesn’t have to be part of your business routine. This guide walks you through five essential steps to wrap up your financial year smoothly — from reconciling accounts to cleaning up expenses and automating repetitive tasks. Learn how a little early action can turn year-end stress into structure and confidence.

Beyond the Books: How Financial Data Can Drive Better Business Decisions

Your financial data is more than just numbers — it’s insight. This blog breaks down how to go beyond bookkeeping basics and use your financial information to make smarter business decisions. From uncovering profit drivers to forecasting growth and setting measurable goals, discover how data-driven finance can transform how you plan, spend, and scale.

Don’t Wait for December: Year-End Accounting Tasks to Tackle Early

Don’t wait for the year-end rush! Get a head start on your accounting with this early-prep guide. From reconciling accounts and organizing receipts to reviewing payroll and financial performance, these proactive steps will save time, reduce stress, and set your business up for success before December hits. Learn how early action leads to cleaner books, smarter planning, and a smoother close — with help from Decimal.

Q4 Tax Prep Checklist: Year-End Moves Every Small Business Should Make

Q4 is the perfect time to get ahead of year-end tax prep. From cleaning up your books to maximizing deductions and planning contributions, small businesses that act early can reduce stress and save money. With the right checklist in place, you’ll avoid last-minute scrambling and enter the new year with confidence.

The Financial Impact of ASC 842: Lease Accounting Compliance for Growing Businesses

ASC 842, the lease accounting standard issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), significantly changed how businesses record and report leases. It requires organizations to move operating leases onto the balance sheet, shifting them from off-balance-sheet disclosures to formal accounting recognition. For growing businesses, adapting to this standard is more than a compliance task—it is a strategic adjustment that affects reporting, planning, and financial decision-making. Understanding the implications of ASC 842 and preparing your financial systems accordingly ensures that your business remains compliant and positioned for transparent financial reporting.

How to Make Your Financials Stand Out to Investors

Investors don’t just want to see growth—they want to see reliable, organized, and transparent financials. From clean books and consistent reporting to cash flow visibility and forecasting, your financial data tells the story of how your business operates and where it’s headed. Preparing the right way builds trust, speeds up decision-making, and positions your business for future opportunities.

Understanding Payroll Liabilities: A Guide for Accurate Compliance and Reporting

Payroll liabilities represent one of the most critical and complex areas of business accounting. When managed properly, they ensure compliance with tax regulations, protect employee trust, and support financial stability. When overlooked or mismanaged, they can lead to penalties, interest charges, and strained operations. For financial professionals and bookkeepers, understanding payroll liabilities and how to track, report, and remit them accurately is essential. This guide outlines what payroll liabilities are, how they affect business operations, and the best practices for managing them with consistency and precision.

Strategic Planning for 2026: Why Your Books Matter More Than You Think

As businesses prepare for 2026 strategic planning, clean financial books are essential. Accurate records provide the foundation for reliable forecasts, informed budgets, and smarter decisions. Clean books also improve cash flow visibility, build investor confidence, and reduce stress at the start of the new year. By reconciling accounts, fixing errors, and streamlining workflows ahead of planning season, small business owners can set goals on solid financial ground. With Decimal, teams can simplify bookkeeping and free up time to focus on strategy.

Inventory Accounting: Choosing the Right Method for Financial Accuracy

Inventory accounting plays a critical role in how a business measures profitability, values assets, and calculates taxable income. For companies that carry physical goods, selecting the right inventory accounting method ensures financial accuracy, compliance, and consistency across reporting periods. Each method has its advantages, and the right choice depends on your business model, industry, and tax strategy. Whether you operate in retail, manufacturing, or wholesale, understanding the mechanics and implications of inventory accounting helps you manage costs and support informed decision-making.

5 Tools Every Business Should Use for Smarter Forecasting

Better forecasting starts with better tools. From cloud accounting systems to cash flow apps and expense trackers, these five tools give business owners the clarity to project confidently, avoid surprises, and plan smarter. With the right setup, forecasting becomes a driver of growth—not a guessing game.

7 Key Metrics Every Business Should Track Before Year-End

Year-end success depends on tracking the right numbers. From cash flow and receivables to tax forecasts and runway, these seven metrics give business owners the clarity to finish strong and start the new year with confidence. Focusing on them now prevents last-minute surprises and supports smarter decisions moving forward.

Outsourced Accounting: When and Why It Makes Sense for Growing Businesses

As a business grows, so does the complexity of its financial operations. What starts as simple bookkeeping quickly expands into budgeting, financial reporting, tax strategy, compliance, and forecasting. At a certain point, internal resources may no longer be enough to keep pace with financial needs. That’s when many businesses begin to consider outsourced accounting. Outsourcing your accounting function is not just a cost-saving measure. It is a strategic decision that gives businesses access to deeper financial expertise, scalable systems, and real-time reporting. For founders, CFOs, and finance leaders, understanding when and why to outsource accounting is essential to long-term growth and sustainability.

The Importance of Clean Audit Trails in Bookkeeping and Financial Reporting

An audit trail serves as the backbone of transparent and accurate bookkeeping. It documents the who, what, when, and why behind every financial transaction. Without it, businesses face increased risk of errors, missed reporting deadlines, and failed audits. For financial experts and bookkeepers, maintaining a clean audit trail is not just a best practice—it is a necessity. As compliance requirements grow and data becomes more interconnected, companies must prioritize audit trail management to support financial integrity, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency. This guide outlines the purpose of audit trails, what they should include, and how to implement a structure that supports accurate and defensible financial records.

The Finance Strategy You Wish You’d Started Sooner

Delaying a finance strategy can hold your business back, leading to missed opportunities and unnecessary stress. By building one early—grounded in clean books, clear goals, and regular forecasting—you gain control, visibility, and confidence in every decision. A strong finance strategy isn’t just for later; it’s the foundation for growth from the start.

How Decimal Makes Budgeting Easier for Busy Teams

Navigating Accounting for SaaS Businesses: Revenue, Costs, and Compliance

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) companies face a unique accounting landscape. With recurring revenue, subscription billing, and multi-period contracts, these businesses must apply specialized accounting practices to ensure financial accuracy and regulatory compliance. For finance professionals and bookkeepers supporting SaaS companies, understanding how to treat revenue, capitalized development costs, and customer acquisition expenses is essential. The right accounting structure enables better forecasting, valuation, and strategic planning. This guide outlines the core principles and best practices for managing accounting in a SaaS environment.

Why Your Next Budget Should Start With Clean Books

A budget is only as strong as the data behind it. If your books are messy, your budget will be inaccurate and unreliable. Clean, accurate records provide the foundation for realistic projections, smarter decisions, and reduced financial stress. Before building your next budget, make sure your books are caught up, reconciled, and organized—so your numbers actually work for you.

Accounting for Deferred Revenue: A Practical Guide for Service-Based Businesses

Service-based businesses often collect payments before delivering the full scope of their services. These advance payments may represent monthly retainers, annual contracts, subscriptions, or deposits. While receiving cash upfront strengthens cash flow, it also introduces the need for accurate accounting treatment. This is where deferred revenue comes in. Deferred revenue, also known as unearned revenue, represents money a business has received but has not yet earned. Properly accounting for it is essential for accurate financial statements, tax compliance, and performance reporting. This guide explains how deferred revenue works, why it matters, and how to manage it effectively.

7 Common Small Business Budgeting Mistakes That Hurt Growth

Many small businesses undermine their growth potential by making avoidable budgeting mistakes. The most common include not budgeting at all, underestimating expenses, overestimating revenue, ignoring cash flow timing, mixing personal and business finances, failing to review the budget regularly, and skipping professional help. Correcting these errors provides financial clarity, prevents cash flow issues, and positions businesses for sustainable growth.

Leveraging AI and Advisory to Scale a Modern Accounting Firm

In this latest episode of After the First Million, I connected with Dan Gertrudes, Founder and CEO of GrowthLab. Dan’s journey into accounting wasn’t typical. In fact, he and I share something in common: we’re both not accountants running accounting companies. His story starts in corporate restructuring post-2008 and transitions into building one of the most innovative accounting and advisory firms in the country. What stands out is how Dan leaned into change, tech, and team building to scale GrowthLab into something truly future-facing. This episode wasn’t just about where Dan came from, it was about where the industry is going, and how firm owners can not only keep up, but lead the way.

Stop Guessing: How Accurate Financials Improve Business Decisions

Accurate financials are more than clean books—they’re the foundation of smarter, more confident decision-making. In this blog, we break down how reliable data improves cash flow management, enables realistic budgeting, supports growth decisions, builds investor trust, and reduces stress for business owners. We also share practical steps—like automation, standardization, and regular reconciliation—that help businesses achieve financial accuracy and control.

Understanding Use Tax: What Businesses Need to Know

Many businesses focus on sales tax compliance while overlooking a related obligation: use tax. Use tax applies when a business purchases taxable goods or services without paying sales tax and then uses, stores, or consumes those items in a state where it is registered. Failing to properly track and remit use tax can result in audits, penalties, and unexpected liabilities. Understanding how use tax works is essential for finance professionals and bookkeepers responsible for managing multi-jurisdictional purchases, vendor payments, or out-of-state transactions. This blog explains what use tax is, how it applies to businesses, and what you can do to ensure compliance.

Scaling an Accounting Firm with AI and Advisory Services with Dan Gertrudes

Forecasting Basics: Projecting Cash with Confidence

Cash flow forecasting is one of the most powerful tools small business owners can use to stay financially stable and make smarter decisions. This blog breaks down what cash flow forecasting is, why it matters, and how to do it effectively. From projecting inflows and outflows to updating forecasts regularly, we outline a simple playbook for building reliable projections. The result: better visibility, less stress, and the confidence to manage both short-term needs and long-term growth.

Navigating State Income Tax Compliance for Remote Teams

The shift to remote and hybrid work has brought greater flexibility to teams but also increased complexity for employers managing tax compliance. As employees work across multiple states, businesses face a growing set of obligations when it comes to withholding, reporting, and remitting state income taxes. What once was a straightforward payroll process can now require multi-jurisdictional coordination. Understanding how state tax laws apply to remote employees is essential to remain compliant, avoid penalties, and support proper tax planning. This blog outlines what finance professionals and bookkeepers need to know about managing state income tax compliance for remote teams.

7 Smarter Budgeting Strategies Every Business Should Use in 2026

As 2026 approaches, businesses need smarter budgeting strategies to stay competitive and financially resilient. This blog outlines practical steps like leveraging historical data, separating fixed and variable costs, aligning budgets with strategic goals, and automating financial tracking. It also highlights the importance of flexibility, accounting for new tax rules, and reviewing performance regularly. With the right approach, budgets become a tool for decision-making and growth, not just expense tracking.

Avoid Q4 Chaos: Clean Up Your Accounting Workflow Today

Q4 is the busiest time of the year—but it doesn’t have to be chaotic. This blog outlines six ways to clean up your accounting workflow now, from fixing bottlenecks and automating tasks to tightening your close and looping in your accountant early. Get your systems in shape before the pressure hits.

Optimizing Your Small Business Budget for 2025

As a small business owner, budgeting is one of the most powerful tools to ensure financial health and long-term success. While a budget may seem like a basic tool, it is the cornerstone of strategic decision-making, cash flow management, and business growth. With 2025 approaching, it’s time to refine your approach to budgeting to meet both short-term goals and long-term objectives. A well-constructed budget doesn’t just reflect past financials; it enables you to plan effectively, track progress, and pivot when necessary. Whether you’re planning for a period of growth or focusing on managing costs, optimizing your budget for the upcoming year can make a significant difference. This blog outlines practical strategies to optimize your small business budget for 2025, ensuring you’re positioned to thrive no matter what the year brings.

How Lean Teams Can Run a Clean Month-End Close (Without Burning Out)

Month-end close doesn’t have to be stressful—even for small teams. This blog breaks down six practical ways to simplify the process, from using checklists and automation to prioritizing key accounts and spreading work across the month. A clean, consistent close is possible—with less burnout and more control.

The Role of Internal Controls in Small Business Accounting

Internal controls serve as the foundation of sound financial management. While often associated with large corporations, small and mid-sized businesses also rely on internal controls to protect assets, ensure data integrity, and support compliance with tax and financial regulations.As businesses grow in complexity, the risk of fraud, errors, and regulatory issues increases. Implementing a strong internal control framework provides clarity, transparency, and accountability in the financial process.This guide explores the core components of internal controls and how they can benefit small businesses.

Bill Pay Bottlenecks Are Slowing You Down: Here’s How to Fix Them

Chasing approvals, cutting checks, and dealing with payment delays? You’ve got a bill pay bottleneck. This blog breaks down five common blockers—like unclear workflows, manual processes, and lack of visibility—and shows how to fix them with automation and smart rules. Clean approvals mean fewer headaches and a smoother month-end.

Scaling Your Firm with Purpose and Strategy

In this latest episode of After the First Million, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Justine Lackey, a remarkable entrepreneur and business coach who has helped countless accountants and bookkeepers scale their firms. Justine’s story is nothing short of inspiring, she went from being an office assistant to building and selling a successful bookkeeping business, Good Cents Management. Now, as the founder of The Incubator, she’s dedicated to helping others do the same.What really stood out in our conversation were the powerful lessons Justine shared about building a business that not only survives but thrives. Whether you’re in accounting or any other industry, her advice is universal.

Modern Bookkeeping: Tools, Workflows, and What Your Business Needs

Modern bookkeeping isn’t just about keeping records—it’s about creating a system that delivers clarity, speed, and control. This post breaks down the core components of a modern setup, from automation and real-time reporting to structured close processes and dedicated accounting support. If your books still feel like a bottleneck, it’s time to upgrade.

Understanding Accrual Accounting: A Guide for Growing Businesses

As businesses scale, financial complexity increases. Cash flow fluctuates, revenue streams diversify, and expenses become more nuanced. At this stage, using the right accounting method becomes essential—not only for accurate reporting, but also for decision-making and compliance. Accrual accounting provides a more complete view of a company’s financial position than cash-based methods, making it the preferred choice for businesses that have moved beyond the startup phase. This blog outlines the fundamentals of accrual accounting and explains why it plays a critical role in financial clarity and long-term planning.

Building a Sellable Accounting Firm with Justine Lackey

Are You Overpaying Your Vendors? Here’s What the Numbers Reveal

Many businesses unknowingly overpay vendors due to invoice errors, outdated contracts, and lack of visibility. This blog breaks down what the data reveals about vendor overpayments, how to spot the warning signs, and what systems can prevent wasted spend. A few smart controls can save thousands—and protect your margins.

Demystifying Equity Compensation Accounting: What Private Companies Need to Know

As private companies grow, offering equity compensation becomes a valuable tool to attract and retain top talent. However, the accounting behind stock options, restricted stock, and other share-based payments is complex, and if mismanaged, it can lead to costly errors, financial misstatements, or delayed audits. Whether preparing to issue your first stock option plan or scaling with equity as a core compensation component, understanding the accounting implications is essential for compliance, investor trust, and financial accuracy.

Why Slow Finance Decisions Are Hurting Your Business

Slow decisions in finance aren’t just inconvenient—they’re expensive. This blog breaks down five ways delayed financial action holds your business back, from missed growth opportunities to cash flow surprises and team slowdowns. With the right systems and support, you can make faster, smarter moves and stay ahead of the curve.

How to Spot and Fix Gaps in Your Financial Visibility

If you don’t have a clear view of your financials, you’re making decisions in the dark. This post outlines five common signs of poor financial visibility—like late reports, unclear cash flow, and scattered data—and shows how to fix them. With the right systems and support, you can stop guessing and start leading with clarity.

Closing the Books with Confidence: How to Build a Reliable Month-End Close Process

For many growth-stage businesses, the monthly close is rushed, inconsistent, or overlooked. Yet the close process is one of the most fundamental building blocks for timely financial insight, accurate tax compliance, and investor confidence. Without a strong financial close, teams work reactively—and leadership loses visibility into performance. This blog outlines the process of building a scalable, efficient, and accurate month-end close process that supports decision-making and long-term success.

Run a Profitable Firm Without Rebuilding from Scratch

In a recent After the First Million episode, I took the opportunity to answer one of the biggest questions I’ve been getting lately: why Decimal is franchising. After announcing our move at Scaling New Heights, the calls, DMs, and emails poured in. Firm owners wanted to know why we’d “give away” our operating system, why we’re doing it now, and what it means for the future of accounting. The truth is, this isn’t about giving something away, it’s about creating a path for firm owners to run more profitable, scalable businesses without burning themselves out.

Stop Wasting Time: 3 Business Workflows You Can Automate Today

Still handling bill pay, categorizing expenses, and pulling reports manually? This post covers three essential business workflows you can automate today to save time and reduce stress. From streamlined vendor payments to hands-off bookkeeping and faster reporting, these quick fixes free you up to focus on what really moves your business forward.

Mastering Multi-Entity Accounting: A Critical Step for Scaling Businesses

Financial complexity increases as businesses expand into new markets, launch subsidiaries, or acquire complementary companies. One of the most challenging transitions during growth is managing multi-entity accounting. Multi-entity operations can quickly lead to reporting delays, cash flow confusion, and compliance risks without a deliberate structure. This guide explores multi-entity accounting, why it matters, and how to build systems that scale with your growth.

5 Ways Decimal Saves Business Owners 10+ Hours a Week

Bookkeeping, bill pay, and reporting shouldn’t eat up your entire week. This post breaks down five key ways Decimal saves business owners 10+ hours weekly by automating repetitive tasks, keeping books clean, streamlining bill pay, delivering actionable reports, and working behind the scenes so you can focus on what matters—running your business.

How to Grow Your Firm Faster with Franchising

Save Time on Your Books: 10 Smart Tips for Small Businesses

Bookkeeping doesn’t need to eat up your week. This post shares 10 practical tips to help small business owners streamline their books, automate routine tasks, and stay organized. With the right setup and a few smart habits, you can save time, reduce stress, and stay in control of your finances.

How to Prepare Your Financial Operations for a Strategic Acquisition

Whether you're positioning your business to be acquired or preparing to acquire another company, the state of your financial operations can make or break the deal. Potential buyers—and your internal stakeholders—expect clean, accurate, and transparent financials that tell a clear story of your business's value. In the current M&A environment, businesses need more than just substantial revenue. They need audit-ready books, process consistency, and the ability to deliver financial insight quickly. Here's how to ensure your finance function supports a successful transaction.

Switching Accountants: 10 Red Flags You Shouldn’t Ignore

Not sure if your accountant is still the right fit? This blog highlights 10 key red flags—from poor communication and repeated mistakes to outdated processes and lack of strategic insight—that signal it’s time to switch. If your accountant isn’t helping your business grow, it might be time to find one who will.

Why Succession Planning Should Be Part of Your Financial Strategy

For small business owners, founders, and financial leaders, business succession isn't just a legal formality—it's a critical component of their long-term financial strategy. Yet, many privately held businesses delay succession planning until it's too late, resulting in unnecessary tax burdens, operational disruptions, or missed opportunities for value realization. Whether you plan to sell, transition to a family member, or bring in a partner, incorporating financial planning into your succession roadmap ensures a smoother transition and protects your business's financial future.

The Future of Accounting: How Tech and Strategy Are Transforming the Industry

Accounting is evolving fast—driven by automation, real-time data, and rising strategic expectations. This blog breaks down how technology and forward-thinking finance strategies are reshaping the role of accounting in modern businesses. From streamlining workflows to delivering CFO-level insights, the future isn’t just about numbers—it’s about smarter decisions.

How to Prepare for a Year-End Financial Audit: Step-by-Step Checklist

Preparing for a year-end financial audit doesn’t have to be stressful. This guide walks through the key steps—cleaning up your books, organizing documents, reviewing compliance, and aligning with your audit team—to help small businesses stay ready, avoid surprises, and close the year with confidence.

