Business owners starting an online business in the retail industry must consider many aspects before their start-up takes off. Capital, marketing expenses, financial expenses, branding, logistics, operations, and customer service are just a few of the critical components of a business. Entrepreneurs must also determine whether or not they need a business license before they launch their online store.
Licensing Depends on Location
Having to obtain a business license for an online store to sell your product online depends on which state you are in. Every state in the US has different rules and regulations related to an online start-up. Before investing your precious capital in your business, check with the local authorities about the permits and licenses needed for your business operations. Having licenses and permits will avoid future hassles for your business.
The licensing rules for starting an online business vary from state to state and city to city in the US. Let us take the example of Los Angeles, California. The law in Los Angeles requires online start-ups to file for a Doing Business As (DBA). The second requirement is that the company must have a resale permit. Businesses in Los Angeles must announce their DBA in newspapers at least four weeks before selling any products.
If you happen to move your business from LA to another county in California, the address must be changed accordingly. The company must send new details and taxes to the state once all the details are provided. The new county will contact you and request you file a license for your company.
Collect Information about Requirements of State or County
A business license for an online store will facilitate the start-up owners. The Small Business Administration (SBA) has created a comprehensive list that includes state license offices. The offices will guide business owners about the licenses and permits an online retailer would need.
The following licenses are commonly required for online retailing in the US.
A license for sales tax registration
Zoning permits
Federal licensing
Professional licensing (if your online licensing offers specialized services like dentistry, doctors, hairstylists, vets, and equipment repair)
Health inspection license
Home occupation license (for consultants)
Licenses and Permits Needed for a Home-Based or Online Business
An Online business from a home or office located on a residential block must have a “home occupation permit.” The permits are shaped to prevent enterprises from adding noise, disturbance, littering, dust, and odors.
Business License for Online Store
Almost all businesses in the US are required to obtain a business license for an online store. A business license is required for home-based businesses. If your company does not have regular deliveries or pickups and does not rely on maintaining a more extensive inventory daily, it will be easier to get a license.
More extensive online stores are required to submit detailed transactions. For more prominent online retailers, zoning department permits could be applicable. It could be essential if delivery and pickup trucks show up at the location more frequently.
Every state in the US requires a business license for an online store. The permits and registration documents allow the government to track the necessary taxes. The tax requirement is a must for any business. It’s always essential to keep your license updated when it is about to expire to avoid legal issues.
Registration with the Worker’s Compensation and Unemployment Department
The permits and regulations above apply to online businesses. For example, an online company that will hire employees must register the business with the Workers’ Compensation and Unemployment Departments. Zoning permits are probably not applicable to online businesses, but they could be required if shipments move to and from a residential home.
The sales tax rules are somewhat complex when designed for an online business. The sales tax on online sales is not clear. The classification of sales tax on online transactions requires information collection and discussion with an accountant or bookkeeper.
When starting an online business, it is always important to check with local authorities about the permits needed to conduct your business. Ultimately, these licenses will allow you to run your business without worrying about a shutdown. Getting a business license for your online store is essential, even if your state and county jurisdictions do not require it. A proper permit and license for your company will make it legitimate and completely safe.
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.
“According to folklore, this has been a terrible generation for manufacturing and those who move goods,” says Center of Business and Economic Research’s Director Michael Hicks. He made this bold statement about the general public’s opinions, which are, in fact, contrary. He further added, “That isn’t what the data says. Indeed, 2015 was a record manufacturing production year in inflation-adjusted dollars. While 2016 fell just short with some weakness in the first and second quarter, 2017 looks like a new record year.” Manufacturinglogistics are set to mark 2017 and 2018 as record years with renewed hope for more chances of trade and economic bliss.
Hicks’ comments don’t come as a surprise with growth that is monitored and, above all, viable for safely suggesting that over the past generation, we are experiencing more growth than we have in the last 100 years. From 2000-2003, production grew by a steady 11 percent each year due to the evolution of the web and internet. But then came the downfall in 2007’s global recession, which was a massive blow to globaleconomies and businesses everywhere, according to a leading manufacturing logistics report, Manufacturing and Logistics: A Generation of Volatility & Growth, released by Ball State’s CBER and Conexus Indiana.
Evolution & Manufacturing Logistics
Over the past 100 years, in every aspect of human evolution, from science and technology to arts and design, humanity has made progress beyond its capacity and resource limitations. And, with a generation of progress, employment comes galore. The good thing about development is the abundant chances of opportunity that it brings along, as Hicks pointed out. He also states with considerable confidence that manufacturing logistics has been safe for years, and all this misconception is due to the rising levels of unemployment.
He also reiterates his positivity by saying that manufacturers have become leaner and more versatile, covering more industries than ever. The growth in productivity means greater demands that are being met with satisfaction; in this generation, robotics and other automation have contributed to fewer people being employed. Some particular factors pointed out aided the decay of employment. It revealed that if the worker is well educated and skilled, it raises overall productivity. This means that manufacturing logistics professionals with higher qualifications and credentials play a significant role in development and ensure a higher ability to cope with business demands.
