Top Small Business Ideas to Start With Little or No Money

Small business ideas with no money needed include dropshipping, home cleaning services, and consulting—all requiring minimal investment, leveraging skills you already have, and using free or low-cost online platforms. These ventures let you launch immediately with just a computer and internet connection, whether you’re offering tutoring services, starting an affiliate marketing blog, or flipping thrift store finds on resale platforms.

I’ve built Complete Controller from scratch for over 20 years, starting with minimal resources and watching countless clients transform side hustles into thriving enterprises. The freelance economy now includes 73 million Americans and is projected to reach 90 million by 2028, while the dropshipping market has grown to $460 billion in 2025—proving that low-cost business models are not just viable but booming. Throughout this article, you’ll discover specific business ideas with real income potential, learn exactly how to launch without capital, and gain actionable steps that turn your expertise into revenue.

What are the best small business ideas to start with little or no money?

• Top options: dropshipping, consulting, cleaning, tutoring, affiliate marketing, reselling, freelance services
• Most require only: a computer, an internet connection, and your existing skills or creativity
• Service-based businesses: minimize startup expenses and maximize flexibility through direct client work
• Success comes from: consistent execution, excellent customer service, and strategic marketing—not big investments
• Launch strategy: start part-time while maintaining income, then scale as your client base and revenue grow

Low-Cost Service Businesses Anyone Can Start

Service businesses transform your time and expertise into profit without inventory or storefronts. Most new businesses take 18-24 months to become profitable, but service models often reach profitability faster due to minimal overhead costs.

Home and office cleaning services

The cleaning industry generates $415.93 billion globally and continues growing at 6.9% annually through 2030. You can start with supplies clients provide or invest under $100 in basic equipment.

Launch Steps:

• Register on platforms like Angi, HomeAdvisor, and Care.com for immediate visibility
• Price services at $25-50 per hour for residential or $30-75 for commercial spaces
• Build trust through before-and-after photos and client testimonials
• Scale by hiring help once you book 20+ hours weekly

Tutoring and online courses

Online tutoring has exploded to a $12.8 billion market in 2025, projected to double by 2030. Tutors typically charge $20-60 per hour, with specialized subjects commanding premium rates.

Getting Started:

• Choose your expertise area: academics, music, languages, test prep, or professional skills
• Create free profiles on Wyzant, Tutor.com, or Preply
• Develop course materials using Canva or Google Slides
• Package knowledge into digital courses on Teachable for passive income
• Market through parent Facebook groups and local school networks

Online Business Ideas That Cost Almost Nothing

Digital businesses eliminate traditional barriers like rent and inventory. The dropshipping market alone reached $460 billion in 2025, growing over 20% annually.

Dropshipping and print-on-demand

Print-on-demand businesses maintain 25-50% profit margins with zero inventory risk. About 24% of POD businesses remain active long-term, generating meaningful income.

Action Plan:

• Open a Shopify store using their free trial period
• Connect with Printful or Printify for automatic fulfillment
• Design unique products targeting specific niches
• Focus on customer reviews and social proof
• Reinvest early profits into Facebook and Instagram ads

Affiliate marketing

Businesses invest $11.99 billion in affiliate marketing, with successful affiliates earning $5,000-15,000 monthly in established niches. Software affiliates average $5,967 monthly while education-focused marketers can earn $15,551.

Building Your Affiliate Business:

• Select a profitable niche matching your interests
• Start a blog using WordPress.com’s free plan
• Write detailed product reviews and comparison guides
• Join Amazon Associates, ShareASale, or niche-specific programs
• Drive traffic through SEO and Pinterest marketing

How to Build a Freelance or Consulting Practice with No Money

Full-time freelancers earn a median of $85,000 annually, with 78% reporting satisfaction with their compensation. The key is packaging your existing skills into marketable services.

Steps to launch

• Build your portfolio: Create a free website on WordPress or showcase work on LinkedIn
• Set competitive rates: Research industry standards on Glassdoor or Indeed
• Find first clients: Tap your network and post in relevant Facebook groups
• Deliver excellence: Over-deliver on early projects to generate referrals
• Scale systematically: Raise rates every 3-6 months as demand increases

High-demand freelance services

Virtual assistants earn $45,000-70,000 annually, with certified VAs commanding 15% higher rates. Other profitable options include:

• Social media management ($15-75 per hour)
• Content writing ($25-150 per article)
• Graphic design ($25-100 per hour)
• Web development ($50-150 per hour)
• Business consulting ($75-300 per hour)

Creative and Upcycling Businesses: Turn Passion into Profit

Etsy hosts 8.1 million sellers generating $12.5 billion in gross merchandise value. Handmade businesses contribute an average 12% to household income, with 21% of sellers earning $1,000-10,000 monthly.

Profitable Creative Ventures:

• Furniture flipping (source free items from Craigslist)
• Custom pet accessories (tap into the $261 billion pet industry)
• Digital art and printables (infinite inventory with zero storage)
• Upcycled clothing and accessories (thrift store sourcing under $5 per item)

Marketing Your Creations:

• Post process videos on TikTok and Instagram Reels
• Join craft fair vendor groups on Facebook
• Cross-list products on Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, and Mercari
• Build an email list offering 10% off first purchases

Real-World Success Stories: Starting Up With Nothing

Case study: Raven Gibson – Legendary Rootz

Raven Gibson launched Legendary Rootz from her college dorm using print-on-demand. Starting with zero inventory investment, she designed empowering apparel for Black women featuring messages like “I am Black history.” Using Shopify’s free trial and Printful for fulfillment, she focused on authentic storytelling and community engagement through social media. Her strategic approach to niche marketing and customer service excellence led to Target stores stocking her products—proving a no-money startup can scale to mainstream retail.