Mid-Year or Mid-Crisis? 7 Bill Pay Tips to Get Back on Track

At the mid-point of the year, small businesses have a prime opportunity to tighten operations and improve cash flow—starting with how they manage bill payments. This post breaks down seven practical strategies to streamline your bill pay process, reduce errors, renegotiate vendor terms, and align payments with revenue. Whether you’re still dealing with manual workflows or looking to upgrade your tools, these mid-year tips will help you finish the year stronger and more in control.

Transitioning from LLC to C-Corp: What Founders Need to Know About Accounting and Compliance

As startups mature, many early-stage companies face a pivotal decision: converting from an LLC to a C-Corp. While investor expectations or growth plans often drive this change, it also introduces essential tax, accounting, and compliance implications that must be carefully managed. If you plan to convert your entity structure, treat it as more than a legal event—a financial transformation. Here's how to prepare your books, manage compliance, and ensure a smooth transition from LLC to C-Corp.

Due Diligence Simplified: What Every Startup Needs to Know

This guide explains due diligence for startups seeking investment, describing it as investors' comprehensive evaluation of your business before funding. It outlines the five key areas examined (financial, legal, commercial, technical, and operational), provides practical preparation tips, highlights common pitfalls, and shows how startups can use the process to their advantage rather than viewing it as an obstacle.

How to Build Financial Reports That Impress Your Board and Drive Strategic Decisions

Board meetings are more than routine updates for CEOs, founders, and finance leaders—they're strategic checkpoints that influence capital allocation, growth planning, and leadership confidence. But too often, financial reporting for the board is rushed, confusing, or misaligned with what decision-makers need. The quality of your board reports reflects your company's operational maturity. Well-structured financials show control, foresight, and transparency. Disorganized reports raise red flags about forecasting accuracy and leadership preparedness. Here's how to structure and deliver financial reporting that resonates with your board—and helps move your business forward.

Accounting for Grant Funding and Non-Dilutive Capital: What Scaling Startups Must Get Right

For high-growth startups and mission-driven businesses, non-dilutive capital—especially grants—can offer a powerful way to scale without giving up equity. Whether from government agencies, foundations, or innovation programs, grants can provide critical funding for R&D, pilot programs, or social impact work. But unlike revenue or traditional investment, grant funding introduces unique accounting, compliance, and forecasting challenges. Mismanagement can lead to financial misstatements, clawbacks, or future funding ineligibility. Here's how to properly account for grant funding, stay compliant, and use non-dilutive capital to strengthen—not strain—your financial operations.

Financial Planning for Subscription-Based Businesses: What Founders and Finance Teams Need to Get Right

Recurring revenue is the holy grail of business models. It brings predictable cash flow, stronger customer retention, and higher valuations. However, it also creates unique accounting, planning, and operational challenges that many early-stage and growing companies overlook. If your business relies on subscriptions—whether a SaaS platform, membership service, or digital product company—your financial model must account for revenue recognition, churn, deferred revenue, and customer lifetime value. This blog outlines building a financial framework supporting sustainable growth and investor confidence in subscription-based businesses.

Solving the Sales Tax Puzzle: What Growing Businesses Need to Know About Multistate Compliance

Sales tax compliance quickly becomes more complicated as small businesses expand into new markets—whether through e-commerce, remote workforces, or regional growth. The rules vary by state; what worked when you operated in one jurisdiction doesn't scale as you cross borders. If you don't stay ahead of your multistate sales tax obligations, you risk penalties, interest, and audits that can derail your growth. Here's how to understand, plan for, and manage multistate sales tax as your business scales.

Why AI-Native Accounting Is the Future with Sasha Orloff

Common Financial Mistakes in Small and Mid-Sized Businesses and How to Prevent Them

This blog serves as a comprehensive guide for small and mid-sized businesses to navigate common financial pitfalls effectively. It emphasizes the importance of robust cash flow management, strategic budget planning, prudent use of business credit, and meticulous attention to tax obligations. Additionally, the blog highlights the benefits of regular audits and the strategic advantage of outsourcing financial tasks to partners like Decimal. Through these expert recommendations, businesses can ensure a reliable financial foundation and focus on growth and success.

Financial Reporting Made Simple: Mid-Year Tips for Small Businesses

Mid-year financial reporting is crucial for small businesses striving to maintain a clear trajectory toward their financial goals. By adopting mid-year strategies, business owners can enhance decision-making, optimize cash flow management, and identify potential financial discrepancies early on. With accurate financial data and professional support from experts like Decimal, small businesses can trust in reliable insights and achieve sustained growth. Emphasizing clear, concise practices ensures that businesses are well-positioned to capitalize on opportunities and effectively navigate financial landscapes.

10 Time-Saving Bookkeeping Tips: Building Confidence for Small Business Success

This blog offers essential time-saving bookkeeping strategies designed to empower small business owners and finance professionals by enhancing their financial management skills. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining accurate and timely records, leveraging digital tools for efficiency, and seeking professional advice for optimal results. When expertise is needed, trusted partners like Decimal provide tailored services to ensure your financial management is not only effective but also reliable, allowing your business to thrive in today's dynamic financial environment.

Mastering Mid-Year Expense Management: Essential Tips for Small Business Owners

Navigating mid-year is crucial for small business owners refining financial strategies for growth. This blog provides insights into effective expense management, tailored for small businesses. By assessing financial health and making strategic adjustments, owners can maintain cash flow and plan accurately. Key strategies include conducting expense audits, renegotiating vendor contracts, and optimizing cash flow. With these tips, small businesses can achieve sustained financial health and stability.

Top Finance Tips for Founders: A Stress-Free Approach

This blog emphasizes the importance of establishing a robust financial foundation, including setting up accurate accounting systems and ensuring compliance. With practical tips on cash flow management and embracing financial technology, the guide stands as a reassuring advisor to streamline operations and enhance decision-making. The benefits of outsourcing financial tasks are also highlighted, offering cost efficiency and strategic focus. By choosing the right financial partners, businesses can leverage expertise and scale effectively.

Accounting Considerations for Business Model Changes: From Services to Subscription

Many small and midsize businesses have shifted from one-time service offerings to subscription-based revenue models. Whether driven by demand for recurring income, increased customer retention, or investor preference, this transition presents operational advantages—but also creates accounting challenges. This guide explains what business leaders and finance teams must consider when converting a service-based model into a subscription structure. Addressing these early ensures accurate financial reporting, tax compliance, and scalable growth.

Mastering Mid-Year Strategies: Expert Financial Reporting Tips for Small Businesses

This blog post provides a comprehensive guide for small businesses striving to ace mid-year financial strategies. By focusing on accurate financial reporting, the content underscores the importance of clarity and insight for aligning internal teams and making informed decisions for growth. Additionally, the post highlights the advantages of outsourcing financial tasks and engaging with experts like Decimal to enhance business strategies. By following these expert tips, small businesses can confidently navigate financial landscapes and ensure stability and success throughout the year.

Multi-Entity Accounting: How to Manage Complex Financial Structures

As businesses grow, many expand through multiple entities—whether to separate business lines, manage geographic operations, or accommodate new investors. While this approach can offer legal, financial, and operational advantages, it also introduces accounting, reporting, and tax compliance complexity. Managing multi-entity accounting effectively requires careful structure, strong controls, and scalable systems. This guide outlines how to build a robust framework that supports accuracy, insight, and compliance across every entity you operate.

Understanding Financial Operations: How FinOps Can Strengthen Your Business Strategy

A robust FinOps approach ensures that businesses maintain liquidity, comply with regulatory requirements, and streamlines financial workflows through automation and data analysis. This blog offers practical tips for entrepreneurs to manage finances effectively, encouraging separate personal and business accounts, strict budgeting, and regular financial reviews. It highlights the benefits of integrating FinOps into broader business strategies, fostering cross-department collaboration, and considering outsourcing to enhance financial management. Ultimately, this article serves as a trusted guide for business leaders, positioning FinOps as an essential component for sustainable growth and resilience.

How to Prepare for an Accounting System Migration

Outgrowing your accounting software is a natural part of business growth. Whether expanding into multiple entities, needing better reporting, or requiring automation to manage rising complexity, transitioning to a more advanced system becomes necessary. However, migrating your accounting system is a significant financial event that requires strategic planning. This guide outlines how to prepare for an accounting system migration, ensuring a seamless transition that supports business continuity and future scalability.

Accounting for SaaS Startups: Building Scalable Financial Foundations

Software-as-a-service (SaaS) startups operate on recurring revenue, digital delivery, and rapid scaling. While the business model offers substantial potential for profitability and valuation, it also introduces financial complexities that traditional accounting systems often fail to address. Founders who set up the wrong accounting foundation early on risk compliance issues, distorted performance metrics, and investor skepticism. This guide outlines the unique accounting challenges for SaaS businesses and offers strategies for building financial systems that scale with the company's growth.

The Hidden Costs of DIY Bookkeeping for Growing Businesses

Many small business owners start with do-it-yourself (DIY) bookkeeping to save money and maintain control over their finances. In the early stages, using spreadsheets or basic accounting software may suffice. However, as businesses grow, the complexity of financial management increases. What once seemed cost-effective can lead to missed opportunities, compliance risks, and administrative inefficiencies. This guide outlines the hidden costs of DIY bookkeeping and why scaling companies need to reassess how they manage financial records, reporting, and compliance.

Accounting Considerations When Hiring Your First Full-Time Employee

Hiring a full-time employee marks a significant milestone for any small business. It signals growth, increased capacity, and long-term commitment. However, bringing on your first full-time team member also adds layers of financial responsibility, tax compliance, and accounting complexity. This guide walks through the essential accounting and tax considerations you need to understand before onboarding a full-time employee, helping you avoid costly missteps and ensure a smooth transition.

Accelerating Firm Growth Through Innovation and Expertise

In a recent After the First Million episode, I sat down with Joel Hughes, the CEO of Rightworks, to talk about the keys to growing a business in a complex and changing industry. Whether you're scaling a cloud-based accounting firm or modernizing a legacy practice, Joel's leadership, focus, and transformation approach offer valuable takeaways for firm owners and business leaders.

Accelerating Firm Growth Through Innovation and Expertise

Building a business involves making wise choices, focusing on what matters most, and driving long-term value.

Tax Strategies for Scaling Businesses: What to Consider as You Grow

As small businesses grow, so do their tax obligations and financial complexities. What worked when the company was a startup may no longer serve its best interests during the scale-up phase. Developing proactive tax strategies is critical to avoid surprises and ensure that growth translates into long-term profitability. This guide outlines key tax considerations for scaling businesses, from entity structure to maximizing deductions and planning for future investment.

The Ultimate Mid-Year Tax Guide for Small Business Success

This blog serves as an invaluable resource for small business owners looking to optimize their tax strategies mid-year. By focusing on effective tax planning, the guide provides actionable insights on maximizing deductions, streamlining record-keeping, and avoiding common tax pitfalls. With Decimal as a trusted partner, businesses are equipped with the knowledge and support needed to confidently navigate tax challenges and fortify their financial foundations. This comprehensive guide aligns with internal company goals, supporting decision-making and reinforcing a reliable brand identity.

From Launch to Growth: Leveraging Financial Operations in Your SMB Journey

This blog emphasizes the crucial role financial operations play in the journey from launching to growing a small to mid-sized business (SMB). Effective financial management not only aligns a company with its brand identity and strategic goals but also guides essential decisions regarding products and services. By optimizing key financial components like budgeting, forecasting, and reporting, businesses can establish a solid financial foundation and attract stakeholders' trust. This post advocates for leveraging technology and expert financial teams to enhance operational efficiency. With strategic planning and cash flow management, SMBs can ensure sustainable growth and confidently navigate the complexities of the evolving business landscape.

How to Cut Month-End Close Time in Half: 5 Proven Methods

The month-end close is one of the most time-consuming and error-prone processes in accounting. At Decimal, we spent the last year rethinking the close process from the ground up with one goal: save time and scale smarter to deliver better insights to clients without burning out our team.

Best Practices for Consolidated Financial Reporting

As businesses grow, they often expand into multiple entities through new product lines, regional offices, acquisitions, or international subsidiaries. While this growth creates new opportunities, it also introduces complexity into the accounting process—particularly when consolidating financial statements across entities. Managing multi-entity accounting requires more than just accurate bookkeeping. It demands a structured framework for data integration, internal controls, and compliance across jurisdictions. Whether your organization has two entities or twenty, building a scalable and accurate consolidation process is essential to financial clarity and strategic decision-making. This guide outlines the key practices to manage multi-entity accounting and successfully produce reliable consolidated financial reports.

Mastering Financial Planning: How Budgets, AOPs, and Forecasts Can Transform Your Business

In summary, mastering financial planning through the use of budgets, Annual Operating Plans (AOPs), and forecasts is a transformative step for any business aiming for both short- and long-term success. These tools are essential in aligning your company's internal strategies and defining brand identity and value proposition. They guide pivotal decision-making regarding product and service offerings, offering a foundational statement for marketing and communication strategies. They not only foster confidence and trust but also establish your role as a reliable and supportive partner in the industry. By leveraging these tools, businesses can ensure operational efficiency and strategic alignment, paving the way for sustainable growth and competitiveness.

How to Build an Effective Cash Flow Forecasting Process

Cash flow forecasting is a critical tool for financial stability. Accurate forecasting allows business leaders to make informed decisions and prevent liquidity challenges, whether planning for growth, navigating seasonal fluctuations, or preparing for economic uncertainty. A well-structured forecasting process provides visibility into future cash positions, helping businesses confidently plan for expenses, investments, and tax obligations. This guide outlines building an effective cash flow forecast that supports your business strategy year-round.

Financial Clarity for Small Businesses: Expert Advice on Effective Reporting

This blog provides essential insights into the art of financial reporting for small businesses, emphasizing its critical role in driving growth and ensuring compliance. It outlines the importance of accurate and timely financial reports, demonstrating how they inform strategic decisions and facilitate access to investments. The article acknowledges the challenges faced by small business owners, such as limited resources and the complexity of accounting processes, and offers expert tips to streamline reporting. With a focus on building financial confidence, the piece positions itself as a supportive guide for small businesses aiming to achieve clarity and reliability in their financial endeavors.

Outsourced Accounting vs. In-House Teams: What Scaling Businesses Need to Know

As businesses scale, their financial responsibilities grow in complexity. Founders and executives face a critical decision: should they build an internal finance team or partner with an outsourced accounting provider? Each approach offers advantages, but the choice depends on your business stage, strategic goals, and internal capacity. This guide compares outsourced accounting and in-house finance models to help you decide which structure best supports your growth.

5 Strategic Cash Flow Tips: Building Trust and Reliability for Your Small Business

This blog provides an in-depth look at the pivotal role of cash flow optimization for small to midsized businesses (SMBs). Aimed at internal team members, business owners, and finance professionals, it emphasizes the importance of maintaining a steady cash flow to ensure operational stability, boost financial resilience, and build stakeholder trust. The post outlines practical strategies such as regular cash flow monitoring, efficient billing practices, and precise expense management. It also highlights the significance of cash flow forecasting and the establishment of robust cash reserves, providing comprehensive insights for aligning your company's financial operations with its broader strategic goals. Through these expert tips, readers are equipped to navigate financial challenges confidently and reinforce their company's reliability and growth potential.

Year-Round Tax Planning Strategies for Business Owners

Tax planning should not be a once-a-year scramble. Businesses that take a proactive, year-round approach to tax strategy can reduce liabilities, improve cash flow, and avoid costly surprises. With changing tax regulations, increasing compliance obligations, and growing financial complexity, forward-thinking business owners need a structured plan in place. This guide outlines key tax planning strategies businesses can implement throughout the year to stay ahead of deadlines and maximize savings.

Mastering Modern Accounting: Essential Tips for Thriving in the Digital Age

This blog provides a comprehensive guide for finance professionals navigating the rapidly evolving digital landscape. With a focus on digital transformation, it highlights the integration of digital tools, cloud-based solutions, and automation to enhance efficiency and accuracy in accounting practices. Emphasizing data security, the blog outlines strategies to safeguard sensitive financial information and ensure compliance with regulations. By staying updated with industry trends and embracing continuous learning, accountants can future-proof their skills and position themselves as innovative leaders. This resource aims to align internal teams, guide decision-making, and serve as a foundational tool for marketing and communication strategies, instilling confidence and trust in finance professionals within small to midsized companies.

Streamlining Operations with Deep, Industry-Specific Solutions

In a recent After the First Million episode, I sat down with Alek Koenig, the founder and CEO of Settle, to talk about the keys to successful business growth. Whether you're running an accounting firm, a startup, or any business in between, Alek’s journey offers some powerful lessons on staying focused, building the right culture, and leveraging partnerships for growth.

The Power of Strategic Partnerships in Accounting with Alek Koenig

How to Prepare for a Financial Audit: A Guide for Small and Mid-Sized Businesses

Preparing for a financial audit may feel overwhelming, but businesses can confidently approach audits with a clear strategy and consistent processes. Whether driven by compliance requirements, investor expectations, or strategic planning, audits provide a vital opportunity to validate financial accuracy and reinforce internal controls. Audit readiness is not just about meeting deadlines for small and mid-sized businesses. It’s about maintaining organized financial records, ensuring transparency, and demonstrating operational discipline. This guide outlines the practical steps finance teams can take to prepare for a successful financial audit.

A Comprehensive Guide to Financial Planning for Your Small Business

This guide is essential for SMBs aiming to enhance financial planning. It emphasizes the importance of financial planning for stability and outlines a process including assessment, goal setting, strategy development, implementation, and review. Key elements like budgeting and forecasting offer tools to manage resources and predict performance. Practical tips for cash flow management and financial tools enhance liquidity and decision-making. Implementing these strategies allows SMBs to align operations, guide offerings, and build a foundation for marketing and communication, instilling confidence in financial navigation.

How to Read Financial Statements Like a Pro: A Step-by-Step Guide for Small to Mid-Sized Companies

This blog talks about the critical skill of interpreting financial statements for small to mid-sized companies, positioning it as an indispensable asset for internal alignment on brand identity and value proposition. It serves as a comprehensive guide for CEOs, business owners, and finance professionals, aimed at enhancing decision-making regarding product and service offerings. By demystifying the complexities of balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements, it provides a solid foundation for marketing and communication strategies, fostering confidence and reliability.

How to Build a Scalable Bookkeeping System for Growing Businesses

As businesses grow, their financial operations become more complex. What worked during the startup phase can quickly become inefficient or even risky without a scalable bookkeeping system. Inconsistent financial processes, manual data entry, and lack of visibility can lead to errors, compliance issues, and missed opportunities. Building a scalable bookkeeping system ensures your financial foundation grows with your business. It improves data accuracy, simplifies tax compliance, and provides real-time insight into financial performance. This guide outlines the key components of a bookkeeping system that can adapt to business growth and support long-term success.

The Ultimate Guide for Small Business Owner

How to Optimize Month-End Close Processes in 2025

The month-end close process is a critical part of financial operations. It ensures the accuracy of financial statements, supports strategic decision-making, and upholds compliance standards. Yet, the process remains manual, inconsistent, and time-consuming for many businesses. In 2025, streamlining the month-end close should be a priority for finance teams seeking operational efficiency and financial clarity. This guide outlines best practices for optimizing the month-end close, minimizing delays, and increasing reporting accuracy.

Expert Payroll Services: Essential Support Tips for Small Business Success

Decimal offers a comprehensive suite of payroll support services tailored to the unique needs of small to midsized businesses. Our goal is to enhance operational efficiency and ensure compliance while integrating seamlessly into your existing systems. With a focus on customization, we provide payroll management solutions that are precise and adaptable, safeguarding against compliance issues by staying on top of regulatory changes. By partnering with Decimal, you're choosing a trusted advisor who will support your business with expert solutions and ongoing guidance. We are committed to aligning our services with your strategic objectives to build a solid foundation for your company's financial health and ensure a stable, thriving business environment.