The report also explains that mechanization has evacuated staff off the job. This automation has gained considerable negativity because downsizing and other corporation cut-offs in this generation increase unemployment unless the worker is shifted or relocated. Productivity does increase but at the expense of using fewer workers to improve a system. Emphasis is also laid on improving processes or mechanisms such as ISO certification. For manufacturing logistics, this certification ensures that the process and practices deployed offer optimum efficiency while maintaining a standard and that techniques are used to ensure amplified industrial production.
Other Management Methods
Other management methods like Lean Six Sigma help manufacturers implement a methodology that requires a combined team effort to develop performance levels by analytically eradicating wastage and decreasing discrepancies. The methods used in this generation are a mark of quality and assured reliability. This leads to better monitoring and evaluations of the workforce, which is manageable and supported by standards that set quality assurance ideals.
Since peaking in 1979, manufacturing logistics employment levels have misplaced around 8 million jobs. This is due to mechanization and other developmental processes that are enhancements that come with time. But, at the loss of eight million jobs, another 9 million have been created in various disciplines that support manufacturing and logistics like vocation, shipping, and services.
Unlike our predecessors who didn’t happen to live in the age of the information highway, our generation enjoys the bounties of science and technology that stir up markets by creating jobs and opportunities for businesses such as e-marketing,e-commerce, and web development. Such companies have spawned industries that completely support manufacturing logistic activities.
Hicks elucidates, “Trade and productivity growth shift job opportunities to other places and other sectors even as employment grows. We are at peak US employment right now.” That means with the modernization of markets, corporations, and businesses, the US is at an all-time high in employment related to trade and growth in its productivity levels, further ensuring the future of many professionals of this generation.
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 lot of business owners have misconceptions regarding the law concerning the relationship between the proprietorship and the owner. Because of that, they usually go for expensive plans to protect their assets. These plans don’t usually work out in the end. Furthermore, some people avoid these plans, hoping their venture won’t face any kind of lawsuit or accident.
One needs to protect their assets from the threats that the liabilities of a business might pose.
Below is a guide on a few ways to ensure that your assets are safe from the horrors of being seized or confiscated if something goes wrong with your business.
The Entity of Your Business
Many businesspersons set up a sole proprietorship when starting out with their business. However, this option is not the safest when we are talking about protecting personal assets. This is because, being a sole proprietorship, the owner and the business are considered the same entity. Both kinds of assets (work-related and personal) come under the same category, exposing your wealth to the threat of a lawsuit. In that case, your firm can’t pay off its liabilities independently, and you’ll have to pay for them yourself out of your pocket.
In order to set up the business as an entity separate from the owner, it must be registered as a limited liability company or a corporation. You can even go for a two-layer protection, such as having the assets under an LLC and operations under the name of a corporation. Such a mixture of multiple entities makes it difficult for any kind of lawsuit to affect you personally.
Segregate Work and Personal Finances
You may think that only setting up your business as a separate entity will not adequately protect your wealth. You can start this by separating financial documents, operating the company with checkbooks, and other documents issued in the company’s name. All property and assets registered in your company’s name will strengthen the protection.
You must ensure that you follow all regulations that corporations and limited liability companies are required to follow, paying the proper fees and maintaining all documents as demanded by the regulations. If all documentation is properly insured, the business will be saved from a lot of hassle in recreating documents regarding a lawsuit. As an owner, it will also save you from being personally liable for what may have caused the lawsuit.
Take all Possible Precautions to Prevent Lawsuits
This won’t only keep lawsuits away from you but will also help if you ever face one. This also means that you can’t sit back and relax if you’ve registered your business as a separate entity and have ensured the protection of your assets through separating them from the business entirely. It would be best if you still took measures, such as putting up signs where there are safety hazards and ensuring that the quality of your product isn’t questionable and doesn’t violate any set standards required by the law. If you operate with negligence, the lawsuit can attack your assets.
Asset Protection vs. Insurance
Multiple “asset protection” companies advise methods to avoid insurance by hiding your wealth. It would help if you didn’t fall into such schemes because your business needs proper insurance. They help take the bullet shot by creditors and suing individuals and can usually handle incidents in which the safety of assets (business or personal) is under threat.
However, it is integral that you get the correct policy, the kind of which varies with every specification. You can even have separate insurance companies provide protection for the entity and the assets of your business. You can get a review of your company from the insurance agent to know the right policies for your business. It might sound confusing at first, but once you get to know the basics, you can streamline your insurance policy to suit every need of your business.
Conclusion
If you want to protect your assets from liabilities at the workplace, you can start by applying what is mentioned in this guide. It is recommended that you consult a licensed attorney with relevant experience. Once you follow the outlined steps, the risk to your wealth will be minimal, and you can operate your business with peace of mind.
