Tag Archive for: Business Tips

Five Customer Loyalty Tricks for Fitness Franchisees

/by
two people sitting at a gym
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in October 2017 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

As a fitness franchise owner, you know the challenges of getting new members through the door, even in the best of times. It’s never been easy, but the fitness industry has been one of the hardest hit by COVID-19, with value brands representing the largest share of losses in the industry. Major gym franchises like Gold’s Gym have filed for bankruptcy protection, and others may soon follow. Polling has shown that as many as 60% of Americans either have canceled or are planning to cancel their gym membership due to financial hardship or concerns about safety. Simultaneously, the growth of digital and at-home fitness products has added to the pressure on gyms, with Peloton doubling its sales in 2020. 

So, in that environment, how do you get new customers through the door and convince your existing customers to remain loyal? We can start by taking a cue from one outlier in the value gym segment that has shown more resiliency than its competitors through the pandemic. The Anytime Fitness franchise rolled out a comprehensive COVID-19 policy to protect their members’ and staff’s safety and begun offering advance reservations to secure a spot when capacity is limited. When customers have confidence that you are genuinely looking out for their best interests, they are more likely to remain loyal.

But beyond just building trust among your members, there are some other things you can do to encourage customer loyalty in this most challenging of times.

Loyalty Rewards Program

Have you ever noticed that it seems like every store you go into wants you to join their rewards program? Well, there’s a reason for that – it works. Create a rewards program for your loyal customers with some nice little freebies to help keep them engaged. This might take the form of a free t-shirt after ten visits, or maybe a free post-workout smoothie with every 10 purchased. You can get very creative with this, so don’t be afraid to experiment. Never underestimate the power of free swag for customer loyalty. Everyone wants to feel special.

Frequent Customer Discounts

Many gym members, particularly in the value segment, care just as much about the size of their wallets as the size of their jeans, so giving them a discount on a product or service is a great way to boost customer engagement. This might be a discount on a personal training session within the next month, or possibly a coupon for deals on gym apparel. Gym apparel is a particularly desirable thing to encourage because, in addition to the revenue from the sale, you get the added benefit of free advertising for your fitness franchise every time the customer wears it.

Three women stand besides each other at a gym

Referral Rewards

Let’s face it – we all have that one annoying friend who can’t stop going on about how great his or her fitness studio or workout program is. Well, that’s exactly who you want to be your customer, so you need to create a compelling reason for that person to be your customer. Create a referral rewards program and offer a membership discount for each new customer brought in on a referral. You’ll soon find your membership roster – and your bottom line – growing steadily.

Premium Memberships

Take a cue from companies with the most loyal followings and offer VIP or premium membership packages. Do a little up-selling. The key here is to create a value proposition that’s compelling enough to entice your customers to pay a little more without eating into your bottom line. If a member is already paying $30 per month for a basic membership, he or she would probably be willing to pay $35 or $40 to add free tanning or a free monthly workout with a personal trainer. It can be tricky to find the right balance for your package, but this is a great way to reward your most loyal customers if done right.

A man holding onto rings tries to beat a record for a gym contest

Run Contests

Contests can be a great way to keep your members engaged with the club and create valuable rewards for members who participate. You might run a contest with a free gym t-shirt or duffel bag to the member with the most visits during the month, or possibly a “Biggest Loser” type contest with a free month of membership as the prize. You can also incorporate social media into your content strategy by encouraging people to share, like, and comment on your content. Give members who complete one workout and check in on Facebook during the next month a raffle ticket to a drawing for a free duffel bag or another prize.

Focus on Your Core Business

Business owners are notoriously bad at time management, spending too much time on things that others can do and not enough on what an owner should be doing – growing the business. Offload time-consuming administrative tasks to employees or an outside firm. Consider outsourcing your bookkeeping and accounting, which is one of the biggest time vampires in an owner’s day. By getting those off your plate, you can have time to spend on thinking up creative ways to engage with your members and drive loyalty at a time when you need it most. 

 

So what’s the best way to boost customer loyalty at your gym franchise? Start by taking your own gym’s advice and just do it. Set a goal and commit to seeing it through. Start with these tips, but don’t just stop there. Be creative and come up with other ideas, and then let us show you how xendoo can help your fitness franchises become more profitable with a free trial. Let’s start building that customer loyalty muscle together!

This post is intended to be used for informational purposes only and does not constitute as legal, business, or tax advice. Please consult your attorney, business advisor, or tax advisor with respect to matters referenced in our content. xendoo assumes no liability for any actions taken in reliance upon the information contained herein.

 

How to Do Catch-Up Bookkeeping Services for Small Businesses

/in , /by
A blue notebook with numbers onthe cover rest on table near a laptop

Author’s Note: This was updated on Dec 13, 2021, with new information and resources for small business owners. 