Building Trust: The Power of Financial Reporting Transparency for Stakeholders

This blog underscores the crucial role of transparency in financial reporting for fostering trust among stakeholders. It highlights how clear and honest communication about financial performance is essential for aligning internal teams on a unified brand identity and guiding strategic product and service decisions. By embracing practices that emphasize openness, businesses can position themselves as reliable partners, enriching their credibility and supporting long-term success. Key takeaways include the benefits of transparent reporting in bolstering stakeholder confidence, enhancing business credibility, and the importance of finance professionals in bridging trust gaps. Adopting these principles not only aligns the company’s financial narrative with its strategic goals but also strengthens its reputation as a trustworthy entity.

Best Practices for Managing Fixed Assets in 2025

Efficient fixed asset management is essential for maintaining accurate financial records, optimizing tax benefits, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. In 2025, businesses must stay proactive in managing physical assets, from equipment and machinery to furniture and real estate, especially as remote work, inflation, and technology investments continue to impact operational strategy. This guide outlines the key practices financial professionals and bookkeepers should adopt to enhance fixed asset oversight and long-term economic stability.

How AI is Transforming the Accounting Process

Automation Isn’t About Replacing AccountantsIt’s about better service, faster work, and real focus.When I talked with Benjamin Stein, CEO of Keeper, on After the First Million, it was clear he wasn’t here to hype AI. He was here to talk about what actually helps accounting firms scale.Ben’s take? Automation should reduce chaos, not create it. It should support people—not replace them. The firms that are winning are the ones focused on solving real problems, delivering faster results, and staying locked in on the client experience.Reducing Context Switching at ScaleBen’s story starts with a familiar pain point. At his last company, he ran the close using “QuickBooks… and another tab of QuickBooks… and another tab of QuickBooks.” Sound familiar?That experience shaped how he thought about building Keeper. The goal wasn’t to just throw tech at the problem—it was to design something cohesive. A system that keeps teams in flow and reduces the bouncing between tools that slows everything down.And that focus shows up in how they build. Keeper isn’t trying to do everything. It’s designed to help firms stay organized, move faster, and solve the core issues that actually slow down the close.Don’t Just Add Features—Solve Real ProblemsOne of the things I appreciated about Ben is how focused he is on not over-building. He said it clearly: too many tools try to automate 100% of tasks and end up doing them 90% right. But that leftover 10%? It creates more work than it saves.Keeper takes a different approach. They aim for certainty. If a process can be done 100% correctly, automate it. If it can’t, don’t risk it. Because chasing errors, fixing mistakes, and second-guessing automation kills the whole point.For firm owners, it’s a solid reminder: don’t get distracted by shiny features. Solve the problem you actually have, then figure out what tech makes sense.Delegate. Focus. Repeat.As a founder, Ben’s learned to ask the hard questions about delegation. When did you hit that point where you had to let go of parts of your work to keep growing? What systems did you put in place to make sure nothing dropped?He keeps it simple. Keeper has a conventional org chart. They’re not trying to reinvent everything internally. What they care about is having systems in place so nothing slips.One thing I loved? He talked about literally adding “respond to customers” to his daily to-do list. It sounds small, but it says a lot. Sometimes leadership is just about being consistently present where it matters.AI Should Take Work Off Your Plate—Not Add To ItThere’s a lot of noise around AI in accounting—especially the narrative that it’s going to replace people. Ben doesn’t buy into that. Neither do I.He’s excited about what AI can do—bank feeds, accruals automation, auto-recs, journal entries. But the point isn’t perfection. The point is making the close easier, faster, and more accurate.Because when automation goes wrong, the cost is real. Chasing down why the system made an error takes more time than just doing it right the first time.If the tool saves you time, great. But if it doesn’t—move on.Aesthetics Matter. So Does the Client Experience.One thing Ben said that stuck with me: a lot of Keeper’s early customers came in because it just felt better. The design, the layout, the experience—it matched how they thought a modern firm should operate.And that’s a bigger lesson than it seems. The tools you use are part of your brand. When clients interact with your systems, it reflects how you operate.Ben starts with the question, “What do we want to be great at?” and only then asks, “What tech helps us get there?” That’s the mindset more firms need.The Bottom Line“As long as you’re shy of 100%, you still need an accountant.” That line from Ben hit hard. Technology is powerful—but it’s not a replacement for judgment, communication, or client trust.If you want to build a firm that scales, AI might be part of the answer. But the bigger story is still about people, systems, and clarity.If you’re looking for expert guidance to simplify your tax filing process, schedule a time with a Decimal expert at https://www.decimal.com/contact-us.‍

Trusted Technology Tips to Boost Small Business Efficiency and Growth

This article serves as a comprehensive guide for small businesses eager to leverage technology as a means to enhance efficiency and promote growth. By focusing on automation tools and cloud-based solutions, the post provides practical tips for streamlining operations. The piece underscores the role of accounting software in improving financial management and advocates for data-driven decision-making to guide business strategy. Crafted to inform and reassure, this guide positions itself as a trusted advisor for internal teams and decision-makers, ensuring they are equipped with reliable strategies to align with company goals and build sustainable success.

Embracing AI in accounting with Ben Stein

Best Practices for Managing Accounts Receivable in 2025

Effective accounts receivable (AR) management is crucial for maintaining healthy cash flow and ensuring the financial stability of any business. By implementing strategic practices, companies can reduce bad debts, improve liquidity, and enhance customer relationships.​ This blog outlines key strategies for optimizing AR processes and maintaining financial health in 2025.

Expense Management Made Fun: Embrace the Viral Trend for Effective Business Savings Strategies

This blog talks about the exciting intersection of viral trends and traditional business finance, offering a fresh take on expense management. By embracing innovative strategies inspired by platforms like TikTok, companies can transform the typically mundane task of managing expenses into a dynamic and engaging process. This approach not only captivates attention but also provides practical savings techniques that are both effective and entertaining. With actionable insights and innovative tools, this blog serves as a trusted guide to ensuring companies can confidently navigate the competitive landscape, maintaining financial robustness and sustainability.

Grow Your Small Business with Confidence: Trusted Tax Services and Tips

Navigating the complexities of small business finances can feel overwhelming, but with a reliable partner like Decimal, you can steer your business confidently toward growth and success. Our guide delves into essential tax strategies and services that help small businesses optimize financial management and achieve compliance. By avoiding common pitfalls, maximizing deductions, and choosing the right tax service providers, business owners can transform potential challenges into opportunities. With Decimal's expert guidance, you not only ensure compliance and significant tax savings but also gain peace of mind and freedom to focus on your core operations. Trust us to be your steadfast partner in elevating your business’s financial health and achieving lasting success.

Understanding Depreciation: A Guide for Small Business Owners in 2025

Depreciation is a foundational concept in business accounting, yet many small business owners overlook its full potential as a financial strategy. Correctly applying depreciation ensures accurate financial reporting and reduces taxable income, allowing businesses to keep more of their hard-earned revenue. Understanding how depreciation works has become even more critical as financial rules evolve and more small businesses invest in long-term assets. This guide walks through the fundamentals of depreciation, explains how it affects your business finances and outlines practical ways to manage it effectively in 2025.

The Employer’s Guide to Payroll Efficiency: Cultivating a Satisfied Workplace

The blog provides an in-depth look at the pivotal role efficient payroll systems play in fostering a positive work environment. It highlights the benefits of automation and reliable payroll solutions, emphasizing how these can build trust and improve employee satisfaction. The guide serves as a trusted resource, offering clear, concise strategies to guide decision-making around product and service offerings, ensuring a well-managed payroll system that promotes reliability and confidence within the organization.

2025 Predictions That Will Shape Your Business Strategy

This blog provides a comprehensive overview of upcoming trends in the finance sector, crucial for businesses aiming to thrive in a rapidly changing environment. The piece also explores the impact of AI on financial decision-making, forecasting increased accuracy and personalization. As accounting evolves with automation and regulatory shifts, businesses are advised to enhance compliance while boosting productivity. Furthermore, strategic adaptations to market volatility and sustainable finance initiatives are emphasized as vital paths to resilience and growth. This insightful guide serves as a trusted resource for finance professionals and business leaders, equipping them with the knowledge to navigate future challenges confidently and strategically.

From Chaos to Clarity: Effective Invoicing Practices for Small Business Owners

Small business owners must review their financial performance and refine their invoicing processes to ensure accuracy and efficiency. This blog will provide valuable tips for optimizing invoicing services, such as maintaining organized records, ensuring timely follow-ups on outstanding payments, and adopting invoice automation tools. By focusing on effective invoicing practices, small businesses can enhance cash flow, minimize discrepancies, and set themselves up for a successful financial year. Join us for actionable strategies to streamline your invoicing processes and contribute to your business's overall health.

How to Navigate the Complexity of Sales Tax Compliance for E-Commerce Businesses in 2025

As e-commerce continues to thrive, businesses face an increasingly complex landscape regarding sales tax compliance. The expansion of online sales has prompted tax authorities across the United States and globally to revise and update their sales tax regulations. E-commerce businesses must understand these changes to ensure they remain compliant and avoid costly penalties. In 2025, sales tax regulations are more complicated than ever, especially with the rise of economic nexus laws, new digital products, and evolving marketplace rules. This blog will guide e-commerce businesses through the maze of sales tax compliance, provide insights into the latest trends, and offer practical strategies to manage tax obligations effectively.

How Better Payroll Services Lead to Happier Employees

This blog post explores how enhancing payroll services can significantly contribute to employee satisfaction, transforming payroll from a mere administrative task into a strategic advantage. By streamlining payroll organization and minimizing errors through automation and audits, businesses can ensure timely and accurate compensation, thereby fostering trust and reliability. With a focus on building trust and boosting morale, this piece underscores the importance of effective payroll systems in cultivating a motivated and loyal workforce. The blog further introduces Decimal's payroll solutions as a comprehensive and reliable choice for companies aiming to integrate seamless, secure, and compliant payroll processes into their operations.

How Nimbl Gives Clients and Employees the Freedom to Succeed

Dave started his career in accounting and finance but soon realized that managing and scaling a business required an entirely different skill set. On After the First Million, we discussed how he navigated his transition from being a CFO to running multiple companies, including Nimbl, and the key lessons he learned along the way.

Building a company, not a firm with Dave Olsen

Success in business hinges not only on numbers and processes but also on vision, strategy, and the right team.

Understanding the Tax Implications of Cryptocurrency for Businesses in 2025

Cryptocurrency has moved from being a niche investment to a mainstream financial asset in recent years. For businesses, the rise of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and others presents both exciting opportunities and complex challenges. As more businesses begin accepting cryptocurrency payments or investing in digital assets, it’s crucial to understand the tax implications involved in cryptocurrency transactions, especially as regulations continue to evolve. In 2025, the tax landscape surrounding cryptocurrency is becoming increasingly sophisticated, with the IRS and other regulatory bodies focusing more on compliance and reporting. This blog will guide business owners through the key tax considerations when dealing with cryptocurrency, including how to report crypto-related income, deductions, and investments.

Unlocking Financial Solutions for Orthodontists: Your Guide to Equipment Financing and Growth

Investing in the right tools and technology is essential for orthodontic practices to thrive and provide top-notch care. This blog will explore various financing options available to orthodontists, including loans, leasing, and specialized financing programs tailored for dental professionals. We will also discuss the benefits of upgrading equipment, how to choose the right financing solution for your practice's needs, and tips for improving cash flow to ensure sustainable growth. By the end of this guide, orthodontists will be equipped with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about financing their essential equipment investments.

How Decimal Elevates Your Quarterly Financial Strategy

Decimal stands as the trusted bookkeeping ally that empowers businesses with precision and reliability, serving as the backbone for robust financial strategies. Our expert team offers a comprehensive suite of services that go beyond mere record-keeping, providing vital financial insights that drive informed decision-making. By maintaining meticulously accurate records, we ensure that businesses are well-equipped to forecast, budget, and plan strategically. Through our personalized approach, we remain committed to supporting your growth, offering the peace of mind that comes with having a dedicated expert by your side.

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Financial Reporting: How Businesses Can Leverage AI in 2025

As technology continues to evolve, artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries across the board, and financial reporting is no exception. In 2025, AI is poised to revolutionize how businesses handle their financial data, enabling faster, more accurate reporting and providing new insights for strategic decision-making. For businesses looking to stay competitive in an increasingly data-driven world, adopting AI tools for financial reporting is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. In this blog, we’ll explore how AI shapes financial reporting, its benefits, and how businesses can leverage AI to streamline their financial processes, reduce errors, and make better financial decisions.

Building a profitable firm you can grow with Joe Woodard

How AI is Shaping the Future of Accounting Firms

Whether you're an accountant, a lawyer, or an entrepreneur, it requires more than just technical know-how—it involves developing leadership, adopting new technologies, and understanding the broader business landscape. For Jody Padar, the journey from a traditional accounting firm owner to a trailblazer in AI-driven accounting highlights the importance of adapting to the changing needs of the industry. In her conversation on After the First Million, she shared her insights on AI, cloud technology, and the future of accounting, offering valuable lessons for entrepreneurs at any stage of growth.

Why Bookkeeping is the Unsung Hero of Successful Business Operations

In the current dynamic business environment, effective bookkeeping is crucial for fostering growth and ensuring operational success. At the heart of bookkeeping is a commitment to accuracy and reliability that transforms raw financial data into strategic insights. Businesses that partner with Decimal benefit from our blend of expert precision and innovative technology, equipping them with the tools needed to make informed decisions. Trust Decimal to be your steadfast partner in building a strong financial foundation and achieving enduring success.

Mastering Financial Storytelling: Building Stakeholder Trust for Small Business Success

Unlock the power of financial storytelling to build stakeholder trust and drive business success. Our latest blog delves into creating compelling financial narratives that resonate with key stakeholders—such as investors, lenders, employees, suppliers, and clients. Learn how to tailor your narrative to address specific concerns, ensuring transparency and credibility. We guide you through aligning your financial story with business goals and financial statements to foster confidence and trust. Explore essential components like crafting a clear vision, demonstrating financial performance, and managing risks effectively. Dive in to discover strategies that position your business for growth, stability, and long-term success.

How to Optimize Your Business's Tax Strategy in 2025: Key Considerations for Maximizing Savings

As we move further into 2025, businesses face an evolving tax landscape that presents both challenges and opportunities. While staying compliant with IRS regulations is crucial, it's equally important for business owners to adopt a proactive approach to tax strategy—ensuring that they optimize their tax position and minimize liabilities. This involves understanding the latest changes to tax laws, taking advantage of available credits and deductions, and implementing smart tax planning practices to maximize savings. We’ll explore how businesses can optimize their tax strategy in 2025, covering key considerations for both small businesses and larger enterprises to help them make the most of their tax situation.

Financial Advice That Works: Quarterly Expense Management Tips for Small Businesses

This blog provides practical and actionable financial advice for small business owners focusing on quarterly expense management. By emphasizing the importance of regular financial reviews and strategic planning, it guides entrepreneurs in optimizing their expense strategies to achieve long-term success. Additionally, the blog highlights the benefits of prioritizing spending categories, implementing cost-effective strategies, and leveraging financial software tools for enhanced efficiency.

Leading the shift to AI-first accounting with Jody Padar

Building a successful firm requires more than just number-crunching; it demands foresight, adaptability, and a willingness to innovate.

Navigating the New Tax Implications of Remote Work: What Businesses Need to Know in 2025

The world of work has undergone a seismic shift in recent years, with remote work becoming a permanent fixture for many businesses. As more companies embrace hybrid or fully remote models, the tax implications of this new work environment have become increasingly complex. From payroll taxes to state income tax obligations, business owners must navigate a range of considerations to stay compliant and avoid costly mistakes. In 2025, businesses must prepare for the ongoing changes to tax regulations related to remote work. This blog will explore the new tax implications of remote work, offer practical advice for navigating these challenges, and provide actionable steps to ensure compliance with the latest regulations.

Mastering Cash Flow: How Efficient Invoicing Strategies Can Benefit Your Business

From Traditional to Tech: The Benefits of DIY Accounting for Today's Business Owners

DIY accounting is transforming the financial management landscape, especially for small to midsized companies. By leveraging modern accounting apps, businesses can gain substantial control over their finances, offering a powerful alternative to traditional accounting methods. These digital solutions are designed with user-friendly interfaces and flexible features, making them accessible and cost-effective. The transition to DIY accounting is not merely a cost-saving measure; it is a strategic move that enhances financial agility and autonomy. By selecting the right app and implementing seamless integration, businesses can ensure a successful shift, paving the way for sustained growth and efficiency.

How to Navigate the Complexities of Sales Tax for Online Businesses in 2025

As online businesses continue to grow, navigating the complexities of sales tax has become more challenging than ever. With the rise of e-commerce platforms, changes in tax laws, and increasing scrutiny by tax authorities, it’s crucial for online business owners to stay informed about their sales tax obligations. Understanding the rules around sales tax for online transactions is essential to ensure compliance and avoid penalties. In 2025, the landscape for online sales tax continues to evolve. This blog will explore key considerations for online businesses, offering practical advice for managing sales tax compliance, leveraging technology, and understanding new regulations impacting your business.

Mastering Your 2025 Tax: A Countdown Challenge for Business Success

Mastering your 2025 tax strategy is crucial for business success, providing a strategic advantage with upcoming deadlines. This blog emphasizes understanding these deadlines to ensure compliance and avoid penalties. Early tax preparation streamlines processes, reduces errors, and optimizes liabilities with expert insights. Collaborating with finance professionals enhances strategies and compliance, while using software tools simplifies filing. The blog highlights the accountant's role in compliance and offers tips to avoid common mistakes. Ultimately, it stresses building a tax plan aligned with business goals for long-term success.

Why Your Business Should Embrace Embedded Finance in 2025

In an era where financial operations are becoming more integrated with technology, embedded finance is rapidly transforming the way businesses manage payments, financing, and transactions. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), this evolution is reshaping how they handle financial processes, offering an opportunity to streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and reduce administrative burdens. In this blog, we’ll explore why adopting embedded finance in 2025 is a strategic choice for businesses of all sizes.

Mastering Q2 Taxes: Essential Tips for SMBs to Stay Ahead of the Curve

This insightful guide, "Mastering Q2 Taxes: Essential Tips for SMBs to Stay Ahead of the Curve," provides small and medium-sized businesses with the key strategies needed to navigate the complexities of Q2 tax obligations. Covering critical deadlines such as income tax filings, estimated tax payments, and payroll tax requirements, the blog emphasizes the importance of staying organized and informed. By leveraging the expertise of trusted advisors like Decimal Tax Services, SMBs can ensure compliance, identify potential deductions, and optimize their financial health. With expert insights and tailored advice, this guide aims to instill confidence and provide reassurance as business owners tackle their Q2 tax responsibilities.

What Accounting Firms Can Learn from Orthodontics

Running a business takes more than technical expertise. Whether you’re an orthodontist, an accountant, or a lawyer, success requires more than just being good at your craft—it requires learning how to actually run a business. That’s what Dr. Christian Johnson had to figure out. She went to school to become an orthodontist, but building and scaling her own practice required a completely different skill set. On After the First Million, we talked about leadership, business growth, and why delegation is critical to success.

Beyond Numbers: The Impact of Modern Accounting Tools on Business Success

The blog post highlights modern accounting tools' transformative impact on business success, emphasizing the role of technology and artificial intelligence in revolutionizing financial management. As a trusted advisor, it reassures businesses of the promising future AI offers, showcasing how automation and advanced analytics enhance efficiency and decision-making. Organizations are encouraged to prepare for these advancements by investing in training and building flexible infrastructures, ensuring they remain competitive and forward-thinking in the evolving accounting landscape.

A Trusted Partner in Business: Utilizing Financial Reporting to Guide Strategic Decisions and Achieve Success

Financial reporting is crucial for businesses, offering insights to align brand identity and guide strategic decisions. Turning complex data into actionable intelligence empowers leaders to make informed choices and ensure consistent marketing and communication. This builds confidence and positions the finance team as a strategic partner. By analyzing revenue, expenses, and market trends, financial reports enable efficient resource allocation, realistic goal setting, and competitiveness. Thus, financial reporting enhances both internal alignment and external reputation, showcasing the company's transparency and reliability.