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.
Optimize Your Practice with Proactive Healthcare Billing Strategies
Proactive healthcare billing transforms your practice from constantly chasing payments to strategically preventing revenue disruptions before they occur. Unlike reactive billing that addresses problems after denials and delays, proactive strategies focus on upstream prevention through automated eligibility verification, predictive analytics, and systematic process optimization that can reduce claim denials by up to 70% while improving cash flow by 35%.
Medical claim denial rates have surged from 10.15% in 2020 to 11.99% in 2023—and approximately 86% of these denials are preventable. After two decades guiding businesses through financial transformations at Complete Controller, I’ve witnessed firsthand how practices implementing proactive billing strategies break free from the reactive cycle that drains resources and morale. This guide reveals proven methods that successful practices use to prevent billing problems, accelerate cash flow, and reduce administrative costs while creating sustainable revenue growth.
What is proactive healthcare billing, and how does it transform revenue?
Proactive healthcare billing prevents revenue cycle problems through systematic optimization and predictive technology before claims submission
Practices implementing these strategies achieve 95% clean claim rates compared to 75-80% industry averages
Key components include automated eligibility verification, predictive denial management, and upstream patient financial counseling
Administrative burden reduces by 40% while patient satisfaction scores improve by 23%
ROI typically appears within 60-90 days through improved cash flow and reduced rework costs
The Financial Foundation of Proactive Revenue Cycle Management
Healthcare revenue cycle management built on proactive principles creates financial stability that reactive approaches simply cannot match. Administrative expenses now account for 40% of total healthcare expenditures—a crisis that demands fundamental process transformation rather than incremental improvements.
Between 1975 and 2010, healthcare administrators grew by 3,200% while physicians increased only 150%, creating unsustainable cost structures that drain practice resources. Proactive billing strategies reverse this trend by automating routine tasks and preventing problems that require manual intervention.
Modern healthcare financial planning harnesses data patterns to forecast revenue disruptions weeks before they impact cash flow. By analyzing historical claims data across providers, procedures, and patient demographics, practices identify high-risk transactions that require enhanced documentation or pre-authorization attention.
Key predictive indicators include:
Prior authorization denial patterns by the insurance carrier
Provider documentation gaps for specific procedures
Patient payment history correlation with service types
Seasonal fluctuations in claim processing times
Payer-specific rule changes and compliance updates
Proactive financial management incorporates real-time compliance checking that flags potential issues during documentation rather than after claim submission. CMS data shows proactive compliance programs reduce audit risk by 60% while improving overall billing accuracy—protecting practices from costly clawbacks and penalties.
Successful compliance automation includes continuous monitoring of coding accuracy, documentation completeness, medical necessity criteria, bundling rules, and modifier usage patterns. This systematic approach transforms compliance from a reactive scramble into a predictable, manageable process.
Patient-Centered Billing Solutions That Prevent Collection Problems
Patient billing solutions achieve maximum effectiveness when financial conversations happen before service delivery, not after. Leading practices report 31% higher collection rates when patients understand their financial responsibility upfront—while simultaneously improving satisfaction scores by 23%.
This correlation between transparency and collections demonstrates that patients want clarity about healthcare costs. Proactive approaches satisfy this need while preventing the confusion and frustration that lead to payment delays and bad debt.
Strategic financial counseling programs
Proactive healthcare solutions include dedicated financial counselors who contact patients 48-72 hours before procedures to review coverage details and payment options. Cleveland Clinic’s implementation of this approach reduced billing-related complaints by 45% while improving point-of-service collections by 28%.
Efficient medical billing processes require eligibility systems that analyze benefit details, not just active coverage status. Specialty practices implementing comprehensive verification protocols report 40-50% reductions in authorization-related denials by identifying coverage limitations before scheduling procedures.
Modern verification systems integrate directly with scheduling software to provide real-time alerts about prior authorization requirements, benefit maximums, network restrictions, and medical necessity criteria—preventing surprises that delay payment and frustrate patients.
Automation Technology That Transforms Billing Efficiency
Billing automation in healthcare extends far beyond simple data entry to encompass intelligent decision-making that traditionally required manual oversight. Healthcare organizations implementing comprehensive automation report 30% reduction in claim denials while reducing coding errors by 40%.
The most impactful automation targets high-volume, error-prone processes where consistency and accuracy directly impact revenue. Practices achieve 98% claim accuracy rates through automated charge capture, coding validation, and claims scrubbing—while freeing staff to focus on complex cases requiring human judgment.
AI-powered coding and documentation
Artificial intelligence now analyzes provider documentation in real-time, suggesting appropriate codes while flagging compliance risks or missed revenue opportunities. Practices using AI-powered coding assistance capture 15-20% more appropriate revenue while reducing coding-related denials by 35%.
