The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in governments worldwide telling their people to stay indoors and not participate in any social gatherings. Depending on your location, this order is termed as a lockdown. Part of this order may have required individuals to self-isolate if that person has coronavirus or were exposed to someone with the disease. While social distancing has become a new social norm, businesses suffered due to pandemic restrictions.
The shutdown and corresponding restrictions have significantly impacted service-based businesses, and automotive services are no exception. Due to their services, automotive services were deemed essential companies, allowing them to remain open during lockdowns.
Below are key points to consider before bringing your vehicle for repairs and maintenance.
Essential Auto Repair
Most states in the United States issued an order for quarantine or encouraged following specific procedures during the pandemic. Many people must leave home to buy groceries, medications, food, and other necessities. Some people still go to the office, while others have a work-from-home policy from their employers. Whether going to the grocery or to work, most people need their vehicle to operate in optimal condition.
During the pandemic, the auto repair business has become a necessity. Auto repair and maintenance facilities, including dealerships and tire shops, have remained essential for our daily lives. Keeping the orders in mind, these services have adopted different methods to meet your repair needs.
Call Ahead
Even though many services remain operational at this point, auto servicers have likely adjusted their policies according to orders. Many of them have changed their day and work schedules due to smaller staff availability. Some auto shops can close temporarily or at odd times, so call and ensure they are operational before making an appointment. Similarly, dealerships may open their service departments for operation but not sales. Calling the business prior to service appointments will help you maintain your schedule while receiving the service at the right time.
Leave the Vehicle for Repairs
Consider the urgency of your maintenance needs and the ability to continue your daily routine without your vehicle. For example, routine maintenance like an oil change or an engine tune-up is minor maintenance that can subside for some time. On the other hand, significant repairs or replacements are a matter of safety and need prompt action. No matter the level of repair or replacement you need during the order, call your mechanic to see if they can provide you with at-home service. Similarly, leaving your vehicle longer than usual can ensure your repairs are completed within operational hours.
Remember that auto repair and maintenance shops have become essential today, so many service providers remain open. These days, they aim to cater to the needs of the public and justify their importance.
Options Catering to Client Needs
Car repair and maintenance experts determine their importance by offering various service options to clients. These include:
Vehicle drop off and pick up facility in designated time slots and days
Securing key drop-off at your doorstep to reduce footwork and maximize crowd control
You can schedule your appointment and let them pick up your vehicle from your home and deliver it when finished
In many states, car repair facilities have either closed or reduced sales. However, vehicle owners do not need to worry about neglecting car maintenance and repairs. Those who remain operational strive to provide the best quality service to stay in business.
Federal and local governments have defined the essential services of the auto repair industry as a means for emergency needs and orders. They have orders to ensure maximum safety precautions for the staff or any visiting client.
Conclusion
Automotive repair and maintenance facilities have become essential today due to their customized services and client dependence on services. As such, federal and local governments have established their importance and have urged them to provide their services in accordance with regulations.
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.
There is a misconception about history, in which it is thought that if your data is registered, it is a sign of something negative, but it is not always the case. This institution has the function of reflecting the management of people’s finances. It reflects whether users are responsible for their finances or the opposite. You can know everything in detail in your report if you have debts.
Your data in the clearing is straightforward, and it can be by requesting a loan or loan. All these financial movements are reflected in the history. Your data record is not bad if you take care of your history.
The Importance of a Good Track Record
Creating a good track record involves paying your debts on time and not using your card indiscriminately. When settling on time without generating interest, you make a positive history. The opposite happens when you do not. It may not be relevant now unless obtaining a mortgage or a loan is necessary.
Financial Mistakes
There is a possibility that your data is not registered in the clearing. It may be because you do not have a formal job. But it is essential to appear on this list since when requesting a loan, it is a record that the record will inevitably verify if your document is good or bad.
Below, we list a series of errors you may have in the clearing, but they will not cause you any problems.
Misspelled Data
Some financial institutions do not have a way to verify the actual data, so they make mistakes. The most common error occurs with names since they usually use abbreviations or nicknames. It should not worry, but it is better to do so if you have the time to correct it.
Not have Your History Active
Forget the fear that your name is in Clearing and start creating a history. You can do it using a credit card or when applying for a loan.
Remember that you should always have a history free of financial problems.
Your Address is Wrong
This notification must be submitted to the Federal Public Revenue Administration or AFIP. The problem is not so serious. Only those reports about their history will never reach their destination since they do not have the correct address.
The clearing is an ally in your finances when you know how to use it and especially how to take advantage of your finances. Always check your data when filling out a record and look at how it is registered, not only in the documents that have to do with the clearing but generally with all its stationery.
Standard Errors for Financial Reporting
Various companies make mistakes regarding financial and informative reporting functions. Many different experts advise people on how to avoid all of them by giving solutions. First and foremost, errors are fundamental. That is why companies will have to double-check their financial management progress, whether they are performing well or not.
