What is a “Typical Situation” people are in when they realize they need your help?
Someone who has been using the same vendors and suppliers for a long time without sending them out to bid. OR Someone who needs to reduce costs but doesn’t have the time or the staff to perform a competitive analysis.
 
What is something someone might say that would lead me to think of you?
I can’t make sense of my complicated bill and I don’t know if I am paying the right amount...or I think I am being over-charged by a particular supplier!
 
What (Specifically) do you do?
We make sure our clients are paying the right amount to their suppliers of telecommunications, credit card processing, small package shipping, electronic document signature and waste services
 
How do you do it?

1. We review the last 3- 12 months of billings and recover any overcharges and incorrect billings.
2. Then we make sure our clients are only paying for services they need.
3. Last we negotiate new rates with current suppliers and alternative suppliers and present a report for the client to decide for themselves.

We do this service with no upfront fee. There is only a fee if we save money and the client decides to go ahead. 
 
Matching Ideas with Resources: 

Accounting:

• An information system that provides reports to stakeholders about the economic activities and condition of a business.
  • Financial accounting: The area of accounting that focuses on recording transactions and events so that general-purpose financial statements can be prepared.
  • Managerial accounting: The branch of accounting that aids management in making financing, investing, and operating decisions for the company.
  • The head of the accounting department in a company is called comptroller or chief financial officer (CFO).

 
Statement of stockholders’ equity: A financial statement that reports the change in financial condition due to the changes in stockholders’ equity items for a specific period of time.
 
Retained earnings: Net income retained in a corporation. (Beginning retained earnings + Net income – Dividends = Ending retained earnings)
 
Stockholders’ equity: The stockholders’ rights to the assets of a business.
Assets = Liabilities + stockholder’s Equity
 
Statement of cash flows: Provides a summary of the cash receipts and cash payments and reports the change in financial condition due to the change in cash during a specific period of time.
 
Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB): The authoritative body that has the primary responsibility for developing accounting principles.
 
Financial accounting system: A system that includes:

• (1) a set of rules for determining what, when, and the amount that should be recorded for an economic event;
• (2) a framework for facilitating preparing financial statements; and
• (3) one or more controls to determine whether errors could have occurred in the recording process.

 
Cash basis of accounting: A system of accounting in which only transactions involving increases or decreases of the entity’s cash are recorded. (Practiced in Chapter 2)

• Under the cash basis of accounting, net income and net cash flows from operating activities are equal.

 
Accrual Basis of Accounting: A system of accounting in which revenue is recorded as it is earned, and expenses are recorded and matched against the revenue they generate.

• Under the accrual basis of accounting, net income and net cash flows from operating activities may be significantly different.
• Revenue is recorded when it is earned, expense when expense is incurred in generated revenue, and adjusting entries required in order to prepare financial statements.

Typical Situation: Our client needs funding to pay bills on time. They have orders coming in, but are not getting paid on time or “in time” to pay bills. They could also be getting a large order, that may require up front funding to vendors.

When you hear a business owner say:
·        “My cash flow is poor”
·        “I’ve got good customers but they’re paying my invoices slow/beyond terms”
·        “I received a large order but can’t pay my supplier/s”
·        “I’m too new to get bank financing”
·        “My bank won’t provide enough financing to meet my company’s needs.”
 
An Accounts Receivable Consultant provide strategic financing solutions for business to business companies.  Strategies include accounts receivable financing as well as purchase order financing, work-in-process financing and asset based loans.

How they Work The Consultant visits our client and conducts a comprehensive analysis of the client’s situation as to the history of the business, opportunities and challenges, current financial condition and current financing, if any, as well as their financing needs.

Matching Ideas with Resources:

​Causes to Check Out, With Local Ties

As you may know, I am a networker. I am involved in a few organizations (many of them with events highlighted above). I get to meet some great business people and many of them focus any spare time they have to a cause. I wanted to highlight a few of them today.
 
1. Rotary Club
Rotary's International goal is to rid the world of Polio. Local Clubs, support that cause and even more! I am a member of Rotary Club of Schaumburg/ Hoffman Estates (Meets on Fridays at Noon in Schaumburg.  

2. Walk to End Alzheimer's
I have known Kari-Ann Ryan for many years and in all that time, she has spearheaded a movement to End Alzheimer's. Her life has been affected personally. You can also be added to her email list for all the events she organizes, by emailing her: kari.ann.b.ryan@gmail.com

3. National Association of Parks Foundations
The NAPF's vision is to build effective, active, local park foundations, volunteers and other citizens that support their park systems to enhance the park experience in their communities. These Park Foundations usually provide funding for Park District Activities for people in the community that generally cannot afford them.
 
Please contact my longtime friend,  Donald Ortale, Executive Director of NAPF, to learn more about how you can help. Call him at 630-965-1000 or email dortale@ortaleassociates.com 
 
4. The Business Ledger- 2020 Guide to Business Philanthropy & Social Responsibility
This is a list of notable local nonprofits and charities. 

#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration.
 
The following is a summary of a full article at Charity Navigator:
 
A gift to a qualified charitable organization may entitle you to a charitable contribution deduction against your income tax if you itemize deductions.
If the gifts are deductible, the actual cost of the donation is reduced by your tax savings. 