Intelligent claims scrubbing technology
Proactive billing strategies leverage sophisticated scrubbing systems that incorporate payer-specific rules to identify denial triggers before submission. Modern claims scrubbing goes beyond data validation to include:
Clinical edit checking against medical necessity criteria
Bundling rule compliance verification
Modifier requirement validation
Timely filing deadline monitoring
Coordination of benefits sequencing
Strategic Accounts Receivable Management
Healthcare accounts receivable optimization requires preventing aging rather than managing it after the fact. High-performing practices maintain days in receivable below 30 through systematic prevention strategies—compared to industry averages exceeding 40 days.
Predictive analytics identify accounts at risk of becoming uncollectible based on payment history, coverage patterns, and demographic factors. This intelligence enables targeted intervention before accounts reach traditional write-off thresholds.
Data-driven collection prioritization
Proactive healthcare solutions analyze multiple data points to customize collection strategies for maximum effectiveness. Practices implementing predictive collection analytics report 25-30% improvements in collection rates while reducing bad debt by 40%.
Priority indicators include:
Historical payment velocity by patient segment
Insurance verification confidence scores
Service type collection difficulty ratings
Patient communication preference data
Financial capacity assessment results
Automated communication and payment solutions
Modern healthcare accounts receivable systems engage patients through preferred communication channels while offering flexible payment options tailored to individual financial situations. Automated systems generate personalized payment plans that balance practice cash flow needs with patient affordability.
High-deductible health plan growth makes these capabilities essential—practices implementing comprehensive communication automation report 35-45% improvements in patient payment rates while reducing collection staff workload by 50%.
Building Sustainable Proactive Billing Operations
Creating lasting proactive financial management requires cultural transformation that values prevention over crisis response. A multi-specialty group achieved 20% revenue increase by implementing transparent billing practices with real-time reporting, reducing their receivable cycle from 60+ days to just 29 days.
Success depends on comprehensive staff development, performance measurement systems, and leadership commitment to prevention-focused operations. Practices report 40-50% reductions in billing errors while improving staff satisfaction when proactive principles guide daily operations.
Comprehensive training beyond technical skills
Proactive billing strategies require staff who understand root cause analysis, pattern recognition, and preventive thinking. Training programs must develop analytical capabilities alongside technical competencies—preparing teams to identify potential issues before they impact revenue.
Performance metrics that drive prevention
Successful practices track leading indicators like clean claim rates, eligibility verification accuracy, and patient counseling effectiveness rather than focusing solely on collection rates. This forward-looking approach identifies improvement opportunities before they impact financial performance.
Key performance indicators include:
First-pass payment rates by payer
Pre-service financial clearance rates
Authorization approval percentages
Patient estimation accuracy scores
Staff productivity and error rates
Final Thoughts
Transforming from reactive to proactive healthcare billing creates sustainable competitive advantages that compound over time. Throughout my career helping businesses optimize their financial operations, I’ve consistently seen that prevention-focused practices achieve superior results while reducing stress and improving workplace satisfaction.
The strategies outlined here work together to create resilient revenue cycles that adapt to industry changes while maintaining consistent cash flow. Whether you’re struggling with rising denial rates, administrative costs, or collection challenges, proactive approaches address root causes rather than symptoms.
Healthcare financial management will only grow more complex with evolving regulations, payer requirements, and patient expectations. Practices embracing proactive strategies today position themselves to thrive tomorrow. Ready to transform your billing operations? Contact the experts at Complete Controller to discover how our comprehensive solutions can help you implement these strategies and achieve lasting financial success.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proactive Healthcare Billing
What is proactive healthcare billing, and how is it different from traditional billing approaches?
Proactive healthcare billing focuses on preventing revenue cycle problems before they occur through systematic process optimization, predictive analytics, and upstream intervention strategies. Unlike traditional reactive billing that addresses problems after claims are denied or payments are delayed, proactive approaches identify and resolve potential issues during patient registration, eligibility verification, and pre-service phases.
How much can proactive billing strategies improve my practice’s financial performance?
Practices implementing comprehensive proactive billing strategies typically see 25-35% improvement in days in accounts receivable, 40-70% reduction in claim denials, and 20-30% increase in clean claim rates. The exact improvement depends on your current billing efficiency and the specific strategies implemented, but most practices see measurable improvements within 60-90 days.
What technology investments are necessary for proactive healthcare billing?
Essential technology components include automated eligibility verification systems, predictive analytics platforms, comprehensive claims scrubbing software, and patient financial communication tools. While initial investment varies, most practices find that improved collection efficiency and reduced administrative costs offset technology expenses within the first year of implementation.
How do proactive billing strategies improve patient satisfaction?
Proactive billing enhances patient satisfaction by providing upfront financial transparency, eliminating billing surprises, and offering clear communication about payment responsibilities and options. Practices implementing proactive patient financial counseling report 20-25% improvements in patient satisfaction scores related to billing and financial interactions.
Can small practices benefit from proactive billing strategies, or are they only suitable for large healthcare organizations?
