What do I mean by 'integrated systems' you might ask?  QuickBooks has an open policy on their software that lets inspiring companies write new programs that integrate with QuickBooks. When they have been approved by Intuit, they are offered as separate functionalities.  They work along side QuickBooks, usually in a very specific area, like controlling inventory, and then the higher level information is directed into QuickBooks, usually on a daily basis.

We both thought the conference was great.  We went there looking for particular solutions for clients, and to be able to see some of the newer software products live.  It didn't disappoint.

At present I am using software by BillQuick I found there for one of my clients.  It's working great for the project they were starting up.  We have several lawyers with WebSuite access, and it's all filtering into BillQuick, then into QuickBooks. The support I got from BillQuick starting up was fantastic!  If you want to know more about what this can do for you , or if you have people in the field needing to invoice, send me a comment and I'll tell you more.

Some other great software we found is ShareFile. A company based in Raleigh, they have come up with a great, secure way to share sensitive information without having to email.  And Method is a great CRM product, but so much more. It is really good with Inventory and has different plug -in modules so you can really customize it.  Fishbowl was another- if you have a large inventory, and in several sites, this might be what your looking for.

We came back excited for the possibilities for our clients to be really organized and increase productivity.

Also, we met fantastic people there that do the same thing as us, and it was great to share best practises and exchange cards for future chats.

For a little background, I have had each card for over eight years, never paid late,  pay them off within one to two months.  The best reason to have them was the coupons I received several times a year and the 'extra' customer care because I had reached 'elite' status in their stores. 

As I don't have high balances, it's not as much about the fees (which still make me mad) as it is about the prinicipal of their strategy I am disapproving. 

I'm wondering how others are coping who receive these same notices and know they can't just tell each one to take a hike? That is exactly what I did in each case.   I wrote a letter to both, telling them that this was not the way to treat their best customers, that I will not be part of their greedy rush to beat the new laws coming into place to stop this very problem, and to close my account immediately. It was sad- but so long cards. I'll use my American Express or my Citibank World where I can earn points instead.

I am extremely annoyed that my excellent credit rating will go down because I don't accept their greedy increases, closing my account.  I am practising good financial responsibility keeping my interest rates on  credit cards at a respectable level - why punish me for that? I hope anyone else who has received these notices will join me in writing to your representative and ask them to move up the date that bank were given(really congress- couldn't you have seen this coming??) to stop doing this, and instruct the credit report agencies not to change our status if we don't agree to such outlandish demands. 

I might mention, this made me stop and look at each card I have and review the current rates . I noticed my family has three cards, all from the Citibank that vary from 8.94 %, 13.4% to 18.75 % now. Only two of the three have gone up recently.  Guess which one I will use! When I called there to ask why they are three different rates since it's the same person paying, the same credit report, the same excellent payment record, all they could say was maybe it was because they were different types of cards. When I pointed out the first two are exactly the same (used for travel points for my husband and myself) they had no real reply. Since one was the 8.94% at present- I figured I better shut up and get off the phone.   I understand companies need to make money, but when they are receiving their money on an extremely low prime, and then changing their terms so they can charge unbearable interest rates, we all need to let them know- enough already!

Feel free to write me and give me your personal or business experience on this.  What have you done recently to help your company use credit wisely, or get out of a jam?

If you own a Small Business, it's time to start thinking of plans for 2010. 

Budgeting is the first thing that comes to my mind as you formulate what goals you have set for sales, how you might reduce costs, and if you need to add employees.

No company should run without a solid budget in place.  This is probably only the case in 40% of the companies, so I would like remind anyone who is reading that this is one area that will help you achieve what is possible.    

 It is a benchmark that everything should be measured against throughtout the year.

Just creating the budget is an excercise in understanding your company better. Running a Profit and Loss each quarter with actual vs budget figures is a great way to see where you are achieving your goals and where deficiencies lie.  

I will be working on several budgets this next month for some of our clients, and I hope you will take this opportunity to start working on yours.  I will be making some observations as I go through this process and noting them back here, to let you know what kinds of things this activity can help with.

