Accounting is the basis for a deeper understanding of your company, which involves many administrative processes, including registering all accounting documents. Preparing and reviewing annual accounts, balance sheets, and other financial statements is critical to any business.
Here are some basics that will give you a simple understanding of what accounting means to entrepreneurs running their businesses.
Heritage
Heritage is the set of the company’s available assets, rights, and obligations. An organization’s equity is divided into three representative parts.
Assets
Assets measure the overall value of the company. These include assets, payments, company buildings, equipment, and furniture. In addition, it is the most basic concept to consider to understand accounting easily.
We found two types of assets: current assets are those responsible for acquiring assets to remain in the company for less than a year. On the other hand, non-current or fixed assets are applied to stay in the company for some time, as real estate, for example, is a non-current asset.
Liabilities
Liabilities are the company’s obligations; you must understand their functionality to learn about financial accounting. It is measured based on its debts with third parties (suppliers, government agencies, and income). We find two types of liabilities.
Current liabilities comprise all a company’s obligations and debts for less than one year. On the other hand, we find current liabilities, made up of durable debts, that are better than one year.
Net Equity is measured based on the difference between assets and liabilities. Net Equity gives us a notion of the book value of our company, thus improving your skills in the accounting of an entrepreneur.
Capital
You must handle the concept of capital as it will help you understand basic accounting being fundamental. Capital is the amount of money and assets a company owns. The capital is obtained through the contributions or shares of the company to generate more profits for the company.
Income
Also, within an entrepreneur’s accounting concept, you must understand their importance for your business. Income is the money you receive when you sell a product, increasing a company’s equity. At the same time, there is a decrease in liabilities or increased assets. You must also know that the number of sales you make in the company will increase revenue.
The bills
Within every company, there are accounting accounts; these will allow you to have a clear notion regarding the movements of the business. In addition, these accounts will allow you to have reasonably accurate and transparent information about the status of your business, emphasizing the development of concepts related to entrepreneurial accounting.
Financial statements
They are also known as financial statements. They are one of the most critical documents in accounting and what you should know about accounting for entrepreneurs because they reflect the financial status of the entire company. Companies usually present these statements after one accounting year or quarter.
There are three primary financial statements. The first is the cash flow statement, where we find information regarding a company’s cash flows. On the other hand, we find the active account, also known as the profit and loss account; here, you can see the company’s results in a specific period. This information will give you a clear idea about accounting for entrepreneurs.
Finally, we find the balance sheet to assess the company’s financial health by comparing the organization’s assets and liabilities. You can observe the debts and rights of the company both in the short and long term.
The accounting close
The accounting closing is when you stop recording the company’s economic activity, and the data obtained is analyzed. It is an essential step in learning more about accounting for entrepreneurs.
Subsequently, the income statements flow to the balance sheet account, and the difference between the company’s income and expenses is calculated. This analysis is fundamental when it comes to learning to account. It will be a year of gains if you have more income than expenses. Otherwise, it would be a year of losses.
Tax closing
After the accounting closing, it is prudent that you carry out the fiscal close. By learning more about accounting, we found that this closing meets all tax obligations and pays annual taxes.
Accounting books
Organizations present these documents in book format. They are documents containing all the obligations and relevant financial information about a company; this is basic when learning about financial accounting, as they give you a concrete perspective.
Currently, most businesses keep accounting books digitally, allowing incredible speed when reviewing this data. There are two types of books: compulsory and voluntary books.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
The way people communicate and consume content has changed many times throughout history. We have come to exciting computer-generated media from oral tales and stories that open a new world. Every technological breakthrough arouses resistance and concern, and throughout history, books, radio, and television have been seen as a sure path to moral ruin. Virtual reality, on the other contrary, has been talked about for a long time. After only being able to dream about the potential of virtual reality, we can now experience innovative technology with our senses.
Virtual Reality Now
The step from idea to product can belong. But the development is exponential once something has found its way into everyday computer use. It takes time to try out the best way to use modern technology. In addition, microchips needed to be smaller and prices lower.
Now, hardly anyone can have missed that virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) has finally become public goods. The VR/AR market amounted to $3.9 billion in 2016 and is expected to be significantly higher this year. TechCrunch’s technology news site states that the market will be worth $111 billion by 2022.
Gaming Industry
We start with the self-written industry in this context: the gaming industry. Virtual and augmented reality has had a considerable impact there. The success of Pokémon Go was front-page material in many countries in 2016. The game offered a combination of augmented reality and exploration of the natural geographical environment that appealed to players of all ages. An even more well-established brand offered another success story: Star Wars. When the game Star Wars Battlefront was recently released, it contained a VR element to control an X-Wing ship. The game was launched simultaneously with Disney’s first Star Wars movie premiered. And yes, you read that right – you get to control an X-Wing! VR games have become a separate genre among game reviewers.
Retail
The traditional retail trade has a headwind but has much to gain from VR/AR technology. For stores, investing in VR is a way to offer unique and engaging experiences that make customers find their way back. According to Harvard Business Reviewretailers can even use technology to change people’s shopping behavior.