Proactive billing strategies are particularly beneficial for small practices because they help level the playing field with larger organizations by improving efficiency and reducing administrative burden. Many proactive billing tools and strategies can be implemented with modest technology investments and provide proportionally greater benefits for smaller practices dealing with limited administrative resources.
Simbo.ai. (2024). “Analyzing the Increase in Average Denial Rates for Medical Claims and Its Implications for Healthcare Revenue Cycle Management.” www.simbo.ai/insights
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.
QuickBooks is an accounting software package that Intuit develops. This software is an assisting program that helps you carry out various accounting solutions with ease and organization. The software targets small to medium-sized businesses to help with their accounting services. It is now available with cloud-based versions complete with payroll, pay, and bill management functions.
How is QuickBooks Beneficial for Your Business?
If you are a small business or a start-up, QuickBooks is your ultimate accounting tool. Some of its unique features and benefits it could bring to your company are as follows.
Money Management
QuickBooks has features that help small and medium-sized businesses manage their finances and money. This software allows you to keep track of transactions, pay timely bills, and record each transaction for audit purposes.
Expense Billing
The accounting software allows you to record and tally your expenses, whether big or small, to track your money better.
Sales Invoices
QuickBooks allows you to create and printinvoices at the touch of a button. Hence, it helps you track your inventories properly and ease your business operations.
Why You Can’t Buy A Used Copy Of QuickBooks
Intuit and all partners licensed for the sale of QuickBooks are strictly against buying and using old copies of this software. Customers who purchase used copies of the program and try using it always face problems and issues, leading them to not get the best results from the software. This dissatisfaction causes customers to cease using the software, and a lot of money and resources are wasted. All customers are strongly recommended to buy new copies for a better experience and smoother performance.
The most common problems faced by those who buy a used copy of QuickBooks are listed below.
Installation
QuickBooks could be installed using a CD or by buying an online version and downloading it to your system. However, as the installation progresses, the software asks you to provide a license and product number.
If your copy is original and new, the license and product code are provided, allowing you to continue with the installation. However, if your copy is used or comes from an unauthorized dealer, you will not have the correct license and product number. As a result, you will not be able to install the program and, in turn, will lose your money and time to do something unproductive for your start-up or small business.
If you face a problem downloading an original program, the customer help desk is always available to sort out your issues.
Registration
If you have the original license and product code for a used copy of QuickBooks, there is a huge chance that you will have issues registering the software.
Intuit verifies if you have a genuine version of the original software by asking you to enter your Intuit account details. Furthermore, you are requested to put in contact numbers and mailing IDs. If a used copy is installed, Intuit will detect the software version you are trying to use and recognize it as registered under a different name already. In that case, it will deny you access to your program or access only limited features of the software.
Usage
Even if you somehow manage to get through the process of registration and installation, the limited features that Intuit would allow you access will not provide you with the results that a new software would. Hence, it wastes valuable resources such as time and money and a disgruntled customer experience.
It is suggested that buying a used copy of the software is a bad idea, and getting a new version of QuickBooks for your small business or start-up is better.
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 “three Cs of lending” is a system that banks and other lending institutions use to determine the creditworthiness of potential borrowers. The system typically measures the three characteristics of a client and the loan’s conditions to estimate the likelihood of a credit default. This technique of assessing the borrower considers both qualitative and quantitative measures. Understanding the essential criteria for personaldebts, commercialcredit, or bankloans for educational or other reasons and their role in meeting your financial needs is imperative.
Cash Flow
Your cash flow shows how much of the money you make remains with you upon debt repayment and expenses. A Cash Flow Projection demonstrates your income and expenditure looking forward into the future. Thus, an individual’s cash flow eventually defines their capacity to repay a loan. Consequently, a lender looks at a borrower’s cash flow to determine their capability to repay the loan.
While anyone can look at their cash flow for a very short period, such as a month, a quarter, or a year, you must know that most lenders want to consider cash flows projected at least three years ahead into the future. Some businesses take cash flow as earnings before amortization, depreciation, and interest and call it a pro forma projection.
Banks and other lending organizations use cash flow as a financial tool to gauge whether a company can meet the regular monthly debt payments. They ask for their cash flow statement to obtain a ratio usually known as a minimum-debt-service-coverage (minimum DSC) ratio requirement. The ratio helps them see whether a business has enough monthly cash from its profits after debt repayment and expenses. Different lenders use different ways to calculate DSC ratios. However, the rule of thumb is to maintain a 1.2-1.25 DSC ratio.