Various companies have a single-column report. As a result, they will have only minor information, as other multinational companies have a more extensive report record of their financial activities. Small corporations have multi-column words, which is why there is a lack of comparative economic data. Carefully incorporate the financial information and statements in your record reports.
Add all your financial management information in detail by creating reports with multiple columns. Do not squeeze elongated details in a single account with narrow columns. There is a lack of calculated differences in the corporate financial statements. Finance officers must calculate all the forces in their mental notebooks or with a calculator’s help. It takes lots of hours, and there is a maximum chance of errors in calculation. That is why, as a company owner, you must provide a separate column where they get the tracked and calculated value so that they only note down their official records or reports. The data must be comparable with the present and previous data records and the business finance department’s performance report.
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.
Smart Investment Strategies for Your Child’s Future Growth
An investment portfolio for children is a diversified collection of financial assets, including custodial brokerage accounts, 529 education plans, and Roth IRAs—established in a minor’s name and managed by parents to harness decades of compound growth for future education, financial independence, or retirement. These tax-advantaged accounts allow families to invest in stocks, ETFs, index funds, and other growth vehicles starting from birth, transforming modest monthly contributions into substantial wealth by adulthood.
Over my 20 years as CEO of Complete Controller, I’ve watched families transform their children’s financial futures through strategic early investing—seeing firsthand how $100 monthly contributions grow into six-figure portfolios by college age. The World Bank’s dramatic increase in early childhood investments from $2.9 billion to $18.7 billion over the past decade signals what savvy parents already know: investing in children early yields extraordinary returns. This article reveals the exact accounts, investment strategies, and teaching methods that build generational wealth, including how custodial Roth IRAs can accumulate hundreds of thousands in tax-free growth and why 93% of parents are already teaching their kids about money management.
What are smart investment strategies for your child’s future growth?
Investment portfolios for children use tax-advantaged accounts (custodial brokerages, 529s, Roth IRAs) to grow wealth through stocks, ETFs, and index funds for education, retirement, or general financial goals
Start investing at birth to maximize compound interest—the S&P 500’s historical 10.31% 30-year average return can transform $100 monthly into over $200,000 by age 18
Diversify holdings with 70-90% in low-cost index funds and 10-20% in recognizable individual stocks to balance stability with engagement
Involve children through spending/saving/investing splits of allowances, stock market simulators, and monthly portfolio reviews to build lifelong financial habits
Monitor progress quarterly while maintaining long-term perspective, adjusting asset allocation as children approach college age or other financial milestones
Why Start an Investment Portfolio for Children Now?
Time amplifies wealth creation for children’s portfolios through compound growth that turns small contributions into life-changing sums. The S&P 500 has delivered an average annual return of 8.55% since 1928, with recent decades showing even stronger performance—12.57% over the past 10 years and 10.31% over 30 years. Starting a custodial account at birth with just $100 monthly at these historical returns could accumulate over $26,000 by age 18, then compound to exceed $200,000 by retirement without additional contributions.
Global institutions recognize this opportunity—the World Bank increased early childhood development investments from $2.9 billion to $18.7 billion between 2014 and 2024, resulting in 31 million children enrolled in quality programs worldwide. Morocco’s national preschool enrollment jumped from 45% to 76% in just five years, demonstrating how strategic early investments create exponential outcomes.
Power of compound growth in kids’ portfolios
Mathematical certainty favors early starters over late savers. A child receiving $10,000 at birth invested in index funds averaging 10% annually becomes $76,000 by college without adding another penny. Compare this to a parent saving $300 monthly starting when their child turns 15—they’d need to contribute $10,800 total to reach a similar amount by age 18.
At Complete Controller, we’ve documented client portfolios doubling every 10 years through consistent index fund investing. One family’s $50 weekly investments starting at their daughter’s birth grew to $142,000 by her 18th birthday, funding her entire undergraduate education debt-free.
Top Account Types for Building an Investment Portfolio for Children
Strategic account selection determines tax efficiency, flexibility, and growth potential for decades. Each account type serves specific goals while offering unique advantages for building children’s wealth.
Custodial brokerage accounts (UGMA/UTMA)
Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA) and Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) accounts provide maximum investment flexibility without contribution limits. Parents maintain control until the child reaches majority age (18-21 depending on state), investing in any combination of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or ETFs. The first $1,250 of unearned income remains tax-free, the next $1,250 gets taxed at the child’s rate, and amounts above $2,500 face the parents’ tax rate under kiddie tax rules.
These accounts transfer irrevocably to the child at majority, making them ideal for families comfortable with eventual loss of control. Assets can fund any purpose—college, starting a business, or buying a first home.
529 education savings plans
State-sponsored 529 plans offer triple tax advantages: deductible contributions in many states, tax-free growth, and tax-free withdrawals for qualified education expenses. Recent legislation expanded qualifying expenses beyond college to include K-12 tuition, apprenticeships, and student loan repayments. Age-based investment options automatically shift from aggressive growth to conservative allocations as college approaches.
