Gross Margin -- The Overlooked Metric
Small retailers who actively manage their gross margins will quickly discover that profitability and cash flow will consistently beat their budget projections. Read more
Basic Accounting
Recent Basic Accounting Articles
New Deadlines for Accounting Changes
Businesses now have a greater window during which to submit accounting method change requests. Read more
SEC Seeks Public Input on Sarbanes-Oxley
Some small businesses claim compliance too burdensome and discourages them from public offerings. Read more
Can't Find an Accountant?
You're not alone. Sarbanes-Oxley has so overwhelmed accountants that companies are having trouble getting their books audited. Read more
Fast-Growing Firms Feel Impact of Sarbanes-Oxley
Sarbanes-Oxley Act impacts three in 10 fast-growing private companies in the nation, says recent survey. Read more
HP Expanding Into Service Industry
Hewlett-Packard announces plans to provide services critical to small business owners. Read more
Five Ideas to Watch
...including artificial muscle and online aromatherapy. Read more
Taking Stock
A new rule is forcing business owners to think twice about stock options. Read more
Inc.com | Plug Those Cash Flow Leaks
Stop making the same old mistakes year after year that drain your business of cash. Make a commitment today to better understand your cash flow leaks -- stop... Read more
Taking the Pain Out of Payday
Still cutting old-fashioned paychecks? Payroll debit cards offer a cheaper, more convenient alternative Read more
Don't Sign Anything Yet
Beware of commitments that can doom your business from the outset. Read more
Closing the Books
It's time to settle accounts for 2004 -- and prepare for a fruitful 2005. Here are three ways to get the most out of the annual end-of-the-year bookkeeping s... Read more
The Secret to Formatting Cash Flow Projections
Here are the keys to creating a powerful tool to take control of your cash flow. Read more
The Importance of Gross Margin
Gross margin is an extremely important number for every new business to manage, as it impacts your likelihood of breaking even and the profits you earn. Read more
How to Spot Trouble in Your Financials
Diagnose what's wrong with your company by zeroing in on your financials. Read more
Cash Flow Projections Made Easy
Here is a 4-step process you can use to create cash flow projections you can trust. Read more
Cranking Up the Earnings
Forget revenue growth. For VCs these days, it's the EBITDA, stupid . Read more
Cash Balance: Avoid the Wimpy Syndrome
Don't put off for tomorrow what you should be doing today. Read more
Can We Talk?
Your accounts payable software won't communicate with inventory. Sales automation snubs manufacturing. Is this any way to build a business? Read more
Hassle-Free Expensing
Automated expense systems eliminate paper receipts and let employees create and submit reports anytime, anyplace. Read more
Taking The Fear Out of Factoring
With more and more reputable companies entering the factoring business, services have greatly improved. But factors' bottom line use remains the same: provid... Read more
Mission Control
What every entrepreneur needs: a high-tech instrument panel designed just for your company. Read more
Breaking Free from Budgets
Exasperated by budgets that hamstring creativity, a growing number of companies are tossing off financial constraints--and still holding the line on spending. Read more
The Zentrepreneur
Restaurateur Phil Suarez has built his successful business intuitively---perhaps proving that you can't succeed if you're bored. Read more
A Simple Formula
Determine your breakeven point with this online calculator. Read more
Book Excerpt: Beyond Budgeting
An excerpt from "Beyond Budgeting" by Jeremy Hope and Robin Fraser. Read more
No More Budgets
Q&A with Jeremy Hope and a book excerpt from his book, "Beyond Budgeting" from Harvard Business School Press. Read more
Q&A: Seeing Beyond the Annual Budget
"Beyond Budgeting" coauthor Jeremy Hope discusses the need for businesses to reevaluate the annual budgeting process. Read more
The Magic Number
Every business has a magic number. By employing his, our columnist didn't overstaff this year. Read more
New Relief for Road Warriors
Web-based expense-reporting systems let you log on from the road and record expenses as you go. Read more
Inner City 100 EKG: Beyond Growth
Benchmarking Inner City 100 companies against their industry counterparts reveals most Inner City 100 companies outperform other companies in their marketplace. Read more
Current vs. Capitalized Expenses
When you may deduct a given expense depends in part on what type of expense it is: current or capitalized. Read more
Covering T
Use an accountable plan for travel and entertainment expenses. It will save you and your employees money. Read more
Smart Ways to Put Money into Your Small Corporation
How to give your company a cash infusion without taking a heavy tax hit. Read more