Training
VR applications also create attractive opportunities in teaching science, technology, and mathematics. The Danish startup company Labster is one of the innovators in the field. They develop virtual laboratories where students mix dangerous substances and blow things up without harming anyone. Through Labster, students gain practical experience with the latest technology and explore and experiment with their heart’s desire. Thanks to virtual reality and mathematical algorithms, they can use equipment they would not have had access to otherwise. Labster’s combination of a virtual 3D world, game elements, and many possibilities make the solution invaluable in teaching. MIT, the University of Copenhagen, and Harvard University are so far using it.
Agriculture and Design
Designers and architects work a lot with visuals. They are based on a vision of something they then try to create. But selling a vision to others is not always the easiest thing to do. “It can be tough to communicate an idea to the customer and get it approved,” says Michael Harboe. Many people have difficulty understanding abstract ideas and drawings, and even computer visualizations are complex. Therefore, we welcome the revolution as virtual and mixed reality means. The big advantage of VR is that you save significant amounts of money on correcting mistakes afterward when the projects are implemented. “
VR in Everyday Life
The possibilities to offer new experiences with VR/AR are almost endless. Copenhagen’s Tivoli, the world’s oldest amusement park, has a new roller coaster where virtual reality gives the kicks an extra dimension. Google Translate uses augmented reality in its useful translation app. Just point the camera at a sign when you are abroad; you will have the translation in no time.
However, as a company, one must realize that it is not enough to use modern technology. Creating added value and giving the target group an experience beyond the ordinary is essential. Technology is just the medium, whether in employee training or creating exciting experiences for your target group. And in the last, it is still the content that counts.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
The opportunity to shop for food online completely exploded last year. Grocery stores where you can buy food online are large chains today, plus several upstarts. The most common arrangement is to pick up your goods, as in any e-commerce, and then choose when to pick them up. But there are also grocery stores online that offer home delivery.
It starts and runs an online food business on your means with great opportunities. Today, it is easy to get started, and it also does not cost much for companies that want to take the step to start selling online as well.
Marketing on Social Media
Different channels are appropriate for diverse types of businesses and markets. In some rare cases, it can be relatively cheap to pay for marketing via, for example, Google ads or ads via Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc. In this post, we focus on what you can do on your own to keep costs down and, at the same time, drive traffic to your website.
In general, however, it is the case that cheap marketing (advertising, etc.) is affordable precisely because companies are not willing to pay for the marketing in question. There is, of course, a connection between price and supply/demand.
If, for example, you are running a restaurant, then you are competing to win customers with your local market restaurant and running a food business. Consequently, the prices for advertising in this type of niche and market are not very high.
In addition to the degree of competition in your market, some media are more suitable than others for your offer. Therefore, you must identify your target group to reach your target group in the best (cheapest and most effective way).
Market with Visual Messages
For example, it is usually better to reach out with visual messages via channels that allow this type of marketing in the food business. In other cases, sound may be a more advantageous channel than, for example, text or optical media.
One tip is to start by focusing on one marketing channel. Make sure the channel is appropriate for your defined audience. It can be Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or search engine optimization. It takes time to become good at mastering a channel.
Optimization of Search Engine
One possibility is to spend money on advertising, and organic search engine optimization is another possibility. This type of search engine optimization involves attracting visitors to your site by defining and optimizing specific keywords (“keywords”) that you want your site associated with by Google and other Internet search engines. For more organic search optimization, you want to end up high in the search hierarchy for, for example, Google’s (and other) search engines.
Show Presence on Google My Business
Local presence is essential for running a restaurant, especially for eateries. Before placing an order with your company, a consumer will likely conduct an internet search and a fast check to see how others perceive your company. It includes customer feedback like whether you accept takeout, operating hours, etc.
You may claim your company on Google Maps and manage it from there. Maps will prompt you for information such as your open hours, website, phone number, etc. As a business owner, you may even answer patrons’ inquiries about your business.
It improves your company’s ranking when people search for it, making customer acquisition easier.
SMS Marketing
If you have a sale or update your clients about their orders, SMS is the best channel to employ. Thanks to its quick delivery and excellent engagement rates, SMS ensures subscribers get and read your messages even offline.
For your food business, SMS is a straightforward way to get started. The channel is ideal for deals and discounts that must be completed within a specific time. To begin delivering SMS, install a Shopify SMS marketing tool like TxtCart.
Apart from time-sensitive offers, SMS promotions may be used to upsell clients by suggesting things they are likely to buy based on recent purchase patterns.
Loyalty Program
Loyalty programs are a tried-and-true Shopify marketing approach. Customers who remain loyal are worth ten times more than those who make their initial purchase. However, how can you persuade your clients to keep communicating with you?
Many food businesses use Shopify to set up loyalty programs to encourage customers to act and earn incentives. This immediate pleasure lets customers connect with the company to win additional incentives.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Fostering Effective Communication With Remote Managers
Communication with remote managers requires intentional strategies, clear expectations, and the right digital tools to build trust and maintain productivity across distributed teams. Effective remote communication bridges the physical gap through structured check-ins, transparent goal-setting, and proactive relationship-building that creates alignment, engagement, and accountability in virtual work environments.
After building Complete Controller from a small startup into a thriving remote-first company with over 200 team members, I’ve discovered that successful distributed teams share one critical trait: they’ve mastered the art of intentional communication. The companies crushing it in remote work have cracked a code that goes beyond technology—they’ve reimagined how human connections form and flourish without water cooler conversations or spontaneous desk visits. This article reveals the specific strategies, tools, and mindset shifts that transform remote communication from a challenge into a competitive advantage, giving you the blueprint to build stronger relationships, clearer accountability, and better results than many traditional office teams achieve.