Contribution limits reach $18,000 annually per beneficiary without triggering gift taxes, with special five-year election rules allowing $90,000 lump sum contributions. Unused 529 funds can transfer between family members or roll into Roth IRAs after 15 years, adding flexibility.
Custodial Roth IRAs
Children with earned income from jobs, self-employment, or even household chores (if properly documented) qualify for Roth IRA contributions up to their annual earnings or $6,500, whichever is less. Contributions grow tax-free forever, with principal withdrawable anytime and earnings accessible tax-free after age 59½.
A Searcey Financial client opened custodial Roth IRAs for their 16-year-old son when he began summer work. Through consistent maximum contributions as his income allowed, he and his wife accumulated several hundred thousand dollars in tax-free Roth assets by age 35—proving how teenage earnings can create retirement security decades early.
How to Build and Diversify Your Child’s Investment Portfolio
Portfolio construction balances growth potential with risk management through strategic diversification. Allocate 70-90% to broad market index funds or ETFs tracking the S&P 500, total stock market, or international indices. These core holdings provide instant diversification across hundreds or thousands of companies while keeping fees below 0.1% annually.
Reserve 10-20% for individual stocks children recognize—Disney, Nike, McDonald’s, or technology companies they use daily. This smaller allocation adds excitement and teaching opportunities without jeopardizing long-term growth. Avoid concentration risk by limiting any single stock to 5% of the portfolio.
Best investments: Index funds and ETFs first
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking major indices form the portfolio foundation. Popular choices include:
VOO or SPY – S&P 500 index tracking America’s 500 largest companies
VTI – Total stock market exposure to over 4,000 U.S. stocks
VXUS – International stock diversification across developed and emerging markets
VT – Single fund global equity exposure combining U.S. and international stocks
Target-date funds offer complete portfolios in one investment, automatically rebalancing and reducing risk as the target year approaches—ideal for 529 plans or hands-off management.
Adding real estate and alternative assets
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) add property exposure without direct ownership complexity. REIT ETFs like VNQ provide diversified real estate holdings yielding 3-4% annually plus appreciation potential. Limit alternatives to 10% of the portfolio to maintain focus on core equity growth.
Complete Controller clients use our portfolio management tools to track allocations across multiple children’s accounts, rebalancing quarterly to maintain target percentages.
Teaching Kids to Manage Their Investment Portfolio for Children
Financial education transforms abstract concepts into tangible life skills through hands-on participation. According to NerdWallet’s 2025 survey, 93% of parents already teach children about saving money, with 41% opening savings accounts and 31% requiring kids to save portions of money received.
Implement the “four bucket” allowance system: 30% spending, 20% short-term saving, 20% charity, and 30% investing. This structure teaches balanced money management while funding their investment account regularly. Use online calculators to show how their $10 weekly investment could become $100,000 by retirement.
Hands-on tools: Stock market games and simulators
Risk-free simulation platforms build investing confidence before risking real money:
Investopedia Stock Simulator – Trade virtual $100,000 portfolios with real market data
MarketWatch Virtual Stock Exchange – Compete in investing games with leaderboards
The Stock Market Game – Educational program used in schools nationwide
Schedule monthly family investment meetings to review portfolio performance, discuss market news affecting their stocks, and make new investment decisions together. Children who pick stocks often become more engaged in business news and company performance.
Family check-ins and boundary setting
Establish clear investment rules: no day trading, maximum 5% in speculative investments, and focus on companies they understand. Use market downturns as teaching moments about long-term thinking—showing how previous crashes recovered and rewarded patient investors.
Champlain College research found students receiving financial education improved credit scores by 25 points and were 40% less likely to miss credit payments as young adults. These benefits lasted 12 years post-graduation, with an unexpected “ripple effect” improving parents’ financial behaviors too—including 26% fewer loan defaults and 5% higher credit scores.
Risks, Taxes, and Long-Term Management of Kids’ Portfolios
Investment risks diminish over long time horizons, but tax planning requires ongoing attention. The kiddie tax applies to unearned income exceeding $2,500 annually, taxing excess at parents’ rates. Minimize this through growth stocks paying minimal dividends, tax-efficient index funds, and timing realized gains for low-income years.
Annual rebalancing maintains target allocations while teaching disciplined investing. As college approaches, shift 529 plans toward conservative allocations—moving from 90% stocks at age 5 to 50% stocks by age 15. Document investment decisions in a simple spreadsheet tracking contributions, growth, and allocation changes over time.
529 withdrawals – Match distributions to qualified expenses in the same tax year
UTMA/UGMA – Time capital gains realizations for years with lower income
Roth IRAs – Withdraw contributions anytime tax-free for emergencies
Complete Controller’s tax planning services help families coordinate investment accounts with overall tax strategy, maximizing education credits and minimizing unnecessary taxes.