Common Bookkeeping Mistakes That Cost Small Businesses Thousands

Even profitable businesses can struggle financially if their bookkeeping isn’t handled correctly. Small bookkeeping mistakes can lead to cash flow issues, missed tax deductions, and even IRS penalties. Avoiding these common errors can save businesses thousands of dollars and ensure financial stability.

Modernizing Your Small Business: How FinTech Solutions Are Revolutionizing Small Business Technology with Decimal

In today's rapidly evolving commercial landscape, small businesses are leveraging FinTech solutions to elevate their operations and customer experiences. This summary outlines the significant impact of financial technology on small businesses, emphasizing the innovative tools and platforms that streamline financial processes, enhance decision-making, and fuel growth in a dynamic digital marketplace.

Navigating the Complexities of Employee Stock Options: A Guide for Employers and Employees in 2025

Employee stock options (ESOs) are an increasingly popular way for companies to incentivize and retain top talent. By offering employees the opportunity to buy company stock at a discounted rate, businesses can align employee goals with company performance. However, as beneficial as stock options can be, they come with complex tax implications that both employers and employees need to understand in 2025. In this blog, we’ll dive into the mechanics of employee stock options, explain the different types of stock options, outline the tax considerations for both employers and employees, and provide strategies to navigate the complexities of ESOs effectively.

What accounting firms can learn from orthodontics with Dr. Christian Johnson

Running a business takes more than just expertise—it takes vision, resilience, and the ability to adapt.

From Chaos to Clarity: How Bookkeeping Services Empower Entrepreneurs to Focus on Success

Bookkeeping services serve as a crucial ally for entrepreneurs looking to streamline operations and focus on strategic growth. By outsourcing these essential functions, businesses transform financial disorder into structured clarity, enabling leaders to dedicate their energy to their core objectives. This post highlights the transformative impact of professional bookkeeping, illustrating its role as a cornerstone for success. Discover how tailored solutions can enhance financial accuracy, foster confidence, and support innovative decision-making. Positioned as a trusted advisor, Decimal offers customized expertise, ensuring your business remains compliant, focused, and poised for future growth.

Scaling Your Business: When and How to Expand Financial Operations

As businesses grow, financial management becomes more complex. Owners who once handled bookkeeping and budgeting on their own eventually reach a point where they need additional financial expertise. Knowing when to expand financial operations—and how to do it effectively—ensures sustainable growth without unnecessary risk. This guide covers the key indicators that it’s time to scale financial operations and the best steps to do it.

How to Set Up Your Business Finances for Growth from Day One

Starting a business involves more than just offering a great product or service. Without a solid financial foundation, even the most promising ventures can struggle with cash flow issues, tax complications, or unexpected expenses. A well-organized financial structure sets the stage for long-term success, allowing business owners to focus on growth instead of scrambling to fix financial missteps later. Here’s how to structure your business finances effectively from the start.

Stay Ahead of the Game: A Professional's Guide to Quarterly Tax Deadlines in 2025

This comprehensive guide emphasizes the significance of understanding quarterly tax deadlines to maintain compliance and avoid penalties. This blog post provides actionable strategies for each quarter, from organizing documents early in the year to finalizing tax strategies by year-end. By aligning preparation with financial goals, businesses can navigate tax season confidently. Trusted advisors like Decimal are highlighted as supportive partners, offering expertise in tax management, strategic planning, and compliance updates, ensuring a seamless and efficient process.

Cash Flow Management Made Easy: A Guide to Sustainable Business Growth

Understanding cash flow is crucial for keeping your business finances clear and ensuring its sustainable growth. This guide provides simple tips and strategies to help small business owners monitor their cash flow, prepare for financial challenges, and make smart decisions for long-term success. Managing cash flow is essential for small business growth. As your advisor, we stress the importance of monitoring your cash flow closely and maintaining transparency in your finances. This guide explores practical strategies and decision-making methods to help business owners handle financial challenges confidently. By breaking down cash flow concepts, we aim to equip you with the knowledge needed for ongoing success. Let us help you build a strong foundation for your business’s future, providing trust and positivity at every step.

Building Reliable Payroll Systems: A Small Business Owner’s Guide to Cash Flow Management

For small business owners and finance professionals, building a reliable payroll system is essential to effective cash flow management and overall business success. This guide explores the critical components of payroll systems and how they can optimize cash flow strategies. With an emphasis on accuracy and transparency, this approach fosters trust and reliability among employees and stakeholders. Choosing the right payroll services, supported by expert guidance, ensures that small businesses can maintain financial health and focus on strategic growth, solidifying their financial foundation.

Financial Reporting for Small Business Owners: Key Metrics and Best Practices

Accurate financial reporting is critical for small business owners who want to make informed decisions, attract investors, and maintain long-term stability. Without clear financial reports, business owners risk cash flow issues, compliance problems, and missed growth opportunities. Understanding key financial metrics and using best practices for financial reporting helps businesses gain clarity, reduce risks, and improve financial planning. Here’s what every small business owner needs to know.

How to Build a Profitable, Scalable Accounting Firm

Scaling an accounting firm isn’t just about working harder—it’s about working smarter. Joe Woodard, CEO of Woodard, joined After the First Million to break down the three key shifts that firms need to make to grow beyond the million-dollar mark. From shifting your mindset to leveraging AI and offshoring, here’s how top firms are setting themselves up for long-term success.

Mastering Financial Health: The Key to Small Business Growth and Economic Resilience

Gain a competitive edge by mastering financial health through comprehensive strategies designed to empower small business growth and enhance economic resilience. This blog explores critical areas such as cash flow management, unveiling techniques to track and manage cash flow for optimum financial stability effectively. You'll also discover Budgeting Strategies, which offer insights into crafting a strategic budget that guides your financial decisions and allocates resources in a way that is both effective and adaptable to ever-volatile market conditions. Furthermore, delve into Profitability Analysis, where you’ll gain valuable insights into identifying your profit drivers, optimizing your operations, and preparing your business to seize new market opportunities. Each section will equip you with the knowledge and tools to navigate financial challenges and set your business up for long-term success.

‍The Mindset Shift: From Technician to Business Owner

Running a firm isn’t just about crunching numbers—it’s about building a business. That shift in mindset is what separates successful accounting and bookkeeping firms from the ones stuck in the weeds. On After the First Million, I sat down with Joe Woodard to talk about what it really takes to scale a firm past seven figures, why pricing isn’t just about effort but about outcomes, and how technology and offshoring are reshaping the industry.

How to Prepare Your Business for a Successful Financial Audit

A financial audit can be an in-depth review of your business’s financial records, whether conducted internally or by an external auditor. While audits can feel overwhelming, preparing in advance ensures a smooth process, reduces the risk of errors, and strengthens your financial credibility. Here’s how to get your business audit-ready and avoid last-minute stress.

How Small Businesses Can Streamline Expenses and Enhance Cash Flow Management

In today's competitive business environment, small businesses must prioritize effective expense management and cash flow optimization to ensure long-term viability. This comprehensive guide offers essential strategies for mastering these financial elements, empowering small business owners and finance professionals. Businesses can enhance financial stability and capture growth opportunities by categorizing expenses, leveraging technology, and implementing effective tax strategies. With a focus on building a robust cash flow system, the guide is a trusted advisor, providing the insights needed to navigate financial challenges confidently and build a reliable foundation for future success.

When to Hire a Bookkeeper vs. an Accountant: Understanding the Difference for Your Business

As a business grows, financial tasks become more complex, and owners often wonder whether they need a bookkeeper or an accountant. While these roles overlap, they serve distinct functions. Hiring the right financial professional at the right time can improve cash flow management, tax compliance, and overall business efficiency. Here’s how to determine whether you need a bookkeeper, an accountant, or both.

Bill Pay Services Uncovered: Strategies for Small Businesses to Thrive

This blog post explores how bill pay services enhance financial operations for small businesses and startups. In a professional tone, it offers strategic insights on using these tools to boost cash flow and financial health. It guides CEOs, finance professionals, and team members in selecting services with key integration, security, and cost-effectiveness features. Highlighting common pitfalls and strategies such as automated alerts and payment scheduling, the post is a trusted guide for confidently navigating financial complexities.

Cash Flow Management: A Trusted Advisor's Tips for Franchise and Business Owners

This blog underscores the vital role of effective cash flow management in franchise and business success. It addresses franchise owners' unique challenges, offering expert advice to turn cash flow management into a strategic asset. Owners can make informed decisions by grasping key concepts like cash inflows, outflows, and the cash conversion cycle. The article provides strategies for monitoring, forecasting, and optimizing receivables and payables to ensure financial stability. Trusted advisors are depicted as essential partners in building confidence and providing tailored support, enabling owners to manage their finances confidently and accurately.

AI-native accounting: Why it’s the future of bookkeeping

Accounting is no longer just about tracking numbers.

Navigating the Numbers: Key Accounting Tips Every Small Business Owner Should Know

This blog post is a concise guide for small business owners looking to improve their financial management skills. It offers essential accounting tips to promote business growth and long-term success. Key topics include efficient financial management, choosing the right accounting software, and effective expense tracking. Additionally, it covers understanding financial statements, setting realistic financial goals, and tax planning. By focusing on building a solid financial foundation, this resource acts as a trusted advisor, providing clear insights for informed financial decisions.

How Tax Services Can Benefit Small Businesses and Startups: Expert Advice for Accountants

This blog post highlights tax services' crucial role in aiding small businesses and startups. It provides expert guidance for accountants on optimizing tax prep and filing, focusing on their critical financial health and compliance role. By utilizing these services, businesses can achieve better financial clarity, cost savings through deductions, and efficient resource allocation. The post also covers common tax mistakes to avoid, the importance of selecting the right accountant, and how a strong partnership enhances financial outcomes.

Navigating Tax Season: A Small Business Owner's Guide to Effective Bill Pay Strategies

This blog post serves as a crucial resource for small business owners tackling tax season with assurance and precision, emphasizing the role of effective bill pay strategies to optimize financial operations and compliance. Key points cover the significance of bill pay services in automating payments, maintaining cash flow, reducing errors, and ensuring transaction transparency for tax reporting. It also provides guidance on choosing services that align with business needs, focusing on flexibility, security, usability, and cost. The importance of efficient record keeping and the use of technology for streamlined tax filing are highlighted, alongside tips for implementing scheduling and automation to ensure timely payments and balanced cash flow. This guide equips small business owners and finance professionals with vital tools and insights for managing finances effectively, ensuring a successful tax season, and fostering sustainable operations.

Cash Flow Management for Franchise Owners: Best Practices for Financial Stability

Navigating Tax Prep and Filing for E-commerce Business Owners: A Complete Guide

Navigating the complexity of tax prep and filing in e-commerce is crucial for growth and compliance. This guide is a valuable resource for internal teams, CEOs, and finance professionals, offering insights and strategies to tackle tax responsibilities confidently. By focusing on key tax terms, essential documentation, and common e-commerce deductions, it lays a foundation for informed decision-making. The guide also highlights tools, resources, and tips to streamline filing, avoid pitfalls, and implement strategic tax planning. It reassures business owners and finance experts of their ability to manage tax complexities, supporting financial stability and growth. Leveraging professional expertise ensures efficient, painless tax filing, allowing e-commerce businesses to focus on core operations and strategic growth.

Scaling smarter: How AI is transforming accounting firms

Accounting is the backbone of any business. Done right, it gives leaders confidence in their decisions. Done wrong, it leads to disaster. That’s what Sasha Orloff set out to fix with Puzzle. Instead of retrofitting AI onto old-school accounting software, he built a ledger from the ground up—one designed for automation, accuracy, and real-time financial insight. On After the First Million, we talked about the future of accounting, why AI isn’t replacing accountants anytime soon, and how firms can use technology to move from compliance work to real business advisory.

Tax Prep and Filing: Tax Services Tips for Small Businesses

Small Business Tax Audits: How to Prepare, Prevent Issues, and Stay Compliant

From Start to scale - how to grow your firm beyond the first million

Breaking the Accounting

Mastering Expense Management: Essential Tax Prep and Filing Tips for Small Businesses

Tax season is daunting for small business owners, but mastering expense management is essential for smooth tax prep and filing. This post covers strategies for effective expense management, accurate record-keeping, and using modern technology for efficiency. It highlights common pitfalls and offers tips for organizing documents, and understanding deductions and credits. Staying informed about tax regulations and planning for future seasons is also emphasized. Decimal is positioned as a trusted partner offering tailored financial solutions, expert guidance, and compliance support to help your business thrive.

Tax Prep and Filing: Expense Management Tips for Small Businesses

Navigating Business Deductions: A Practical Guide for Small Business Owners in 2025

Tax Prep and Filing: Franchise Owners

Franchise owners face unique tax challenges. Learn how to streamline tax prep and filing to stay compliant and maximize deductions.

Top Finance Trends to Watch in 2025

Stay ahead in finance with our insights into the top trends you need to know for 2025.

Your Guide to 2025: Financial Tips for a Prosperous Business Year

As we approach 2025, the financial sector is undergoing notable changes, offering challenges and opportunities. This guide delivers key insights into trends like sustainable investments, AI integration, and digital currencies, allowing businesses to strategically position themselves. With a focus on budget management and strategic planning, the guide ensures growth and sustainability. By embracing technologies like blockchain and cloud solutions, companies can enhance efficiency and precision in financial management. This resource empowers business leaders and finance professionals to confidently navigate and succeed in 2025's financial landscape.

Unlocking the Secrets: Expert Tax Advice for Confident Franchise Owners

This guide is essential for franchise owners navigating taxes, offering expert insights for compliance and financial growth. It highlights the importance of precise tax filing and tackles challenges like royalty payments and expense sharing. Key tips include staying organized, understanding deductions, consulting professionals, planning, and keeping up with tax laws. Using these strategies, franchise owners can streamline operations, boost financial stability, and build stakeholder trust. With Decimal's seasoned professionals, franchise owners ensure their tax needs are met confidently and precisely.

R&D Tax Credit Qualifications: The Secret to Ultimate Savings

In today's business landscape, understanding and utilizing R&D tax credits can transform small to midsized companies. This guide provides insights to help internal teams and finance professionals leverage these credits effectively. As your supportive partner, we offer strategies to align your brand identity with financial goals, fostering confidence. By capitalizing on these opportunities, businesses can boost innovation, achieve sustainable growth, and strengthen their market position. This knowledge streamlines financial strategies and enhances marketing and communication efforts, aligning the organization toward shared goals.

Why Your Business Should Partner with Bill Pay Experts

Streamline your business operations by outsourcing bill pay services. Discover why it's a strategic choice in 2025.

The roadmap to selling your business with Alexis Grant

Scaling to sell: How to prepare your business for acquisition

Preparing your Business for Acquisition: Alexis Grant, Founder & CEO of They Got Acquired

Building to Sell – Why Alexis Grant, Founder & CEO of They Got Acquired, Wants You to Think About Your Exit Now

The Expert's Guide to Tax Filing for Orthodontists and Dentists: Building Trust in the Process

This guide is an essential resource for orthodontists looking to improve their tax filing procedures and cultivate trust within their practices. Professionals can greatly reduce their tax liabilities by employing strategies such as equipment depreciation, retirement plan contributions, and managing estimated tax payments. The guide underscores the importance of utilizing professional tax services, which provide customized solutions and guarantee precise filings. Encouraging collaboration within the dental community and establishing solid tax practices promotes transparency and responsibility, enabling dental professionals to concentrate on patient care with assurance in their tax management.

Mastering Tax Prep and Filing: Essential Financial Reporting Tips for Small Business Owners

Despite its complexity, mastering tax preparation and financial reporting is crucial for small business success. This guide provides practical advice and strategies to help small business owners effectively manage tax-related tasks. It covers understanding tax obligations, which includes important filing deadlines and tax deductions to maximize savings and ensure compliance. Enhancing financial reporting is also discussed, focusing on automating financial processes and maintaining effective record-keeping for better accuracy. Businesses are encouraged to partner with expert services like Decimal, which offer tailored strategies, compliance support, and a focus on growth.

Scaling Through Culture, Vision, and Customer Focus

Streamline Your Tax Preparation: Essential Invoicing Services Tips for Small Businesses

In today's fast-paced business environment, efficient tax preparation is a necessity and a strategic advantage. By leveraging effective invoicing services, you can transform tax season from a dreaded task into a streamlined process that supports your business growth. Following these guidelines and recommendations will position your business for financial clarity and operational efficiency. Trust in the process and tools available to you, and embrace this proactive approach to accounting. It will ease the tax preparation burden and empower you as a confident and knowledgeable leader in your business endeavors.

Mastering Resource Allocation: Small Business Strategies for Effective Year-End Financial Planning

Master resource allocation with our comprehensive guide on effective year-end financial planning for small businesses. Discover actionable insights into expense management and reporting to help you make informed financial decisions.

The art of scaling with purpose with Abhik Pramanik

Leadership insights from building a tech startup with purpose

From Reports to Results: How Precise Financial Reporting Enhances Trust in Investors

Explore the transformative power of detailed financial reporting in today's competitive business environment. Precise financial reporting meets regulatory requirements and serves as a crucial tool for small businesses seeking to attract investors and secure funding for growth. By focusing on clear and accurate financial statements, businesses can build trust with investors, paving the way for increased confidence and investment opportunities.

Why We’re Partnering with Puzzle: Building the Future of Accounting Together

Decimal proudly announces its partnership with Puzzle, the leading AI-driven accounting platform, positioning us as the largest user of AI-powered accounting ledgers in the U.S. Through this collaboration, we aim to revolutionize bookkeeping and accounting services by delivering transformative client experiences on a scalable level. Embracing innovation and AI technology, we transition from legacy systems to new, bold solutions, ensuring growth and enhanced client relationships. Join us on this journey to redefine the future of accounting with cutting-edge technology and trusted partnerships. Reach out to puzzle@decimal.com to learn more.

Branch Removed Manual Effort and Improved Financial Insights

Decimal took an operations-first approach with Branch and collaborated to streamline the review process and restore confidence in the numbers.

DriverReach Outsourced Bookkeeping and Avoided Overspending on Headcount

Decimal worked with DriverReach to update technology and processes so their SaaS business could help a diverse range of clients and get a more accurate view of their financials.

HyperTrader No Longer Chases Down the Numbers

Decimal helped HyperTrader regain control over its accounting operations and improve the time-to-close books at month-end.

Understanding Depreciation Methods for Small Business Success

This comprehensive guide explores various depreciation methods crucial for small business financial success and tax optimization. It will enhance your understanding and implementation of effective depreciation techniques, supporting your business growth and financial health. As your trusted advisor, we provide the expertise needed to navigate the complexities of financial management confidently.

From Engineer to CEO: Wiley Jones’s Insightful Journey to Solving Business Challenges

Wiley Jones’s journey from engineer to CEO showcases the power of perspective and innovation. He turned obstacles into opportunities by identifying inefficiencies and co-founding Doss to address real-world challenges and drive efficiency. His leadership, grounded in a clear vision and accountability, offers a model for aligning brand identity and value propositions. Wiley's story guides product and service decisions, shapes marketing strategies, and instills confidence in teams and leaders. His experience provides actionable insights, promoting a resilient, growth-focused culture.

From Data to Decisions: How Accurate Financial Reporting Fuels Small Business Growth

From Numbers to Narratives: Transform Your Small Business Finance with Accurate Reporting. Accurate financial reporting is essential for small business owners looking to understand their current financial position and tell the compelling story of their business growth. This blog will discuss how transforming raw financial data into insightful reports can empower entrepreneurs to make strategic decisions, identify trends, and communicate effectively with stakeholders. We will explore the importance of recurring financial assessments, the role of dashboards in visualizing financial health, and how well-crafted narratives can capture the attention of investors and partners. By mastering the art of financial storytelling through accurate reporting, small businesses can pave the way for sustainable success and growth.

