INSIGHTS & ARTICLES

Selling your product in Wal-Mart or on overstock.com may be the right strategy for you—if your product is cheap and made in China. There are similar ways to sell out when you provide services as well, but chances are, the vision that you aspire to is one of...

With only the most recent moral misconduct happenings in the NFL, we are finally seeing an effective control emerge: capitalism. As discussed at length by Ray Hennessey in his article on Entrepeur.com, we owe recent regulation over NFL behavior to the power larger...

Of the estimated 1 million words in the English language, which is the most powerful in effecting change? Which word do you think the great inventors of history and builders of today’s businesses use like gold? Power players learn to wield the power of saying, “No.”...

Risk is inevitable in all business. Especially in smaller businesses where just starting and opening the door the first day is itself a large risk. You shouldn't try to live life on the edge and risk all your assets, but taking calculated risks at times when it's...

In a previous post I discussed indications that it may be time to bring on a full-time CFO or interview outsourced candidates. Now that we know when to find someone, let’s discuss what we should look for. Even though your choice of CFO will depend on your vision for...

As early-stage companies grow, many experience a number of challenges and problems that indicate the need for a CFO, but don’t recognize it. Often they mistakenly think that the hodge-podge matrix of undertrained staff that they’ve set in charge of their finances will...

So your bookkeeper has been great. In fact, information they’ve been able to provide you has helped you make decisions to grow your business to where it is now. But now you find that your bookkeeper is overwhelmed, dealing with transactions outside of their expertise,...

There are a handful of guidelines with respect to setting up an accounting system correctly that are widely accepted.  Consider these: Set up a reliable accounting system such as QuickBooks and tie the system to your bank accounts, and as many systems as you use....

Every business is unique and has different accounting needs of its software. There is no single accounting software that is the best or every industry or business.  It’s not worth the time or the reading to compile a list of all industries and the best software for...

Strong bookkeeping should be an undisputed given for any company. The benefits of bookkeeping cannot be overstated: its the core to deriving valuable information about a business’s operation in order to make valuable decisions.  An exhaustive list of the benefits can...

The human resource department is complex for a number of reasons, centered on the fact that people are complex, their motives are complex, and their decisions are complex.  Not surprisingly, whether you’re a large or small company, your finance and human resource...

Traditional economics teaches us that consumers are rational and accordingly make decisions in a rational manner. They seek to maximize their utility (the use or happiness they get out of products and services) by purchasing and consuming until they reach diminishing...

I believe some confusion exists in the workplace regarding millennials. Once we get past the often erroneous stereotype of feeling entitled and not willing to work, millennials can add a lot of value to any workplace, with the right touch. Many employers try to attain...

A budget shouldn’t be something you draft at the beginning of the year, stash away in a drawer, and then compare with your year-end numbers to see how you did.  That may sound ludicrous, and that’s because it is.  Unfortunately, the way many business owners use their...

Too many entrepreneurs approach fundraising thinking that all money is the same.  “An ‘investor’ is someone with money, and therefore all people with money can be an investor in my business.”  Well, not exactly, and here’s why. The right investor entirely depends on...

Entrepreneurs are gutsy. They understand the customer, and they are always trying to provide the right value to the customer.  But sometimes entrepreneurs make mistakes.  Especially when it comes to the finances of the business, which are not always at the forefront...

Let’s face it—hobbies are born of passions, and at some point you’ve spent so much time working at your hobby that you become somewhat of an expert. Experts of some hobbies can make decent money from amateur hobbyists.  You may be in this boat (not too bad to get paid...

You’re laser-focused on meeting customer demand and building your business, and then—Wham!—you meet the person of you dreams, and now you’re building a new family at the same time.  Unfortunately, all the efficiencies you thought you’d get by being married (fewer...

Success is meeting a customer’s need. Too many think of success as having money, but that’s not true success. True success is having a product that meets customers needs, and a proven method for customers to pay for and consume that product. So why do so many feel...

I recently read an interesting post at entrepreneur.com arguing the down side of a mega valuation when raising initial capital.  During the read, I quickly recognized that the author was a venture capitalist himself. Despite my recognition of the inherent conflict of...

I hope that you all had a chance to participate at the UVEF Hot Seat: Perfect Pitch event in April.  In case you missed it, I felt that Preferred CFO had an obligation to its friends and contacts to share some of the wisdom shared at the event. John Pilmer of Pilmer...