Final Thoughts
Building an investment portfolio for children transforms parental foresight into generational wealth through compound growth, tax-advantaged accounts, and hands-on financial education. Starting with just $100 monthly in diversified index funds can accumulate over $200,000 by adulthood, while teaching invaluable money management skills that last a lifetime.
The combination of 529 plans for education, custodial accounts for flexibility, and Roth IRAs for tax-free retirement savings creates a robust financial foundation. More importantly, involving children in investment decisions develops financial literacy that research proves lasts decades and even improves parents’ money habits.
Take action today: open your child’s first investment account and start their journey toward financial independence. Visit Complete Controller to discover how our expert bookkeeping and financial planning services can track your family’s investment progress and maximize tax advantages. Your child’s million-dollar retirement could start with today’s hundred-dollar decision.
Frequently Asked Questions About Investment Portfolio for Children
What is the best investment account for a child with no income?
For children without earned income, custodial UGMA/UTMA accounts offer maximum flexibility for any investment type, while 529 education savings plans provide superior tax benefits if college funding is the primary goal. Both allow parents to invest on the child’s behalf starting from birth.
Can I open a Roth IRA for my child?
Yes, children with documented earned income from jobs, self-employment, or even paid household chores can contribute to Roth IRAs up to their annual earnings or $6,500 (2024 limit), whichever is less. Parents often match their child’s contributions to maximize tax-free retirement growth.
Are 529 plans only for college expenses?
No, recent legislation expanded 529 qualified expenses to include K-12 tuition (up to $10,000 annually), trade school, apprenticeships, and student loan repayments. After 15 years, unused funds can roll to Roth IRAs, though non-qualified withdrawals trigger 10% penalties plus taxes on earnings.
How much should I invest monthly in my child’s portfolio?
Even $50 monthly harnesses significant compound growth over 18 years. Aiming for 15-20% of gifts, allowances, or child-related windfalls creates substantial portfolios—$100 monthly at 10% average returns could exceed $200,000 by age 65.
What are the risks of a kids’ investment portfolio?
Short-term market volatility poses minimal risk for 18+ year time horizons, as historical data shows stocks consistently outperform cash and bonds over decades. The greater risk is not investing early and missing decades of compound growth that no amount of later saving can replicate.
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.
Bankruptcy is a collective proceeding that occurs when a corporation is in a situation of insolvency, and its recovery appears impossible. It results in the dissolution of the company and the sale of its property.
When a business is declared to be liquidated, all its debts become due even if the due date has not been reached.
The primary purpose of judicial liquidation is to end the company’s activity by managing to pay the various creditors and selling the liquidated company’s assets.
The Consequences of Judicial Liquidation
The liquidation of a company immediately entails several consequences presented here:
The first immediate consequence of a company being placed in liquidation is the company’s immediate cessation of activity.
The other notable effect is the divestment of the debtor. In concrete terms, this means that the manager is no longer authorized to manage his company as he sees fit; the management is the liquidator (which we will discuss below).
From the moment the company is declared in liquidation, the creditors no longer have the authorization to launch individual proceedings against the debtor.
The employment contracts of the company employees are broken within 15 days.
The Judicial Liquidation Procedure
Declaration of cessation of payment and opening of the procedure
When the company finds itself without the possibility of paying its debts on time, it is said that it is in a situation of cessation of payment. If necessary, the manager must file a declaration of termination of charge no later than 45 days after declaring that his company is in this situation.
The initiation of such a procedure is not necessarily the manager’s will: in some cases, one or more creditors may decide to start the process. A court may also choose to start the proceedings.
Only the district court (or the commercial court in the case of commercial activity) can validate the opening of the procedure.
He studies the declaration of cessation of payment and can then make two types of judgments:
A judgment of receivership. In this case, the company may continue to operate for a period of up to 18 months. The company may either continue its activity or be placed in liquidation.
A judgment of liquidation without going through the recovery.
Appointment of the commissioner judge and the liquidator
Once the judgment has been rendered and the procedure opened, the judge in charge of the case appoints a judge-commissioner whose mission will ensure that the whole process is conducted according to the rules. A liquidator is also established. He will take over the company’s management until the liquidation procedure ends.
The liquidation of the company
Once at the controls, the judicial liquidator will have to complete several missions:
Take stock of the debts the company was supposed to pay and classify them.
Please list all the company’s assets and put them up for sale to repay the creditors, mostly in the form of auctions.
If the company in liquidation had claims, the burden falls on the liquidator to recover them.
Then comes the time to pay off the creditors of the liquidated company. The liquidator is responsible for giving each rank: they will be reimbursed (or not) according to their position, knowing that it is relatively rare that a company’s liquidation allows them to repay all debts.
Finally, the judicial liquidator must pay the necessary dismissal of its personnel (while ensuring that the last salary is paid).