From Engineering to Entrepreneurship: Wiley Jones on Solving Startup Challenges

Wiley Jones offers invaluable insights into aligning internal company objectives with a strong brand identity and value proposition. As a trusted advisor, he emphasizes the necessity of cohesive internal alignment, which ensures that decision-making regarding product and service offerings is consistent with the company’s foundational principles. For CEOs, business owners, and finance professionals within small to midsized companies, these principles serve as a guiding framework for both marketing and communication strategies. By maintaining clear and consistent standards, Wiley fosters an environment of confidence, trust, and reliability, essential for sustainable business growth and success. His professional and reassuring approach as an expert and supportive partner enables businesses to harness their internal strengths, thereby enhancing their capacity to innovate and adapt in a competitive market.

Automation in Accounting: Simplify Your Year-End Reporting and Enhance Financial Analytics

As the year draws to a close, small business owners are presented with a vital opportunity to leverage accounting technology for streamlined year-end reporting and strategic planning. This blog will explore key technological tools and software solutions that can simplify the financial closing process, enhance accuracy, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. We will discuss the importance of cloud-based accounting systems, automation in data entry and report generation, and the role of real-time financial analytics in making informed decisions for the upcoming year. By implementing these accounting technology tips, small businesses can not only ease their year-end workload but also set a solid foundation for financial health and growth in the new year.

Avoid Costly Mistakes: Expert Insights on Managing Small Business Payroll for the New Year

As we enter 2025, small business owners face the critical task of ensuring their payroll processes are in order for year-end reporting and tax compliance. This blog will outline essential tips for effectively managing payroll services, including the importance of accurate record-keeping, timely tax filings, and understanding the implications of year-end adjustments. By focusing on payroll accuracy and compliance, small businesses can avoid costly mistakes and position themselves for a successful start to the new year. Join us as we provide actionable insights and best practices to streamline payroll processes and support your business’s financial health!

From Financial Obligations to Opportunities: Bill Pay Best Practices for 2025

With the conclusion of 2024, small business owners need to streamline their financial processes to guarantee efficient year-end reporting and planning. This blog will provide critical insights into utilizing bill pay services to manage expenses effectively, keep track of financial obligations, and enhance cash flow management. We will also discuss the benefits of automating bill payments, tips for reconciling accounts, and best practices for integrating bill pay systems with accounting software to save time and reduce errors. With these tips, small businesses can confidently approach year-end financial planning and position themselves for success in the new year. Additionally, we will cover how to select the right bill pay service provider, the importance of setting clear financial goals, and the role of ongoing financial education in sustaining growth throughout the year.

Unlocking Sustainable Growth: Budgeting Strategies for the Upcoming Fiscal Year

As the fiscal year approaches, small businesses must focus on financial forecasting to prepare their bookkeeping effectively. This blog will explore strategies that empower business owners to analyze past performance metrics, set realistic financial goals, and adjust budgets accordingly. By mastering the art of financial forecasting, small business owners can enhance their bookkeeping practices and make informed decisions that drive sustainable growth throughout the year. Stay tuned for practical tips and tools to guide you through this essential process in our upcoming posts!

The Right Technology Helped Turnkey Save Hours

Decimal built an operation-first accounting solution for Turnkey to remove manual work and increase visibility into the fine details of the business.

Scaling smarter, not harder with Wiley Jones

Leadership lessons from the frontlines of scaling a startup

From Paperwork to Planning: Tax Strategies for Optimizing Your Small Business Finances

Now that 2024 has come to a close, small business owners must ensure they are well-prepared for the 2025 tax season. This blog will outline essential tax service tips, including key deductions, necessary paperwork, and strategies to optimize tax liabilities, helping entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of tax reporting with confidence and clarity. Additionally, we will explore common pitfalls to avoid, essential deadlines to keep in mind and the importance of consulting with a tax professional to maximize savings and maintain compliance. Empower your business in the new year with these valuable insights into effective tax planning and management.

Empathy and Grit: The Secret Ingredients to Entrepreneurial Success with Robert Irvine, Part 1

The blog explores the essential qualities of empathy and grit in achieving entrepreneurial success, as Matt Tait and Robert Irvine discussed. Empathy enables business leaders to build genuine connections and enhance team dynamics by fostering trust, collaboration, and a positive workplace culture. Grit and resilience empower entrepreneurs to overcome challenges and maintain a steadfast commitment to their goals, with confidence playing a crucial role in navigating uncertainties. The blog also highlights leadership lessons, emphasizing the importance of embracing independent thinkers and the power of humility in fostering an inclusive and innovative work environment. With these attributes, entrepreneurs can create a resilient and adaptable organization poised for long-term success.

Leadership Lessons from My Experience with Robert Irvine, Part 2

In the second part of this blog, Tait explores leadership and the importance of embracing independent thinkers and humility in management. Fostering diverse perspectives encourages innovation and continuous improvement, while humility allows leaders to recognize their limitations and learn from others, strengthening team dynamics and promoting an environment of respect and learning. These approaches are fundamental to organizational success and sustained growth in today's competitive business environment.

Kim Angeli Freed Up Time and Saved on Taxes

Decimal worked with Kim Angeli to handle taxes and bookkeeping so that she can focus on growing her business and helping more clients.

Majestic Stone Imports Cut Costs and Eliminated Days from Processes

Decimal worked with Majestic Stone Imports to update its tech stack, build new processes, and restore financial visibility.

Lessons from Robert Irvine: Building a Successful Business with Empathy and Resilience

Robert Irvine exemplifies how empathy and resilience can drive business success. His approach to leading with compassion, particularly for small to midsize companies, highlights the importance of understanding team dynamics and fostering trust through empathetic leadership. Irvine views setbacks as learning opportunities that build resilience. For scaling businesses, maintaining core values and authenticity is key to aligning growth with the company’s mission. This approach assures stakeholders that the business ethos remains intact, encouraging confidence. By following these principles, companies can achieve sustainable success while preserving their brand identity.

Mastering SMB Taxes: Your Ultimate 2025 Q1 Tax Action Plan

Discover our expertly crafted 2025 Q1 Tax Action Plan, designed to guide small and medium-sized businesses through the complex world of taxes with confidence. This blog provides a comprehensive roadmap, from organizing your financial records to distributing essential forms like W-2s and 1099s. Learn how to leverage tax credits such as the Work Opportunity and R&D Tax Credits while ensuring timely and accurate tax filings. With Decimal's reliable and tailored tax services, we're more than just a service provider; we’re your trusted partner in financial health, empowering you to focus on business growth without the stress of tax obligations.

Simplifying Taxes: A 2025 Roadmap for Small Business Owners

This comprehensive guide delves into the often-daunting world of small business taxes, offering clarity and actionable insights for entrepreneurs navigating the fast-approaching 2025 tax obligations. Our roadmap breaks down critical components such as estimated tax payments, key filing deadlines, and strategies for maximizing tax credits. Designed with small to mid-sized companies in mind, this guide emphasizes the importance of understanding tax nuances to ensure compliance and financial health. Businesses can confidently focus on growth and innovation by leveraging expert advice from trusted partners like Decimal. This resource serves to inform and empower decision-makers with the knowledge needed to streamline tax management effectively.

Year-End Reporting and Planning: Bookkeeping Services Tips for Small Businesses

Now that 2024 is over, small business owners must master the intricacies of year-end financial reporting and planning. This blog post serves as a comprehensive guide, offering essential tips on boosting financial health and confidently preparing for the new fiscal year. Our guide empowers you to tackle financial challenges and seize new opportunities, reinforcing your business's financial foundation. Connect with us for more insights and to transform your year-end reporting process into a strategic advantage!

Fiscal Year Preparation: How to Establish a Solid Financial Foundation for Your Business

As the fiscal year approaches, it is essential for small business owners to not only prepare their bookkeeping but also develop a comprehensive budget that supports their growth objectives. This blog post will explore effective strategies for establishing a solid financial foundation, including analyzing past expenses, forecasting future needs, and aligning budget allocations with business goals. By crafting a realistic and ambitious budget, small businesses can confidently navigate upcoming challenges, optimize resource allocation, and ultimately drive sustainable growth throughout the year. Join us as we provide actionable insights and tools to help you build a budget that propels your business forward!

Leading with Empathy: Lessons from Robert Irvine on Effective Leadership

Robert Irvine's empathetic leadership approach exemplifies how understanding, trust, and compassion are the foundation for driving effective leadership and fostering resilient, high-performing teams. By incorporating these core elements into his leadership strategy, Irvine illustrates how deeply understanding team members' needs and aspirations can create a supportive environment that nurtures both individual and collective success. Trust becomes the bedrock upon which collaboration and innovation flourish as employees feel secure in expressing their ideas and taking calculated risks. Through prioritizing these empathetic principles, Robert Irvine demonstrates that leadership is not just about guiding people to achieve organizational goals but also about empowering them to thrive, adapt, and succeed in the face of challenges, ensuring long-term growth and sustainability for the organization.

A billion-dollar enterprise built on empathy and grit with Robert Irvine

Building a legacy through empathetic leadership and resilience

Building Confidence in Your Financial Health: Tools for Small Business Owners

Maintaining financial health is paramount for small business owners seeking growth and stability in today's fast-paced business environment. This guide, "Building Confidence in Your Financial Health: Tools for Small Business Owners," offers essential insights into key financial health indicators—such as cash flow, profit margins, and debt-to-equity ratios—that are crucial for understanding your company’s financial standing. By leveraging these metrics, business owners can more effectively manage their resources, ensuring informed financial decision-making and long-term stability. You'll find strategies and digital tools that empower you to take charge of your financial future confidently. Whether you’re an experienced entrepreneur or new to the business world, this resource is a trusted advisor to guide you through the complexities of financial management, helping you build a more resilient and successful business.

Navigating 2025 with Confidence: Essential Financial Metrics for Small Businesses

As we move into a new year, small business owners must prioritize financial health to ensure sustainable growth and profitability. This blog will delve into key financial metrics that every entrepreneur should closely monitor, including cash flow, gross profit margin, net profit margin, current ratio, and accounts receivable turnover. By understanding and regularly reviewing these metrics, small business owners can gain valuable insights into their financial performance, make informed decisions, and strategize effectively for future success in 2025 and beyond. We'll also discuss how to set realistic benchmarks, the significance of trend analysis, and the role of financial forecasting in achieving business goals.

Navigating Employee Tax Forms: Filing W-2 Forms with Confidence

Filing W-2 Forms is crucial for accurate tax reporting for employees and employers. With the January 31 deadline each year, businesses must prepare and submit these forms carefully and on time. By using the right tools and gaining a clear understanding, organizations can handle W-2 Forms well, strengthening their trust as a financial partner for their employees.

USA Diving Experienced Greater Financial Visibility and Improved Accounting Processes

USA Diving chose Decimal to provide them with detailed financial visibility into the organization and build improved processes to make financial operations more manageable.

StarLifter Focuses on Value-Add Activities, Not Bookkeeping

Learn how data analysis platform, StarLifter, partnered with Decimal to expertly handle its bookkeeping needs and streamline accounting operations.

Simplifying Financial Ratio Analysis: A Comprehensive Guide for Small Business Owners: Part 1

Gain confidence in managing your business's financial health with our comprehensive guide on financial ratio analysis. This guide, designed specifically for small business owners, demystifies crucial financial ratios like profitability, liquidity, efficiency, and leverage. By understanding and utilizing these metrics, you can make informed, strategic decisions that enhance your business operations, assess financial performance, and manage risks effectively. Empower yourself with the knowledge to ensure long-term sustainability and thrive in competitive markets. Dive into the insights and practical tools necessary to navigate the complexities of financial decision-making and drive your business toward success.

Simplifying Financial Ratio Analysis: A Comprehensive Guide for Small Business Owners: Part 2

At Decimal, our mission is to empower small to midsized businesses with expert financial solutions that enhance stability and growth. We strive to be your trusted advisor in navigating the complexities of finance, ensuring your company thrives through innovative and reliable bookkeeping and tax services. By aligning on a shared brand identity and value proposition, we guide decision-making for our service offerings and provide a foundational strategy for marketing and communications. Our commitment lies in fostering a confident and secure financial environment, allowing CEOs, business owners, and finance professionals to focus on what's most important — driving their businesses forward with trust and reliability at the core.

Start Your Year Right: How Decimal Tax Services Simplifies 2025 Tax Deadlines for Small Businesses

This blog presents Decimal Tax Services as an expert partner helping small businesses confidently and easily navigate the 2025 tax landscape. We emphasize our role as a trusted advisor, simplifying complex tax deadlines and ensuring compliance. Key deadlines include quarterly estimated taxes and specific filing dates for various business structures. Our professional team offers tailored solutions, proactive guidance, and timely reminders, allowing business owners to focus on growth and strategic initiatives. By partnering with us, businesses gain reliability and peace of mind, knowing that their tax obligations are expertly managed.

What I learned about leadership in 2024

This year, I had the privilege of sitting down with some of the most inspiring entrepreneurs and leaders on After the First Million. Together, we explored the messy middle of entrepreneurship. Every conversation left me with a new perspective, a deeper understanding, and a reminder that we’re never truly alone in this journey. As I reflect on a year of incredible insights, I’m excited to take these lessons into the new year—and I hope they inspire you, too.

Unlocking Business Potential: How Accurate Financial Reporting Fuels Small Business Growth

This blog post delves into the critical role that accurate financial reporting plays in small business growth and sustainability. It emphasizes how precise financial data goes beyond mere compliance, acting as a strategic tool that empowers business owners to make informed decisions and optimize cash flow management. By maintaining financial transparency, small businesses improve operational efficiency and attract investors, fostering competitive strength in the market.

Quarterly Tax Strategies Unveiled: Navigating the 2025 Filing Season Successfully

In this blog, we delve into essential strategies for mastering the 2025 filing season tailored for small and medium-sized business owners. Key highlights include the importance of organizing financial records, timely distribution of W-2 and 1099 forms, and making estimated tax payments. The guide emphasizes exploring lucrative tax credits and prioritizing strategic tax planning to improve financial outcomes. By adhering to the outlined steps, businesses can enhance their tax preparedness and optimize their fiscal strategy.

Decimal 2024 Highlights

In 2024, Decimal became a key partner in financial solutions for SMBs by launching tools that streamline financial processes, allowing business owners to focus on their main activities. Focusing on transparency and quick improvements, Decimal introduced features like real-time financial tracking and seamless integration, boosting accuracy and efficiency. Improved client support services, featuring personalized assistance from dedicated accounting managers and advanced communication tools, strengthened client partnerships and fueled business growth. By leveraging state-of-the-art technology and client-centric solutions, Decimal redefined financial management for SMBs, enabling greater success. Through strategic partnerships and client feedback, Decimal ensures its solutions evolve with industry needs, enhancing decision-making and business outcomes. Experience the Decimal difference—where expertise and innovation unlock your business's potential.

Navigating the Entrepreneurial Journey: Key Lessons Learned from a Year in Business

This blog post takes you on a reflective journey through the entrepreneurial experience, sharing key lessons and insights gathered from a year in business. As a trusted advisor and expert, the author provides valuable guidance on navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship with confidence and resilience. You will find informative discussions on building a strong company culture, overcoming challenges, and achieving work-life balance—each essential for steering your venture towards sustainable success. The professional yet reassuring tone ensures clarity and reliability, making this post an invaluable resource for business owners, finance professionals, and internal teams aiming to align their brand identity and make informed decisions. Through structured information and practical advice, the blog offers a supportive partnership on your path to becoming a successful business leader.

Transform Your Practice's Financial Health: Strategic Insights for Orthodontists

In an increasingly competitive industry, orthodontic practices must prioritize financial health to ensure growth and sustainability. By partnering with Decimal, orthodontists access expert financial insights explicitly tailored for dental practices. Decimal's solutions provide the tools and expertise needed for orthodontists to confidently navigate financial challenges, maintain robust financial health, and ultimately deliver exceptional patient care while achieving business success.

Bookkeeping Tips to Maximize Small Business Tax Savings

Learn practical bookkeeping tips to maximize small business tax savings, from categorizing expenses to analyzing reports for timely tax deductions.

The CFO’s Guide: Transforming Balance Sheets and Cash Flow into Business Insights

In "The CFO’s Guide: Transforming Balance Sheets and Cash Flow into Business Insights," the blog post explores how CFOs can leverage financial statements to drive strategic business management and achieve sustainable growth. The guide emphasizes balance sheets, income, and cash flow statements for informed decision-making, strategic planning, and performance evaluation. By understanding these documents, CFOs can transform data into actionable insights that ensure financial health and identify opportunities for improvement. Financial statements assist in strategic planning, enhance performance evaluation, and support sustainable growth initiatives.

The Difference Between Good and Bad Growth: Matt Tait's Takeaways from the Podcast

In the podcast with Chad Peterman, Matt Tait explores the crucial distinction between good and bad business growth. The discussion emphasizes that growth should include more than just increased revenue or operations but align with core company values and strategic vision. The discourse guides business leaders aiming to achieve sustainable and intentional growth, acting as a trusted advisor or supportive partner in their growth journey.

Understanding Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

The blog on beneficial ownership reporting compliance is a vital resource for small and mid-sized business leaders seeking clarity amidst complex regulatory requirements. It emphasizes the importance of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) and its implications for disclosing ownership information through FinCEN. The blog demystifies the reporting process by detailing key steps, critical timelines, and potential exemptions while offering practical guidance for achieving compliance. By aligning with regulatory standards, businesses not only fulfill legal obligations but also enhance their credibility and trust with stakeholders.

Your Essential Guide to Tax Deadlines: Navigating 2024 and 2025 with Confidence

This comprehensive guide is crafted to empower business owners, finance professionals, and individuals to confidently manage their tax responsibilities for 2024 and 2025. By understanding crucial IRS deadlines for both personal and business taxes, readers can ensure compliance while optimizing financial operations. The guide offers clear insights into essential tax filing dates, emphasizing the importance of early preparation, strategic planning, and the potential benefits of outsourcing financial tasks. By prioritizing these strategies, you can foster smoother financial planning and minimize stress during tax season, reinforcing your role as a trusted partner in financial management.

The Key to Business Growth: Accurate Financial Insights for SMEs

In today’s competitive market, SMEs confront unique challenges in achieving financial success and growth. Accurate insights are vital, supporting effective management and informed decisions. Through precise reporting and cost management, business owners attain a deep financial understanding, leading to strategies focused on growth. This guide underscores how accurate insights can fortify your financial health and the advantages of expert collaboration.

How to Assess Your Bookkeeping and Accounting Practices for the Past Year

Evaluate your bookkeeping and accounting practices with these tips to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and compliance. Learn strategies for improvement today!

Scaling Success: How Chad Peterman and Peterman Brothers Mastered Company Culture and Talent Development

Peterman Brothers, guided by Chad Peterman, exemplifies how a strong company culture and innovative talent development can drive exponential growth and success. Transforming from a 21-member team to over 500 employees, they emphasize the importance of culture fit and vivid vision to maintain alignment and purpose. By launching the Peterman Top Tech Academy and hiring specialists, they address industry talent gaps and ensure operational efficiency. Effective leadership communication and change management have been crucial in their journey, allowing them to scale while preserving their core values. This comprehensive approach enhances employee and client satisfaction and sets a blueprint for other businesses aiming for sustainable growth and success.

Time is Money: Quantifying the Time Savings and Growth Potential of Professional Bookkeeping Services

This blog explores the key benefits that professional bookkeeping services bring to businesses. These services are crucial for small to midsized businesses looking to improve financial efficiency and grow. Professional bookkeepers act as trusted partners. They prevent errors by keeping accurate financial records, help maximize tax deductions, and free up time for business leaders to focus on growth. Automation improves efficiency by providing real-time insights, making decision-making easier. While DIY bookkeeping might seem cheaper initially, hidden costs and potential mistakes make professional services a smarter investment with better returns. By choosing professional bookkeeping, businesses create stronger financial strategies, ensuring sustainable growth and success.

From 21 to 500 Employees: Lessons on Scaling with Chad Peterman

How a family-run business expanded across four states

Dealing with Small Business Debt: End-of-Year Strategies to Improve Your Financial Position

Struggling with small business debt? Explore effective end-of-year strategies to enhance your financial standing and prepare for the year ahead.