Nearly 25% of businesses are behind on their books and nearly 41% of business owners try to do their bookkeeping themselves. It happens easily— you fall a month or two behind, then by the time you look up, an entire quarter has gone by, and your books haven’t been updated. With inaccurate and out-of-date books, you might have late invoices, end up over-extending your small business, and not be able to dial in your operating cash flow. You might even be in danger of being non-compliant with the IRS. Perhaps nothing bad has happened yet, but you know it’s time to catch up on bookkeeping. For more guidance, explore these bookkeeping tips for small businesses which can help you stay on top of your financials more effectively.

One of the most essential services a bookkeeper can provide for a business owner is to keep the company’s books accurate and up-to-date. Being able to quickly and easily review the status of your finances is crucial to short and long-term success for any business owner. When you know the health of your finances, you can make quicker decisions concerning everything from who to hire next to what marketing strategy recently worked best.

Reasons to catch up/reconcile

Besides being a smart business practice, catch-up bookkeeping provides additional benefits grow growing companies. Such as:

  • Smart/quick decisions: A bookkeeper will review vendor payments and record expenses to manage your spending, helping you manage your cash flow. A bookkeeper will track your sales, so you know what’s most profitable and can focus on what works.
  • Tax compliant: With up-to-date, accurate records, a bookkeeper can assist you during tax season – helping you maximize deductions and stay compliant. 
  • Loan: As you grow, you may want to borrow money or open a line of credit. Your lender will want accurate financial statements, and ideally, you aren’t scrambling to create them right then and there.

What is catch-up bookkeeping?

A bookkeeper will review source documents such as your monthly bank and credit card statements, invoices, payroll, receipts, and record basic accounting information for you, such as your monthly reconciliations, in your company’s books.

 

Finacial documents in a assorted colored folder fan across a table.

The end goal is to bring your financial records fully up-to-date. Outdated books only create problems when it comes to long-range business strategy and tax preparation. 

In the worst-case scenario, your outdated books can leave you in the dark when it comes to your cash flow, jeopardizing your ability to cover expenses, payroll, and more.

Catch-up bookkeeping isn’t just for those who neglect their books. Anytime you migrate data or need to reconcile your accounts, it’s helpful to give yourself an audit to ensure you’re working with the latest data. Catch-up bookkeeping therefore offers peace of mind and the confidence you need to focus on your company’s future.

How do I catch up on my bookkeeping?

In fact, the more you can prepare and organize before you start the process, the smoother things will go. Don’t limit your timeframe to when your books started to unravel. Many business owners discover that their books decline in accuracy over the course of time. You’ll therefore want to make sure your catch-up process covers a sufficient number of weeks to ensure total financial accuracy.

Understandably, many business owners want to catch up on their books themselves. We can’t blame anyone for wanting to cut costs, but isn’t that what got you into this situation to begin with?

Busy entrepreneurs often get behind in their books because they’re trying to handle their administrative tasks, as well as their core business. It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to find the time to perform catch-up duties, at least not with the speed and accuracy your business deserves.

That’s why you should seek out an accounting team that specializes in catch-up bookkeeping. Admittedly, this will cost your company money, but most small businesses discover the cost is negligible compared to the peace of mind that comes from having a team of experts to bring their books up to date.

During the catch-up bookkeeping process, a skilled accountant will help you do the following:

Gather your paperwork

Some of the paperwork and documents you will need to gather for your bookkeeper are:

  • Receipts
  • Bank and credit card statements
  • Invoices
  • Debt collections
  • Business expenses
  • Vendor accounts

This is an important part of the process, as it will provide a clear record of all of the income and expenses that apply to your business.

The first benefit will be immediate. You’ll discover whether your business has any outstanding invoices that your customers have yet to pay, which can later be used to track down delinquent accounts and make arrangements to write off bad debt. It can also let you know whether you have any outstanding debts you need to pay.

These receipts will also be useful during tax season, providing a record of any business expenses that can be used as tax deductions.

Reconcile your bank accounts

  • Each month you need to reconcile all of your bank and credit card accounts. First, make sure all transactions for the month have been entered. Using your bank statements, you can make sure all of the transactions in your books match the transactions in your statements. This allows you to find any errors in your books and ensure your records are accurate.
  • It’s easy to fall behind on reconciliation, especially if you come across reconciliation errors that need fixing. If you are too far behind on your monthly reconciliations, the bookkeeping team at xendoo can help you get organized, reconciled, and caught up.

Collect W-9s, 1099s, and W-2s

  • W-9s are IRS forms that all business owners must keep on file for any self-employed workers (such as freelancers and independent contractors), to keep track of their external team members. If you employ subcontractors, you’ll need to make sure you are collecting these important forms.
  • When a small business pays an independent contractor $600 or more in a given year, they must report these payments to the IRS using a 1099 form for the contractor. 
  • A W-2 form shows the amount of money an employee made, and the amount of taxes that were withheld from paychecks throughout a calendar year.

Go digital

  • Reduce the amount of paperwork you have to keep up with by choosing to have paperless bills and bank statements. 
  • A good choice for the environment, too.

 

Tow colleagues discuss as they sit at a table with their laptops open

Your smartphone can easily be used to scan receipts, allowing you to maintain a digital archive of your business transactions.