What does effective communication with remote managers look like?
Communication with remote managers involves structured, intentional interactions replacing spontaneous office conversations with planned touchpoints and clear protocols
Regular one-on-one meetings focus on relationship-building and problem-solving rather than status updates
Multiple communication channels serve different purposes: instant messaging for quick questions, video calls for complex discussions
Clear expectations around response times, availability windows, and preferred communication methods prevent misunderstandings
Documentation and transparency keep important information accessible regardless of time zones or schedules
Building Trust Through Consistent Remote Team Communication
Remote team communication success starts with establishing psychological safety and reliability in virtual relationships. Research reveals a staggering trust gap: while 63% of employees believe they maintain high productivity working from home, only 56% extend that same confidence to their colleagues, and half actively question whether their remote coworkers are truly productive. This fundamental trust challenge creates ripple effects throughout every aspect of remote work.
The solution lies in creating predictable communication rhythms that build confidence over time. At Complete Controller, we discovered that employees who had regular, scheduled touchpoints with their managers reported 40% higher job satisfaction than those with ad-hoc communication patterns. This consistency creates psychological safety—team members know when they’ll connect, what to expect, and how to prepare.
Establishing communication rhythms that work
Virtual management strategies must account for the elimination of natural office interactions. Instead of trying to recreate office dynamics virtually, successful remote teams build new rhythms: daily five-minute check-ins for urgent items, weekly 30-minute one-on-ones for relationship building, and monthly strategic sessions for alignment. This structure provides regular connection points without overwhelming calendars.
The key lies in customization. Some team members thrive with morning video calls while others prefer afternoon written updates. Document these preferences early and adjust accordingly. One size never fits all in remote communication.
Mastering Digital Communication Tools for Effective Remote Collaboration
Digital communication tools serve as the nervous system of remote organizations, but strategic usage makes the difference between seamless collaboration and chaotic miscommunication. The most successful remote teams use 4-6 communication tools, each serving a specific purpose rather than forcing one platform to handle everything.
Email handles formal communications and documentation. Instant messaging platforms like Slack manage quick clarifications. Video conferencing facilitates relationship building. Project management tools track progress and accountability. The critical factor lies in establishing clear guidelines for which tool serves which purpose.
How to communicate with remote teams across multiple channels
Effective remote collaboration requires channel discipline—using the right medium for the right message. Microsoft’s research shows weekly meetings increased by 153% globally since remote work expanded, with overlapping meetings up 46% and meeting declines rising 84%. This meeting explosion signals a broken communication system where every interaction defaults to video calls.
At Complete Controller, we’ve developed a communication hierarchy: urgent items requiring immediate response use phone calls or designated Slack channels. Non-urgent updates flow through email or regular channels. Complex discussions requiring back-and-forth happen via scheduled video calls. This system prevents important messages from drowning in notification noise while maintaining appropriate urgency levels.
Overcoming Remote Communication Challenges
Managing remote employees reveals unique communication obstacles. Microsoft’s Work Trend Index exposed a troubling disconnect: 85% of leaders struggle to trust that remote employees maintain productivity, while 87% of employees report high productivity levels. This “productivity paranoia” creates tension that undermines every interaction.
Time zones compound these challenges. Technical glitches disrupt crucial conversations. The absence of visual cues leads to misinterpretation. Most significantly, remote work can blur boundaries between professional and personal time, creating an always-on culture that exhausts teams.
Case study: GitLab’s documentation-first approach
GitLab, operating with over 1,300 remote employees globally, revolutionized remote communication through their documentation-first strategy. Their system includes automated templates achieving 95% compliance rates, AI-assisted workflows cutting resolution time by 85%, and standardized decision records with 92% adoption. This approach saves teams 4-8 hours weekly while reducing meetings by 70%.
The breakthrough came from recognizing that synchronous communication doesn’t scale. By defaulting to written documentation, GitLab created a system where information flows efficiently across time zones without requiring everyone online simultaneously.
Tips for remote manager communication during crisis
Best practices for managing remote workers become critical during organizational changes or high-stress periods. Remote employees often feel disconnected from leadership during uncertainty, lacking the informal information channels that office workers access naturally.
Successful remote managers increase both communication frequency and depth during challenges. This means more video calls for visual reassurance, detailed context around decisions, and structured opportunities for questions. Transparency becomes non-negotiable when physical distance already creates emotional distance.
Building Professional Relationships Virtually
Efficient communication in virtual teams extends beyond task coordination to relationship-building. Harvard Business Review research shows teams with strong interpersonal bonds are 35% more likely to maintain high performance during stress, but building these connections remotely requires deliberate effort.
The most effective approach involves creating space within existing structures for personal connection. Start meetings with genuine check-ins. Schedule virtual coffee chats without agendas. Share wins and challenges openly. These small investments in relationship-building pay massive dividends in team resilience.
Remote management communication methods for different personalities
Virtual management strategies must accommodate diverse personality types. Introverted team members often excel in remote environments with processing time before responding. Extroverted colleagues may struggle without immediate social interaction. Understanding these differences transforms team dynamics.