Character
Regarding lending, character is also known as credit history, the most important of the three Cs. This is because it determines a borrower’s overall reputation by considering all track records of repaying debts. The shareholders who will guarantee the debt and the management of a company eventually come under effective scrutiny to determine whether they are dependable and will certainly pay back the owed money. Consequently, the lender will often consider the credit history of a company owner to assess their honesty and reliability. Thereby, consideration regarding owners may also include:
Whether or not they have utilized credit before
Whether or not they pay their bills on time
How long they have been in business
How long they have resided at their respective postal addresses
What professional, entrepreneurial, or other positions they have before initiating the business
When ascertaining the borrower’s character, lending institutions might also consider the creditworthiness of the fundamental principles of a business. This numeric score, usually ranging from 300-850, is derived from the borrower’s bookkeeping and financial information in their credit report. Lower scores give a red signal, while high scores typically accompany a lower risk. Although every lender has unique standards, most of them utilize credit scores to guide them in the evaluation process.
Collateral
Inventory, real estate, accounts receivable, equipment, and savings are all a business’s asset classes and fall under the broad umbrella of collateral. It can help you secure a loan. Here, the lending institution is concerned only with collateral or assets that assure the lender that they can repossess the collateral if the borrower defaults on the debt. Consequently, the assets can be collected or sold to generate the required funds to pay the loan in the event of the borrower’s insolvency.
Commercial lenders consider the loan-to-value ratio similar to homeowners’ debts or residential loans. Collateral is especially valuable for private lenders. When you want to use a property to be considered as collateral, its quality, location, and adaptability are essential features your prospective lender will consider. In most cases, lenders simply want the debt amount to be an amount surpassed by the borrower’s collateral.
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.
Why is it Essential to Share Sensitive Financial Documents Securely?
Many platforms allow you to share and securely and safely administer file sharing. Many easy-to-use, secure methods of safely sharing financial documents online are available.
Safety is essential when you are looking to share sensitive information online. Companies and personal profiles today are prone to:
Cyber Attacks
Hacking
Identity Theft
Data Breaches
Scams
Virus
Malware
Ransomware
All these risks are lurking around your financial information day and night. You need to rely on modern security features to keep your data safe.
Use a Password-Protected Cloud
The primary step in keeping your data secure is to use a password-protected cloud that ensures maximum security. The recommended method is to use alphabets in lower and upper case, symbols, and numbers in combination to share sensitive financial documents securely.
Using a perfect combination in a password makes it virtually impossible for hackers to hack into your device. It is always important to keep changing your password frequently. Use a good password management application to manage all passwords. Using strong passwords with an unusual combination of alphabet numbers and symbols is a great way to share financial documents safely.
The password can be shared with authorized individuals. You can put a restriction on the document as well. For example, you can limit the access to the records to a few trusted people.
Never Use the Same Password for Every Account
People make one major mistake when dealing with their financial information. They tend to use the same password for their different bank accounts. This practice can lead hackers straight to your entire finances.
Dropbox for Sharing Financial Documents
Dropbox is a very secure method for sharing any kind of information online. It provides the user with an option to “share the link.” The link allows specific people you sent the link to view or download the file. A Dropbox Pro account is the most secure way to share sensitive financial documents securely. Dropbox has an option for you to delete the link whenever you want.
PGP/GPG
These programs allow for the safe sharing of financial documents by using public-key cryptography to send files securely. The program uses public-key encryption to secure the documents and provides a private key for decrypting the files. The private key for decrypting the files always stays on your device, but the public key is sharable.
Off-the-record Messaging Services
Off-the-record messaging is a feature that allows you to add different messaging programs to a single platform. An application for such an app is Pidgin. Using apps like Pidgin encrypts messages before they leave your device. It has features like adding extra security codes to ensure no third party intercepts the communication.
LastPass Application to Share Sensitive Financial Documents
One of the most efficient ways to share financial information is to use LastPass. LastPass is a service that lets you keep all usernames and passwords in one place. It allows you to select a login for various services, like Google Docs, through email.
Another useful feature of LastPass is that it allows access to financial documents without allowing the person to view the password. It protects the connection with an SSL.
Resilio Sync
This app allows you to synchronize your files using a safe protocol by BitTorrent. The best feature of this device is that, instead of sharing files, the app syncs the files directly between two devices. The two devices need to be online simultaneously. The files can be shared in real time, and a 128-bit AES efficiently secures the connection.
SSH Secure Shell Network
The SSH secure shell network relies on a protocol establishing an encrypted tunnel. The tunnel is secure and allows you to share sensitive financial documents. It gives you a safe platform you and your correspondent can use with their username to log in and access your uploaded files. On the other hand, you can create a unique account to allow them access to your files.
SFTP (secure file transfer protocol)
The Secure File Transfer Protocol is an extension of the SSH protocol used specifically for file sharing. It is one of the best options for safely sharing financial documents. The protocol gives access to a file server. A username and password will be generated that you can use to integrate into the FTP network for file sharing. It is always better to protect your documents with a strong password.
One-time Pad for Safely Sharing Financial Documents
This application allows you to safely share financial information by generating a random number. You must meet the other person to share a copy of the pad. This method is not as feasible as the others mentioned on the list.
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.