The best accounting firms also integrate with the latest software, which can streamline the catch-up process and ensure that your books are brought up-to-date — and that they can stay that way.

At xendoo, for example, we can sync with such popular software as Gusto, Stripe, Intuit QuickBooks, and more. Relying on these digital solutions can make it easier to maintain your books, reconcile your accounts, and ensure precision and accuracy for all of your financial processes.

Best of all, cloud-based technology makes your financial data accessible from anywhere in the world, giving you maximum flexibility and control over your company’s finances.

How much does catch-up bookkeeping cost?

Starting at just $150, your dedicated xendoo team will catch you up and set you up for success with a solid bookkeeping system, or you can utilize our ongoing bookkeeping services. Once you know how good that feels, you’ll want to sign on for a monthly bookkeeping service package that fits your business needs. 

You’ll never worry about falling behind again, knowing your dedicated financial team is on it, your up-to-date records are always available, and there’s an expert at your fingertips to answer any questions. You can count on using your books to make quick, smart decisions – leaving you with a healthy, growing business.

Leave catch-up bookkeeping to the professionals

It’s overwhelming to discover a pile of late invoices and frustrating when you can’t dial in your operating cash flow or realize you’ve over-extended your business expenses because of inaccurate books. Then tax time sneaks up, and you realize you’re non-compliant with the IRS and need someone to organize your financial data quickly. If you’re time-starved and neglecting your bookkeeping, it’s time to enlist xendoo for your catch-up bookkeeping service. 

Let a professional sort your books for you and develop a bookkeeping system that will serve you well now and for the future. xendoo can quickly and accurately catch you up, setting you up for success.

Always know your company’s financial status and sleep soundly at night with xendoo’s expert support.

A Prettier Profit and Loss Statement: Up- and Cross-Selling Techniques for Salon Owners

/in , , /by
a hairstylist picking out color mixes
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in October 2017 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

If you’re like most salon owners, the chances are good that you decided to start a hair salon because you love meeting new people and helping them feel more beautiful than when they walked in your front door. It’s only natural because everyone loves a rewarding job. Focusing on sales techniques, like up-and cross-selling for salons probably wasn’t high on your list of “pros” when you got into the salon industry.

But for better or for worse, persuading clients to purchase products or services that they didn’t initially come in for is an essential part of your marketing strategy and can boost your profit and loss statement. That doesn’t mean selling them products they don’t need. Cross-selling and up-selling are selling them products they need but didn’t know about. It’s part of your job to educate the client, so let’s take a look at how up-selling and cross-selling for the salon business can be less faux-pas and more moo-lah, and why salon owners already have a head start. 

Two women in pola dotted dresses work at a hair salon

The Difference Between Up-Selling and Cross-Selling

Up-selling is the practice of encouraging customers to purchase a more expensive item than they had initially intended. We do this by creating value for the customer in the more expensive product. Often, the customer just needs someone to point out the extra value. Depending on the type of salon, if a client is scheduled for a regular manicure/pedicure procedure at retail price, check-in staff can create value for the customer by offering a deluxe spa treatment for just a slightly higher price. You might even be able to have your salon software automatically remind staff to offer the upgrade at check-in. If the customer is already spending $50, it’s easy to justify upgrading for just $10 more because it represents a good value.

Cross-selling for salons is the practice of encouraging customers to purchase other products or services that complement the original sale in some way. Sometimes customers don’t know what they need, and it’s your job as the expert to educate them about it. Effective cross-selling for salons might look like this: If a dark-haired client has decided to go blonde, you as the stylist know that those harsh chemicals can damage and dry out the hair, but the customer may not know that. You can explain this and encourage your client to buy a conditioning treatment to help offset that damage.

Why Cross-Selling and Up-Selling Are Important

 The bottom line is that up-selling and cross-selling for salons are critical to your bottom line in several ways. If you’re not doing it, you’re leaving money on the table. If you have a low-margin product that’s selling great and a high-margin product that’s not selling so well, an excellent cross-selling technique might be to bundle the two together and get that extra profit. But even more importantly, it allows you to create additional value for your customers, which is crucial to maintaining customer loyalty and trust. After all, value is why your customers come to you to begin with and what makes a successful salon. When deciding whether a sales opportunity is right, ask yourself, “Will this improve my customer’s life? Will it help them feel more beautiful?” If the answer is yes, you know what to do.

A woman hair stylist chats with a client.

So What’s This Head Start?

Salon business owners have a special trust relationship with their clients, which gives them an edge in ideas to increase profits. Stylists don’t just know their customers’ names; they know everything going on in their lives —their children, jobs, and health. They open up their entire lives to you, which puts you in a unique position of influence with your customer. To put it more bluntly, if they trust you enough to let you bring sharp blades around their heads and irreversibly alter their appearance (for a few months, anyway), they will trust your recommendation on special products and services. Remind your team that they have this superpower because it’s critical to your business, but don’t abuse it by selling customers things they don’t need. That will almost always backfire and damage your relationship.

OK, I’m Convinced. Now What?

