Fall Back in LOVE with your Business
Remember when you first started your business? It was exciting, exhilarating and fun. You couldn’t wait to go to work everyday and you felt so energized by it all.
As you are in business for a while and things start to get routine, you may begin to feel it all getting boring or burnt out from the frustration of dealing with the same issues over and over again. No one is immune to the problems of running a business – client dilemmas, employee complications, service headaches – even in a well-run company these things happen. After continuously solving issues, you tend to lose your stamina for doing it or maybe even lose heart.
Any long-term relationship (which is what you have with your business) has its ups and downs. You need to be able to rekindle the romance, think back on days when you were filled with wonder and joy with the relationship, the anticipation of a big sale, the excitement of growing the company, proudly seeing your clients and employees succeed, and the fullness of having a healthy profit.
Go back to your mission, vision and core values. They are there for inspiration when you are not feeling good about your business. Review them and ask yourself are they still relevant? Do they stir up the feelings you want your team to identify with your company? Are they speaking to the culture of your firm? Do they resonate with your way of thinking, how you solve issues and how you treat your clients and employees? Do they capture the passion you once felt for what you do?
If you don’t have a mission or core values mapped out, no sweat, the exercise of creating them will bring back those feelings of why you started the business and how far you have come. It will also provide you with a reminder of how passionate you are about what you are doing.
Your mission statement communicates the purpose of the organization. What is your why? Need some inspiration on your mission either to develop one or check that yours is on point? Check out Simon Sinek’s classic TED talk How great leaders inspire action.
Examples of mission statements:
- “To accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.” …
- “Spread ideas.” …
- “To connect the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful.” …
- “To build the web’s most convenient, secure, cost-effective payment solution.”
The vision statement provides insight into what the company hopes to achieve or become in the future.
- BBC: “To be the most creative organization in the world”
- Disney: “To make people happy.”
- Google: “To provide access to the world’s information in one click”
- IKEA: “To create a better everyday life for the many people”
The core values reflect the owner’s core principles and ethics.
James Clear offers a list of core values to help you get started. Take a look and see what resonates with you if you can’t think of any on your own.
Those you hire should exemplify these values and if you hire right, they should feel like they have found ‘their people’ when joining the team. As for clients, if they are the right ones, they, too, will match your core values.
Take some time to reflect and fall back in love with your company and the passion you had when you started. You, your team and your clients will be glad you did.
Want to talk more about mission, vision and values – or any topic about running your business? Let’s chat.
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What is Fractional Accounting? Fractional accounting represents a service model where experienced accounting professionals work with multiple clients on a part-time basis rather than being employed full-time by a single company. This arrangement allows businesses to access high-level accounting expertise without the commitment and expense of traditional employment relationships. The services encompassed by fractional accounting are comprehensive and tailored to each business's requirements. These typically include monthly bookkeeping, financial statement preparation, cash flow analysis, budgeting assistance, and strategic financial consulting. Many fractional accountants also provide specialized services such as controller-level oversight, financial process improvement, and preparation for audits or investor presentations. Engagement models vary to accommodate different business needs and preferences. 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A small business might spend $1,500 to $5,000 monthly for comprehensive fractional accounting services that would cost significantly more with a full-time employee. For businesses requiring only basic bookkeeping, monthly costs will be considerably lower. Beyond direct cost savings, fractional accounting delivers substantial return on investment through improved financial decision-making. Professional accountants identify deductions, optimize cash flow management, and provide insights that prevent costly mistakes. Many small businesses discover that their fractional accountant's recommendations save them more money than the service costs. This makes it essentially a profit-generating investment rather than just an expense. Access to Expert-Level Expertise One of the most compelling advantages of fractional accounting lies in the caliber of professionals available to small businesses. While a company might only afford a junior-level full-time accountant, fractional accounting provides access to senior professionals with decades of experience, advanced certifications, and specialized knowledge across multiple industries. Their experience working with diverse clients means they can quickly identify patterns, spot potential issues, and recommend solutions based on proven strategies from similar businesses. Fractional accountants maintain current knowledge of ever-changing regulations and industry best practices through continuing education and professional development. This ongoing learning ensures that small businesses benefit from up-to-date expertise without having to invest in training or worry about whether their internal staff stays current with regulatory changes. The strategic guidance these professionals provide helps business owners make informed decisions about expansion, financing, and long-term planning. 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When Your Small Business Needs Fractional Accounting Several clear indicators signal that a business has outgrown basic accounting software and DIY financial management. Transaction volumes that require more than a few hours weekly to manage suggest the need for professional support. Similarly, businesses facing complex financial situations such as multiple revenue streams, inventory management, or multi-state operations benefit significantly from accounting expertise. Specific business milestones and growth phases may trigger the need for fractional accounting services: Companies preparing for bank loans require professionally prepared financial statements and cash flow projections. Businesses seeking investors need sophisticated financial reporting and analysis that demonstrates growth potential and financial stability. Companies facing audits or regulatory scrutiny require expert preparation and representation. Expanding businesses need cash flow management, budget planning, and financial controls to support sustainable growth. Companies considering new markets, products, or services require financial analysis to evaluate opportunities and risks effectively. Making the Strategic Investment in Your Business's Future Fractional accounting represents more than just a cost-saving measure; it constitutes a strategic investment in your business's financial health and growth potential. The combination of professional expertise, cost efficiency, and operational flexibility creates a foundation for sustainable business success that few small businesses can achieve through other means. At First Steps Financial, we offer a range of professional accounting services, including fractional accounting, bookkeeping, financial advisory and consulting services, and strategic guidance. Our experienced team understands the unique challenges small businesses face and provides tailored solutions that evolve with your company. We’re here to alleviate financial stress and enhance your business growth potential. Let’s connect.