As one small business that launched here two years ago, I can attest it is a great place with loads of opportunities.  Come on down. When you get ready to outsource your Bookkeeping, or need that special Add-On to QuickBooks, we're already here to help!

If anyone has missed the article- here is the link:

BEST PLACES TO LAUNCH

First, I want to welcome my new partner, Ms. Victoria Dull.  Vicki has been working for Quicksilver for approximately 6 months, and as of September 1, has become a full equity partner.  She brings skills and resources that compliment mine, and makes us twice as capable.  I'm thrilled to have her as a partner and look forward to her input and assistance in growing the company.

I also want to welcome Kathy Andreatos, our new Executive Administrator.  She has been learning the business for about a month now.  She comes with great Admin skills, and already knows QuickBooks.  She will be a busy lady with Vicki and I going at full speed!  We hope she can keep us on the straight and narrow.

And last, but not least, we have moved to great office space at 402 Carl Street in Wilmington.  This brings us all together, with a place for Keri too.  We will be able to work more efficiently, and clients now have a place to bring their work and meet us as necessary.  Bringing all of us together into one spot was a major undertaking, and we are happy to say we are now settled in.  We still have some areas to work out, but in general we are already very comfortable and ready to take on additional clients.

It's been a lot of planning, scheduling, packing, unpacking- but all that is behind us and we are looking forward to moving ahead.

I tried a daily paper, but then I found I just couldn't get to it every day.  Then I took in my first book.  While reading that I found a business book I wanted to read, so I ordered that too. 

I have to say, it's been great!  I throw it in my purse, and if I have ten minutes between appointments I can read.  It's a great size (I got the new, bigger one), lightweight and easy to read.  I absolutely love that you can bookmark certain pages.  Now I take it to bed with me and read for 30 minutes, just like I would a regular book.   I wasn't sure at first, but now I am hooked.  It is so easy to get a new book, it downloads in a few minutes, no matter where you are. Technology is amazing!  I'd give it 5 stars!

These gentlemen were some of my very first clients, and I am excited that they are finally getting the spotlight that they deserve!

Wilmington Business Journal- Entrepreneur Section, July 2009

The top three problems viewed as most important from various questions were the following:

63 % Generating New Customers

41% Paying Their Bills

38% Managing Time/ Productivity

I would like to address Time Management today. I my view, there are three things distinct categories that create problems here-

1. Lack of Promise

2. Lack of Priorities

3. Lack of Policies

Promise- You must have written goals, or you will not get things done, nor will you know when you have accomplished something important. Create a default diary which holds the items not accomplished yet, check off the things as you finish. Have goals for the day, the week, the month.

Priorities- Managing your time must take priority, because if it's not that important it will surely be overlooked. If spending quality time with family every night is your priority, you will learn how to work faster and smarter, picking what is more important and delegating the rest.If you have no one to delegate to, then move to outsourcing may be your key to success. If you are a one or two person shop, it might be time to give up some responsibilities on a part time basis so you can get things done.

Policies- If you have Policies and you know what the procedure to accomplish something is, it will go much faster. Repeating something over and over? Make a form. Paper all over your desk? Get a short filing system for your desktop and use it faithfully. The key to reducing stress and getting things done is to repeat the processes, eliminating the unnecessary steps and streamlining the activity.Ifyou are not good at organizing, hire someone to come in and work with you to create the processes. It will be worth every penny in future savings! Remember, your time is money.

 

What a wonderful week I had in Aruba! We have a timeshare there and had not been back for various reasons for several years.  It took a day or so to get into the 'laid back island mode' but once I did it was a very enjoyable week filled with lots of beautiful beach, happy hours, walks and a pile of reading.

Aruba has the best restaurants! My husband and I always eat at the California Light House because it has the best views. We also did Amazonia this time, a Brazilian all you can eat type place. And of course, another favorite, the Buccaneer, where there are huge water tanks and the fish, turtles and lobster move about right at your table!

If you would like to visit an island where you are guaranteed beautiful weather all seven days- this is it.

Now, back to catching up with work!