My Complete Controller journey

I started Complete Controller from my home office with basic QuickBooks knowledge and a determination to help small businesses succeed. By focusing on exceptional service and leveraging cloud technology before it was mainstream, we grew from a solo operation to serving thousands of clients nationwide. The lesson: start where you are, use what you have, and let excellence drive growth.

How to Move from Idea to First Sale Without Spending Money

Most side hustles generate under $100 monthly initially, but 35% of established side hustlers earn $1,000 or more monthly. The difference lies in execution.

• Step 1: Define your service clearly—what problem do you solve?
• Step 2: Create a simple online presence using free tools like Linktree or Google My Business
• Step 3: Reach out to 10 potential clients daily through direct messages or emails
• Step 4: Deliver exceptional work and immediately ask for testimonials
• Step 5: Reinvest earnings into better tools and targeted marketing

Revenue Milestones:

• Month 1-3: Focus on getting first 5 clients
• Month 4-6: Streamline processes and raise prices 20%
• Month 7-12: Add complementary services or products
• Year 2: Consider hiring help or automating tasks

Legal, Compliance, and Trust Factors for Small Business Owners

Protecting your business costs less than fixing problems later. Business formation fees range from $50-500 depending on your state.

Essential Legal Steps:

• Register a DBA (Doing Business As) with your county ($10-100)
• Get an EIN from the IRS (free online application)
• Open a separate business bank account
• Use free contract templates from LawDepot or Rocket Lawyer
• Consider general liability insurance once earning $1,000+ monthly

Building Customer Trust:

• Display credentials and certifications prominently
• Respond to inquiries within 4 hours
• Offer satisfaction guarantees on services
• Collect and showcase client testimonials
• Maintain consistent branding across all platforms

Start Small, Build Smart

After two decades helping entrepreneurs navigate financial challenges, I’ve witnessed how determination paired with smart strategies creates lasting success. The businesses outlined here—from freelancing to dropshipping to service ventures—prove that capital isn’t the barrier it once was. Your skills, creativity, and willingness to serve others matter far more than your bank balance.

Take action today. Choose one idea that matches your skills and interests. Create that first social media profile, list that first service, or reach out to that first potential client. The path from zero to profitable isn’t always smooth, but it’s absolutely achievable with persistence and the right guidance.

Ready to build your business on a solid financial foundation? Get expert bookkeeping, accounting, and strategic advice at Complete Controller.

Frequently Asked Questions About Small Business Ideas No Money

What is the easiest business to start with no money?

Service businesses like consulting, cleaning, and tutoring require minimal investment beyond your time and expertise. Virtual assistance and freelance writing also offer immediate income potential with just a computer and internet connection.

Can I start an online business for free?

Yes, platforms like Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, and freelance sites let you begin with no upfront costs. Shopify and similar e-commerce platforms offer free trials, while print-on-demand eliminates inventory expenses entirely.

How do I get customers without a marketing budget?

Leverage your existing network through social media announcements, join relevant Facebook groups, offer referral incentives, post in community forums, and create valuable content that naturally attracts your target audience.

What legal steps do I need to take for a new small business?

Register your business name locally, obtain necessary permits for your industry, get an EIN from the IRS, use basic contracts for all client work, and consider affordable general liability insurance as revenue grows.

Are there ideas that work for people with no special skills?

Absolutely—cleaning services, pet sitting, delivery assistance, reselling thrift finds, and basic handyperson tasks all build on everyday abilities. Success comes from reliability and customer service rather than specialized expertise.

Sources

• Shopify. “23 Home Business Ideas for 2025 (+ How To Get Started).” Shopify, 2025.
• NerdWallet. “The 25 Best Low-Cost Business Ideas in 2025.” NerdWallet, 2025.
• LegalZoom. “16 Businesses You Can Start on a Budget in 2025.” LegalZoom, 2025.
• Entrepreneur. “70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025.” Entrepreneur, 2025.
• LightspeedHQ. “19 Most Profitable Small Business Ideas Worth Starting in 2025.” LightspeedHQ, 2025.
• US Chamber of Commerce. “55 Business Ideas for 2025 and Beyond.” US Chamber of Commerce, 2025.
• BusinessNewsDaily. “25 Best Low-Cost Business Ideas.” BusinessNewsDaily.com, 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. Reviewed By: Brittany McMillen

Brittany McMillen

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.

See Full Bio

An economic downturn or a recessed economy can have an adverse impact on the disposable income and employability of the family’s income earners. The baseline standard of living is also vulnerable to the same economic turmoil.

The family’s earners can be caught up in the downsizing of the company that employs them at any time during an economic crisis, leaving them constantly vulnerable. When a company is defenseless against stock market crashes, hyperinflation, hike in interest rates, and other macroeconomic indicators, the company’s first step is to curb cost expenditures. Subsequently, companies often resort to downsizing by furloughing or laying off employees. Imagine being an employee in a company that will go through an economic crisis and how that can impact you as an employee.

That trajectory could leave you unemployed and no longer able to provide for your family. The most important thing you can do if this happens is to maintain your household finances. Often this will mean you need to come up with a supplemental stream of income or find another job. You may also need to downsize your home by selling it and moving into an apartment or a condominium.

This downsizing will save you money during financial difficulties. Still, once you are gainfully employed, and the economy bounces back, you will be able to accumulate some savings by remaining in the less costly living space.