With the recent legalization efforts of marijuana in many states, the cannabis industry is set to take off with massive interest from the public. Using the right kind of cannabis packaging for such commercial-level activities is a daunting task considering the cannabis industry is still in its infancy. With the latest innovation and combined manufacturing prowess, choosing the best machines and equipment that are effective, efficient, cost-friendly, time-saving, and affordable is not hard.
Depending on the requirements, it can be simple and straightforward. Being in the cannabis business can be stressful, as the flowers and buds are challenging to handle, especially the hybrid strains. They are highly varied in color, odor, thickness, weight, and size. Some are sticky, while others are dusty and fragile, and the needs differ too.
If the packaging is heavier than the bud, customers may complain that the buds are lighter than the packaging. Getting these calculations correct is crucial; as paying by the gram, the customer deserves value for their money spent. Heavy distributors use small weights to create delivery batches. It is cost-effective by delivering all orders until a specific weight is achieved. A firm understanding of three essential steps is needed.
Distinguishing Business Requirements
Identification of a business’s needs is the first and foremost task. What sort of cannabis packaging should be utilized, how much is needed for a month, what should it weigh? By understanding the capacity of the packaging, the dimensions, and how cost-effective it can be, chances are, things will be positive. By knowing the answers to these crucial questions, many facets of operations can be streamlined.
Also, it is elemental to consider package weight estimates, thus, ensuring that the customer receives satisfactory and standard weights. Try keeping a few weight categories to be easier to manage and handle. Small amounts are simple enough to be dealt with in a straightforward manner. The heavyweights are problematic, and cannabis packaging meant for those weights can be extremely expensive and a total waste of money, which is not an intelligent investment.
Supplying options
Check out how other suppliers use business ideas to help them grow and thrive. Depending on the area, demands are met accordingly, so high variation is noticeable. Getting further insight from suppliers is a good idea of what to expect and how to go about doing it. Some great perspectives and effective ways can be highlighted by asking the right questions.
Capacity
Does their machine help with weighing, sorting, and filling cannabis packaging, or does it perform specific functions such as only filling and sealing? If yes, ask about how fast their packaging capacity is and what the output is. Also, automated machines can be effective but challenging with small package sizes, understanding their weight range, the frequency of demands, how they deal with underweight, and the expected percentage of monthly sales by product weight. These are just some of the ideas one can attain by visiting suppliers.
Precision
Depending on how it packages, machines must minimize weight miscalculations with precision. Many cannabis packaging machines help save costs by highly accurate and controlled packing features. All that is needed is a set target weight range, and the machine does not escalate and remains well within the range.
Rapidity
Machines are reliably fast, so using them for their swiftness is a great idea for businesses. You must know how many packages they can produce at a specific time with different weights. Usually, three to five-gram packages are used. Without miscalculating or giving up weight, inaccuracy is reduced. If the output is sufficient, it is bound to play well for efficient cannabis packaging.
Manual hours
Machines are great, but manual labor is not to be ignored. Packaging usually requires manual attention too. Using mathematics is impressive here. If three people pack five hundred bags per hour, it will amount to one person packing one hundred and sixty-six bags in an hour. A business must understand its requirements and the staff it needs to drive itself.
Put the Plan in Motion
Once the proper surveys and research are complete, gaining insight and advanced knowledge of cannabis packaging can efficiently operate small packages. When a system has been put up and the machines are commissioned, be the first to witness its startup and procedures. Observe the packaging and weigh it to remove any doubts. Any obscurities or reservations can be handled by personal inspection and seeing the work for the first time.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
First In, First Out, and Last in, First Out are the two most common inventory management concepts today. These two models are different, but both ideas are specifications of inventory management methodologies. Here, we shall discuss what each means and what types of businesses can use these formats for their operations and needs.
What is FIFO?
The FIFO inventory system uses the same strategy as it is called. First-in items are usually the first to come out of any storage. For example, the fridge stores milk according to their expiration dates. The milk cartons bearing close expiry dates would be stored in the front so those get sold first. The main aim of this concept of inventory management is to ensure that the oldest stock is moved out first to guarantee cost-effectiveness and avoid wastage. The widespread use of this concept makes it ideal for many industries that use it along with other stock management models.
Pros of FIFO
With businesses worldwide feeling ramifications of digression, this type of stock management technique offers significant benefits with inventory cost fluctuations. The cost approximates the current market value of inventory in the warehouse and is easily revealed as the result of stock-taking procedures. The flow of costs agrees with the actual flow of physical products or goods. Due to its ease of implementation, businesses do not choose which unit to deliver, as inventory management is automated. For urgent basis orders, it helps contain and arrest shipping issues.
Cons Of FIFO
Use caution when applying the FIFO method for all business endeavors. The results of stock and the image created about costs could not be genuine or authentic. Due to economic instability, the rates and costs are affected. FIFO is implemented while paying considerable attention to details as this method may exaggerate situations to depict profit-making growth patterns.