To Sum it Up
At the end of these operations, if everything goes according to the rules, the company is declared liquidated and no longer exists legally. All unsecured creditors get payment from the Pari Passu Foundation. Companies offer funds to unsafe creditors but always get their dividends pro-rata at the liquidation end.
They will have to pence in the pound, and there is nothing at all. There is a security benefit as sales proceeds, and owners of secured properties and professionals subjected to certain exceptions pay the creditor as an outstanding entitlement. Corporations will offer the liquidator the details of their claim as debt evidence.
The court makes the final decision, which hands over the company to the liquidator. Remember that there is no time limit on how long it will take. However, it means the company will be liquidated more straightforwardly and then dissolved.
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.
Each business visionary or confident business visionary will realize that individuals love to offer guidance regarding starting their own business. A few people have examples of overcoming adversity. They need to share or disappoint stories that they believe they must caution youthful business visionaries about before it is past the point of no return. It tends to be challenging to explore which counsel is beneficial and which appeal is more for the individual giving it than the individual getting it.
You will accept a lot of wrong turns as you go into business. However, it is in every case better to commit your errors than tune in to exhortation that influences you into accomplishing something incorrectly. The sooner you can distinguish a few bits of flawed guidance, the better. Consider this a rundown of some of the most noticeably terrible suggestions for business visionaries so you can comprehend what to avoid to ensure your business’s survival and success.
It seems like solid counsel, and it is partially, yet it can genuinely cut you down if you accept this guidance at face esteem. The explanation of this counsel can be terrible because it is a characteristic inclination to feel that you must bring lower costs to beat your opposition. Your opposition is presumably settled and has a great deal pulling out all the stops, so it bodes well to feel like the main thing you must bring to the table toward the beginning is lower costs.
It would help if you began by evaluating your items at a reasonable cost and spotlight on offering some incentives and excellent client assistance. If you set your prices too low, you could inevitably lose cash, and it is not easy to return from that by expanding your costs. You may even run into a circumstance where another organization goes along and offers something comparable at an even lower price. Hence, it is ideal to be practical and reasonable immediately and not stress over being less expensive than every other person.
Starting your own business is not easy; ask us, but still, some wake up and decide to start their first company every day. Sometimes it happens by accident. Other times, it is a lightning idea, and sometimes it happens almost unintentionally (as the song says). However, no matter how it happens, whoever starts a business will continuously be bombarded by all kinds of advice.
Mashable magazine recently published the five worst tips that I can give to an entrepreneur; here we leave them:
Hire People You Know
The saying goes, “Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t know,” in this case, it is precisely that advice many will give you at the beginning. When things do not work with someone you know, you find yourself asking your uncle, cousin, or brother-in-law to pick up his things and clean his desk.
The Market is Constantly Saturated; There is No Place in Your Niche
It is not always accurate since a business’s success lies in the market, its positioning, and the client to whom it speaks. If you do not believe us, ask yourself why our grandparents drink coffee at Sanborn’s and we do at Starbucks.
You Should Charge Less
Many companies do this when facing large companies. They believe reducing costs will compete with them and offer customers a better option; the problem arises when this cost reduction fails to generate profits.
Social Networks are Accessible
Getting an account on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram is free, but nobody thinks about the work that involves keeping these accounts with constant, creative, and helpful activity. The cost may not be monetary, but you must invest time and resources if you plan to do it yourself.
You Must Spend Money to Make Money
There is a big difference between the word “expense” and the word “investment.” When starting a business, you should always take care of the first and make the most of the second, so if you must reduce costs in some areas to secure your investment, do it, and your business will thank you.
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 tax is undoubtedly one of its main attractions. When the holder of an Individual Systematic Savings Plan decides to rescue his money, he is exempt from taxation if he recovers it in the form of an annuity. More than ten years have passed since he was hired.
If you are independently employed, sparing into benefits can be a more troublesome propensity to create than it is for individuals at work. Nobody can pick an annuity plot for you, and no business commitments and unpredictable salary designs would all make sparing troublesome. Be that as it may, planning for retirement is also essential for you.
All businesses need to give a working environment annuity plan to their qualified representatives and pay into it, boosting their workers’ sum toward retirement. If you are independently employed, you will not have a business adding cash to your annuity like this.
However, there are still some tax cuts you should not pass up. For instance, you will get charge alleviation on your commitments, up to the lower your yearly profit or $40,000. If you are an essential rate citizen, for each $100 you pay into your annuity, the legislature will include an extra $25.
In general, the self-employed receive significantly lower pensions than those obtained by employed persons. The reason is that many self-employed workers decide to contribute to Social Security for the minimum base. Hence, their pensions are lower.