 Another scenario that could cause financial strain is closing on to the age of retirement. In this instance, downsizing also means cutting down on unnecessary costs and household expenses. Suppose you are an employee, having a family of two, and living in a well-maintained six-bedroom house with a yard, pool, patio, and porch. In that case, much of your disposable income will be directed towards the maintenance of your home. Also, suppose you and your family are regular travelers, for example, going on vacation, spending a couple of months in another continent or state. In that case, the cost of maintaining the house will also increase. It would be wise to opt for downsizing your permanent dwelling when retiring. It will help you boost your income and play a significant part in curtailing your daily expenses. You will always be in that comfort zone.

Unlike maintaining a house equipped with security peripherals and maintenance measures, an apartment will meet your living standards with many amenities built into the apartment. Downsizing to an apartment will help build up funds for your retirement and provide you with peace of mind whenever you feel like taking a vacation or spending more time with your family.

You must include a knowledgeable real estate agent with superior market expertise about what will work best for you in both scenarios. A good real estate agent will be able to navigate you through the entire process expertly. Whether it be selling a house or buying a place, a great real estate agent’s significance cannot be overlooked.

Finding a real estate agent with an abundance of market knowledge will help guide you through the process in a systematic way. Each step and every question will be navigated and answered with a concrete and reliable source of information.

Regardless of the circumstances that have changed your financial status, the notion of downsizing is a great option and a good choice. You will be able to accrue savings and reduce the cost of living. This amassment of funds will help you after retirement or when approaching the age of retirement.

In any case, when you need to make financial changes because of a job loss, retirement, or any other financial factor, downsizing where you live can be a great way to save money and accumulate savings for the future.

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-hosted desktop where their entire team and tax accountant may access the QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools in an efficient and secure 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 individuals, couples, or businesses become financially devastated, they may have to file for bankruptcy as there may be no other alternative. When people think about bankruptcy, they think it is an adverse option or irreversible solution to their financial issues. Bankruptcy can indeed be a financial set back however it is generally a relief to those struggling with huge financial burdens or losses. Here are seven things you need to know about bankruptcy before filing.

Bankruptcy Is Not a Quick Process

Many are under the false impression that bankruptcy is easy to do once the decision is made to file. However, there is a long process. First, you must hire a lawyer and discuss your options financially. Once you get to court, the process does not move any more quickly. While small court usually claims only last a day, bankruptcy can take anywhere from six months to a year to complete. The length of time it takes depends on the type of bankruptcy you are filing; generally, individuals file Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Other common types of bankruptcy are Chapter 13 and Chapter 11, which can take anywhere from six months to five years depending on the issues’ complications. If you decide to file bankruptcy, be ready for a long and drawn-out process.

Bankruptcy Opens Your Finances to Public Scrutiny

Because bankruptcy is conducted in a public courtroom, this can open your financial situation to the public. This generally does not cause issues as most people are not under a microscope by public members. However, if a future employer or business partner were to launch a background check, they would see a meticulous accounting of your finances. This could cause issues in employment and future business endeavors as well as other financial investments or needs.

Complete Disclosure Is Required

Many people see bankruptcy as an embarrassment. It is also exceedingly difficult for someone to decide to do. However, despite this embarrassment, a person filing bankruptcy needs to give Full disclosure to their lawyer and those handling their case. This means you cannot leave out a single debt, I said, or creditor information. If later it is discovered that you held back important information to your case, you can lose your case, and in some cases, there could be an investigation by the FBI or other agencies. Bankruptcy fraud is a considerable crime that can involve possible jail time and fines.

Bankruptcy Forms Are Complicated

While most forms that the government requires are complicated to navigate, there is no exception for bankruptcy forms. There is a multitude of forms and other papers that are needed when filing bankruptcy. These forms and the required paperwork can be very difficult to navigate if you have no experience.

The Bankruptcy Discharge Protects Only You

Bankruptcy is only for the person filing for it. If you had cosigners on any of your loans, they are still vulnerable and held responsible for the entire T of what is owed by creditors. Though they will have signed for your debt to fall to them if you go into default, they are not covered if you file and are successfully granted bankruptcy. It is suggested that you work out a plan with your cosigner before you file for bankruptcy.

Filing for Bankruptcy Is Expensive

Bankruptcy is not a cheap endeavor. It can cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars, depending on the lawyer and the length of time it takes to settle your case. In some cases, lawyers will make contingency contracts in which they will not charge you if you were unsuccessful in obtaining bankruptcy. It can also be expensive in your financial situation as it will continue to grow into more debt as you are working your way through the system.

Declaring Bankruptcy Affects Your Credit for Years

It is a no-brainer that bankruptcy will cause you to have a poor credit score for years to come. This alone makes the decision very difficult because it takes longer for bankruptcy to fall off your credit score, unlike other creditor information. This will cause you difficulty in making purchases such as a car or a home.

You can work to build your credit just like you can when you don’t have bankruptcy. However, keep in mind this would require you to get more credit lines, which would lead to more debt to creditors. The point of filing bankruptcy is to get yourself on a clean slate and to stay there. So getting lines of credit to counteract the poor credit rating is not ideal.

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-hosted desktop where their entire team and tax accountant may access the QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools in an efficient and secure 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.

Activity-based costing (ABC) can be best explained as a method used to assign costs to various products, tasks, or service projects mainly based on the activities involved in carrying them out properly.

ABC was first characterized by Kaplan and Bruns in the late 1980s. It tends to be considered the cutting-edge option compared to absorption costing, enabling managers to more readily comprehend item and client net productivity. This furnishes the business with better data and, subsequently, increasingly compelling choices. It includes asset utilization and costing last yields. Assets are appointed to activities and activities to cost objects.