Year-End Financial Health Check: Essential Tips for Business Owners

As the year-end approaches, business owners must prioritize a thorough financial health check to align strategically and ensure fiscal wellbeing. This entails evaluating past performances, ensuring accounting accuracy, and setting realistic goals for enhanced financial management and sustainable growth. In today's piece, we will provide practical and insightful tips tailored specifically for business owners conducting their year-end financial health check. By following these guidelines, you can ensure your business enters the new year with a solid foundation, ready to capitalize on growth opportunities and navigate any financial challenges with confidence.

Five Advantages of a Small Business Credit Card

Discover the major benefits of small business credit cards, including simplified expense management, easy access to funding, and enhanced cash flow.

Scaling a Business: Insights on Startup Growth and Challenges from Brian Powers

Scaling a business in the tech industry is a complex process that requires strategic insights and careful management. Brian Powers, a tech entrepreneur and founder of PactSafe, shared his experiences and strategies for overcoming the challenges of startup growth. Brian's journey provides a roadmap for businesses looking to transition from startup to a scalable enterprise, offering invaluable lessons on maintaining momentum and achieving sustainable growth. Through his expertise, Brian exemplifies the importance of aligning company efforts with brand identity and value proposition, serving as a trusted advisor to those in the entrepreneurial landscape.

End of Year Checklist: Bookkeeping for Small Businesses

Stay organized with our year-end checklist of bookkeeping for small businesses. From reconciling A/R to updating budgets and planning for taxes, finish the year strong!

Navigating The Messy Middle Of Scaling A Business With Brian Powers

This blog post highlights key insights from the After the First Million podcast episode with Brian Powers, offering entrepreneurs actionable advice on navigating the "messy middle" of business growth. It further explores leadership lessons tailored for the dynamic startup world, stressing flexibility, transparent communication, and empowering team members. The article wraps up with strategies for achieving sustainable growth, focusing on scalability, customer retention, and the importance of maintaining founder resilience. Together, these insights aim to guide internal teams and business leaders in aligning brand identity and making informed decisions to foster long-term success.

The lawyer who created a billion-dollar industry with Brian Powers

Turning repeatable wins into scaling success

How to Use Bookkeeping to Inform Your Small Business Strategy for 2025

Discover how your bookkeeping data can guide your small business strategy by enabling you to review your financial health and identify key trends and patterns.

The Hidden Power of Accurate Financial Reporting: Boosting Small Business Finance and Growth

Discover the transformative power of precise financial reporting in our latest blog. By ensuring accuracy in financial data, small businesses can streamline operations, make informed strategic decisions, and foster growth. Learn essential tips to enhance your financial reporting, building a strong foundation for success. Accurate reports bolster trust with stakeholders like investors and creditors, crucial for securing funding and sustaining confidence. Implementing regular financial health checks and improving financial systems ensures resilience and competitiveness. Let our insights guide you to better strategic decisions, aligning your business for sustainable growth and success.

How to Determine if a Small Business Loan Can Benefit Your Company

Learn how to analyze your financial capacity, conduct a cost-benefit analysis to evaluate an investment, and calculate the return on investment to determine if a small business loan is best for you.

Mastering Tax Moves for Orthodontists: Insights from Decimal's Zdravko Ivanov at WOCON

The blog provides a comprehensive guide on strategic tax planning specifically for orthodontists, emphasizing the importance of adapting to upcoming tax law changes. Zdravko Ivanov from Decimal shared pivotal insights at WOCON, highlighting the role of efficient planning in optimizing financial performance. Key topics included understanding beneficial ownership reporting, maximizing deductions through strategies like the California Pass-Through Entity Tax, and selecting the correct entity type to aid in practice growth. Ivanov's expertise also extended to retirement planning, offering solutions that foster both immediate tax benefits and long-term stability. The insights presented serve as crucial guidelines for orthodontists, ensuring they not only comply with regulatory requirements but also achieve a competitive edge in financial management. This reinforces Decimal's commitment as a supportive partner and trusted advisor in guiding orthodontic practices towards sustainable growth and profitability.

Top Three Bookkeeping and Accounting Concerns for Dentists and Orthodontists

Learn about the top three bookkeeping and accounting concerns for dentists and orthodontists like poor financial planning for investments and complicated billing.

Unlocking Entrepreneurial Success: Insights from Decimal's Matt Tait and Rich Hagberg

Decimal offers a guiding light for entrepreneurs navigating the intricate journey of building and scaling successful businesses. By leveraging strategic insights and embracing adaptability, founders can transform challenges into growth opportunities. Decimal supports this vision by managing financial operations, allowing business leaders to focus on innovation and development. By aligning internal efforts with a clear brand identity and value proposition, Decimal positions itself as a reliable partner to small and midsized companies, instilling confidence and trust within the business community.

Your Complete Guide to Organizing 1099 Documents Before the January 31st Deadline

This comprehensive guide emphasizes the importance of organizing 1099 documents ahead of the January 31st deadline, specifically targeting small business owners. With insights and advice from tax experts, the blog aims to equip readers with effective strategies for accurate and timely 1099 filing. Key topics discussed include understanding the significance of precise 1099 forms, common mistakes to avoid, and valuable tax tips for freelancers. The guide further elaborates on methods to streamline document preparation and the advantages of early organization. Additionally, it highlights the benefits of using Decimal's services to ease the filing process, offering a reliable partnership that prioritizes accuracy and compliance, thereby supporting overall business growth and success.

What Can I Expect from A Bookkeeping Service Provider?

Learn the different services you can expect from a bookkeeping service provider. We also give practical tips on choosing the best provider for your business.

Navigating the 1099 Deadline: How Decimal Financial Services Simplifies Your Tax Season

Navigating the 1099 deadline can be daunting for entrepreneurs, requiring detailed organization and tax knowledge. Decimal simplifies this by offering expert support, ensuring accurate and timely tax preparation. By understanding and planning for the 1099 deadline, businesses can avoid stress and penalties. Decimal offers a comprehensive solution, streamlining processes and providing quick support, allowing business owners to focus on growth.

Key characteristics of successful founders with Rich Hagberg

From CEO to coaching master strategist

How to Improve Bill Pay Process for Your Small Business

Discover effective strategies for how to improve bill pay for your business. Achieve efficiency, reduce errors, and manage payments with ease.

Navigating the Future: How Intuit Connect is Revolutionizing Accounting and Fintech

Intuit Connect has emerged as a catalyst for bridging the gap between traditional accounting practices and the innovative wave of fintech, signaling a significant shift in the financial services landscape. As highlighted throughout the event, there's a burgeoning transformation where accountants are evolving from conventional roles into strategic advisors equipped with cutting-edge tools to enhance client relationships and deliver more value. This synergy of fintech's agility with accounting's reliability is reshaping the profession, making accountants instrumental in providing real-time insights and personalized advice. At Decimal, we recognize these developments as an exciting opportunity to align our internal strategies, ensuring our offerings embody our core promise of expertise, reliability, and tailored support. By embracing this dual approach, we position ourselves as trusted partners, ready to lead in financial innovation and help our clients navigate a successful path forward.

Better Bookkeeping to Streamline Your Business Tax Filing

Learn how better bookkeeping can streamline your business tax filing. Keep your financial records in order and ensure accuracy and efficiency this tax season.

2024 1099-NEC Filing: What Business Owners Need to Know

All non-employee compensation payments must be reported on Form 1099-NEC, which is filed with both your contractors and the IRS. This dedicated form, separate from Form 1099-MISC, ensures proper reporting of contractor payments for the 2024 tax year.

The “Best Accountant Near Me” Might Be Online

Discover why the “best accountant near me” might be an online accounting service provider. These services can optimize your accounting and save you money.

Essential Tips for Orthodontist Practice Bookkeeping

Learn essential tips to efficient orthodontist practice bookkeeping, including streamlining patient account management and conducting financial reviews.

Spooky Financial Mistakes to Avoid This Tax Season: A Business Owner's Guide

This blog post serves as a vital guide for business owners who are preparing for tax season. It highlights the common financial pitfalls to avoid, such as improper record-keeping, overlooked deductions, and non-compliance with tax law changes. Emphasizing the importance of organizing financial documents and leveraging professional tax preparation help, the post offers practical tips to transform the daunting tax season into a manageable task. Furthermore, it discusses the advantages of planning ahead, evaluating outsourcing benefits, and employing Halloween-themed marketing strategies to engage clients. Decimal, as a trusted partner, provides comprehensive solutions to ensure businesses remain compliant, optimize savings, and focus on growth without the stress of financial missteps.

Strengthening Our Remote Team Culture at Decimal

In the latest episode of "Leading as your authentic self with Adam Weber," seasoned entrepreneur and executive coach Adam Weber provides actionable insights for overcoming business growth challenges. This blog post distills essential lessons and strategies for CEOs and business leaders, focusing on leadership development, employee engagement, and effective growth strategies. Discover how executive coaching can enhance your leadership abilities and create a thriving workplace culture that fuels innovation and productivity. Equip yourself with the tools to confidently navigate the complex business scaling journey, aligning strategic decisions with core values and long-term objectives. Join us in leveraging these insights to build a resilient, successful enterprise.

Transforming Financial Operations: Kim Angeli’s Success Story with Decimal’s Tax Preparation

Kim Angeli's collaboration with Decimal exemplifies the transformative power of strategic partnerships in financial operations. Entrusting Decimal with her tax preparation and bookkeeping, Kim avoided a substantial tax bill and gained valuable time to focus on her core business objectives. This case study underscores the importance of selecting reliable partners to enhance financial clarity and operational efficiency, fostering business success and strategic focus.

Unlocking Business Growth: Lessons from the Messy Middle with Adam Weber

In the podcast episode "Leading as your authentic self with Adam Weber," Adam Weber offers valuable insights for business leaders and CEOs on scaling businesses. He shares entrepreneurial and executive coaching experiences, providing lessons and strategies to navigate growth phases. The document covers enhancing leadership skills and understanding employee engagement to equip leaders with practical coaching tips and inspire confidence in their ventures. It highlights keys to business growth and personal development, drawing on real-world experiences and professional guidance.‍

October 31 Approaches: How to Ensure IRS Quarterly Payments Are Filed on Time

As the October 31 IRS quarterly payments deadline looms, small business owners and freelancers must prioritize timely tax filings. The blog underscores key elements of managing quarterly payments, highlighting compliance with crucial dates, the benefits of reduced stress during tax season, and the importance of fostering a positive relationship with the IRS. It also addresses tax categories like income, self-employment, and payroll taxes. Efficient preparation through strategic financial planning, documenting income and expenses, and utilizing resources like IRS Form 1040-ES is essential. Keeping organized financial records and making timely payments via the IRS online portal can help avoid penalties and interest. The post advocates for a proactive tax management approach, ensuring financial stability and business growth and bringing peace of mind as the year concludes.

Leading as your authentic self with Adam Weber

Learning to lead and creating a radically transparent culture

Getting Your Small Business Accounting in Shape: Part 4 – Accounts Receivable

Learn effective accounts receivable strategies to improve cash flow and grow your small business.

Innovation and Adaptation

This blog post emphasizes the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in business, highlighting its ability to foster innovation and growth. It discusses the importance of resilience and creativity in entrepreneurship, encouraging business owners to view setbacks as opportunities for learning and innovation. Inspiring leadership insights advocate for humility, collaboration, and leveraging unique strengths to inspire teams and achieve organizational goals. Additionally, the post introduces Decimal, a financial management tool that simplifies bookkeeping and enhances financial operations, proving a reliable partner in business efficiency. Through these insights, the post aligns with the brand's identity as a supportive ally for small to mid-sized companies, reassuring that they can thrive in today’s competitive landscape with the right tools and mindset.

Strategic Planning for Business Growth: Sharon Rechter's Calculated Risks

In the "After the First Million" podcast episode, Sharon Rechter, co-founder of First Media, shares her unique approach to business strategy known as "calculated crazy." By balancing risk-taking with strategic foresight, she's driven her company to significant success, influencing 71% of women in the U.S. and achieving over 2.5 billion impressions monthly. This blog post explores how Sharon's philosophy advocates for bold yet well-analyzed risks aligned with clear business goals. Her insights stress the importance of humility, adaptability, and a methodical approach to embracing the inherent chaos of entrepreneurship. This strategy mitigates potential failures and fosters sustainable growth, with Decimal CEO Matt Tait reflecting on the power of effective financial management in supporting entrepreneurial vision.

Tax Planning for Dentists and Orthodontists

Discover essential tax planning strategies for dentists and orthodontists to maximize savings and financial health. Learn about deductible expenses, retirement plans, and more.

Mastering 2025: Essential Tax Filing and Financial Strategies for Small Business Success

As small businesses gear up for 2025, refining tax filing and financial strategies to thrive is crucial. This comprehensive guide emphasizes the importance of streamlined bookkeeping, efficient systems, and regular quarterly tax payments. By maintaining organized records and implementing technology, businesses can simplify tax preparation, enhance decision-making, and optimize cash flow management. Regularly reviewing financial strategies can unlock new tax deductions and foster growth. Consulting with tax professionals like those at Decimal ensures compliance and maximizes deductions, helping you align with industry benchmarks and navigate tax complexities. Trust Decimal as your partner in mastering financial health, offering expertise and proactive guidance for a prosperous future.

Bookkeeper vs Controller: How to Determine the Best Fit for Your Growing Small Business

Discover whether a bookkeeper vs controller is right for your business. Learn key differences, benefits, and factors to consider for effective financial management and growth.

Transform Your Financial Operations with Decimal: A Case Study with USA Diving

This blog post outlines how Decimal assisted USA Diving, a non-profit, in overcoming financial challenges with tailored solutions. Manual processes hindered USA Diving's financial transparency and accuracy, requiring specialized support. Decimal simplified bookkeeping, greatly enhancing reporting efficiency. USA Diving refocused on its mission by significantly reducing line items and achieving better financial transparency and operational efficiency. Explore how Decimal can enhance your financial processes, offering increased efficiency and transparency.

Embracing Evolution in Business with Sharon Rechter

Explore the transformative journey of Sharon Rechter, President and Co-founder of First Media, as she navigates the intricate landscape of business evolution. This blog post highlights essential insights for internal alignment and strategic decision-making regarding product and service offerings. Sharon’s experiences serve as foundational guidance for marketing and communication strategies, particularly beneficial for internal team members, CEOs, business owners, and finance professionals in small to midsized companies. This article positions Sharon as a trusted advisor and expert, providing insights with confidence and reliability. It is designed to inspire and support your path to success with clarity and professionalism.

Getting Your Small Business Accounting in Shape: Part 3 – Investing for Growth

Set up your small business accounting for sustainable success with tips on financial check-ups, diversifying revenue, and crafting promotions. Thrive year-round with expert insights on investing for growth.

The art of evolution and calculated risk with Sharon Rechter

How a dyslexic author reshaped the media industry

Financial Statement Analysis and KPIs Made Simple for Orthodontists

Learn how to analyze your orthodontist business’s financial performance, including efficient financial statement analysis, to boost profitability and growth!

Beat the October 15 Deadline: Essential Tips for Filing Extended Tax Returns

Beat the October 15 tax extension deadline with peace of mind by leveraging expert guidance. This blog post offers essential tips for taxpayers and C Corporation owners to efficiently file Extended Tax Returns, emphasizing the importance of organized financial documentation and timely consultation with accountants. Gain insights into IRS regulations and optimize your tax situation to avoid penalties. With a structured approach and professional support, navigate this critical period confidently and effectively prepare for future tax seasons.

Five Off-Season Strategies to Boost Growth for Your Home Services Business

Boost your home services business during the off-season with strategies for financial check-ups, revenue diversification, and effective promotions. Learn how to thrive year-round with practical tips and expert insights.

Navigating the October 15th Tax Deadline: What to Do If You Missed It

As financial stewards, missing the critical October 15th tax deadline can initially seem daunting, but understanding the repercussions and exploring available solutions can help mitigate the impact. This comprehensive guide outlines essential steps and options to manage potential penalties and interest accrual efficiently. By acting swiftly and leveraging professional advice, small and midsized businesses and finance professionals can confidently manage tax obligations, ensuring financial stability and compliance.

The Power of a Strong 'Why' in Business: Insights from the Sims Foster Podcast

This blog draws insights from the podcast episode featuring Decimal CEO Matt Tait and Sims Foster of Denihan, “The Power of a Strong 'Why' in Business”. The discussion emphasizes the necessity of a strong 'why' in the business realm. It explores how a well-defined purpose aids in aligning internal teams, guiding strategic decisions, and enhancing marketing and communication strategies. Key takeaways include the importance of building trust through purpose, navigating challenges with resilience, and inspiring motivation and confidence among employees. The post also shares Sims Foster’s entrepreneurial journey and lessons learned, such as balancing personal passion with professional endeavors and prioritizing community engagement. It concludes with practical tips on cultivating a strong 'why' within an organization, underscoring the role of purpose as a foundational element for business success.

Empowered Entrepreneurs: How Decimal Supports Leadership Mastery

Discover how Decimal empowers entrepreneurs with the tools and strategies needed to balance leadership demands and personal values. Inspired by the insights of seasoned entrepreneur Lindsay Roselle, our approach emphasizes the importance of storytelling and decision-making. We provide resources that support leaders in confidently navigating business challenges and thriving in their professional and personal lives. Whether you're refining your leadership skills or seeking supportive business solutions, join Decimal in simplifying operations and experiencing empowered business leadership.

Boost Your Practice: Insights from the SSO Conference on Financial Management and Bookkeeping Services

Dive into the dynamic discussions from the SSO Conference, where orthodontic professionals explored groundbreaking financial management and bookkeeping strategies. Learn how Decimal can help streamline your practice’s financial operations, allowing you to focus on patient care and growth. Our expert-driven insights offer a roadmap to enhance efficiency, reliability, and success in your day-to-day operations.

What to Do Next After Creating Your Small Business Budget

Learn what steps to take after creating your small business budget, including monitoring, financial controls, and tax planning. Ensure long-term success with expert tips.

Getting Your Small Business Accounting in Shape: How to Strategically Cut Costs

Discover strategic cost-cutting tips to boost your profitability. Learn how your small business accounting can manage expenses and cut costs the smart way.

Building up a community while growing a company with Sims Foster

How a hotel owner transformed a small-town economy.

Navigating Form 1099: A Guide for Small Business Owners

Learn about Form 1099 and the importance of collecting Form W-9 on time. Stay organized and compliant with our expert guidance on tax documentation.

How to Avoid Filing an Extension: Consulting a Tax Advisor and Other Strategies

Learn how to avoid tax extensions with practical strategies, including consulting a tax advisor. Know how to streamline your recordkeeping and tax filing.

Getting Your Small Business Accounting in Shape: Revenue

Discover how to get your small business accounting in shape, starting with understanding revenue. Plus, get actionable tips to record your revenue accurately.

Finding Your Leadership Groove with Lindsay Roselle

Balancing entrepreneurship and early motherhood

Building a Trustworthy Company Culture in a Remote Work Environment: A Chat with Matt Tait

Building a trustworthy company culture in a remote work environment is crucial in today's business landscape. Our CEO, Matt Tait, shares expert insights on the "Made for Impact" podcast, highlighting strategies like leadership, transparency, and problem-solving that define Decimal's approach. Listen to the podcast and explore our full blog post to gain deeper insights into fostering a thriving remote company culture. Let's drive innovation together and build trust with our teams and clients.

Orthodontics Financial Management: Strategies to Control Cash Flow and Minimize Expenses

Effectively managing finances is crucial for the growth and stability of orthodontic practices. This blog post delves into essential cash flow strategies and expense reduction techniques tailored for orthodontic businesses. Key topics include the importance of cash flow management, understanding and analyzing burn rates, and actionable strategies for reducing expenses and expanding revenue streams. Additionally, it highlights how Decimal's customized financial management solutions can streamline operations, minimize costs, and support the financial health of your practice. By implementing these strategies, orthodontic practices can maintain financial stability and be better positioned for future opportunities.