In the market, several financial products complement the retirement pension:
Pension plans: this is the savings and investment vehicle aimed at complementing the most used retirement pension due to the critical tax advantages they offer. The tax savings obtained are up to 52% in the familiar territory (up to 49% in Navarra and 45% in the Basque Country). When choosing a pension plan, it is advisable to analyze several factors:
Profitability and risk: We recommend analyzing the categories with the best yields without being carried away by that alone. In pension plans, you must carefully assess the level of risk to be assumed. Generally, a saver who starts relatively young (at age 30) should go through all categories. The younger you are, the more risks you can take, and the more you can invest in equity pension plans.
Commissions: pension plans have high fees. The commission for deposit is 0.5% on equity, while the management fee can be 2%. If the plan’s annual return is 3 or 4%, paying such a high commission would not be attractive.
Pension plans also have several disadvantages that it is also advisable to know:
The investor cannot recover the money until retirement (with exceptions).
The performance of pension plans is lower than that offered by other products also intended for savings.
Pension plans are deducted first, but it is paid upon recovery.
Individual Systematic Savings Plans (PIAS) is an exclusive insurance financial product. Its operation is like that of the old retirement insurance. The holder can make unique or periodic contributions that will be reimbursed according to the interest rate anticipated by the insurance company. The public debt offers the profitability of these products since it is in this type of asset that insurers mainly invest in.
The tax is undoubtedly one of its main attractions. When the holder of an Individual Systematic Savings Plan decides to rescue his money, he is exempt from taxation if he recovers it in the form of an annuity. More than ten years have passed since he was hired.
Reverse mortgage: financial product aimed at people over 65 years. The entity pays a monthly rent through the reverse mortgage to have this person’s property in the property as collateral. It is a mortgage pension. The person must have a property home for the operation to be viable. Also, to obtain the benefits granted by law, the dwelling must be its habitual residence (if the place is the habitual domicile, the beneficiary’s monthly income does not pay taxes). The reverse mortgage has, however, several disadvantages that you should analyze:
Housing appraisal cost.
Expenses of formalization of the mortgage.
The reverse mortgage fee has not been updated with the CPI.
The reverse mortgage is an operation that you can undo at any time by returning to the entity the money borrowed until the day of cancellation.
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.
However, leadership, in some cases, gets notoriety for simply being one more trendy expression. Indeed, to portray anybody with more than a couple of thousand devotees on Twitter can appear to be an unfilled promoting jargon word.
Divergent Techniques to Merge as a Thought Leader
To create the most online customers, one must be the best. A leader should be an expert in his profession. In other words, he must find ways to make strong relationships with his customers. Here are some tips to show one’s personality through expertise in his specific industry.
Advertise through Quality Content
These contents may consist of e-mails, guides, blogs, clips, or audio recordings. The quality of content shows the quality standards of the brand itself. Sixty percent of the marketing authority creates new content weekly to advertise their products and values.
Provide Customers’ Requirements Instead of His Own
The person who will advertise a particular industry should give all the information that a customer asks instead of asking them irrelevant questions or providing irrelevant information.
Share a Little Detail About You
Human nature is curious. Everyone wants to know about each other, so the guilder should share a little about his personal life. It does not mean he must expose his privacy, but he should share a little like, what he likes, his favorite sport, family members, or any other interesting point to connect with customers. It will leave a memorable impression on the customers.
Google Account May Help the Leader to Improve His Authorship
The leader should create a link in his Google account; it will help him increase adherence. For this purpose, log in to your Google account and add every site he has provided under the profile. It will grant him a link that will help to gain advantages in his job.
Add Writing Skills
Writing skills is indeed an exceptional profession. An expert should consider writing a book to present his authorship to a larger audience. It will also launch an outstanding notion in the minds of readers. If the expert does not have the time to write books, he should hire a writer and add his voice and clips to his online book.
An Expert Should Never Be a Controversial Personality
It is not easy to find out how one’s opinion matches with everyone. Everyone faces a debate competition in various life steps, and it becomes more challenging when a leader must meet the customers. He should challenge them with his voice, words, and quality argument but not force them to become a compulsion for them to agree with him.
Go with the Right Side of the Audience
If the customers are not nervous talking to you, then allow them to speak independently. Then, the thought leader should choose the right side of the audience and continue to the right side of his core memo. He must use a soft accent; with morale, words cover his communication actions.
Use all the Traits Constantly
A leader must remember that he cannot go through if he uses all the above traits for a specific period; he constantly uses them. He should not let these traits go when he has achieved his goals. If he does not have time, he must hand over his few tasks to someone else to focus on his leadership because leadership is crucial for success in any industry.
The Main Point that a Thought Leader Should Avoid
Here is an excellent tip to increase your credibility. If customers ask about the product, do not send them the link immediately; one should have enough knowledge to guide them because it is silly to think that the customers will open the link and buy a product. The knowledge the customer will get from the leader will have more value than the links. The leader should answer the questions, make conversations, and share the content.
Knowing different ways to market your product as a brand leader is essential. Creating innovative content is one of them! If you want your business to stand out from the rest, you must stand up as a leader! The next step is to maximize your business knowledge. Remember, you are the master of your field, and nobody can take that away from you!