The Process Flow of Activity-Based Costing:

Activity-based costing is used for various purposes and, if we take a closer look into its different aspects, we can have a better understanding. For example, the entire ABC distribution of overhead expenses to those cost objects that have the right to be accused of overhead expenses. So that chiefs can see which activity drivers should be decreased so as to contract a comparing measure of overhead expense. For instance, if the expense of a solitary buy is $100, supervisors can concentrate on letting the creation framework naturally put in purchase requests or utilize obtainment cards as an approach to avoid purchase orders. Either arrangement results in fewer purchase orders and subsequently brings down obtaining division costs.

Identification of Primary and Secondary Costs:

The initial phase in ABC is to distinguish those costs that we need to designate. This is the most basic step in the process since we would prefer not to linger on an exceedingly expansive business scale. For instance, if we need to decide the full expense of a circulation channel, we will distinguish publicizing and warehousing costs identified with that channel, yet will overlook examining costs since they are identified with items, not channels.

Make cost pools for those expenses brought about to give administration to different parts of the organization instead of straightforwardly supporting an organization’s items or operations. The substance of optional cost pools normally incorporates PC administrations, authoritative compensations, and comparative expenses. These expenses are later dispersed to other cost pools that straightforwardly identify items and administrations. There might be a few of these auxiliary cost pools contingent on the idea of the expenses and how they will be designated.

Make a lot of cost pools for those costs all the more firmly lined up with the generation of merchandise or administrations. It is basic to have separate cost pools for every product since costs will, in general, occur together. Such expenses can incorporate innovative work, publicizing, acquirement, and dissemination. Also, you should consider making cost pools for every dissemination channel or for every office. If the chances are that generation clumps are of significantly shifting lengths, consider making cost pools at the bulk level, with the goal that you have enough costs dependent on group estimates.

Allocate Activity Drivers:

Utilize an information gathering framework to collect data about movement drivers that assign expenses in auxiliary cost pools to essential cost pools and designate the expenses in essential cost pools to cost objects. It tends to be costly to aggregate action driver data, so use action drivers for data that is being gathered.

Evaluate Items:

Utilize an action driver to assign the substance of every essential cost pool to cost objects. There will be a different action driver for each cost pool. To dispense the costs, partition the aggregate expense in each cost pool by the aggregate sum of action in the action driver to set up the expense per unit of action. At that point, dispense the expense per unit to the cost objects in light of their utilization of the movement driver.

Prepare a Report Based on the Information:

Convert the aftereffects of the ABC framework into reports for executive review. For instance, if the framework was initially intended to amass overhead data by geological deals areas, at that point, give an account of income earned in every locale, every single direct expense, and the overhead from the ABC framework. This gives management a full cost perspective of the production of every district. The most well-known administration response to an ABC report is to decrease the number of movement drivers utilized by each cost question. Doing so ought to lessen the measure of overhead expense being utilized.

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-hosted desktop where their entire team and tax accountant may access the QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools in an efficient and secure 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.

Key Financial Ratios to Evaluate Business Investment Value

Financial ratios are vital tools investors use to quickly and clearly assess whether a business investment is worth your money—they reveal profitability, risk, and growth potential in seconds by benchmarking performance across companies and industries. Understanding these metrics transforms complex financial statements into actionable investment intelligence that separates winning opportunities from costly mistakes.

As the founder of Complete Controller, I’ve spent over 20 years analyzing financial data for businesses across every industry imaginable—from Silicon Valley startups to Main Street retailers. Through thousands of client engagements, I’ve witnessed firsthand how the right ratios can predict a company’s trajectory months before it becomes obvious to the market. This guide breaks down the essential ratios smart investors use daily, complete with real-world examples and the hard-earned insights that only come from decades in the financial trenches. You’ll walk away knowing exactly which numbers matter most and how to spot both hidden gems and red flags before making your next investment decision.

What are the key financial ratios, and how can you use them to value a business investment?

• The key financial ratios for evaluating business investment value are profitability, liquidity, leverage, efficiency, and market valuation ratios
• Profitability ratios show how effectively a business generates income from its resources
• Liquidity ratios assess if a company can meet short-term financial obligations
• Leverage ratios evaluate the company’s debt levels and financial risk
• Efficiency ratios measure how well a business utilizes assets to produce revenue
• Market valuation ratios compare a firm’s market value to financial metrics—critical for judging true investment worth

Essential Financial Ratios Every Investor Should Know

Investors rely on several core financial ratios to analyze companies, compare investment opportunities, and minimize risk. These mathematical relationships between key business metrics form the foundation of sound investment analysis, turning raw financial data into clear performance indicators.

Financial metrics serve as your investment compass, guiding decisions through objective data rather than gut feelings or market hype. The most successful investors master five ratio categories that together paint a complete picture of a company’s health and potential.

Profitability ratios: Measuring investment value

Profitability ratios gauge a firm’s ability to generate returns compared to sales, assets, or equity. These financial ratios explained in simple terms show whether a business creates value efficiently or burns through resources without adequate returns.

The importance of financial ratios becomes clear when comparing similar businesses—a company with a 15% net profit margin dramatically outperforms one earning just 5%, assuming comparable industries. Three profitability ratios stand above the rest for investment analysis:

• ROI (Return on Investment): Shows net profit relative to total invested capital
• ROE (Return on Equity): Measures net income as a percentage of shareholders’ equity
• Net Profit Margin: Reveals how much profit is earned from total revenue

How to calculate financial ratios for profitability starts with these formulas:

• Net Profit Margin = Net Income / Revenue × 100%
• ROE = Earnings After Tax / Shareholders’ Equity × 100%

Industry benchmarks for ROE vary dramatically, ranging from negative returns in biotech (-66.5%) to strong positive returns in sectors like building materials (18.7%). This massive variation proves that raw numbers mean nothing without context—a 12% ROE signals excellence in retail but mediocrity in technology.

