One question I pose to small business owners: "Do you have a six-month cash flow projection?" If not, you may have a difficult time determining how successful your business will be during this COVID-19 pandemic. A projection helps you maintain the relationships you have with loyal customers. It prevents the many problems resulting from a lack of cash.

As the economy slowly begins to recover from COVID-19 lockdowns, I talk with small business owners who are rethinking their business model. Now, more than ever is the time for all small business owners to engage in a new kind of planning; new ways of monitoring and projecting cashflow; including new models of business.  Thinking outside the box -  and planning differently - are the keys.

Cash flow may be a challenge during normal times but COVID-19 is putting at risk the survival of each business. Projecting the results of reduced income, even if temporary, will guide changes in spending priorities, billing, and business model. I advise my small business clients to adopt a proactive approach to managing their small business with the help of a CPA who can assist with financial forecasting.

In my work with small businesses I am familiar with how cash flow management can make-or-break a company. Simply stated, if you aren't properly managing the flow of your money, then you are setting your business up for failure. In this time of COVID-19, managing cash flow is more critical than ever. A new commitment to cash flow planning and management is needed.

What seems true, now, is that when the COVID-19 threats have subsided, the ways of life we knew and counted on before the pandemic will not be returning to us in precisely the same ways. We are at the beginning of a new era, and it can still be hard to imagine. In short, this departure from old ways of doing things is not "temporary."

Many dream of earning a living doing what they already love to do. What if you could turn that hobby from being a costly personal expense into a money-generating side hustle, or even your main business? The IRS no longer allows deductions for hobby expenses, but business expenses are eligible. Statistics suggest that one out of every five Americans will start their own business in the coming year. If you want to be one of those entrepreneurs, there are a few things to keep in mind to get it right.

I find that many small business owners who wait to deal with their income taxes do so out of fear of an audit. Procrastination does not help! A much better strategy is to face your business taxes without fear by avoiding some common triggers which could lead to an audit.

The end of the year is always a busy time for business owners. I tell my clients that tax planning is one of the most important activities to schedule in the last quarter of the year. I know, there are so many competing interests, but there are important business duties that can ensure a successful year when the calendar flips over. Solid year-end tax planning helps you know where you stand in 2019 and how to prepare for 2020.

I help many small businesses with tax planning and filing. Many new entrepreneurs have to decide between an LLC (limited liability company) and a sole proprietorship. The truth is that, although the selection of a business entity is an essential decision, there isn’t one single answer to the question of LLC vs. sole proprietor. The implications for liability and tax status are two of the issues to consider.

I meet with a variety of small business owners and am always impressed by the passion these entrepreneurs have for their businesses. As the tax and finance guy, I know how crucial cash flow is to the success of every enterprise. I also know that cash flow issues are among the leading causes of business failure in the United States. A solid financial management strategy is needed.