• A contribution to a qualified charity is deductible in the year in which it is paid. 
• Most, but not all, charitable organizations qualify for a charitable contribution deduction.
• You can deduct contributions only if they are made to or for the use of a qualified recipient. 
• An organization could lose its charity status if it devotes a substantial part of its activities to formulating propaganda or otherwise trying to influence legislation. 
• There are limits to how much you can deduct, but they're very high.
• Rules exist for non-cash donations.
• Remember to document.
• Organizations to Which You Can Give and Deduct Your Donation:
  • Churches and other religious organizations;
  • Tax exempt educational organizations;
  • Tax exempt hospitals and certain medical research organizations;
  • A government unit, such as a state or a political subdivision of a state;
  • Publicly supported organizations such as a community chest;
  • Certain private foundations that distribute all contributions they receive to public charities within two-and-a-half months after the end of the foundation's fiscal year;
  • A private operating foundation which pools all of its donations in a common fund;
  • Certain membership organizations that rely on the general public for more than a third of their contributions.

Read Complete Article From Charity Navigator Here

More info from the State Of Illinois: 
​https://www2.illinois.gov/IISNews/22388-State_of_Illinois_COVID-19_Update_-_Monday_November_23.pdf

Typical Situation: Our client has seen an increase in their Contribution Rate Determination (unemployment tax rate) that is mailed to all Illinois employers on or about December 1st every year.  They also have protested their own unemployment claims but have not been successful at getting benefits denied.
 
When you hear a business owner say:
•           “I do not understand why someone was allowed to collect benefits”
•           “I hate dealing with the unemployment office as it is a no win situation”
•           “General: complaints about their unemployment claims “
 
The Consultant educates them on the unemployment laws in Illinois and to help them reduce their state unemployment taxes.
 
How they Work: They protest the claims filed against the employer and represent the employer at all unemployment hearings and go to their locations to do training sessions to educate the employer on how to handle different types of situations.  They will verify all the charges to the employer’s account to make sure they are not being charged more than they should be charged. 
 
You can introduce them:
“It sounds like you may need some help with your unemployment claims against you. I can introduce you to someone that can help. They would be happy to have a telephone consultation to discuss your situation.   

What is a “Typical Situation” people are in when they realize they need your help?
Someone who has been using the same vendors and suppliers for a long time without sending them out to bid. OR Someone who needs to reduce costs but doesn’t have the time or the staff to perform a competitive analysis.
 
What is something someone might say that would lead me to think of you?
I can’t make sense of my complicated bill and I don’t know if I am paying the right amount...or I think I am being over-charged by a particular supplier!
 
What (Specifically) do you do?
We make sure our clients are paying the right amount to their suppliers of telecommunications, credit card processing, small package shipping, electronic document signature and waste services
 
How do you do it (3 Lines Max)?

1. We review the last 3- 12 months of billings and recover any overcharges and incorrect billings.
2. Then we make sure our clients are only paying for services they need.
3. Last we negotiate new rates with current suppliers and alternative suppliers and present a report for the client to decide for themselves.

We do this service with no upfront fee. There is only a fee if we save money and the client decides to go ahead. 
 
Matching Ideas with Resources: 

My dad came across the Financial Statements of his dad's business from April 1946. I scanned a page of it to the right. The way QuickBooks currently prints a Profit and Loss Statement, you have the Revenue at the top and then Costs of Goods, then Expenses and finally the Profit at the bottom, but this statement has all the Expenses, then the Revenue THEN the Profit. 
 
The numbers are interesting. As you could guess, it is a bar, a few blocks away from Wrigley Field. In 1946 the average family income was about $2,600 per year or $216.66 per month. The profit for this month was $155.78. Previous month's profits averaged $670. 
 
Why was this month so low? As I looked at the details of the financials, I saw that he bought additional beer this month. Maybe there was a deal, or added a new brand.
 
Having monthly financial statements are important for a business. They answer questions you might have. Can you take advantage of a suppliers' deal? Will purchasing equipment be a better advantage this month or next? 
 
What is your business worth? I did a quick Valuation of my Grandfather's business, based on the financials we found. At the beginning of 1946, it would be worth about $28,140. In June 1946, it would be worth over $40,000. What do you think a major factor was in the increase in the business value in those first 6 months of 1946? (Hint: When was the last time the Cubs were in the World Series?)

You save money on expense by streamlining your processes. As we begin the Eighth month of 2020, let’s take a look at your business process.
Let’s look at an example:

Quote: A quotation is generated in Microsoft Word and sent to the customer for the work to be done. Quote includes estimate on materials, shipping and scheduling.

Purchase Order: Once the customer agrees and signed the quote, a Purchase order is generated in Microsoft Works to the vender. This starts the Job Expense Sheet in Microsoft Excel. It includes specifics on materials, shipping and scheduling.

Vender Bill: Now the job is done, and the vendor bills you. Your company then has to run it through a Tax Worksheet (in Excel) to calculate sales tax, and Services. After doing the Tax Worksheet, they enter the amounts on the Job Expense Sheet.

Freight Costs: Make sure the freight costs are entered onto the Job Expense Sheet.
 
Invoice to Client: The invoice is prepared in QuickBooks from the Job Cost worksheet and Emailed to the client.

This maybe the process you have been using for years. Maybe it started simple enough, but then new steps needed to be added along the way. Let’s say this process takes about an hour per sale.
Streamline the process to use one program instead of 4. Sure, the initial set up may take some time, but the change in the long run saves you both time and money. If you notice, the sample company does use QuickBooks to do their invoicing. We can also assume they track their expenses in QuickBooks in order to be able to come up with financial statements.

After some training by a certified QuickBooks advisor, the company could use QuickBooks for:

1. Quoting the Client
2. Generating Purchase orders to venders,
3. Receiving the job from vendors, and paying that bill, set up the sales tax, adding freight cost,
4. Generating an invoice to the Client.

 
The company would enter the info into QuickBooks and the bookkeeper would check it and follow up on invoices. After a 3 hour (or so) QuickBooks Training and Set up, the whole process may only take about 15 minutes per sale, as opposed to the hour it previously took. Thus saving both time and money!

Improve your process and improve your business!