Liquidity ratios: Can the business pay its bills?

Liquidity ratios indicate whether a business can meet its immediate obligations, helping safeguard investors from companies on shaky ground. Financial ratios for beginners should always start here because liquidity problems kill businesses faster than profitability issues.

Silicon Valley Bank’s spectacular 2023 collapse demonstrates why liquidity trumps profitability. Despite strong earnings, SVB failed within 48 hours when depositors withdrew 85% of funds—the bank couldn’t convert long-term assets into cash quickly enough. This $16.1 billion disaster proves that profitable companies die from liquidity crises, not earnings shortfalls.

• Current Ratio: Current Assets / Current Liabilities
• Quick Ratio: (Current Assets – Inventories) / Current Liabilities

Financial analysis reveals that healthy businesses maintain current ratios above 1.5 and quick ratios above 1.0. Early in my career, I passed on investing in a promising retail venture after its liquidity ratios flagged hidden cash flow problems. That company filed bankruptcy eight months later despite reporting record sales.

Leverage Ratios: Understanding Financial Risk

Examining how much a company relies on debt exposes investment risk and long-term viability. Leverage ratios separate conservative operators from overleveraged gamblers betting their company’s future on borrowed money.

The importance of financial ratios shines brightest when assessing debt levels across different industries. Debt-to-equity ratios vary wildly—biotechnology companies average just 0.16, while financial institutions operate comfortably between 0.2 and 4.5. A software startup with a D/E of 1.0 raises red flags, while the same ratio for a bank signals normal operations.

• Debt-to-Equity Ratio (D/E): Total Debt / Shareholders’ Equity
• Interest Coverage Ratio: EBIT / Interest Expense

Financial ratios explained through current data show troubling trends. In Q1 2024, median investment-grade companies covered interest payments 5.78 times, down from 6.08 times previously. Non-investment-grade firms barely scrape by with 2.62x coverage—any revenue decline could trigger defaults.

Efficiency ratios: Operational performance metrics

Efficiency ratios benchmark asset management, inventory control, and receivables to reveal operational excellence or waste. Best financial ratios for investment analysis always include efficiency metrics because they predict future profitability better than current earnings.

Costco demonstrates world-class efficiency with an inventory turnover of 12.6 times annually—selling and replacing all inventory every 29 days. More impressively, Costco maintains a negative cash conversion cycle, collecting customer payments before paying suppliers. This operational excellence creates an unbeatable competitive moat.

• Inventory Turnover: Cost of Goods Sold / Average Inventory
• Accounts Receivable Turnover: Net Credit Sales / Accounts Receivable

How to calculate financial ratios for efficiency starts with understanding your industry’s norms. In tech startups, stellar efficiency ratios often foreshadow outsized returns—I’ve seen founders double profits simply by improving receivables turnover from 6 to 10 times annually.

Market Valuation Ratios: Judging Investment True Worth

These financial ratios connect market price and underlying value—critical for avoiding overpayment. Market sentiment swings wildly, but valuation ratios anchor investment decisions in mathematical reality.

The S&P 500’s current P/E ratio of 37.1 sits 80.9% above the historical average of 20.5, signaling significant overvaluation. Investors today pay $37 for every $1 of annual earnings versus the normal $20.50—a clear warning that market euphoria has disconnected from fundamental value.

• Price-to-Earnings (P/E) Ratio: Share Price / Earnings per Share
• Price-to-Book (P/B) Ratio: Market Price per Share / Book Value per Share
• PEG (Price/Earnings-to-Growth) Ratio: P/E / Growth Rate
• Dividend Yield: Annual Dividends / Price per Share

Financial metrics for valuation require both current snapshots and historical perspective. A P/E of 25 might signal overvaluation generally but represent a bargain for a company growing earnings at 30% annually.

How to compare financial ratios across industries

Financial ratios only mean something in context. Capital-intensive sectors like utilities naturally show lower returns on assets than asset-light software companies—comparing them directly misleads investors.

Cross-sectional analysis demands industry-specific benchmarks. Service businesses often boast higher margins and returns than manufacturers, while banks operate with leverage ratios that would bankrupt most other companies. Smart investors always compare ratios against direct competitors and industry medians before drawing conclusions.

Final Thoughts: Making Ratios Work for You

Financial ratios transform overwhelming data into clear investment signals, but no single metric tells the complete story. I’ve built Complete Controller on the principle that numbers reveal truth when interpreted correctly—combining profitability, liquidity, leverage, efficiency, and valuation ratios creates a comprehensive investment framework.

The most successful investors triangulate across multiple ratios, track trends over time, and always benchmark against relevant peers. Whether evaluating a startup or Fortune 500 company, these mathematical relationships expose strengths and weaknesses that marketing spin cannot hide. Master these tools, and you’ll make investment decisions with confidence backed by data, not hope.

Ready to put professional-grade financial analysis to work in your business? Contact the experts at Complete Controller for guidance that turns complex numbers into strategic advantages.

Frequently Asked Questions About Financial Ratios

What are the most important financial ratios for investors?