Now that you know the importance of upselling and cross-selling for salons, here are a few things you can do right away to get the ball rolling.

  • Get effective inventory management and accounting system for your salon if you don’t already have one to know exactly which products are moving and which aren’t, and what the margin on each one is. Good accounting for hair salons is a must, and if you don’t have that information at your fingertips, you’re flying blind.
  • Create an attractive display with high visibility where customers can browse it easily. Never put it behind the counter because curious customers will feel like it’s inaccessible. Keep it organized, and well-stocked with the products that you believe are strong candidates for this strategy. Remember: eye-level is buy-level. Research has shown that products placed at eye level get 35% more attention than products placed at lower levels.
  • Ensure your staff is using the products you sell and posting them on social media. The best advertisement for a product is being able to see the results in real-time on a person’s natural hair or skin. Remember the trust relationship; if the stylist uses the product, it gives the customer confidence that it must be good. It’s almost like giving away a little trade secret. Purchasing salon-quality products that stylists actually use makes your customers feel like they have a leg up in their beauty routine.
  • Give your staff the tools to make cross-selling for salons easier. At a minimum, everyone in your salon should be familiar with every item you sell and be able to describe it to customers. But knowledge of the products is only a start. Your team needs to be trained in effective cross-selling and up-selling techniques and incentivized to use them. Be creative in coming up with ways to encourage selling, like contests with prizes, bonuses, or other incentives.

Remember, you may not see the benefits of cross-selling for your salon business right away. Sometimes the customer may be in a hurry or on a tight budget, and you have to respect that. Just remember that by maintaining the customer’s trust, there will always be another opportunity down the road. Do that consistently, and you’ll begin to grow your business and watch your bottom line trend up.

This post is intended to be used for informational purposes only and does not constitute as legal, business, or tax advice. Please consult your attorney, business advisor, or tax advisor with respect to matters referenced in our content. xendoo assumes no liability for any actions taken in reliance upon the information contained herein.

Choosing the Right Accounting System for Your Shopify Business

/in , /by
shopify button
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in October 2017 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

Whether you’re brand new to online retail and trying to decide how to set up your eCommerce business, or you’ve been around a while and simply reached the point where your DIY accounting solution just isn’t cutting it anymore, xendoo’s innovative suite of business offerings can help you. xendoo can get your small business accounting running like a well-oiled machine so you can focus on what’s important – growing your business. To be competitive in the new economy, cloud-based accounting is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity. Here are some of the best accounting systems for Shopify that can help get your business on track.

QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Online is the cloud-based version of the popular and versatile QuickBooks business accounting software. Quickbooks Online accounting system for Shopify allows you to access your account information from any web browser, and the API creates a seamless interface that links directly to xendoo’s platform. That means you can easily organize and sync all of your critical financial data with no tedious manual data entry. Additionally, Quickbooks Online for Shopify allows you to easily create and send invoices, receive payments, pay bills, and manage payroll. 

  • Track income and expenses
  • Capture and organize receipts according to your chart of accounts
  • Download and organize bank account and credit card transactions
  • Print checks
  • Create and send invoices, as well as receive payments
  • Print financial reports
  • Tax organization

A person holds their phone lookig at a recent Shopify order

Xero for E-commerce

QuickBooks is a popular accounting system for Shopify, but it may not be the best choice for everyone. Xero is another cloud-based accounting solution that will appeal to a lot of Shopify store owners. Xero is fast, simple, and powerful. It can sync with hundreds of third-party applications for point-of-sale, inventory, and much more. It also offers a mobile app for convenience and allows customers to create an unlimited number of users. From within the Xero accounting software for Shopify, you can manage your accounts payable, accounts receivable, budget, and category or division tracking. 

  • Customizable dashboard
  • Create invoices and quotes and receive payments
  • Track inventory
  • Bill payment
  • Expense management and project management
  • Create and print financial reports
  • Bank account reconciliation
  • Highly scalable for small or growing businesses

A2X for Shopify

A popular middleware, or “connector,” application that links your Shopify store with your cloud-based accounting system is A2X for Shopify. It automatically posts your Shopify sales and fees directly into QuickBooks or Xero, saving you hours of tedious work each week. That also means no more stressing over why transactions don’t match your bank deposits because A2X eliminates data entry mistakes.

  • Automatically post store data into QuickBooks or Xero
  • Automatically reconcile bank statements
  • Automatically make adjustments for fees and refunds
  • Create and print summarized statements

Coins spills out of a glass jar on a table

TaxJar for Shopify

A major time vampire for business owners who sell on Shopify is state sales tax compliance in the wake of Wayfair, Inc. v. South Dakota (2018), which requires online sellers to comply with sales tax requirements in each state where they do business. TaxJar accounting system for Shopify will streamline your sales tax compliance process by showing you where you should be collecting sales tax according to economic nexus laws and generating return-ready reports. It can even auto-file your returns for you if you want.