Transform Your Business: A Guide to Efficiency and Growth

Transform Your Business with Delegating Accounting Services. Outsourced accounting services offer a strategic approach to financial management, enabling businesses to enhance efficiency and focus on growth. This blog post explores the benefits of delegating financial operations to professional firms, emphasizing cost savings, access to expertise, and improved accuracy and compliance. Partner with Decimal for comprehensive, tailored financial solutions that promise cost efficiency, access to expertise, and compliance assurance. Transform your business operations by focusing on growth and leaving financial tasks to trusted experts.

Unlocking Profitability: Accounting for Your Orthodontic Practice

Discover how outsourcing accounting services can significantly elevate your orthodontic practice by improving financial management and boosting profitability. This blog post explores the benefits of hiring an experienced accounting team, which allows you to focus more on patient care by letting experts handle complex financial tasks. By utilizing cloud-based solutions and automation, operational efficiency is enhanced, compliance is ensured, and financial errors are minimized. Learn about strategic insights that optimize revenue streams, manage expenses, and uncover growth opportunities. The discussion also covers essential criteria for selecting the right accounting partner, emphasizing the importance of expertise, cloud adaptability, and the value of long-term relationships to empower your practice towards sustained success.

Your Home Services Cost Proposal: How to Integrate Profit and Loss

Discover how to effectively integrate profit and loss in your home services cost proposal.

A Quick Guide: Transform Your Orthodontic Practice with Expert Accounting

Effectively managing an orthodontic practice involves more than patient care; it requires complex financial tasks like billing, payroll, and taxes. This blog highlights the benefits of partnering with experienced accounting professionals who can streamline operations, ensure regulatory compliance, and provide valuable financial insights. Key topics include enhancing operational efficiency, staying updated with regulatory changes, and leveraging in-depth financial analysis for strategic growth. By outsourcing accounting functions, orthodontic practices can focus on delivering exceptional care while benefiting from improved financial management and clarity.

Coping with Small Business Financial Stress: Hiring Bookkeeping Services and Other Strategies

Learn how to reduce financial stress and take control of your cash flow through practical strategies, including hiring a professional bookkeeping service.

Payroll Support Guide for Small Businesses

Discover effective small business payroll support strategies, including key terms, classifications, and compliance. Learn to set up and manage payroll with Decimal’s expert assistance.

Essential Tools for Small Business Financial Operations

Discover essential tools for small business financial operations and learn how to automate and streamline your bookkeeping for optimal efficiency.

From burnout to breakthroughs with Kevin Bailey

The transition of imposter syndrome to mindful coach

How to Prepare for Growth by Delegating Financial Operations

Discover how delegating financial operations can free you to grow your business. Learn practical steps to outsource with confidence and peace of mind.

How To Read a Balance Sheet: A Comprehensive for Home Services Business

Learn how to read a balance sheet and gain insights into liquidity, solvency, and overall financial health for long-term success.

Mid-Year Financial Check-Up: Position Your Home Services Business for Year-end Success

Learn how to use your financial reports to assess the financial health of your home service business mid-year and achieve a profitable year.

Transitioning from Paper-based to Digital Financial Operations

Learn how to optimize your financial operations by transitioning from paper-based to digital methods. Follow our detailed guide for a seamless transition.

Business success and boldly being yourself with Lindsay Tjepkema

How authenticity scaled a thriving company

Understanding Form W-9 for Your Small Business

Learn how to master Form W-9 for your small business, including avoiding common mistakes, streamlining the collection process, and staying compliant.

Essential Tax and Legal Terms for Small Businesses

Explore our comprehensive glossary of essential tax and legal terms for small business owners.

Master the Balance Sheet: Financial Statement Analysis for Home Services Business

Gain expertise in financial statement analysis tailored for home service businesses through our in-depth exploration of the balance sheet.

Foundational Concepts for Business Financial Operations

Explore a comprehensive glossary of financial terms essential for small business owners to master the basics of financial operations.

Being consistent and solving big problems with Dagan Xavier

How nutrition labels drove entrepreneurial success

How to Migrate from Quickbooks Desktop to Quickbooks Online

Discover the best practices for migrating from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online. Ensure a smooth transition today!

The Crucial Role of Streamlined Accounting Services in Small Business Financial Management

Feeling overwhelmed by finance management? Streamlined accounting services can help your small business gain control & achieve growth. Learn how.

Key Financial Reports and Terms Every Small Business Owner Should Know

Learn the key financial terms and reports all small business owners should know to master financial management.

How Success Can Look Different with Jeremy Reymer

From Staffing to Tech Innovator

Track Your Spending: The Small Business Guide to Effective Expense Management

Learn expense tracking methods, expense management tools, and best practices to keep your small business spending under control.

A Guide To E-commerce Bookkeeping and Financial Management

Learn the basics of e-commerce bookkeeping, cash flow, inventory, and taxes, and set up your business for success.

Expense Management Tips for HVAC Businesses

Learn about practical expense management strategies for HVAC businesses, including tips and tools to keep a tight lid on your costs.

Riding two rollercoasters: work and personal with Devin Bramhall

Building a values-based culture amidst rapid growth

Analyzing Profit and Loss: A Small Business’s Guide to Financial Independence

Achieve long-term success and learn how effective monitoring of profit and loss can lead your small business to financial independence.

Does My Small Business Need to Worry About the Chart of Accounts?

Discover the indispensable role of a well-organized chart of accounts in small business finance. Explore essential insights to steer clear of financial complexities.

Recordkeeping Best Practices for Small Businesses

Discover recordkeeping best practices for small businesses, including essential tips and tools to make this process as painless and optimized as possible.

The Home Service Business Owner's Guide to Creating an Operating Budget

Discover how to craft an operating budget for your home service business with our comprehensive guide. Gain insights on revenue forecasting, expense management, and financial monitoring through practical tips and real-life examples.

Post-Tax Season Review: How to Better Prepare for Next Year

Navigate the next tax season with ease. This checklist from our tax advisors helps small business owners avoid missed deductions and costly mistakes.

Rebuilding and Learning from Failure with Steven Plappert

How one founder rebuilt reputation and business after public failure

How to Accept Credit Cards without Incurring Fees

Learn how to manage credit card processing fees effectively to enhance profitability for your home service business.

Vacation Peace of Mind: Streamline Your Small Business Bookkeeping Before You Go

Learn how to prepare your small business for a vacation. From planning to bookkeeping and beyond, this comprehensive guide ensures a stress-free break.

How Lee Rubin pivoted and built a Top 10 Fastest-Growing Tech Company

Pivoting from event planning to tech successfully.

The Impact of Aligning Your Company with Your Values with Michael King

How a former nuclear engineer became a visionary fractional CFO

Do I Need A Small Business Accountant for Reconciliation?

Discover how a small business accountant can simplify reconciliation for your company. Learn essential tips and benefits in our comprehensive guide.

My small business can’t outsource accounting. Can it?

Discover the power of outsourced accounting for small businesses. Learn how it streamlines operations, saves time, and drives growth.

Summer Prep: Operations, Bookkeeping and Accounting Strategies for Home Service Businesses

Gear up your home service business for the seasonal surge. Explore essential strategies for bookkeeping and accounting to ensure your business excels during this busy time.

Job Costing Tips for Boosting Project Profitability in Your Home Services Business

Master job costing to calculate your true project costs and set competitive prices. Learn what to include and ensure your business thrives.

The Small Business Owner's Guide to Effective Inventory Management

Discover techniques for inventory management for small business. Learn how to optimize your stock levels, reduce costs, and improve efficiency with our guide.

How to Choose the Right Payment Method for Your Small Business

Explore trends and factors crucial to choosing payment processing methods for your small business. Learn the importance of multiple options and popular tactics to ensure sales and customer satisfaction.

From Trouble to Triumph: Lessons in Resilience with Tiffany Sauder

How one visionary leader turned economic challenges into stepping stones for success

Mastering the Chart of Accounts: A QuickBooks Guide for Home Service Businesses

Unlock financial clarity and efficiency in your home service business with our guide on optimizing the Chart of Accounts in QuickBooks.

Floor It with FinOps: How to Fuel Your Small Business for Growth

Discover how professional financial operations tools and systems can enable your business to grow.

Mastering Profit and Loss (P&L) Statements for Home Service Businesses

Unlock the secrets to financial success with our guide on Profit and Loss statements, tailored for home service entrepreneurs.

Choosing the Best QuickBooks Online Accountant

Discover how to select the perfect QuickBooks Online accountant service to streamline your finances and boost your business's growth.

Embracing Imperfection with Nick Smarrelli

A CEO's journey from startup to mentorship

Choosing the Best Bill Pay Software for Your Business: A Comprehensive Guide

Implementing a bill pay solution is crucial for any business that wants to grow successfully. This guide will walk through the considerations as well as some of the top options to accomplish this.

Top Tax Considerations for 2024

We want to help you approach taxes with confidence. We now have a webinar to answer your questions and highlight the biggest tax considerations as we head into the new year.

Reduce Your Accounts Receivable with These Four Billing Practices

Struggling with ballooning Accounts Receivable? Here are 4 efficient billing practices to reduce and keep your unpaid invoices low.

Understanding Expense Management: Essential Insights for Your Small Business

Discover effective expense management strategies for small businesses, including tips, tools, and software to streamline processes and boost financial health.

Five Ways to Create Financial Stability for Your Landscaping Business

Discover strategies to stabilize your landscaping business year-round. Learn about forecasting, incentives, diversifying services, and reducing cash burn rates.

Choosing the Right Path: Outsourced vs. In-House Accounting Services for Startups and Small Businesses

Explore how small businesses can navigate financial management challenges by choosing the right accounting services, balancing costs, expertise, and compliance.

When is the Right Time to Partner Up with a CFO?

A CFO can be a great addition to your team, but when is the right time to bring one onboard? And would it be better to bring on a fractional CFO? Learn more here!

How 179D Can Benefit Your Real Estate Business

Learn more about the 179D deduction and how it can impact your real estate business. Take advantage of all the opportunities open to you!

Scaling to 500 and Stepping Down with Mark Caswell

How one CEO doubled revenue and successfully exited the business.

Revenue vs Operating Income

Explore the critical distinctions between revenue and operating income and learn how effectively managing these financial factors can drive business success and profitability.

Corporate Transparency Act

Get the essential information around the Corporate Transparency Act and learn what you might need to do for your business.

SECURE Act 2.0

Marketing for Home Services Businesses

Your home services business needs a strong local presence to succeed. Combine that with the best in class financial operations and you'll have a winning strategy to continue selling your offering!

Effective Tax Planning

Business Meal Deductions

Get the full understanding of the changes to business meal deductions, how to approach the process to maximize deductions, and tips to stay compliant in case of an audit.

The Ultimate Guide to Vehicle Deductions for Fleets

Discover strategic financial management for business fleets and maximize tax deductions with our comprehensive guide. Learn the key tips and tricks to improving your company’s cost-efficiency during tax season.

The 10 Essential Tax Deductions Every HVAC Business Owner Needs to Know

Get the essential information around tax deductions for HVAC businesses. With the amount of possibilities to reduce your tax liability by capturing detailed information from your operations, this guide will help you approach taxes with confidence.

Cash Burn Rate: Strategies & Examples

Learn how to analyze and manage cash burn rate for your business success. Discover key financial metrics, forecasting techniques, and strategies to improve cash flow and ensure sustainable growth.

LLC to C Corp

Considering converting your business from an LLC to a C Corporation? Learn about the advantages, legal process, tax implications, and financial planning involved in making this strategic transition for your company.

Work for Hire vs. Independent Contractors

Discover the differences between work-for-hire and independent contractor arrangements. Learn about legal considerations, tax implications, and best practices for your business relationships. Make informed decisions with expert insights.

A Guide to Forecasting and Improving Cash Flow

Good cash flow management is essential to growing your business, strengthening partner relationships, and receiving external funding.

Can You Solve the Shortage of Accountants with Automation?

The shortage of accountants and the rise of technology presents an interesting opportunity for companies looking to solve their financial operations. Read more about the potential solution here.

Unveiling the Future of Finance: Decimal among Tekpon’s Top 10 Accounting Software Choices

Tax Credits vs. Tax Deductions: What Small and Mid-Sized Businesses Need to Know

Tax credits vs. tax deduction - Get the important information around how to best approach this space in this article.

Carving Your Path in CFO Fractional Services

Explore the world of CFO fractional services with expert insights on niches, partnerships, technology, and growth in our comprehensive guide.

What is T&E?

Dive deep into T&E, uncovering its relevance and importance in business. Learn about travel & expense policies and how best to manage these crucial costs. Empower your business decisions with key insights on T&E management.

Protecting Your Online Business: 4 Financial Risks Every Online Seller Must Address

Financing for Small Business | A Complete Guide

What are the best financing options to help fund your small business? Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about financing.

What Is An Operating Budget?

Operating budgets are an important tool for developing projections for the coming year. By looking at past revenues and expenses and taking into account both industry- and economy-wide trends, you can develop a financial plan that helps you prioritize and allocate funds while also tracking current performance.

Making Every Dollar Count | Read the Summary

See a high level view of the discussions we recently hosted on cost-cutting and the best approaches for a business to take and watch the webinar after!

What Is ARR?

What is annual recurring revenue, and how can you improve yours? Read our guide to learn what you need to know about ARR.

Financial Statement Analysis

Financial statement analysis helps you better understand your company’s financial health. Our guide breaks down the process to get started today.

Top 7 Challenges for New E-commerce Business

This guide goes over a couple of the biggest challenges new e-commerce businesses are facing. It also offers several tips on how you can overcome them and start earning revenue even faster.

No One Needs Bookkeeping...

Why can no one agree on what exactly bookkeeping entails? We explore why we should be leaning into the notion of financial operations to solve the accounting challenges for organizations. See why no one needs bookkeeping and why everyone needs financial operations.

Billable Expenses | Importance & Examples

Are your billable expenses tax deductible? Learn about billable expenses and billable income and the differences between billable vs non-billable expenses.

P&L Management | Benefits, Examples & Analysis

P&L management is more than just tracking profit and loss. It’s a powerful financial tool, and the right analysis helps you make both surgical spending cuts and strategic investments.

What is a Controller in Accounting and Finance?

A controller can be a valuable asset in your organization, but if they are distracted with bookkeeping tasks, the full potential of their skill set isn't getting used!

Your CPA Should Not Be Your Bookkeeper

If your CPA is doing all the bookkeeping work, there is a lot of value being left on the table. Leverage your CPA partners for complex work while leaving bookkeeping tasks to resources that cost substantially less!

What Is Outsourced Accounting?

Do you have the in-house skills and resources to take care of your business's bookkeeping and financial management? If not, then outsourced accounting can give you access to a whole accounting department experience for a fraction of the cost.

How To Create An Invoice

Whether creating an invoice manually or if you're using technology, be sure to follow these best practices to get paid accurately, and on time.

What Is An Outsourced CFO?

Outsourced CFO services, or virtual CFOs, are cost-effective financial management services provided by third-party companies.

Switching from QB Desktop to QBO Makes Good Cents

See the operational differences between QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online in this blog post. From accessibility to integrations, the platforms could not be more different!

2024 Tax Due Dates

Discover crucial dates and FAQs for the 2023 tax year! Unlock insights for individual and business filers as Tax Day approaches on April 15th, 2024. Don't miss out — get the essential details now!

Financial Roadmap Planning for Businesses

A thoughtful and carefully constructed plan will provide a clear view of your business’s financial health and identify where improvements can be made for growth.

Using a 1099-MISC Form for 2021 Taxes

Find out more about the 1099-MISC form including who submits it, who needs it, and how it relates to filing your 2021 taxes as a small business owner.

2021 Tax Due Dates for C-Corporations

Tax season is right around the corner, and it goes by fast. Your corporation will want to keep an eye on these crucial tax dates. Watch out for these tax year 2021 due dates for C-Corporations

A Sit-Down With Studio Mcgee

Studio Mcgee is a full-service design company run by husband-wife team Shea and Syd Mcgee. They sold their home and moved to Utah to follow their dreams. With 18 employees, clients all over the country, features in Domino Magazine, and a social media following that might even make Kim K bat an eye—things are paying off in a big way.

Accounting Tasks for the New Year

January is a huge month for business owners. After the year is over, there is a lot that needs to be done to wrap up the past year. What should be on your radar and what needs to get done ASAP? This article will walk you through some of those items.

Why is Accurate Financial Information Critical for Small Businesses?

The importance of maintaining accurate accounts should never be underestimated. Join us to learn why accurate financial information for small businesses is critical for small businesses.

The Top Six Benefits of Managed Accounting

Join us as we explore the benefits of managed accounting and how Decimal can help you to achieve those benefits. If you are considering outsourced managed accounting, you should achieve all six benefits!

Understanding the Business Meals Deduction

This article we’ll cover the changes that have occurred to the business meals and entertainment deduction as well as, how to get the most of your deductions.

Can I Deduct my Clothing as a Business Expense?

Now that you’re a small business owner, it’s time to step up your game when choosing clothing. After all, you can’t meet potential clients for coffee wearing break-away sweat pants.

Client highlight: Otter Learning

Decimal is so proud to be able to work with many amazing businesses and brands. Discover the secret to success in business through our client, Otter Learning.

COVID and Taxes: Tax Breaks That You Should Know

Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, tax time is finally here, and it’s important for everyone to learn more about all of the new tax opportunities that small businesses may qualify for.

Dream Leaf—Turning Dreams into Business (Literally)

Dream Leaf is a fascinating company based out of Utah that uses herbal supplements to purportedly facilitate a variety of cognitive functions such as "Lucid Dreaming, Dream Recall, Balanced Sleep, and Longer Dreams." They have a passionate fan base with over 40,000 followers on Facebook and a recent invite to appear on the TV show "Doctor's."

What is the EFTPS | FAQs

Find out more about the free EFTPS service provided by the U.S. Department of Treasury, including how to use it and which updates may benefit you the most.

2020 Tax due dates for exempt organizations

Exempt organizations, like corporations, individuals, and everything in between, must stay informed of important tax due dates.

Getting Your Business Ready for an IPO

The concept of gearing up for an IPO can seem daunting for any business. Check out this blog for more information about getting your business ready for an IPO.

How 40 Dreams Catering Made an Offer on a Million-Dollar Building With Confidence

Owner and founder Adrienne Fudge got clarity on her finances, saved money, and eventually– made a huge business decision with ease.

How I Am Kid Culture Teaches Youth About Intrinsic Value

Wrongfully imprisoned for 25 years, founder Patrick Pursely uses Decimal to help keep his organization operating as a registered nonprofit.

How to Market Your Startup Locally

You just brought the business of your dreams to life, but you’re just not interested in opening up shop in a sprawling city. You’d rather trade in the pricey rent and taxes for somewhere more affordable and less densely populated, like a small town. Here are some practical tips on how to market your startup locally.

How to Pivot Your Product Line

It’s easy for business owners to become attached to the dream they had when they first started the company. But what happens when a product flops? Don’t worry. A failed product launch doesn’t have to mean your company is doomed to fail. Join us to learn better how to pivot your company's product line.

How to Read a Cash Flow Statement

If you don’t understand how to read financial statements, the numbers and columns scattered across the pages can seem like an unsolved puzzle, broken into hundreds of meaningless pieces. Yet, with some basic knowledge, those pieces can tell you a brilliant story about where your business has been and where it is going.

3 Ways That Having a Human Bookkeeper Can Make Your Life Easier

Hiring a trained bookkeeper ensures that your money is being managed correctly and that nasty surprises don’t catch you off guard.

3 Tips on Engaging With Independent Contractors

When looking to engage a contractor for your business, it is important to know the process so you can find the best possible fit for your business. Continue reading to learn how to simplify the process of engaging with independent professionals.

Client Story: It’s the Little Things That Count

How innovation and Decimal have helped this family-owned pen company provide opportunities for adults with disabilities.