Develop communication personas for each team member—documented preferences around timing, medium, and style. This individualized approach requires upfront investment but dramatically improves satisfaction and productivity. One marketing manager might prefer morning video calls while an engineer thrives with afternoon written updates.
Creating Accountability Through Communication Systems
Remote team communication around performance requires structure and documentation. Without direct observation of work habits, managers must focus on outcomes rather than activities. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics research found industries with 50-62% remote workers maintained productivity gains while requiring less labor input—proof that results-based management works.
Create clear, measurable objectives through collaborative dialogue. Schedule regular checkpoints focusing on problem-solving rather than surveillance. When employees feel supported rather than monitored, they communicate openly about challenges and seek help proactively.
Effective remote collaboration through transparent goals
Digital communication tools become essential for creating shared understanding around expectations. Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) provide frameworks for alignment, but communication around these frameworks determines success.
At Complete Controller, objectives emerge from collaborative creation rather than top-down assignment. This requires ongoing dialogue about priorities, resources, and obstacles—conversations that happen naturally in offices but need deliberate scheduling remotely.
Final Thoughts
Communication with remote managers represents the defining skill of modern work. Organizations mastering these capabilities gain significant advantages in talent acquisition, employee satisfaction, and operational flexibility. The key lies in developing new approaches optimized for distributed teams rather than forcing office patterns into virtual spaces.
After two decades leading Complete Controller’s evolution into a remote-first powerhouse, I’ve learned that successful remote communication shares three characteristics: it’s intentional rather than accidental, documented rather than assumed, and continuously refined based on feedback. The investment in these skills delivers returns through enhanced productivity, stronger relationships, and competitive advantages that extend far beyond cost savings. Ready to transform your organization’s financial operations with expert remote team management? Visit Complete Controller to discover how our proven strategies can elevate your business communication and results.
Frequently Asked Questions About Communication with Remote Managers
What are the biggest communication challenges when working remotely?
The primary challenges include missing non-verbal cues that lead to misunderstandings, time zone differences creating response delays, technical disruptions during important conversations, and the loss of spontaneous interactions that naturally build relationships and share information in traditional offices.
How often should remote managers communicate with their team members?
Effective remote managers typically maintain daily five-minute check-ins for urgent items, weekly 30-minute one-on-ones for relationship building and detailed discussions, and monthly hour-long strategic conversations for alignment, though frequency should adjust based on individual needs and project demands.
What communication tools work best for remote teams?
Successful remote teams strategically use 4-6 different tools: email for formal documentation, instant messaging like Slack for quick questions, video conferencing for relationship building and complex discussions, and project management platforms for tracking progress and maintaining accountability across time zones.
How can remote workers build trust with their managers?
Building trust remotely requires maintaining consistent communication patterns, providing proactive updates on progress and obstacles, transparently sharing both successes and challenges, reliably following through on all commitments, and actively participating in team communications and scheduled meetings.
What’s the best way to give feedback to remote employees?
Effective remote feedback combines regularly scheduled sessions with real-time recognition, uses video calls for sensitive or complex discussions, focuses on specific behaviors and measurable outcomes, and provides clear action steps for improvement along with necessary resources and ongoing support.
Sources
Remote.com. “Tips from Remote’s CEO on managing remote employees.” Remote Blog, July 24, 2024.
Blink. “7 Best Practices For Managing Remote Teams & Employees.” Blink Intelligence, January 27, 2025.
Radical Candor. “7 Leadership Communication Skills for Managing a Remote Team.” Radical Candor Blog, April 24, 2024.
GitLab Handbook. “How to be a great remote manager – the complete guide.” GitLab, May 15, 2025.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Jennifer BrazerFounder/CEO
Jennifer is the author of From Cubicle to Cloud and Founder/CEO of Complete Controller, a pioneering financial services firm that helps entrepreneurs break free of traditional constraints and scale their businesses to new heights.
Brittany McMillen is a seasoned Marketing Manager with a sharp eye for strategy and storytelling. With a background in digital marketing, brand development, and customer engagement, she brings a results-driven mindset to every project. Brittany specializes in crafting compelling content and optimizing user experiences that convert. When she’s not reviewing content, she’s exploring the latest marketing trends or championing small business success.
Jennifer is the author of From Cubicle to Cloud and Founder/CEO of Complete Controller, a pioneering financial services firm that helps entrepreneurs break free of traditional constraints and scale their businesses to new heights.
Accounting 101: A Guide to Mastering the Basics of Accounting
Welcome to Accounting 101, where we strip away the intimidation and break down the essentials of accounting. Whether you’re a business owner trying to make sense of your books or someone aiming to take control of personal finances, you’ve come to the right place. As the CEO of Complete Controller, I’ve spent years helping individuals and businesses master their finances—and trust me, it’s simpler than it seems.
Accounting isn’t just about crunching numbers; it’s about clarity, decision-making, and seeing the financial landscape as it truly is. Today, I’m sharing the foundational principles you need to get started, equipping you with tools to track, understand, and leverage your financial data. So, let’s get started, step by step.
Why Accounting is Non-Negotiable
Accounting is more than “keeping the books.” It’s the backbone of any financial operation, whether you’re running a Fortune 500 company or just trying to figure out where your paycheck disappears every month. Here’s why you need accounting in your life:
Understand Your Money: Know exactly where your earnings are going and whether you’re living within your means—or beyond them.