  • Calculate sales tax based on each state’s nexus
  • Daily updates allow for timely return filing
  • AutoFile option for automated return filing
  • Display fines and penalties for delinquent filing
  • Compare actual collections to what should have been collected

Shopify Apps

In addition to your accounting software, Shopify offers over 1,000 plug-in applications from their app store to help you with managing inventory, shipping, reporting, and much more. However, we suggest that you fully explore the capabilities of QuickBooks, Xero, A2X, and TaxJar before making any decisions about additional applications. A lot of functionality might be duplicated, and you certainly don’t want to pay for the same thing twice.

In addition to tons of helpful plug-ins, Shopify also features a profit margin calculator. Just plug in your cost of the item and a markup percentage, and Shopify will calculate the sale price, your gross profit in dollars, and your gross margin.

Outsourcing Your Bookkeeping and Accounting

Even though these accounting systems for Shopify can make life much simpler for sellers than even just a few years ago, it can still sometimes feel overwhelming. If you begin to feel like you might be in over your head, you should consider outsourcing your accounting and bookkeeping to a small business accounting firm like xendoo.

There are a lot of good reasons to outsource your accounting for your Shopify eCommerce business, and it’s more affordable than you might think. xendoo’s accounting team works with small business owners just like you to provide expertise and insight into the accounting needs of e-commerce businesses. xendoo can take care of everything from weekly bookkeeping to filing business taxes for you, and our flat monthly fee is less than half of what you’d probably pay an accountant. xendoo’s mission is to give you the peace of mind of knowing it’s being done right, and free your time to focus on what’s important – growing your business. Sign up for a free trial today.

This post is intended to be used for informational purposes only and does not constitute as legal, business, or tax advice. Please consult your attorney, business advisor, or tax advisor with respect to matters referenced in our content. xendoo assumes no liability for any actions taken in reliance upon the information contained herein.

 

When You Need to Hire a CPA

/in /by
Important-tax-dates-for-Q3-and-Q4

Bookkeeper? Accountant? CPA? Which one does your business need, or does it need all three of them? Actually, it depends. Staying on top of your business’s finances is key for a small business owner, but you may need more than day-to-day bookkeeping. When you have more questions than a bookkeeper can answer, you’ll probably need to look into CPA services. Fortunately, xendoo has you covered. Read on to see if online CPA services are best for you and your business.

What is a CPA?

It’s important to understand the differences between a Certified Public Accountant, CPA, and a regular accountant. A CPA is an accountant who has met specific state and education licensing requirements and passed the CPA exam. So, accountants with the title of CPA offer a higher level of financial analysis for you and your business and can act as a fiduciary on your behalf.

At that same time, an accountant can give you tax savings advice, such as when to make capital purchases, what you can deduct, and how to reduce taxes on capital gains. They can answer your questions about financial reports, cash flow, depreciation, and other accounting processes and identify opportunities to improve profit margin and business growth. Additionally, they can help set up business accounting systems, teach you best practices, keep you legal, and prevent missed deadlines and noncompliance penalties.

What does a CPA do?

Certified Public Accounts can be the financial strategist for Fortune 500 companies or advisors to neighborhood businesses.  CPA act as consultants on many issues, including taxes and accounting. Generally, online CPAs services include:

  • Prepare financial statements
  • Identify red flags and growth opportunities
  • Prepare and file taxes
  • Plan capital purchases and other investments
  • Strategize for scaling the business

When should I hire a CPA?

Whether you’re starting or growing your business, an accountant can help set up financial systems and analyze data so that you can make smarter business decisions. They have the power to forecast business success, diagnose financial health issues, and increase revenue—saving you significant money, time, and hassle. 

So while a bookkeeper focuses on the everyday tasks that maintain your business’s finances, accountants consider the big picture strategy to keep your business strong and growing, and a CPA has an even higher level of financial analysis to assure you’re making the right moves at the right time.

How much does a CPA cost?

Budgeting for bookkeeping and accounting services is tough for a small business. Traditionally, bookkeepers have charged an hourly rate; the more time they spend on your books, the more you have to pay. Typical rates are:

  • Bookkeeper — $30 to $90 per hour
  • CPA — $150 to $450 per hour

Or you may only need an accountant for an occasional project such as tax preparation.

  • Tax return (unincorporated) — $200 to $500
  • Tax return (incorporated) — $800 to $1,800
  • Financial statement — $1,000 to $2,500
  • Audit — $2,000 to $5,000

This is why accounting for a small business can become expensive. Plus, you may decide you only need an accountant for an occasional project such as tax preparation, financial statement, or audit, which costs a fixed amount that can add up, or you may not have allotted this in your end-of-the-year budget. A popular option with small businesses is an accounting service that charges a fixed amount every month. It’s easy to budget for, and it can cost less than half what you would pay an hourly accountant for the same amount of service. That’s why xendoo offers a monthly pricing structure to our clients, charging a fixed amount every month. It’s easier to budget for bookkeeping and inline CPA services monthly and cost less than half of what you would pay an hourly accountant for the same service amount.