Profitability, liquidity, leverage, efficiency, and market valuation ratios provide the most critical insights for investment decisions. Focus on ROE, current ratio, debt-to-equity, inventory turnover, and P/E ratio as your starting foundation.

What does a good ROI or ROE indicate?

High returns suggest the business effectively generates profits from investments and shareholder equity. ROE above 15% typically signals strong performance, though industry context matters—some sectors naturally produce higher or lower returns.

How do market valuation ratios affect investment decisions?

They help determine if a company’s stock is overpriced or undervalued by comparing price against earnings, book value, and dividends. High P/E ratios often indicate overvaluation, while low ratios might signal buying opportunities.

How do I calculate financial ratios from financial statements?

Extract key metrics like net income, assets, and equity from balance sheets and income statements, then apply standard formulas. Start with basic ratios like current ratio (current assets/current liabilities) before advancing to complex calculations.

Can financial ratios predict future business success?

Ratios analyze historical performance to spotlight strengths and risks but cannot guarantee future outcomes. Combine ratio analysis with strategy evaluation, market trends, and competitive positioning for more accurate forecasts.

Sources

• 365 Financial Analyst. “Valuation Ratios – Examples, Interpretation, Formulas.” 2024.
• BDC. “Financial Ratios: 4 Ways to Assess Your Business.” 2024.
• Corporate Finance Institute. “Financial Ratios: Definition, Types, and Examples.” 2024.
• Current Market Valuation. “Price/Earnings Ratio.” 2024.
• Diversiview. “Key Financial Ratios for Value Investors: Evaluating a Company’s Performance and Value.” 2024.
• eqVista. “Debt to Equity Ratio by Industry (2025).” 2024.
• Federal Reserve. “Material Loss Review of Silicon Valley Bank.” September 25, 2023.
• Fullratio.com. “Debt to Equity Ratio by Industry.” 2024.
• Fullratio.com. “Return on Equity (ROE) by Industry.” 2024.
• Massive Moats. “A Deep Dive Analysis into Costco Wholesale Corporation.” 2024.
• Objective Investment Banking & Valuations. “How to Interpret Key Financial Ratios in Business Valuations.” 2024.
• Preferred CFO. “Leveraging Financial Ratios to Assess Company Performance.” 2024.
• S&P Global Market Intelligence. “Interest Eats Further into Corporate Profits in Q1 2024.” June 13, 2024.
• Schwab. “Five Key Financial Ratios for Stock Analysis.” 2024.

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. Reviewed By: Brittany McMillen

Brittany McMillen

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.

See Full Bio

To understand the basics of financial management, including managing a budget or handling credit debt, is necessary for every student. To have little or no knowledge related to financial management can create complex situations that may be difficult for the person to handle in the future. As a young adult, it is important to be aware of the term “Financial Management.” 

Financial Management is a combination of three major concepts: financial, debt, and credit management. In simpler terms, it is the basic knowledge of how to handle finances through decision management. Financial management involves understanding the mechanism of checking accounts, the right use of credit cards, and most importantly, how to avoid debt and default.

The family’s impact can be seen when household members are trying to balance the budget, utility bills, rent payments, installments, children’s education fees, etc. Lack of financial management is not only seen in developing or emerging countries, but consumers in developed nations have also failed in defining basic financial principles. It is important for everyone to learn the basics of financial management as they will help individuals accomplish financial goals. Being financially literate will work best for a person since it allows one to make their own investment choices, such as investing in the stock market or real estate, resulting in an increased account balance.

The following describes the importance of financial management and literacy:

Financial management can be a complex concept to grasp. Presented with various options of products and services to choose between, it can become difficult to know which one suits your needs. Financial management works because you must take the time to learn about various services and products that are available. By researching and reviewing options, you will automatically get a better idea of which option is best according to your budget.

When a person has enough financial resources, it becomes easy to set realistic goals for their family. Financial management will help them create and manage a detailed budget plan and accomplish financial goals.

Financially educated individuals can save and pay off the debt in the easiest way. This allows them to gain knowledge and to make financial decisions with ample confidence. Financial management will help make the financial decisions that meet the needs and goals of their family.

Financial management helps one to manage finances efficiently by allowing them to save funds. Saving money will pay off all financial debts and will get any off-kilter finances back on track. It also helps a person to choose from an array of credit products. Financial management also helps a person know why to apply for a credit product and when to apply.

Investments and savings are particular terms reserved for the future since today’s investment will help determine the future. It is important to understand the value of money and the stock market to get a holistic view of investment. This outlook will help a person comprehend the stock market, including trending products and where to invest the money to double it. This safe method of investment will allow one to live the retirement life comfortably.

Lack of financial management will create critical situations in the future. To earn money and place it in a bank account is not a wise choice. Instead, one should try to make their money work for them. Improving financial management will have a tremendous influence on individuals and their futures. Being financially literate will help an individual make a budget plan, manage debt, make wise investment decisions, or set up a retirement account. Financial management enables a person to implement a healthy financial lifestyle and manage it in a better way.

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-hosted desktop where their entire team and tax accountant may access the QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools in an efficient and secure 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.

Profitability reflects a company’s competitive position in the market and, by extension, its management quality. Profitability ratios measure the return earned by the company during a period. Return-on-sales profitability ratios express various subtotals on the income statement as a percentage of revenue. Return-on-investment profitability ratios measure income relative to the company’s assets, equity, or total capital employed. Different types of profitability ratios include:

Gross Profit Margin Ratio

The gross profit margin ratio indicates the percentage of revenue available to cover operating and other expenses and to generate profit. A higher gross profit margin indicates some combination of higher product pricing and lower product costs. If a product has a competitive advantage, the company is better able to charge more for it. On the cost side, a higher gross profit margin can also indicate that a company has a competitive advantage in product costs.