Stay Legal: Falling behind on tax filings can lead to headaches (or worse). Accurate accounting keeps you aligned with legal requirements.
Build Credibility: Thinking about taking out a loan or wooing investors? Your financial records are the proof they’ll ask for.
Plan for the Future: You can’t create a solid budget without understanding your financial starting point.
Believe me, with accurate accounting, you’re not just surviving—you’re thriving.
Basic Accounting Principles Everyone Should Know
Like any field, accounting has its core principles. These form the framework for understanding how money is tracked and reported. Let’s focus on two essentials that will help you grasp the bigger picture.
The accounting equation
The whole system of accounting boils down to one simple formula:
Assets = Liabilities + Equity
In plain terms: what you own (your assets) minus what you owe (your liabilities) equals your net worth (equity). For example, if your company owns $50k in assets and owes $30k, the $20k leftover is your equity. Keep this equation in mind—it’s the foundation for balance sheets, which we’ll explore shortly.
GAAP vs. IFRS
If you’ve spent time Googling accounting terms, you’ve likely come across these acronyms:
GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles): Standardized U.S. accounting rules. Want to dive deeper? Check out GAAP guidelines.
IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards): The global equivalent to GAAP. It’s less rule-focused and more about broad principles.
Most small businesses won’t need to worry about IFRS, but understanding the differences can be crucial if you plan to operate internationally.
Financial Statements: Your Business’s Story in Numbers
Financial statements might seem daunting, but they tell a story. In fact, they are chapters in a book about your business’s financial health.
Three key types of financial statements
Balance Sheet: Provides a summary of your assets, liabilities, and equity at a single point in time. Think of it as a snapshot of your financial health.
Income Statement: Sometimes called a profit-and-loss report, this shows revenues and expenses over a specific period. If you’re making money—or bleeding it—this report tells the tale.
Cash Flow Statement: Tracks the movement of cash in and out of your accounts during a specific time frame and provides a clearer picture than just a bank balance.
Take Amazon as an example. Unlike many companies, their annual reports begin with the cash flow statement, emphasizing how critical cash management is for understanding overall financial health. You’d be surprised what these reports can reveal about trends and potential red flags.
For a detailed explanation of these reports, don’t miss this excellent resource provided by the SEC.
Making Sense of Accounting Terminology
Accounting jargon can be confusing. Let’s simplify a few key terms:
Assets: What you own—think money in the bank, equipment, or inventory.
Liabilities: Debts or obligations, like loans or outstanding bills.
Equity: What’s left after deducting liabilities from assets—your net worth.
Revenue: Money coming in; picture your salary, sales, or rental income.
Expenses: Do you know where your money’s going? Expenses include rent, utilities, and unexpected costs.
With these basics, you’ll already sound like a pro.
Bookkeeping: The Foundation of Accounting
Here’s a truth bomb: solid bookkeeping is non-negotiable. It forms the foundation for great accounting. Without it, everything crumbles.
Practical bookkeeping tips to get started
Journal Entry Basics: Record every financial transaction, no matter how small.
Organize with Ledgers: Group entries by categories (e.g., income, expenses).
Trial Balance Tool: Use this to ensure the books balance out and catch errors early.
And here’s a hack from my own experience—going digital with bookkeeping tools, like QuickBooks or Wave, can save you hours of manual work.
Top Accounting Software for Small Businesses
Gone are the days of spreadsheets. Modern accounting software is user-friendly, affordable, and incredibly powerful. Some of my favorites:
QuickBooks: Perfect for both beginners and seasoned accountants.
Xero: Streamlined for growing businesses.
Wave: Free and perfect for freelancers or small operations.
For the budget-conscious, here’s another insider tip: try free tools like ZipBooks Starter or Brightbook for simple bookkeeping without the expense.
The Role of Accountants
Even with all the tools, there’s no replacement for an accountant’s expertise. As someone who has built a career working closely with businesses, I can tell you firsthand how valuable accountants are. They help with:
Tax Prep & Filing: Minimize liabilities and maximize deductions.
Compliance: Ensuring financial accuracy and regulatory adherence.
Strategic Guidance: Offering data-driven insights for sustainable growth.
Final Takeaways
Accounting isn’t rocket science—it’s a skill set you can master with the right knowledge and tools.By understanding basic accounting principles like the accounting equation, making sense of financial statements, and setting up solid bookkeeping practices, you’re already ahead of the game.
GAAP is U.S.-specific, while IFRS is used globally. GAAP follows strict accounting rules; IFRS emphasizes broad principles.
Which accounting software should I use?
QuickBooks is user-friendly, Xero excels for growing businesses, and Wave works well for freelancers.
Why are financial statements important?
They show whether you’re making a profit, managing debt responsibly, and maintaining healthy cash flow.
How should a beginner start bookkeeping?
Start with journal entries, organize them into ledgers, and verify using trial balances.
Why is accounting essential for small businesses?
It ensures you track revenue, manage expenses, find tax advantages, and plan for sustainable growth.
Sources
Corporate Finance Institute. “Financial Statements Examples – Amazon Case Study.“Corporate Finance Institute.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “Free Accounting Tools for Small Businesses.“U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Franzoni, Marco. “Accounting 101: Basic Accounting Principles for Beginners.“Disruptive Labs.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
An onboarding process is when the organization informs newly hired employees about the company’s procedures and operations to improve their integration with the work team.