The right account professionals for your business

A small business accounting service will file your taxes, but you’ll need to have your bookkeeping in order so you can provide them with the data and reports they need. xendoo’s online team of bookkeepers and CPAs will handle everything for you – they will manage all of your bookkeeping and accounting and will file the right return for you, right on time. Plus, xendoo also takes care of all the filing that goes along with your tax return to itemize your business deductions.

Ultimately, it’s best for you and your business to have both a bookkeeper and an accountant. Making xendoo your financial partner means joining a community of small business owners who love working with xendoo’s bookkeepers and CPAs. xendoo’s online CPA accounting services are ideal for small businesses because the more eyes looking out for your business, the better. Your dedicated financial team provides the perspective on your finances that can help ensure you’re able to anticipate problems and have the appropriate solutions ready to go. In gaining a complete picture of your company’s financial health, you can confidently grow your business.

How do hourly pricing models work?

/in /by
a woman looking at her watch

Do you run a business that charges clients by the hour? Whether you’re an accountant, lawyer, designer, or consultant and you’re ready to expand – or hope to one day – there are a few things to consider to make sure your growth strategy is profitable.

Let’s start with the basics…

How does the billable hour pricing model work?

“Billable hours pricing” is a method used by many different services with one thing in common – customers pay by the hour. Businesses that use this model estimate the maximum number of hours in a year that they can generate revenue, and use that number to set hourly rates. Here’s an example:

Dr. John Watson owns a private investigation firm and is the sole investigator. He plans to work a typical 40-hour workweek and take two weeks off for vacation.

40 (hours per week) x 1 (employee) x 50 (workweeks in a year) = 2,000 billable hours

But Dr. Watson is not a robot and has to plan time during the workweek to eat, travel to clients, and handle administrative work in the office. He estimates this will take about 1,000 hours.

2,000 (billable hours) – 1,000 (non-billable hours) = 1,000 maximum billable hours for the year

Watson has already determined that his business’s operating expenses (marketing, administrative, office lease, etc.) will be quite low since he is well-known and works from home. He uses that figure to set his break-even rate.

$20,000 (total expenses) / 1,000 (maximum billable hours) = $20 per hour

If Watson charges just $20/hour, he’ll be able to cover all of his expenses. Anything higher than this number will go straight to the bottom line, which is why he’s decided to charge $60/hour.

So what you’re saying is I should just bill more hours, right?

Unfortunately, it’s not so elementary. Looking at the last equation above, you’ll see that lowering expenses, increasing the number of billable hours, or increasing rates could all send profits skyward. But if you’re a sole proprietor and many of your expenses are fixed, what are you to do?

Grow my team?!

If Dr. Watson hired a junior investigator at $30,000/year…

$30,000 (salary) / 2,000 billable hours = $15/hour nominal cost

could he simply re-bill her at $30/hour? Keep in mind that you have to account for federal holidays, employment tax, vacation and sick time, in-office work, and training for new staff. When all is said and done, the true cost of an employee is actually double their “nominal cost,” which means he’d have to re-bill his junior P.I. at much than $30/hour to make a profit. Expanding your staff could be the answer, you just have to be sure the numbers work out.

So, hire several more people all at once?
This could also be a solution, but with more employees comes more clients to maintain employee turnover, and a need for more office space and support staff. Hiring subcontractors, versus full-time employees, does offset some of those issues, but subs typically charge higher rates since no one is covering their vacation time and health insurance.

Can’t I just increase my prices?

If Dr. Watson increases his hourly rate from $60 to $70, this $10 increase would yield $10K more in pure profit. But he risks driving away loyal clients or attracting a different type of clientele that come with challenges he hasn’t faced before. Increasing your rates is a viable solution, as long as your customers are prepared and see a good reason for it.

As you can see, growing a billable-hours business can be done in a number of ways, but you’ll have to use your powers of observation to determine which method makes the most sense for your business.

 

This post is intended to be used for informational purposes only and does not constitute as legal, business, or tax advice. Please consult your attorney, business advisor, or tax advisor with respect to matters referenced in our content. xendoo assumes no liability for any actions taken in reliance upon the information contained herein.

 

Pass-Through Deductions: What It Is and Who Qualifies

/in /by
pass through deductions

One of the best small business-friendly aspects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) is the 20% deduction you can take on your income tax if your business is a pass-through entity. Here’s what you need to know about it.

What Is the Deduction

The TCJA was passed in 2017 and first applied to 2018 tax returns. Provision 199A of that law states that you can deduct 20% of your “qualified business income” which was earned from a “qualified trade or business.”

What Is a Pass-Through Entity

Any business structure that allows you to receive income as an “owner’s draw” rather than as a regular employee is a pass-through business. The money is “passed through” from the company account to your personal account. You only pay income tax on it with your personal return; you don’t have to file a separate return for the business.

Pass-through entities include:
• Sole proprietorship
• Partnership
• LLC (limited liability corporation)
• S-Corporation

However, there are some restrictions.

Taxable Income Restriction

• Less than $157,500 (single, married filing separately, head of household) or $315,000 (married filing jointly): you qualify for the full 20% deduction.
• $157,500 – $207,500 or $315,000 – $415,000, respectively: your deduction may be less.
• More than $207,500 or $415,000, respectively: you are not eligible for the deduction.

