Starting a new business takes courage, energy, and a willingness to take risks. Alongside the excitement, though, comes a reality that can't be ignored: taxes. How you set up your business, track expenses, and plan for profits makes a big difference in how smoothly you grow. A little planning today can prevent costly mistakes tomorrow.

The start of a new year is always a good time to create a cash flow projection and work toward improving cash flow management skills. Adam Stewart, a debt collection expert, describes it this way: “Cash flow is having the right amount of cash in the right places at the right time, every time.” Cash flow management begins with observing the natural flow of funds in your organization, household, or business with the desired goal of generating useful cash flow projections. Here’s how you can get on top of your cash flow in 2023.

Unless your industry was one of the few that were helped by the 2020 pandemic, your small business has likely experienced financial and other difficulties and may still struggle. With all the economic upheaval, social movement, government programs, executive orders, and administrative changes still going on, it may be difficult to estimate your company’s 2021 budget needs and expectations.