Net Profit Margin Ratio

Net profit is calculated as revenue minus all expenses. Net income includes recurring and non-recurring components. Generally, the net profit used in calculating the net profit margin ratio is adjusted for non-recurring items to offer a better view of a company’s potential future profitability.

Return on Total Asset Ratio

The return on total assets measure reflects the return on all assets invested in the company, whether financed with liabilities, debt, or equity. The higher the return on total assets ratio, the more income is generated by a given level of assets. The lower ratio reflects the lower-income is generated from a given level of assets.

Return on Common Equity Ratio

The return on common equity ratio measures the return earned by a company only on its common equity. The higher the ratio, the company utilizes its common equity well and vice–versa.

Operating Profit Margin Ratio

An operating profit margin increasing faster than the gross profit margin can indicate improvements in controlling operating costs such as administrative overheads. In contrast, a declining operating profit margin could be an indicator of deteriorating control over operating costs.

Debt Coverage Ratios

Debt coverage ratios are also known as solvency ratios. Debt coverage ratios are primarily of two types. Debt ratios, the first type, focus on the balance sheet and measure the amount of debt capital relative to equity capital. Coverage ratios, the second type, focus on the income statement and measure a company’s ability to cover its debt payments. These ratios are useful in assessing a company’s solvency and, therefore, in evaluating the quality of a company’s bonds and other debt obligations.

The Main Types of Debt Ratios

Debt-to-assets ratio

This ratio measures the percentage of total assets financed with debt. Generally, higher debt means higher financial risk and, thus, weaker solvency. Lower debt indicates higher solvency.

Financial leverage ratio

This ratio is also known as the leverage ratio. It measures the total assets supported for each money unit of equity. The higher the financial leverage ratio, the more leveraged the company is to use debt and other liabilities to finance assets.

Interest coverage ratio

This ratio is sometimes referred to as ‘times interest earned.’ It measures the number of times a company’s EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) could cover its interest payments. A higher interest coverage ratio indicates stronger solvency, offering greater assurance that the company can service its debt from operating earnings.

Market value ratio

Market value ratios relate an observable market value, the stock price, to book values obtained from the company’s financial statements. The most common market value ratio is:

Earnings per share ratio

Earnings per share determine the portion of a company’s profit allocated to each outstanding share of common stock. It serves as an indicator of a company’s profitability. When calculating, it is more accurate to show the weighted average number of shares outstanding over the reporting term because the number of shares outstanding can change over 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-hosted desktop where their entire team and tax accountant may access the QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools in an efficient and secure 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.

Most financially responsible adults do not have a savings account, let alone an investment portfolio. When most are asked if they have any investments, many people will tell you they have not invested in anything, including a savings account. Most believe they could not afford to invest or that it is too big of a risk. Investing can be a great way to save money for the future. Several investments are low cost to invest in and lower risk. Here are six investments that are low cost and low risk.

Savings Accounts

While many may not think of a savings account as an investment, most savings accounts gain you some amount of interest. The lowest interest gaining savings account is the traditional bank savings account. There are other types of savings accounts that have higher interest and a bit higher risk. You should figure out your risk tolerance before deciding what type of savings account to open.

Lending Clubs

Lending clubs are great low-cost and low-risk investment opportunities. You pull your money together with other investment lenders. Those needing a loan using the lending platform and lenders that have pulled together cover these loans. The lenders then get a great return rate on these loans and will often get returns twice as expected. The buy-in can be as low as $25 and as high as $1,000, depending on the platform. You do get to choose where you want to invest and lend.

Crowdfunding Real Estate

Real Estate investing is always a profitable investment. However, many people do not have the capital to invest in real estate. Crowdfunding real estate purchases is a great place to start investing in real estate. Like the lending clubs, you pull together money to purchase real estate then divide the returns on the investments. Crowdfunding real estate investing also means there is no direct responsibility for the property. There are varying degrees of minimum investment depending on the purchase cost and how many invest in the property.

Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plan

Almost every business that has benefits offers a retirement plan. These are considered an investment because most companies will contribute matching funds to a certain percentage. That is free money you are gaining just by utilizing the benefit your business offers its employees. Even if you cannot afford to invest a lot, you should still contribute the same percentage your business contributes to getting the maximum amount for your investment.

Dividend Reinvestment Plans

Dividend reinvestment plans permit smaller investments in stocks in companies that pay dividends. Your initial buy-in is usually a small amount most can afford. Once the stock pays a dividend, it is reinvested into buying more of that same business’s stock.

This dividend reinvestment will continue to build until you reach a limit on the stocks you can own in the business. Because of the way dividend reinvestment plans build, this is an excellent opportunity for you to get in with a smaller amount and build to larger investments in major companies. This type of investing is not only very profitable but lowers risk.

Online Brokerage Firms

Investing in online brokerage firms can be great because most of them have a buy-in of $1,000 or less. Once you have chosen your investment plan and have paid the minimum buy-in, these firms will act as any other brokerage firm and invest your money for you. You need to know what percentage the business will take off your returns and choose a business that takes the lowest percentage. While this will cost you in shares of your return, this is an inexpensive way to invest through a brokerage firm.

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-hosted desktop where their entire team and tax accountant may access the QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools in an efficient and secure 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.