Specified Service or Trade Restrictions

What your business does may disqualify it from the deduction. Here’s the list of excluded fields, as issued by the Treasury Department in August 2018:

• Health
• Law
• Accounting
• Actuarial science
• Performing arts
• Consulting
• Athletics
• Financial services
• Brokerage services
• Any business where the principal asset is the reputation or skill of one or more of the employees or owners
• Any business that consists of investing and investment management, trading or dealing in securities, partnership interests or commodities

But don’t give up if you see your business in one of these categories, because there are numerous exceptions. For example, in the Health category, healthcare providers who provide services directly to patients — such as doctors and dentists — are not eligible. On the other hand, health clubs, spas, medical research companies, and those who sell pharmaceuticals or medical devices may qualify for the deduction.

In the case of businesses who both provide services and sell products, eligibility is determined by sales:
• Less than $25 million in gross receipts and less than 10% of your business comes from disqualified services; or
• More than $25 million in gross receipts and less than 5% of your business comes from disqualified services

Employee and Property Restrictions

There are two further conditions that could affect how much of a deduction you can take. They are:
• Business that pay W-2 wages
• Business that owns “qualified property” such as real estate or other tangible assets that can be depreciated

If your business fits either of these descriptions, your deduction will be the lesser of:
• 20% of qualified business income (or the “tentative deduction”); or
• The greater of:
o W-2 wages paid x 50%; or
o W-2 wages paid x 25% + the unadjusted basis (cost) of your qualified property x 2.5%

Still confused about the pass-through deduction? Your xendoo small business expert can clear things up, answer your questions, and help you get every tax break you deserve.

 

This post is intended to be used for informational purposes only and does not constitute as legal, business, or tax advice. Please consult your attorney, business advisor, or tax advisor with respect to matters referenced in our content. xendoo assumes no liability for any actions taken in reliance upon the information contained herein.

 

5 Benefits of Owning Your Small Business Property

/in , /by
a man and woman shaking hands

Is it time to purchase the commercial property you’ve been leasing?  If you’re a small business owner who currently rents office or retail space, you could be in a position to benefit from becoming an owner.

Of course, the decision to own or rent will depend on a number of factors unique to your business, such as your location, revenue, and business experience.

But there are general positives for your business that come from purchasing commercial real estate.  Here are five of the top benefits you could expect to enjoy should you transition from renter to owner.

1. The ability to build equity in your property

Perhaps the greatest drawback to leasing a commercial property is that every monthly payment simply ends up in the landlord’s pocket.  However, purchasing that space gives you the ability to immediately start building equity in the property.

If that property increases in value over time, you can cash in by selling or leasing the building.

Those who secure a loan to help purchase commercial real estate also have the option to tap into their equity by executing a cash-out refinance.  By refinancing and taking out a larger loan, a borrower can convert their existing equity into cash.  The amount of the original loan is then repaid to the lender while the rest can be used for business improvements or future investments.

2. The creation of additional revenue streams

If you purchase office, retail, or warehouse property that your business can’t occupy completely, you have the opportunity to establish a new revenue stream by leasing the additional space to tenants.

Rental income can play an important role in bolstering your revenue during difficult periods for your business.  This can provide a real sense of comfort for those working to get their small business off the ground. 

It must be noted that taking on tenants requires project management capabilities you may not currently possess.  If you do plan on leasing a portion of your commercial property, consider investing in property management training or hiring a professional to assist you.

3. Tax benefits

Owning commercial real estate puts you in a position to enjoy tax benefits that could significantly impact your bottom line.

As an owner, you can take advantage of depreciation deductions and mortgage interest write-offs that can offset the cost of your original purchase and generally ease the tax burden you may currently feel each year. 

Be sure to consult a tax professional to learn more about the benefits (and potential drawbacks) of owning commercial real estate.

4. Freedom and control

Renting a commercial property leaves you with few options when it comes to renovations or additions.  This can be a real source of frustration for those who enjoy being in control of all aspects of their small business.

Once you own your office or storefront, you have the freedom to truly make it your own.  If you purchase your restaurant’s building, for example, you could finally create more room for tables or redesign the kitchen.  Getting these types of changes approved by a landlord can take ages – by the time you’re able to make a necessary change, your business has already suffered irreparable damage.

With control also comes consistency.  Owners of commercial real estate never have to worry about a landlord’s rent hikes or rule changes that can stunt a business’ growth. 

5. Appreciating value

Commercial real estate investments have a history of strong appreciation.  Besides the general demand increases that come from scarcity in an active market, commercial real estate can appreciate in value based on their ability to generate income.

This means that as the owner of a commercial property, you have a hand in increasing the asset’s value.  By renovating the building or adding rentable space, you can effectively add value to your original investment.  This is one of the main advantages a hard asset like commercial real estate has overstock or bond investments.

Owning commercial property is not without its disadvantages as well.  The purchase price itself may be staggering for those just starting their business.  Additional challenges having to do with building repairs or tenant vacancies can be debilitating for business owners who don’t have the resources to manage them.  