This appearance of “growth” is the disadvantage of FIFO inventory management as taxes are applied to this “profit,” which heavily burdens a business, thus diminishing growth and stability. Also, it takes accountants months to notice discrepancies in statements if care is not taken with the rising and falling rates and costs. With increased prices that show up in accounts months later, FIFO can be disadvantageous.
What is LIFO?
Last, In First Out is also commonly used, where the previous items sent to stock are the first to come out. An example would be machinery manufacturing, where stocks already prepared and stored are shipped out first rather than newly manufactured fresh out of the rolling mill. It is widely used for non-perishable goods, and this concept of inventory management includes other benefits such as periodic Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) and an inventory appraisal.
Pros of LIFO
With huge tax advantages, LIFO is great for companies in the manufacturing industry. Using LIFO, it’s presumed that all goods sold are what’s in the inventory, where it isn’t always. It also helps tackle inflation predicaments as costs of goods may change heavily if prices of raw materials increase. It also offers a lower balance shown as leftover inventory. With lower tax liability due to a lower rate of income, this type of inventory management is effective in growth. LIFO is ideal for rolling stock manufacturers, oil and gas sectors, power generation, and transportation industries.
Cons of LIFO
Due to the challenges in maintenance, LIFO is a bit more technical, as older inventory can sometimes never be sold or shipped out. This bears encumbrances as accounts can cause a loss of money; thus, it slows growth. The way LIFO runs inventory needs more complex records and advanced accounting practices so that even unsold items in the stock are included for support in the accounting of this system with this inventory management concept.
Grocery stores and restaurants cannot use this concept as it results in the rotting of most of the items that have later expiry dates. Shelved artifacts that are not sold are costly. Also, globally expanding businesses and companies cannot use LIFO due to the difference in accounting standards, which do not follow the LIFO methods. In the US, efforts have been undertaken to repeal the LIFO standards, but with recent trends, only further restrictions are seen.
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.
Bankruptcy isn’t the end. Some businesses managed to grow out of it. They learned lessons that helped them grow better and bigger. One of the biggest lessons to learn from it is that the fundamentals matter – everything else is secondary.
We should learn from these examples to understand what helped them turn the tide. There is no magic formula involved. Below is an account of all the lessons you need to learn to make your business grow successfully. After reading this article, you’ll understand why we emphasize so much on business fundamentals.
Importance of Cash and Proper Bookkeeping
Cash is all that matters. It’s the most fundamental aspect of finance, and most businesses still neglect to remember its importance.
When speaking of businesses that went from bankruptcy to millions of dollars in sales, nothing they’ve achieved would’ve been possible without articulating every dollar they spent. If you want to uplift your company:
Keep track of everything.
Invest each penny you save, calculate returns on investment, and keep looking for other investment opportunities. Before investing, research properly and only invest in those assets you have confidence in.
Remember, a penny saved is a penny earned!
Learn the Importance of Hiring
We don’t have enough words to emphasize the importance of hiring well. We’ve seen many organizations that overlook the hiring process. One rule you should keep in mind is hiring people who are looking to add value to your company and not waiting for just a paycheck. It’s simple. Hire self-motivated individuals. Otherwise, they will turn into a liability.
Liable hiring is a sponge – it will suck your organization’s profits without letting you know a thing before it’s too late. Poor hiring disturbs the whole organization, and what seems minor on the exterior is ultimately disastrous for the organization. Look for passionate employees who want to be entrepreneurs. Hire dreamers. Such passionate employees not only uplift themselves but also uplift your business in the process.
Don’t Take Negotiations Lightly
Take every negotiation as if your life depends on it. Before any negotiation, develop a war strategy – that includes identifying all the critical points and developing a proper plan. Your aim should be to get your hands on every piece of information that you can get about your potential client. Go to their websites, social media pages, press releases, etc. If you have prior information, you’ll know what to say and what not to say. Such tiny things matter greatly in sealing the deal, as do Negotiations to get out of bankruptcy.
Be a Leader
Your brilliance and skill set will only take you so far as you grow in your career. You might know already that the most important thing is the quality of your leadership.
Many mistake leadership for dictatorship. That’s not what leadership is. Leadership is about balance, as you should know when to speak and when to listen. You should know which of your employees is best suited for a particular job. A leader also knows their strengths and weaknesses; the most profound insight into your business surfaces when people from finance, HR, marketing, management, sales, and customers come together and freely share their opinions.
Investors don’t invest in your plans; they hardly ever dig into the details. They look at leadership. They invest in the business that they believe will make them money. Therefore, if you cannot lead, you should learn to lead or hire a leader. Nothing ever grows without a leader!
Conclusion
New ideas, philosophies, and management ideas keep coming year after year, all carrying their own unique importance. However, it’s the business fundamentals on which they are built. Most of them are just the revival of old ideas.
Business fundamentals will always remain the same no matter what shape a business occupies. Moreover, with ever-growing technology, people are drifting away from the fundamentals, which is terrifying.
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.