Finding and hiring personnel for your organization requires skills. If you are a human resources manager reading this essay, you will agree with me.
Hiring new employees is a vital process. Therefore, applying a series of steps is essential to help you solve it best.
Steps to Carry Out an Onboarding Process
Follow the steps below to successfully integrate your new employees. Let them feel they made the right decision by joining your workforce!
Here are the steps to onboarding a new employee.
Get Ready
First, onboarding a new employee requires planning. Therefore, plan your schedule, prepare your location and work team, and prepare all the necessary documentation for your total integration. Inform all your employees about the new hire and the work you will be doing within the company; this will give the new employee a sense of importance because they will feel that you expected their arrival.
The Reception
On the first day, schedule a time to introduce it to everyone and let the employee know that he is welcome and that he feels like a member of the team:
Take a guided and complete tour of the office
Introduce it to colleagues and mention the group with which the employee will collaborate
Share essential information about team dynamics
Plan an informal meeting, for example, over lunch, to discuss how he is doing on his first day at work
Keep Expectations Clear
From the first week onwards, you should set clear expectations to get the results you want:
Talk to the new employee about their duties and responsibilities.
Define what you expect as a company in terms of skills and attitudes.
Inform and make available the company’s policies and procedures.
Inform the company of your obligations and vice versa.
Follow Up
Even after the employee completes the onboarding process, the integration doesn’t end. It is vital to ensure he understands his tasks well and how his roles contribute to the organization’s overall performance. It also takes time to gather information about the orientation process, ask if everything is going well, and ask if he feels comfortable in the new role.
One way to get user feedback on the onboarding process is through an employment induction survey to ask employees for their opinions, especially in their first few weeks or months on the job.
Since everything around them is new, new employees may feel overwhelmed. As a senior manager, you must ensure that your managers are technically and socially competent.
The result will be employee retention, greater productivity, and constant improvement in the integration process. To improve the whole process, you will need to apply a good questionnaire that allows you to collect comments and answers.
Benefits of Surveying the Integration Process
The integration process differs significantly from one company to another. The onboarding process begins when a candidate accepts an offer and joins your company as an employee.
You must take this procedure seriously. The majority of businesses get lost in the first phase.
Once the new employee completes the onboarding process, you will need to use a survey or questionnaire on a routine basis to collect their feedback and reactions to the entire process.
Some of the advantages of surveying better the integration process are as follows:
The increased lifetime value of employees
By successfully implementing a recruitment questionnaire, you can increase the lifetime value of an employee.
When new employees join your firm, their initial performance will be poor as they still need to recognize the work environment and what type of work you expect. However, you may accomplish two things with an excellent new employee questionnaire:
The total time it takes for the employee to contribute to the team will be reduced.
Let the employees enhance their social circle at the workplace.
Identify the Gaps
Knowing what to change is essential for effectively improving the hiring or incorporation process. This will help the manager or the employer identify gaps in training and knowledge.
Improve the Feedback Process
By implementing a questionnaire for new employees during onboarding, you contribute to the feedback process, improving engagement levels. Employees should feel that they are being listened to and that the suggestions or points they make are actually being considered.
Valuable Data
You are in the treasure of data; these are the potential characteristics of a survey. You have to pay attention to the analysis. Also, you have to be consistent every year. Being an entrepreneur of an organization, you can also find the answers to those questions you have been exploring or struggling with for a long time.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
When it comes to our personal finances, there are many different types to consider. It can be overwhelming to navigate the various options available, but understanding the different types of finances can help you make informed decisions and stay on track with your financial goals. In this article, we’ll explore some examples of different types of finances and how they can be used to improve your economic well-being.
First up is savings accounts. Banks and credit unions often offer these accounts, which are an excellent option for storing money and earning interest. Savings accounts typically offer lower interest rates than other types of investments, but they are also low-risk and accessible. They can be used to save for short-term goals, such as a vacation, a down payment on a home, or a place to park your emergency fund.
Another type of finance to consider is a checking account. This is the account you use to manage your daily expenses, such as paying bills and making purchases. Checking accounts can come with various features like online banking, mobile check deposits, and overdraft protection. Some banks may charge fees for using their checking accounts, so read the fine print before opening an account. Credit cards are also a popular type of finance. They allow you to borrow money from a lender and pay it back with interest.
Credit cards can be an excellent tool for building credit and earning rewards, such as cashback or travel points. However, they can also be a slippery slope if not used responsibly. High interest rates and fees can quickly add up, leading to debt and financial stress.
If you’re looking to invest your money, there are several options to consider. One popular choice is a mutual fund. A mutual fund is an investment that pools money from multiple investors to purchase stocks, bonds, and other assets. This allows you to diversify your investments and potentially earn higher returns than you would with a single stock or bond. However, mutual funds also come with fees and risks, so it’s essential to do your research before investing.
Another investment option is real estate. This can include buying a rental property, investing in a real estate investment trust (REIT), or flipping houses. Real estate can be a lucrative investment but also requires a significant amount of upfront capital and comes with risks such as market fluctuations and unexpected expenses.
If you’re looking to borrow money, several types of loans must be considered. One common type is a personal loan. You can use this loan for various purposes, such as consolidating debt, paying for a wedding, or making home improvements. Personal loans typically come with fixed interest rates and a set repayment schedule.