4 Tips on How to Keep Your Business Afloat in a Challenging Economy

In any kind of economic downturn, small businesses are often hit the hardest. It’s now more important than ever to be creative and find ways to make your customers happy.

LLC vs Inc: Advantages + Disadvantages

If you are setting up a business then one of the most important decisions you will need to make is the company structure you choose for that business. Two of the most popular business structures are corporations (also known as Inc., which is short for incorporated) and limited liability companies (LLC).

6 ways to make customers the keystone of your business

Decimal's online accounting service provides personal customer service to every client. Learn tips on how to make your customer service into a tool for your startup.

10 Ideas to Promote Your Small Business Locally

With the internet literally at our fingertips and offering so many free marketing resources, it’s easy to forget that there are plenty of other ways to promote your small business, too. We’ve put together ten easy ideas for promoting your small business right in your town.

The Pros and Cons of Accepting Money From Angel Investors

For a fledgling startup, it might initially seem as though there are only upsides to getting investors interested in your business — after all, it’s extra money that you could really use! However, there are still a few areas of the process to watch out for before saying yes to the investment. Here’s a short list of the pros and cons to keep in mind when getting started.

Should You Be Paying Estimated Taxes?

Find out more about estimated taxes, who pays them, and steps necessary to be compliant.

Real-Time Accounting Provides Valuable Accounting Insights

Real-time bookkeeping uses live data to give you visibility into your current income and expenses, balances, and more. The visibility that real-time bookkeeping provides allows business owners to gain valuable insight into both their finances and businesses. Continue reading for 5 valuable insights you can gain from real-time bookkeeping.

What is a Registered Agent? The Pros and Cons of Acting As Your Own Registered Agent.

Many entrepreneurs know that when you incorporate your small business, whether your entity is an LLC, Corporation, or C Corporation, you will need a registered agent (RA). In many states, having a registered agent is a requirement, but why exactly do you need an RA? And why would you need to hire one if you could do it yourself?

How San Juan Huts Uses Decimal’s Online Accounting for their Outdoor Business

Located in Colorado, San Juan Huts is a trans-generational business that offers "hut-to-hut" backcountry tours in some of the most remote spots along the Rocky Mountains. Their network of singletrack trails and routes is dotted with 16 isolated huts that make for more enjoyable adventures.

Should Your Small Business Be Filing 1099-NEC Forms?

Let’s explore Form 1099-NEC – who is required to file it, who should be furnished it, and its importance in meeting your annual tax return requirements.

The 25-Item Small Business Checklist

Gumption gets you far but a smartly crafted small business checklist AND gumption? Well, that gets you even farther. From research to business licenses, to bank account and bookkeeping, this list will get you started.

5 Steps to Successful Remote Hiring

Remote work isn't new, but it seems to have now shifted from a rare perk to the norm for many businesses. This change has many benefits for small businesses. Remote work now allows business owners to find the best talent regardless of their location. However, hiring remotely is different from in-person hiring, and small business owners need to know how to approach the process.

Viral Marketing: 27 Ways to Make Your Content Go Viral!

Trying to market your business without understanding the science of virality is like trying to steer a ship with no sails. With the dawn of social media, the ability to reach large audiences at low costs has never been greater.

What Does the Wayfair Sales Tax Ruling Mean for my Business?

In South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., the Supreme Court of the United States overturned the physical presence nexus rule for state sales taxes. Without the requirement of a physical presence to establish nexus, it is possible for solely virtual and economic contacts in a state to give the state jurisdiction to require an out-of-state retailer to collect and remit sales and use tax on sales to in-state customers.

When It's Time to Hire a Bookkeeper

When you first open your business, you might be able to run everything by yourself. Eventually, hiring a bookkeeper will become a vital step to help ensure continued growth for your business. Continue reading for 5 signs that indicate it’s time to hire a bookkeeper for your business.

Form 1099-K: Reporting of Web-Based and App-Based Transactions Will Increase Substantially in 2022

Check out one of the biggest changes impacting the gig economy beginning January 2022 – changes to the requirements for the 1099-K Form. Learn how the new rules may affect your tax return.

2021 Tax Due Dates for Exempt Organizations

Exempt organizations, like corporations, individuals, and everything in between, must stay informed of important tax due dates.

2024 1099-NEC Filing: What Business Owners Need to Know

All non-employee compensation payments must be reported on Form 1099-NEC, which is filed with both your contractors and the IRS. This dedicated form, separate from Form 1099-MISC, ensures proper reporting of contractor payments for the 2024 tax year.

Four Basic Financial Statements

Financial statements are documents that provide a snapshot of a company’s financial performance. When prepared properly, these comprehensive documents can provide key insights to a company’s financial health.

Bookkeeping Best Practices for Small Businesses | Decimal

Adopting bookkeeping best practices in your small business from the get-go can lay the foundations to help you grow. Here are our tips to follow.

Differences Between Cash and Accrual Accounting

Learn the differences between cash and accrual accounting methods and see how your online bookkeeper can help you keep up with all your online accounting demands.

Everything Entrepreneurs Need to Know About a 'Cooperative Business Model'

Much like forming an LLC or Corporation, a cooperative business model faces many similar requirements during the filing process. However, there are also many differences due to the nature of the entity and the role its members play. Here’s a look at the similarities and differences shared in forming a cooperative.

300+ Deductions to Help you Reduce Your Small Business Taxes

This list of 300+ tax deductions will help you optimize your tax year and maximize your tax deductions. Read on to see what's applicable to your business.

6 Steps to Choosing an Entity Structure for Your Business

Choosing the most appropriate entity structure is an important decision that establishes a foundation to support the company's growth and operational effectiveness as it matures.

Selecting an Entity Structure Helps Build a Strong Financial Foundation for Your Business

Running a successful business depends on a solid financial foundation. You can have the most sought-after products or services, a killer marketing strategy, and loyal customers, but if you don’t have a solid financial foundation to manage cash flow and support other business decisions, it can all come crumbling down. Continue reading to learn how selecting an entity structure can help build your financial foundation.

Form 1099-R: Passive Income Distributions

Find out more about Form 1099-R and how it‘s used to report distributions from your sources of passive income.

The Hidden Costs of Doing Your Own Bookkeeping

You may view doing your company’s bookkeeping as a point of pride, or simply as a way to save money. But there are many costs associated with “do-it-yourself” bookkeeping that business owners often overlook. Join us to see how outsourcing your bookkeeping can help you and your business.

Hiring Your First Employee

So, your company has grown and you’ve reached the point where you can take a couple of hats off, huh? That’s exciting! We’re happy for you. We know, however, that hiring your first employee can be pretty hard to navigate including finding the right person and getting through all the red tape. We’re here to break it down!

How Developing Your Pitch Can Help Your Business Grow

The traditional multipage, chart-laden business plan that venture capitalists used to rely on to evaluate opportunities is largely being replaced with documents that convey essential information in a more concise format.

Three Ways Managed Accounting Can Help Grow Your Business Faster

Managed Accounting is a scalable way to serve your business’ accounting needs, using a combination of cloud-based software automation and human accountants. Join us as we discuss the elements of managed accounting.

Member Spotlight: How Hoban Optometry is Scaling Smart with Managed Accounting

With organized, real-time accounting, a complete picture of critical financial data, and expert recommendations from a trained professional, the Hobans can continue to provide care to every patient while creating a robust and sustainable business for decades to come.

Bookkeeping for New Non-Profits

When people enter the world of not-for-profit work, they typically do so to support a cause and find fulfillment in their work. While non-profit organizations are important to a healthy society, they still have to follow strict regulations like any for-profit organization, with an additional few actions and exceptions along the way. This blog will highlight those differences and lay out a framework to give your non-profit a healthy start. Here’s a quick overview:

5 Reasons You're Ready for Managed Accounting

Managed accounting is a revolutionary and scalable way for businesses to simplify the complex task of accounting and bookkeeping in order to save their business both time and money. Here are five reasons that show your business is ready to switch to managed accounting.

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

Small business stimulus funds are back with $284 billion in forgivable loans. Eligible businesses can receive 2.5x their 2019 payroll up to $2 million in forgivable PPP funds. Join us to see how you can get access to these funds.

PLLC vs. LLC: Which Entity Should You Incorporate as?

Depending on what your profession is, a Professional Corporation or Professional Limited Liability Company might just be a better fit for how you do business. Let’s take a closer look at PLLCs vs. LLCs.

Reduce Costs and Risks with Managed Accounting

How guidance from user-friendly software, state-of-the-art AI technology, and accounting specialists can be a game-changer for small to medium business owners.

The Risks of Completing Your Own Small-Medium Business Taxes

Let’s explore why failing to understand the intricacies of tax law and liability can be costly for small business owners.

The 4 Stages of Startups

As an online bookkeeping company, Decimal has the experience to help you understand your position in the business lifecycle of a startup that just might help you stay a bit ahead of the game.

Tax Changes for 2021

New tax updates are here for 2021 tax filings. Let’s take a look at what’s changed for 2021 and find out how it affects you.

Tax Evasion or Tax Avoidance?

In the world of finances, tax evasion and tax avoidance are two terms that often get confused and yet have completely different meanings.

The Basics of Tax Planning for SMBs

Planning to pay taxes is an important part of running a successful business. Join us as we discuss tax planning strategies to help your business get ready for tax season.

Top Tips for Increasing Tax Write-Offs

How to get the most from your online bookkeeping software with tax write-off tips from experienced virtual bookkeepers.

The True Cost of Doing Your Own Bookkeeping

The appeal of doing your own bookkeeping is perhaps obvious: not having to pay someone else to do it for you. But the important thing to consider when you are thinking about doing your own bookkeeping or outsourcing it is what you are losing from taking that time from your business.

What is Managed Accounting?

Managed Accounting is a scalable way to serve your business’ accounting needs, using a combination of cloud-based software, automation technology, and human accountants. Join us as we discuss the elements of managed accounting.

What is This EFTPS Notice I Received From the IRS?

All new businesses received a standard letter from the IRS outlining EFTPS - the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System.

When Is My Company’s 2020 Tax Return Due?

Filing your taxes on time is a lot easier when (1) you know when the returns are due and (2) you have your financial records and information ready for your tax return preparer (even if that person is you!)

Why Do We Pay Taxes?

We all pay them and we all dread them—but how many of us really understand why we have to pay taxes? This primer explains why we pay taxes, and how taxes fit into our political philosophy and schools of thought.

Why Is Bookkeeping Important In 2022?

Starting a business can be a busy time for any entrepreneur and to some, worrying about bookkeeping can seem like an unnecessary task. But, as intimidating as it may be to have a bookkeeper, there are many benefits to online bookkeeping and a strong accounting platform; and several problems can arise when a business does not keep its bookkeeping up to date.

Not All Managed Accounting Solutions Are Created Equal

When doing your finances and accounting, you want to make sure you have the best services available for your business and have what fits your business needs.

Why Tax Planning is Important for Small Businesses

Tax compliance is a necessity. An effective tax planning strategy can add considerable value to your business.

Why Your Small Business Needs an EIN (Even If You Don't Plan to Hire)

When it comes to an employer identification number, commonly referred to as an EIN, entrepreneurs often make the mistake of believing it is only necessary to have this ID when you want to hire employees. What if your business does not have plans to hire team members? Does your small business still need an EIN? The short answer is yes — here’s a look at the additional benefits that this federal tax ID number can provide your startup.

Top 10 Write-Offs for Independent Contractors

There are plenty of tax benefits for 1099 independent contractors, but to pay the smallest amount of tax, you need to know as much as possible about write-offs, including what they are and which ones you can claim on your returns.

2021 Tax Due Dates for S-Corporations

Navigating tax season as an S-Corporation can be tricky, which is why we’re here to help you keep these important dates on your radar.

Differences Between Accounting and Bookkeeping

Picking up the skills of bookkeeping and accounting can be time-consuming and difficult. Understanding the difference can help you focus your spending on what is most necessary, what you can do yourself, and what Decimal can help you with. Here, we’ve laid out the differences between bookkeeping and accounting so you can get back to your business and do the things you enjoy.

Top Three Accounting Strategies You Can Implement to Position Your Business for Success

Check out these quick wins business leaders can begin practicing to experience noticeable accounting gains, from saving time to improving the bottom line.

Automating Your Business Tax System

Doing your own taxes can seem like the optimal solution, but we can become our own stumbling blocks when dealing with important financial information. Join us to see the benefits of implementing an automated tax system through online solutions.

The Beginner's Guide to Bookkeeping

The purpose of this article is to give business owners a full overview of what bookkeeping entails

4 Critical Metrics For Making Better Business Decisions

As a business owner, you probably don’t have a lot of time to spend analyzing your financial data. By taking a few minutes each month to track just four important metrics, you can understand where your business is performing well and quickly spot areas of concern. Let’s look more closely at these four financial indicators that are critical for most companies.

Common Bookkeeping Problems for SMBs

Join us to learn how your bookkeeping may be holding back your business from functioning at its peak performance.

Employees vs Contractors: The Accounting Considerations

There are many important differences between an employee and an independent contractor that can affect the financial foundation of your business. Continue reading to learn some of the financial impacts you should consider when making this decision.

Five Tips for Filing 2021 Taxes as a Small-Medium Business

From compliance to goal-setting, let’s explore how filing 2021 taxes can keep your business on track for success!

How To Find New Customers Remotely

In an increasingly online world, finding new customers as a small business is essential for growth. It can be difficult to find customers that will use your service or product and stay loyal to your company. Here, we outline ways to find new customers in a competitive online space.

How Does a C Corporation Work?

What is the organizational structure of a C Corporation? How do shares work? How many Directors do I need? Get started with this primer.

How To Manage Your Payroll

Use these tips to help manage your small business payroll and remember, Decimal facilitates payroll and offers invoicing services in addition to online accounting services.

How To Take Your Side Gig Into a Full-Time Business

Whether it’s expanding a freelance writing portfolio or working in graphic design, side gigs are serious business. These part-time roles have the ability to expand into becoming full-time jobs. How do you successfully take the side gig you love and make it a full-time small business?

Guide To Important 2021 Tax Due Dates and Quarterly Filing Deadlines

Set yourself up for success this tax season and get these important tax due dates and quarterly filing deadlines on your calendar now!

Embracing Managed Accounting: 4 Ways to Inspire Your Employees When Switching Bookkeeping Platforms

Getting employees on board with change can be challenging – even if everyone involved knows it’s for the better.

Managed Accounting Provides Bookkeeping Support

Small business accounting doesn’t have to be complicated. Learn how support from accounting specialists can take the burden off of small business owners.

4 Tips for Managing Business Cash Flow

Maintaining a healthy business cash flow is one of the most important building blocks for any business to achieve meaningful growth. Join us so you can scale your business and make big purchases with confidence.

6 Things You Need to Know About Nonprofit Accounting

Let’s take a closer look at what nonprofit accounting is, how it’s different, and why accountability is key for nonprofit success.

7 Tips for Nonprofit Accounting

Find out more about nonprofit accounting, how it’s different from for-profit organizations, and what you need to know to operate your nonprofit successfully.

Why Nonprofits Need Managed Accounting

Find out more about nonprofit organizations, why they need managed accounting, and how nonprofit bookkeeping can contribute to their success

How Outsourced Bookkeeping Can Amplify Your In-House Accounting Team

Join us as we discuss how outsourced bookkeeping can amplify your in-house accounting team.

Tax Deadlines for Small and Medium Businesses

Navigate complex tax filing requirements by managing deadlines and understanding the expectations for your small to medium-sized business.

2020 Tax due dates for corporations

Your corporation will want to keep an eye on these crucial tax dates.

2020 Tax due dates for multi-member LLCs (partnerships)

After a tumultuous year for small business owners, taxes might be the last thing on your mind when you’re thinking about your LLC. This article will walk you through the 2020 tax due dates for multi-member LLCs that you will need to keep an eye out for this year.

Highlights of Tax Legislation to Help Small Businesses

The spread of coronavirus has resulted in job loss, reduction in income, and unforeseen financial challenges for many. The U.S. Congress has passed legislation signed by the President that helps small to medium-size businesses.

Venture Capitalists vs. Angel Investors: Who Can Benefit Your Small Business Best?

Deciding to pursue funding with a venture capitalist or an angel investor is an important decision for growing companies. This article helps you examine their differences, and what they offer your startup.

What Is a 1099 and Why Should I Care?

There are many types of Forms 1099, but each one inevitably serves the same purpose; and they are important to understand for payors, including financial institutions and small businesses alike.

2021 Tax Due Dates for Partnerships

After a tumultuous year for small business owners, taxes might be the last thing on your mind when you’re thinking about your LLC. This article will walk you through the 2021 tax due dates for multi-member LLCs that you will need to keep an eye out for this year.

Six Strategies for Achieving Your Financial Goals

Corporate Governance for SMB

Strong corporate governance is critical to adding organizational value and preparing the company for long-term opportunities.

Pros and Cons of Hiring Independent Contractors

Whether you're launching your first startup or managing an established small business, you know that overseeing your business is no easy task. As your business evolves, you may find that you do not have the skills to tackle every task.

Why Raising Capital Is Important for Small Businesses

Small Business R&D Credit

The Research and Development (R&D) tax credit is a tax incentive for companies that perform qualified research in the U.S. Let's take a closer look at this tax credit and see how it can help your business.

Why It Pays to Hire a Bookkeeper

Hiring a bookkeeper is an essential step business owners should take as their business continues to grow. Join us as we discuss some of the benefits that having a dedicated bookkeeper provides.

In-House vs. Outsourced Accounting

Wondering what the difference is between in-house and outsourced accounting? Read our guide to decide which option is best for your business.

Managing Cash Burn Starts with Accurate & Timely Data

Your company's burn rate is one of the most important metrics you can keep track of. But it’s surprisingly a metric many small businesses aren’t aware of. Burn rate isn’t a metric that’s calculated for you directly in your accounting software; but, if you leverage your financial statements, you'll have no trouble calculating it. The greatest advantage of understanding your burn rate is in knowing how this impacts your runway. Runway is the amount of time the business can continue to operate before shutting down or raising more capital. In this post, we'll take a more in-depth look at burn rate, explore why it's important, and show you exactly how to calculate this important metric. We'll also explain the relationship between your business's burn rate and how it affects VC funding.

How is SaaS Accounting Different from Traditional Accounting?

Accounting for SaaS companies can be hard and confusing. Many of the problems are caused by the way SaaS companies deliver their services: Because subscriptions are so complicated, it can be hard to figure out how to apply accounting rules, sales taxes, contract renewals, commissions, and other factors.‍Finance teams need to figure out the details of SaaS accounting to make sure they're reporting and forecasting correctly, as well as staying in line with rules from the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and any tax laws that apply.

The Quote-to-Cash Process

Quote-to-cash is a term for the whole sales process, from configuring and pricing products to getting quotes, getting customer approval, taking orders, and keeping track of revenue. Think about everything that goes into making a custom quote. This can mean talking with the customer about what they want to be quoted, making sure the specs are right, and then making a quote for the client to approve.‍This is just the first step in the process from quote to cash. The next piece of this puzzle is the process of negotiating the quote, billing the client for the order, and getting paid. It can even include re-orders and renegotiations, which are sometimes used when a customer comes back to buy more products that were already set up.‍This process is important to the work of your company no matter what software you use. But it's also a part of your business that needs to be simplified and updated so it works better.

Part 1: Best practices for small businesses planning a financial roadmap

A financial roadmap is essential for small businesses. A thoughtful and carefully constructed plan will provide a clear view of your business’s financial health and identify where improvements can be made for growth.

Part 2: Best practices for small businesses planning a financial roadmap

Creating a financial roadmap can be overwhelming for small businesses—where do you even begin?

Part 3: Best practices for small businesses planning a financial roadmap

We’ve made it to the final two of five best practices when building a financial roadmap for your small business. Now, let’s wrap up with how to approach financial planning and fixing exceptions and adjustments as they happen.

What is a PEO?

Human resources is increasingly complex. Meet the new challenges of HR while reducing costs and improving employee satisfaction with a PEO.