But you may find that the benefits of finally owning your own office or retail storefront far outweigh the potential difficulties.  If you value day-to-day control and have a long-term vision includes both your business and the building it occupies, ownership may be your best bet for success.

If you’re interested in purchasing a commercial property, one of your first steps should be to determine the financing solution that makes the best sense for your business.  Commercial Direct, a division of Silver Hill Funding, LLC, specializes in providing flexible commercial mortgages to small business owners – even those with tax documentation issues that make it difficult to work with traditional banks.  

 

Author: Zack North

Zack North is the Director of Marketing for Commercial Direct.  As a regular contributor to a number of top industry publications, Zack enjoys writing about topics that help investors and business owners approach commercial mortgage financing with confidence.

 

This post is intended to be used for informational purposes only and does not constitute as legal, business, or tax advice. Please consult your attorney, business advisor, or tax advisor with respect to matters referenced in our content. xendoo assumes no liability for any actions taken in reliance upon the information contained herein.

 

7 Steps for Retailers to Reduce Inventory Shrinkage

/in /by

Inevitably, somewhere between the manufacturer and the cash register, some of your merchandise disappears. Every retailer has this problem; in fact, it adds up to more than $42 billion in annual losses nationwide. The three biggest causes of shrinkage are administrative errors, employee theft, and customer theft. Here’s how to counteract them.

1. Use a good inventory management system.

Wherever human beings are doing the counting, organizing, and recording, errors are sure to happen. Choose software that:

  • Organizes product and vendor information
  • Integrates with your POS system so that inventory data is automatically updated after every transaction
  • Generates accurate purchase orders

2. Tighten up your inventory receiving process.

To minimize mistakes:

  • Cross-check against the PO at the time of delivery
  • Call the vendor within 24 hours to resolve inconsistencies
  • Tag and label merchandise immediately

3. Record sales consistently.

Any currently available POS system will do this automatically.

4. Take physical inventory.

It’s the only way to reveal discrepancies between what your inventory software says you have and what you have. Cross-reference the manual counts against software records to see where shortages are occurring, for example with a particular cash register or employee, or during the same shift and day every week.

5. Train employees in loss prevention.

Letting everyone know that you have a strong plan to stop theft can deter both employees and customers.

6. Improve pre-employment screening.

The reality of retail is that employee turnover is high and company loyalty usually low. Besides, employees have less supervision and easy access to your valuables. Do your due diligence in hiring people with no history of dishonesty, including nationwide criminal background checks and verification that resumes are complete and truthful.

7. Install a security system.

Large, visible cameras act as warnings to thieves to pick an easier target. They also help catch and convict criminals after thefts occur.

Inventory shrinkage is a challenge that will never go away. And that means your efforts towards loss prevention can never stop either. Success lies in ongoing processes and continuous attention to keep your merchandise right where it belongs.

 

This post is intended to be used for informational purposes only and does not constitute as legal, business, or tax advice. Please consult your attorney, business advisor, or tax advisor with respect to matters referenced in our content. xendoo assumes no liability for any actions taken in reliance upon the information contained herein.

 

3 Great Cash Flow Ideas for Retailers

/in /by

What do a used book store, garden nursery, and boutique clothing shop all have in common?

No, this isn’t the set up to a joke. Unfortunately, all three types of businesses are at risk of failing if their cash flow isn’t in good shape. According to the Small Business Administration, “inadequate cash reserves” is a top reason small businesses close their doors for good.

So whether you sell novels, shovels, or dresses with ruffles — if you’re a retailer, cash flow is king.

What exactly is cash flow?

Think of it like a checking account. Cash flow looks at all the money coming in and out of your business each month. If there’s more coming in than going out, you’re in the green! If you’re spending more than comes in, read on. That means your cash flow is negative and your business could be in trouble

Here are three simple ways to get your cash flowing in the right direction.

1. Bundle products

If you sell several accessories apart from your core offering, try packaging them together with a small discount. This can also be an effective way of clearing out dead stock while creating goodwill with your customers, who feel like they’re walking away with a great deal.

2. Understand the risks of discounting

If you do decide to bundle products or offer another type of sale, make sure you know exactly how that will impact your bottom line. You should know the profit margins on every product you sell and your overall cost basis – it’s the only way to determine if you’ll break even with the sale or take a loss.

3. Encourage repeat business

Offering perks or freebies to returning customers helps create loyalty and makes it easier for them to choose you over other options. Go old school with a punch card, get creative with a contest, or print an offer on receipts that are good for a future purchase.

If you’re struggling to determine the state of your cash flow, it could be time to call in for some backup. With xendoo’s suite of affordable bookkeeping and consulting services, you’ll be able to spend more time at the “cash-out” bringing the cash.

 

This post is intended to be used for informational purposes only and does not constitute as legal, business, or tax advice. Please consult your attorney, business advisor, or tax advisor with respect to matters referenced in our content. xendoo assumes no liability for any actions taken in reliance upon the information contained herein.