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.
A company owner can’t grow a successful business singlehandedly. A few have tried, but none succeeded. Every business owner and entrepreneur built a successful business empire with competent and loyal employees. Smart business owners make it a priority to hire the best possible candidates to strengthen their workforce. Be it long-distance recruitment or local hiring. Many organizations go to immense lengths to get their teams suitable candidates.
Accomplishing the entrepreneurial dream is all about establishing a team of competent and loyal employees. Considering the cut-throat competition of today’s market and economy, hiring the best talent is more crucial than ever before. Here are some tried and tested ways to attract and employ only the best and most competent workers:
Decide to Use Only the Best
Hiring an underqualified individual who is a poor fit for the job is what most companies do to get the vacant position as quickly as possible. Committing to hiring only the best helps you focus on the hiring procedure and improve the recruiting practices. More importantly, the top talent wants to work only amongst the best to refine their skill further. They are hiring the top crop professionals to improve your chances of attracting the best talent in the market.
Communicate Your Culture
The top talent never runs out of recruitment options and choices to convince them of your company; communicate its culture and values to them. Share why the people love working at your company. Entice them with development and growth opportunities to give them an idea about professional and personal growth. Skilled people love new challenges and diversity of work; tell them about the rewarding environment and workplace diversity.
Work on the Recruitment Practices
Improving recruitment practices is essential for employing competent people. Finding talented and creative people starts with being innovative in your hiring procedure. Reduce the required information on the hiring form to save the hirer and applicant time. Boost the employee referral program resources to find top-performing candidates instead of putting effort into job ads. Focus on passive candidates, the ones not looking for a job in your niche industry and the active applicants.
Focus on Candidate Experience
The initial candidate experience tells much about the company’s culture and work environment. Make sure the first impression of your company is positive and engaging. Simplify resume submission and scrutiny procedures to ease up the hassles of a job application. Take timely follow-ups with the candidate at every hiring stage. A friendly and flexible hiring staff is crucial to catering to candidates’ needs. Make sure to streamline the recruitment procedure.
Build a Reputation of Employer of Choice
Market perception is what sets the first impression in the candidate’s mind. Develop a great work culture and promote a rewarding environment on social sites to gain an online presence. Make sure to position your brand positively in the community and niche marketplace. Top talent sought to work with highly professional employers and recognized names in the industry.
Think Outside the Box
Although it depends on experience and skillsets to train your employees, ensure you hire from an underemployed labor market. The federal WOTC program offers tax credits for employers who hire candidates from targeted groups such as food stamp recipients, former felons, people referred by vocational rehabilitation programs, and people from underprivileged or rural areas.
Promoting Businesses
If you want to improve your chances of attaining good employees, you must show them the value of your organization. Like the concept of brand recognition, explaining your brand to potential candidates can be a great way to attract their attention. Remember, they want to excel in the work they do. So, you should let them know about those possibilities and add loyalty to the frame.
Organizations go through challenges to hire and attract highly competent and talented individuals. Our professionals make it easier and simpler for you to find the right and the perfect fit for your job openings. Employers can target people worldwide and place them with an offer they can’t refuse. If you’re an employer who hesitates to opt for long-distance recruitment, think again!
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.
Are you someone who has established a new business? To grow your business, you must be involved in its financial management. If you are not a finance expert or not adept with accounting, then bookkeeping may not be your favorite task, but it will help the growth and survival of your business. The International Journal of Science & Research reports that 75% of the participants believed that bookkeeping enabled them to ascertain the financial position of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and there is a direct relationship between bookkeeping, growth, and the profitability of SMEs.
Here are the nine tips to help make small business bookkeeping easier:
Separate business account
You may consider it easier to use your personal bank account for your business; your personal and business finances will eventually suffer, which can be detrimental. To run your business smoothly, opening a business account and getting a separate credit card is crucial to help your company build its credit rating.
If you need to use your business money for personal expenses, then transfer that amount into your personal bank account and use it. If someone is bookkeeping for you, it will be difficult for him to categorize your personal and business transactions. Sorting through personal and business transactions can be time-consuming, complex, expensive, and lead to mistakes.
Bookkeeping software
Many choices are available for small business accounting software, but setting up software can be complicated. You should consider using the help of a professional because approximately 82% of experts surveyed believe that a professional should complete the initial setup of a computerized small business accounting system.
Payment records
It is essential to keep payment records because they help you remember who has paid in cash. You may forget that a client has paid you, and when you call him for the payment, you may be embarrassed when he tells you he has already paid the amount. Maintaining a record also helps find the clients whose payments are due, and you will know how much profit you have earned.
Save receipts
Bookkeeping does not depend on receipts to identify transactions, but the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will need them for all tax deductions. Saving all receipts may seem complicated, but you can scan them and attach an electronic copy to the transaction within your bookkeeping software.
