Why Can't I Just Get the Cash?
If the company can afford to pay me with stock, why can't it just give me cash instead? If you're an employee-owned company, you've probab... Read more
Basic Accounting
Recent Basic Accounting Articles
Prioritizing Bills When Money is Short
When your cash crunch is looking particularly severe and you can't pay all of your creditors, decide which ones to pay first. While every situation will b... Read more
What's Hot: Collections
There's no better time than the present to improve your system for settling up with late-paying clients. To assist you, we've conducted an evaluation of a... Read more
Best Practices: Bill the Customer
Invoices, the cornerstones of an effective billing process, are more than just collection vehicles. They also form important connections with customers th... Read more
Income Statements
An income statement, otherwise known as a profit and loss statement, is a summary of a company's profit or loss during any one given period of time, such ... Read more
Private Company Stock
Figuring out share price for public companies is a snap. But for private companies, stock pricing can be a complicated and costly process. Inc. 's fi... Read more
A Can't-Miss Plan for Cutting Costs
See if you can relate to Mike Scimeca's story: After founding Florida CirTech in Sarasota, Fla., in 1991, he experienced five straight years of consistent... Read more
Accounting Terms Every Businessperson Should Know
When you're new to the business world, it can seem as though everyone around you is speaking in tongues. This quick glossary of common business accounting te... Read more
Bookkeeping and Accounting Basics
Bookkeeping and accounting share two basic goals: to keep track of your income and expenses, thereby improving your chances of making a pro... Read more
Cash vs. Accrual Accounting
It's important for you to understand the basics of the two principal methods of keeping track of a business's income and expenses: cash method and accrual... Read more
Who in my company should understand the financial statements?
Finance & Capital mentor Stephen King responds: Every employee should understand a company's financial goals and the related finan... Read more
Collection No-no's
Ordering information for Twenty-Seven of the Most Dangerous Traps for Creditors and Collectors, a free booklet. Read more
The Art of the Deal
People assume that the high bid always wins. But looking beneath the surface, you may find factors that are more important to closing the deal. Read more
The Do-It-Yourself Angel Round
Getting serious about growing your company but can't afford to hire an investment bank? Here's how Mark Torrance, CEO of StockMaster, raised capital with... Read more
Persuasive Projections
Predicting the future is hard. But when you're making financial projections, that's exactly what you need to do. You can avoid some of the most common mistak... Read more
Living Business Plans Help Businesses Flow with Future
Sudden, unanticipated changes in your market can have a drastic impact on your business. But you can thwart catastrophe by building flexibility into your bu... Read more
Cheap Talk
What your phone company won't tell you: New Web sites can ferret out the cheapest rates for long-distance and wireless service. Inc. Technology puts... Read more
Hitting Pay Dirt
Do you dislike writing and sending invoices? Here's a Web-based timekeeper that also produces invoices for quick, accurate billing. Read more
Best Practices: Receivable, Credit, and Collections
Accounts receivable is among the largest and most liquid assets on the books of most companies. A properly managed accounts receivable portfolio can exped... Read more
Meet Stephen King
Stephen King, CPA, is president, CEO and founder of Virtual Growth , a New York City-based fir... Read more
Business for Sale: Payroll Service and Software Developer
Looking for a fast-growth service business with a proven niche? This profile of a payroll-processing company includes the price, the valuation methodology, a... Read more
Hot Tip: Prepare for a Cash Crisis
How do you prep for a cash crisis? Wayne Karpoff, president of Myrias Software Corp., knew cash would be a problem late last year. His 15... Read more
Collecting Yourself
Getting paid can be a nightmare for any business, but dealing with accounts receivable can be particularly harsh for sole proprietors. Focusing on collect... Read more
Best Practices of Board Chairs
If we look at chairing the corporate board as a distinct job, what are some of the best practices that go into its job description? According to people wh... Read more
Rent: The Check's in the Mail
Whether you manage 20 rental units or 200, collecting rent on time is a constant challenge. All veteran property managers have heard their share of excuse... Read more
Hot Tip: Combat Vendor's Price Hike
Small companies have a tough time getting long-term pricing arrangements from vendors. But there's a way to combat vendors' price increases,Read more
Who Needs a Bank Anyway?
Nontraditional lenders are emerging as a real alternative to bank financing for growth companies. Read more
Accounts Payable: Catching Costly Errors
A CEO explains how costly errors can be when vendors overbill. Read more
Collection No-No's
Don't even think about adopting an alias when pursuing credit deadbeats. It's illegal in some states. Even themost innocuous action can prove risky. If, f... Read more
Quote: Real Leadership
"People are our only long-term competitive advantage. Therefore, a leader is responsible for creating an operating environment where people can do great t... Read more
Baby, You Can Drive My Company
It could be called the founder's quandary: how do you delegate key functions and yet maintain control? Lori Booker, who founded $2.4-million CBR Pu... Read more
In a Former Life: Itzhak Fisher
Itzhak Fisher, 43 Present life: Cofounder and CEO of RSL Communications, a $1.4-billion telecommunications com... Read more
Success by Association
As you start your business, you aren't solely in control of your success. Suppliers, creditors, and your competition will mold your every move. In this ex... Read more
Using Critical Numbers: An Action Checklist
Are you doing all you can to help employees move your company's key numbers in the right direction? Use this checklist to find out. ... Read more
Swipe These Critical Numbers!
Here's a sampling of common critical numbers by company, industry, and sector. Use this list as a benchmark or tailor these numbers to suit your own needs... Read more