There are different advantages to having a credit card. Aside from being an advantageous method of making installments for shopping, credit cards are more secure to convey than cash and help you fabricate a credit score like no other instrument can, gave you keep up your installments. This great credit rating will be helpful whenever you wish to apply for an advance for whatever reason. Above all else, credit cards are used when you require some urgent cash. These are not every one of the advantages of a credit card. We will show a portion of alternate advantages here for you:

The Benefits

1. Covering Travel Insurance: Many credit card companies accommodate insurance related to traveling. It is good news for the holders who travel a lot within the country. It saves a lot of time and money. Therefore, if you love to travel a lot within your country, you must check if the credit card company supports travel insurance.
2. Travel Discount: Several credit cards offer multiple discounts. Most of the credit card companies sign agreements with traveling airlines, restaurants, and shopping malls in order to provide their users with multiple discounts. You can select the company offering the maximum number of discounts and go for it. Such will help you get a discount and receive benefits while using the credit card.
3. Reward Points: Most credit cards offer a membership rewards program. A few cards require the holder to pay a charge to join these reward programs while others are free. So, keep these charges in mind and pick the best card for your utilization. Despite the fact that the ones that accompany a charge offer preferred and more reward points over the free ones, you ought to be the judge of that since you know how regularly you will utilize your card. When you begin utilizing your card, you start to collect reward points for each spend, and as you gather points, you start to end up qualified for rewards which depend on the number of reward points you have. You would then be able to capitalize on the points for appealing blessings at accomplice stores or money limits. A substantial client of a card will gain a lot of points in a brief timeframe and will have the capacity to legitimize any expense the person in question has paid for the program. A portion of the blessings on offer are watches, baggage sacks, wines, and so on, and you can get it.
4. Cash Back: Many credit cards offer cashback rewards to their users. You receive a portion of the amount back on your card whenever you make a purchase. It is simply a form of discount which you would never be able to get if you purchase a product through cash. Some of the credit card companies use this promotion scheme which you can get the benefit of. The cashback rate may go up to 10%. So, just imagine buying a product which costs $100 in actual, but you will pay $90 for it. You can save $10 on the purchase of similar value products. At the end of the month, you will end up saving a good chunk of money.

Some of the time, when you need to purchase something that is way out of your financial ability at that specific moment, you can select to finish the purchase with your credit card and complete the payment of the debt in installments. Regardless of all the arguments against having a credit card, credit cards are digging in for the long haul.

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-hosted desktop where their entire team and tax accountant may access the QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools in an efficient and secure 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.

Beyond Budgeting (BB) is a technique that respects the nullification of the traditional budgeting processes. It acts as the trigger for enhancing the budget control inside organizations by a crucial re-evaluation of how they may be overseen effectively. The Beyond Budgeting Round Table (BBRT) arrangement is radical and trusts that the budgeting procedure’s weaknesses must be overwhelmed by deserting budgeting altogether. It collects its information worldwide through meetings and workshops.

BB identifies its two main advantages. First, it is a more adaptive process than traditional budgeting. Second, unlike traditional budgeting, it is a decentralized process where leaders plan and control organizations centrally. When BBRT uses the term “budget,” they mean the entire performance management process.

Jeremy Hope described the traditional and the new beyond budgeting model as comparatively preferable to conventional budgeting. It takes account of the collective planning of various managers working on a budget. Thus, it is more acceptable to be relied upon for setting the budget plan.

Beyond budgeting has a certain edge on traditional budgeting

Hope and Fraser consider too much time consumption a setback for various processes and a weakness related to traditional budgeting. Managing so many tasks simultaneously can become time-consuming and problematic.

Spending plans arranged under customary procedures include little esteem and require a lot of profitable administration time that could be better spent elsewhere. A substantial dependence on the ‘concurred’ spending plan adversely affects the board’s conduct, which can wind up useless to business goals and objectives.

Utilizing planning as a base for conveying corporate objectives, like setting destinations, nonstop enhancement, and so on, is viewed as opposition to the motivation behind planning as a money-related control component. Most spending plans are not founded on a discerning, causal model of asset utilization; however, they regularly affect extended disagreements. Agreeing to a spending plan is not viewed as good without a drive towards enhancement.

Beyond budgeting is sustainable

Past planning models have specific importance for information-based organizations, which are progressively an element of a created economy. Different organizations may see explicit advantages in such a framework, given the quickly changing conditions they also work in. These progressions will not be presented without struggle and trouble because of the difficulties in presenting change. Such difficulties might be past the accomplishment of general society because of the articulation in the financial plan of politically persuaded approaches and goals created inside a complex, legitimate money-related structure. What we can state, in any case, is that if we are to see the fruitful utilization of the past planning model in both private and open segments, at that point, this must be supported by a significant hierarchical, social, and administrative change. Else there will be a disappointment.

Industries, where there is a rapid change in the business, can make Beyond Budgeting effective. Adaptable targets will be receptive to change like organizations utilizing executive strategies, for example, TQM. However, the ceaseless enhancement will be critical. Organizations experiencing radical change, utilizing the business process to re-build, or implementing spending plans might find it difficult to accomplish goals in such conditions.

Beyond Budgeting escapes targeting of directors

Beyond Budgeting shifts the focus from fighting among different directors to beating the opposition by making an atmosphere dependent on focused achievement. It inspires people by giving clearly defining financial obligations difficulties. It takes out some social issues by making rewards group-based. Authority is reverted to operational supervisors who are nearer to the activity and can respond rapidly. Operational supervisors are engaged to convey key proportions as opposed to keeping to strict spending limits. It sets up client-orientated groups and makes data frameworks that give quick and open data to everyone within the organization.

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-hosted desktop where their entire team and tax accountant may access the QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools in an efficient and secure 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.