Keep What You Earn

I am discussing the importance of negotiation in business and some tips to help you get ahead. Research and preparation are essential before entering any negotiation. Understanding the other party's position and alternatives can help you prepare. It's also crucial to understand who holds more leverage when going into the conversation.   Another critical aspect of negotiating a deal is to not fixat...

I have the pleasure of speaking with Melissa Rodriguez, an inspiring force of nature who is not your average marketing expert. Melissa is a digital nomad and entrepreneur who has created a coaching business that helps female entrepreneurs tap into their unique feminine energy and menstrual cycles to unleash their full potential.    During our conversation, Melissa shared with me her insights on cy...

When starting a business, it is important to have some professional assistance that fits the specific needs of your business.   Generally, the first step is to hire a bookkeeper to compile and collect financial data and categorize transactions. This is important in making informed business decisions and preparing for taxes. It is not recommended for business owners to do their own accounting unles...

I am joined by Brian Luebben, an Entrepreneur, Podcaster, and Real Estate Investor on the show today. Brian has created multiple remote income sources and achieved financial freedom, allowing him to live life on his own terms.   Brian shares his journey of realizing that the traditional corporate life was not for him, and how he found his passion for traveling the world. He emphasizes the importan...

I want to discuss how bad reviews can actually be a positive opportunity for your business. I know that receiving negative feedback can be daunting, but it's important to remember that such reviews offer valuable insights into areas where your business needs improvement.    Negative reviews can be emotionally taxing for business owners, and I understand this very well. It's important to manage you...

Tune into this replay of an interview that I did for The Chris Harder Show with Chris Harder.   Here is the episode recap from Chris:   One of the biggest mistakes I see new entrepreneurs make is that they start building their businesses in financial quicksand. I'm joined by fractional CFO and tax strategist Shannon Weinstein to break down how to set yourself up for success from day one.    I ask...

I have the pleasure of discussing YouTube and the online world of long-form content creation with YouTube expert, Augie Johnston.   Augie works with full-time YouTubers, online personalities, thought leaders, and anyone that creates online videos for their businesses. Augie shares how he got into YouTube as an early platform adopter and has maintained a presence through the years.   We discuss a c...

Why might a business need a CFO? Some businesses feel that they have a good grip on their finances and can handle everything on their own, which may be true. But what if there were some opportunities being overlooked?   It is important to have a grounded understanding of a business's financial numbers. As a fractional CFO myself, I am responsible for identifying these gaps and having tough convers...

I recently attended an IRS roundtable on the new 1099K reporting threshold. The 1099K is a form that businesses receive when they process credit card transactions over a certain amount. The upcoming reporting threshold change will affect the minimum income threshold required to receive a 1099K.   During our conversation, we discussed what needs to happen for this change to go smoothly and what it...

We often find ourselves disappointed when our expectations are not met, but have we set proper expectations in the first place? It's important to ensure that we have realistic expectations for the services we hire and the customers we serve.   One key to setting proper expectations is to communicate them upfront. This means being clear about what we can and cannot provide, as well as any limitatio...

Tune into this replay of an interview that I did for The Side Hustle Show with Nick Loper.   Here is the episode recap from Nick:   This week's guest took some of the skills she already had and then went out intentionally and found buyers for those skills.   Shannon Weinstein is a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) who turned her fractional CFO (Chief Financial Officer)/tax strategy service at Keep...

My husband Jason joins me on the show to discuss the topic of employee retention. We explore why having 100% employee retention may not be positive for a business. We then discuss some tips on how to fill new roles as a business evolves, ensuring that the right talent is identified and cultivated for the organization's needs.    For those feeling discouraged by employee turnover, Jason provides so...

A common question that I get is how to pay yourself as a business owner. This varies based on your business structure. I'll cover payment options for sole proprietors, single-member LLCs, multi-member LLCs or partnerships, S-Corps, and C-Corps. I'll provide insights into how much and how often you should pay yourself, the importance of keeping track of your finances, and the tax implications of ea...

I'll be sharing a scenario that occurred in my marketing mentorship group that highlights the importance of communicating your values as a differentiating factor compared to your competitors. We all know that the market is crowded, and it can be challenging to stand out from the competition. However, one way to do this is by communicating your core values and using them to differentiate yourself....

Today we'll be discussing an important aspect of your business that you should revisit now to save yourself some time and headaches as the year progresses.   From a tax perspective, it's necessary to ensure that you have all the proper documentation in place from your contractors. Tax information that they have available to you will depend on their type of business, citizenship status, and a few o...

This is part 2 of a mini-series with Cyd, the CMO/COO of my business and founder of The Creator's Attaché.   As a business owner, you may be wondering why you are not reaching all of the goals you set. It likely comes down to accountability and an organizational structure that gets everyone aligned. Your calendar, spreadsheet, and sticky notes are not an adequate management system to communicate y...

For this two-part mini-series, I thought it would be fun to interview Cyd, the CMO/COO of my business and founder of The Creator's Attaché. Cyd is an expert in systems, project management, digital marketing, and team accountability.   In part 1 of this series, Cyd stresses the importance of well-designed and integrated systems for maximum impact. In our discussion, we'll cover practical tips on wh...

We are taking a deep dive into the world of payment processors. If you're a business owner, you know how important it is to have a reliable and secure payment processor. However, PayPal and Venmo may not be the best choice for your business, and in this episode, I'll tell you why.    I cover the top 3 reasons why these platforms may not meet your business needs, including legal terms, seller prote...

I'm discussing the opportunity to get more cash into your business, in a realistic and feasible way, when you're feeling cash-strapped. It is essential to identify how extra cash will actually serve you in your business and ensure that you can make more on the money than it's costing you to borrow it   It is also critical to have accurate cash flow forecasting when deciding on an additional inject...

I'll be discussing the tax implications of contributing or receiving money through crowdfunding platforms such as Go Fund Me. It's important to understand that when you give money, the receiver dictates whether or not this is deductible on your own taxes. It's important to keep this in mind when making contributions.   It's also important to know how much you can contribute before gift taxes come...

Have you ever wondered if you can expense your groceries? As an entrepreneur myself, I know that I need to be well-fueled to perform at my best, so shouldn't that make my groceries deductible?   I will answer this question and discuss a few other circumstances in which you may be able to deduct your groceries.   What you'll hear in this episode: [1:28] Reviewing the definition of what makes someth...

Pat Leung, a seasoned tax and accounting professional with over two decades of experience in the real estate, private equity, and financial services industries, shares valuable insights on the evolution of property ownership in the current real estate environment. She also explains in detail how to maximize tax benefits if you are using Airbnb or similar as a rental income source.   For those cons...

We'll be discussing a unique strategy that can help you generate tax-free wealth: hiring your kids. Not only is it legal, but it also saves you money on taxes. You'll save on taxes and your child will be earning a paycheck. What's not to love?   But how do you implement this strategy properly from a tax perspective? I'll share some insights to help you get started and address which types of busine...

Welcome back to the second episode of our Cash Flow mini-series! Our previous episode discussed the significance of understanding cash flow and how it affects your business's overall health. Today, we'll delve deeper into the topic by exploring several effective ways that you can optimize your cash flow and ensure that your business stays financially healthy and cash flow positive.   We'll cover s...

We're discussing the basics of a 2-dimensional vs a 3-dimensional profitability model and how having too narrow of a focus can cause a profitable business to run out of money. Factoring time into your cash flow projections is critical to better understanding your cash flow.   To ensure the long-term success of your business, cash flow is the one thing that every business needs to understand to tru...