Another type of loan is a student loan. You can use this loan to pay for college or other education-related expenses. Student loans can come from the government or private lenders, typically with lower interest rates than different types of loans. However, they can also be difficult to repay, especially if you have a large amount of debt.
Finally, let’s talk about retirement accounts.
These accounts are designed to help you save for retirement and can come in several forms, such as 401(k)s, IRAs, and pensions. Retirement accounts offer tax advantages and can help you build a nest egg for your golden years. However, they also come with rules and restrictions, such as penalties for early withdrawals.
In conclusion, there are many different types of finances to consider when managing your finances. Whether you’re looking to save money, invest for the future, or borrow money, there is an option that can fit your needs. The key is to do your research, understand the risks and benefits, and make informed decisions that align with your financial goals. You can build a solid foundation for a secure financial future by staying informed and taking control of your finances. About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
List of All Products and Services Provided by Amazon
Cloud computing
Thanks to “Amazon Web Services,” this company provides a wide range of public cloud computing services, and together they form a powerful cloud computing platform over the Internet through Amazon’s official website. With that in mind, Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the most comprehensive cloud platform in the world today, and millions of users have already made the switch.
E-commerce
One of the primary services guaranteed by Amazon is its e-commerce platform, from which it offers products of all types to customers worldwide. Due to its excessive success and quality as a business, it has been considered the king of e-commerce for many years because it was the pioneer in this type of online business.
VOD
While this is true, Video on Demand is an OTT television service consisting of a mode of streaming media content that allows users to access specific content anytime they wish and view it online. Thus, VOD has evolved, and Amazon has decided to utilize it to its advantage.
Smart speakers
As if that wasn’t enough, Amazon also offers its users smart speakers called “Echo Speakers.” Of which there are several models with different characteristics that can adapt to the needs of each person, and by receiving the famous Amazon official voice assistant, that is, Alexa.
Amazon’s Echo speakers, on the other hand, provide excellent sound quality for all your presentations, and that’s one of the best benefits they offer. Also, they are for use with high-definition music services, and most importantly, these are cheap devices compared to other solutions.
List of All Products and Services Provided by Alibaba
E-commerce
Of course, Alibaba’s most essential service is in the e-commerce space. In this sense, it has established partnerships with several Chinese and international companies that need stocks or manufacturers to offer all their products from this platform. It perfectly serves the various buyers and sellers who choose to use this solution.
Cloud computing
Thanks to its “Alibaba Cloud” service, this e-commerce platform also provides cloud computing services for online businesses and its e-commerce ecosystem. Which services are available on a pay-per-use basis and add elastic computing, data storage, processing, relational databases, anti-DDoS protection, and networking?
Web hosting solution
In addition to the above, Alibaba Cloud also provides ideal web hosting solutions for any professional environment, whatever its size. Since then, Web Hosting Solution has offered complete assistance in cost reduction, maintenance, and IT development while ensuring the stability and security of the website in question.
Amazon vs. Alibaba: The Ultimate Comparison of e-Commerce Titans!
Due to their different strengths, Amazon and Alibaba are now considered the titans of the e-commerce world. Therefore, it is helpful to distinguish what are their most notable differences. Only then is it possible to conclude which of the two platforms is the best, depending on the requirements or expectations of each user.
Inventory
Based on direct sales, Amazon has a comprehensive inventory in its huge warehouse network and regularly refreshes it. Furthermore, the service gives a platform for other partner shops to sell items to consumers. These products have a higher purchase price, allowing Amazon to avoid delayed inventory, which would merely disperse earnings.
Users
As a platform known worldwide for many years, Jeff Bezos eCommerce is hosting over 310 million active customer accounts, increasing more and more.
However, due to the enormous boom that Alibaba brought to the world, over 443 million active buyers are on this platform, mainly because China still has the most extensive user base globally.
Of sales
On the other hand, concerning sales of each e-commerce platform, we reveal that Amazon almost quadruples e-commerce sales and has additional revenue from cloud services and subscriptions far superior to those of the Asian society.
Prices and offers
One of Alibaba’s main goals is to generate optimal platform benefits for sellers. Consequently, it offers better prices and more significant offers so that any entrepreneur can quickly boost their activity and position themselves in the search rankings without spending so much money.
Variety of products
When it comes to the catalog managed by these two platforms, Amazon leads compared to Alibaba. Amazon is a much more varied service, and therefore, it classifies as a “whole store.” Users will find endless products that are not even available on the Asian platform.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Few people know that Google’s voice search has existed before – but not in the same way as it works today. The first version of Google’s voice search was launched as early as 2010, almost ten years ago. Then the users had to call a specific number and repeat their search (for example, “recipe for pancakes”), which updated the search results page based on what was said during the call.
Of course, this did not work as smoothly as today, but the exciting thing is that it already used the service then. Since then, Google has developed voice search to include the service in increasing the company’s apps and products. And today, voice search is a natural tool when searching for information.
How do I Develop My Site for Voice Search?
Now we have looked at what voice search is and found that the searches that take place via voice are constantly increasing. We can state that voice search is here to stay, making it an increasingly important part to include in an SEO strategy to avoid losing traffic in the future.
If you are already working with search engine optimization, there is a good chance that they are already part of your daily work. Below I go through each one a little closer.