Create bookkeeping reports monthly
Keep your bookkeeping system up-to-date and create monthly records to ensure processes are operating correctly. This step is crucial because you can monitor your business’s expenses.
Set deadline reminders
It is easy to forget deadlines when you are a busy business owner. Neglected deadlines can result in fines or penalties, especially if you have missed the due date of a tax submission. To avoid this, set reminders so that it will not happen. Add due dates to your calendar to ensure you do not miss any upcoming due dates.
Plan for major expenses
Be realistic about the expenses that might come in the near future. Acknowledging seasonal difficulties and how they will impact your future expenses is essential.
Set aside tax money
You have started a business, so it is obvious that you will pay taxes, so systematically set aside money for it. Plan your upcoming expenses according to the amount you have set aside for taxes.
Outsource bookkeeping
If you are handling other duties in the office and find bookkeeping difficult or do not have time for it, then outsource it. It would be cost-effective to hire a professional because records will be accurate, and tax preparation will not be your responsibility. According to a study by Wasp Barcode Technologies, 50% of small business holders outsource their payroll accounting.
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.
One of the most vital responsibilities of the accounting or bookkeeping department is the meticulous process of reconciling accounting statements. These statements—namely the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement—serve as comprehensive snapshots of a company’s financial health. It is imperative that these three statements are not only reconciled but also harmonized to avert potential business losses that can arise from inconsistencies.
So, what does reconciling accounting statements entail?Reconciliation involves a detailed comparison between a company’s internal financial records and its corresponding bank statements. This essential process is crucial for pinpointing any potential financial leakages, whether they stem from scams, unauthorized transactions, or unaccounted financial activities that may have occurred over a specified financial period.
Businesses must perform this reconciliation regularly to safeguard their financial integrity. Many organizations opt for a monthly reconciliation schedule to maintain a clear and accurate picture of their financial standing. However, others may choose quarterly, bi-annual, or even annual reconciliation intervals. For small businesses, in particular, monthly reconciliation is instrumental, offering a clearer view of cash flow and overall financial well-being.
Methods to Reconcile Accounting Statements
When it comes to reconciling accounting statements, two primary methodologies can be employed:
Documentation review
This method involves a thorough comparison of transaction receipts against bank account statements. Each transaction is scrutinized, enabling the identification of any transactions that lack proper receipts. Any discrepancies can highlight potential cash leakages and unauthorized transactions. This underscores the importance of consistently recording petty cash transactions, as even minor amounts can accumulate and impact the business significantly.
Analytics review
This approach leans more heavily on data analysis to uncover potential scams and errors within the business’s financial statements. Here, accountants project the ideal amount of cash that should be reflected in the bank account based on the company’s historical revenue generation. This method not only aids in spotting irregularities but also helps identify trends and weaknesses in business operations, fostering a more proactive approach to financial management.
Why is Regular Reconciliation Important?
Business experts emphasize the necessity of regular reconciliation of accounting statements for a multitude of compelling reasons:
Error-free data entry
Engaging in regular reconciliation significantly reduces the risk of errors in data entry. This process allows the accounting team sufficient time to accurately record all transactions and maintain meticulous records of invoices and receipts. By preventing last-minute scrambles, the business can avoid accounting mistakes that could lead to severe financial repercussions. Additionally, timely reconciliation ensures that your company’s financial statements and audit documentation are always ready for presentation to investors when needed.
Identify fraudulent practices
A regular reconciliation routine serves as a vital line of defense against fraudulent practices within business operations. It aids in uncovering issues such as the issuance of duplicate checks, unauthorized invoices, or inappropriate transfers to accounts not sanctioned by the business’s transaction records. By consistently monitoring these elements, businesses can protect themselves against internal theft and misconduct.
Identify potential errors
Another significant advantage of reconciling accounting and banking statements is the ability to detect potential errors. Any discrepancies—such as transactions that have been recorded multiple times or not recorded at all—become apparent during the reconciliation process. This awareness keeps the accounting department vigilant and encourages timely transaction recording to maintain accuracy.
Error-free tax filing
Many business owners find themselves in precarious situations during tax season due to delays in reconciling their statements. Unreconciled accounting statements can lead to major complications when filing taxes. However, when a certified accounting professional is involved, they ensure that reconciliation is completed promptly, allowing for a smoother tax preparation process.
Avoid theft
Sadly, many businesses must contend with the unfortunate reality of employee theft. This can manifest in various forms, including overcharging vendors, pilfering petty cash, neglecting to record transactions, or misdirecting vendor payments to personal or unauthorized accounts. Regularly reconciling accounting statements dramatically reduces these risks, making it easier to detect irregular activities and track unusual business account transactions.
Conclusion
In summary, the regular reconciliation of accounting statements is not merely an administrative task but a cornerstone of financial health for any business. It helps mitigate the risks of errors and fraud, ensures that the company is prepared for tax obligations, and maintains integrity in its financial operations.
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.