Understanding the Strategic Role of Small Business Accountants Many entrepreneurs struggle with a common dilemma: knowing when to step back from certain responsibilities and bring in professional support. You understand your business better than anyone, but the complexity of business finances requires specialized expertise that goes far beyond basic number-crunching. Small business accountants serve as far more than data entry specialists. These professionals act as financial strategists, business advisors, and operational efficiency experts rolled into one. They bring analytics to your financial decision-making process while providing insights that help you reshape how you view your business's potential. The 7 Critical Warning Signs Navigating the financial landscape of a growing business requires keen awareness and proactive planning. The following warning signs reveal critical moments when small business owners should consider professional accounting support. Sign 1: Your Financial Records Create More Confusion Than Clarity When reviewing your books feels like deciphering a foreign language, and you spend more time trying to understand where your money went than planning where it should go next, you need to take decisive steps to bring clarity back. Disorganized financial records don't just create headaches; they prevent you from making informed decisions about inventory, staffing, marketing spend, and growth investments. If reconciling accounts has become a monthly nightmare or you're unsure about your true profitability, a professional bookkeeper can serve as a trusted partner to restore order. Sign 2: Cash Flow Unpredictability Keeps You Awake at Night Successful businesses often experience the paradox of being profitable on paper while struggling with actual cash availability. When you find yourself constantly worried about meeting payroll, paying suppliers, or having enough working capital for unexpected opportunities, it's time to consider professional help. Accounting professionals excel at creating cash flow forecasting models that turn unpredictable financial swings into manageable, anticipated patterns you can plan around. Sign 3: Business Decisions Happen in an Information Vacuum Every strategic choice, from hiring decisions to product launches, should be grounded in solid financial data. If you're making important business decisions based on gut feelings rather than concrete financial analysis, you're operating without one of your most powerful tools. Professional accountants create comprehensive reporting systems that provide real-time insights into which products, services, or customer segments drive profitability and which ones drain resources. Sign 4: Rapid Growth Has Outpaced Your Systems Success can create its own hurdles. The simple systems you used initially become inadequate when transaction volumes increase or you manage multiple revenue streams. Small business accountants specialize in scaling financial infrastructure to match business growth. This ensures that expanding operations don't collapse under their own administrative weight. Sign 5: Compliance Requirements Feel Overwhelming As businesses evolve, regulatory obligations multiply. New licensing requirements, industry-specific reporting standards, employment regulations, and operational compliance demands can consume your time and mental energy. Rather than becoming an expert in every regulatory nuance, engaging a professional allows you to ensure compliance while focusing on activities that directly drive revenue and growth. Sign 6: Financial Planning Extends Beyond Next Month When your business planning involves longer time horizons, investment considerations, or funding discussions, rudimentary financial tracking becomes insufficient. 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With a fractional accountant on your team, you stay in the driver’s seat armed with senior-level expertise in your corner, ready to help you seize opportunities, cut through complexity, and gain a competitive edge. Fractional accountants often bring years of experience across multiple industries and business stages, offering insights that come from seeing diverse challenges and solutions. The scalability factor makes fractional arrangements particularly attractive. As your business grows, services can expand proportionally. During slower periods, you're not paying for unused capacity. The investment in professional accounting support typically pays dividends far beyond its cost through improved decision-making and operational efficiency. Ready to transform your business's financial strategy? At First Steps Financial, we offer tailored accounting solutions that help you turn potential challenges into meaningful opportunities. You’ve already proven you can build a thriving business; now take the next winning step. Let’s design a financial strategy that keeps you ahead of the game. Let’s connect.