Focus on Long-Tail Terms and Questions
Searches that occur via voice tend to be longer and more natural than those that occur via text. It means that we need to design the content on the website in the same way – with long-tail terms and issues. We are simply looking as we speak.
Start by developing a keyword analysis focusing on long-tail keywords to get you started and plan your content.
Be Sure to Keep the Local Content Up to Date
Google has long adapted the search results to where you are. The voice search is no exception, as most voice searches are questions related to different local places and how to get there.
Therefore, ensure that all local content on the site is current and that the information available on Google Maps and Google My Business is consistent. If it does not, you risk sending your visitors to the wrong addresses at troubled times – and you do not want that!
Structured Data Help to Understand the Content
Structured data enables search engines to recognize various aspects of your website. For example, it is possible to markup product information such as price, stock balance, and ratings to get more decadent hits in the search results.
Not so long ago, there was also a new inclusion in structured data called Speakable, which helps search engines determine which part of the text is best suited for reading. In other words, this is perfect for telling search engines what content suits your voice!
Visibility in Direct Answers
Direct Answers allows Google to give its users extra quick answers by presenting the solution directly in the search results, above the organic hits. You can see it as ranking “zero.” And during a voice search, precisely this snippet of text is read out in response. Evaluate it yourself!
Optimize Your Site’s Load Times – Every Second Makes a Difference
Page loading will always be essential in SEO as it determines how long it takes before the site has finished loading and can display all the content for you. It is even more effective in mobile searches, as is the voice search – where every second makes a difference, and quick answers are necessary.
Did you know visitors tend to leave a site that takes more than 2 seconds to load?
Summation
The voice search is here to stay. It is going nowhere, and the trend shows that searches that take place with the help of the voice will increase even more in the coming years and change how we search. It becomes obvious when phrases like “Hey Siri,” “Hey Alexa,” and “OK, Google” become a more natural part of our everyday lives.
It is necessary to keep up the journey and create a strategy for how your website will answer this type of search already here – which will undoubtedly be even more in the future.
Good luck with the optimization!
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Full-time at work? Total time from home? Or a hybrid workplace? The debate over whether to work from home has been a big topic for a long time, and the trend is that so many individuals would like to keep this opportunity at least as a second or part-time job. Besides making your staff more comfortable, a hybrid workplace has several other advantages.
One of the benefits increases flexibility—both for the employees and the company. When employees can work from wherever they want, the company gets a more extensive supply in the labor market. You may recruit throughout many more significant geographical regions when you do not have to consider distance when hiring your workers.
A mixed workforce also offers less environmental impact. Employees’ commute and from work and smaller premises that use less power are all factors to consider.
Benefits of Hybrid Workplace
According to Microsoft, the ability to work from home improves employees’ overall health by making life’s challenges easier to solve.
A hybrid workplace has a lot of benefits, but it also has a lot of disadvantages. As a result, it is critical to have a clear plan and a suitable framework for how employees and supervisors operate so that productivity and culture do not suffer.
Productive Hybrid Workplace
The pandemic has accelerated digitization and enhanced our capacity to cooperate, interact, and communicate remotely in ways no one could have predicted a few years ago. But now, there are more indications that a digital form of working is not only a temporary solution but an increasingly positive experience that offers new opportunities for employees and organizations.
The following are some points for a productive hybrid workplace:
Clear goals will be challenging to manage a widely scattered workforce without defined objectives. What is expected of the group or person in the course of the day, end of the week, or at month’s end? Continuously conduct stand-up meetings to receive a summary of the present status and goals and check in to see whether they have been met.
Trust your employees
Because the short conversation over the café is gone when workers work from home, there is no need for a detailed understanding of what each employee accomplishes during the day if the team has defined goals. It is more challenging for leaders and managers to visualize how things are progressing in various projects. Trusting their staff is especially vital in this situation. Many managers need to oversee projects in minute detail, which stifles innovation and development.
Focus on productivity, not the activity
The primary benefit of a hybrid workplace is that it allows employees more flexibility in their working hours. Many companies are concerned that their employees are not working their scheduled hours. Still, rather than focusing on whether their employees are active between periods, they should concentrate on completing their objectives.
Make leaders and decision-makers easily accessible
Employees should be able to readily access decision-makers when concerns occur in a hybrid workplace to run as effectively as feasible. It is not unusual for managers to spend their days in meetings, but you need to build a culture where you can effortlessly engage with people who make the decisions. It is up to each team to determine whether they choose to communicate by calls, emails, or chat. Accessibility must become ingrained in the hybrid workplace’s culture.
Have the right tools in place
Technology plays a crucial role in establishing an effective hybrid workplace. Collaboration and communication technologies are essential to make this possible when working together from a distance. Remember that touch should be simple to understand and that there should be options for diverse groups. Telephone, multimedia, conversations, and informational pages are necessary for employees to maintain high efficiency and production levels.
Encourage social initiatives
When it comes to a hybrid environment and working remotely, one of the most common concerns among entrepreneurs is the cultural element. It is critical to support social efforts to achieve a successful solution. It might be anything from scheduling regular after-work activities to purchasing a basic chat app so employees can speak informally.
Conclusion
If the deployment is done correctly, those investing wisely in a hybrid workplace can yield substantial returns. When implemented correctly, the hybrid strategy may provide the right balance, but the road ahead will not be easy.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
