If you’re new in business, we don’t have to remind you that securing investment is the name of the game. Luckily for our Illinois-based small business clients, there’s a helpful tax credit program, which you might qualify for, that makes investing in early-stage, innovative companies advantageous for investors. The impact for you (if your company […] Read more “Investor Tax Credit – Do You Qualify?”

It’s easier than ever. Raising money, that is. The advent of the Internet of course brought with it connectivity – to the order of Amazon.com, email, silly cat videos – and for today’s purposes, the ability to pool money. From whoever… wherever. Yup, we’re talking about crowdfunding! Today, we’re breaking down what crowdfunding means, whether […] Read more “Crowdfunding: 7 Tips for Rocking Your Strategy”

If we could impart one reality to our small business clients, it’s this: if you’re not intimately in touch with your business’s financial health, you’re leaving money on the table. Period.  It’s important to start using accounting software, such as QuickBooks, earlier in your business and move away from the Excel spreadsheets. That’s why as […] Read more “8 Reasons To Use Accounting Software vs. Spreadsheets”

The great entrepreneurial struggle Online marketing—funnels, website layout, copywriting. Payroll. Accounting systems. The list goes on and on. When you run a business, study abounds. As you know, there’s no end to the information you can learn! And with your entrepreneurial spirit, this probably makes you giddy with excitement. But one thing that’s not possible […] Read more “Small Business Owners: A 5-Step Process for Deciding How Many Hours Per Week to Work”

Mayor Rahm Emanuel thinks that the solution to Chicago’s record debt crisis is a big increase in property tax revenues – to the tune of an extra $544 million a year by 2018. Not all residents are happy about his proposed plan for shoring up the city’s unfunded pensions, but for some homeowners it may […] Read more “How Chicago’s Property Tax Increase Will Affect Cook County Homeowners”

No online business is ever safe from data security breaches. But don’t make the mistake of taking this as a reason to forgo the necessary measures to protect your business data.  Presented here are five strategies all businesses should employ to enhance the safety and security of business data online. Build a secure data infrastructure […] Read more “5 Ways Online Businesses Can Improve Data Security”

If you have never used the services of coworking spaces such as WeWork, then you may be convinced that they are just another way for small businesses and entrepreneurs to save on money. Whereas this might be true, there is a surplus of reasons as to why such places are more attractive and conducive as […] Read more “5 Reasons to Join a Coworking Space”

Why Small Businesses Should Use the Cloud to Securely Store Their Data The number of small businesses that are using cloud computing and storage is increasing every year. However, there is still a large group of business owners that simply don’t trust their data to cloud-based systems. The truth is that using the cloud today […] Read more “Cloud Security: How Small Businesses Can Keep Their Data Safe”

Price Range: $13 – 40/Month
Free Trial: Yes
Availability: Android, iOS, Web
Who it’s for: Freelancers, Small Business
Compatible with: BodeTree, Mavenlink, SOS Inventory, ProOnGo Expenses, American Express OPEN, ZenPayroll, Xpenditure, ZapStitch, Flint, GoPayment, Postcard Services, AgileShip, OneWay Commerce, Bill.com, Boomr
Our Rating: Read more “QuickBooks Online Accounting”

Xero-logoPrice Range: $9 – 70/Month
Free Trial: Yes
Availability: Android, iOS, Web, Windows
Who it’s for: Freelancers, Small Business, Non-Profit
Compatible with: Stripe, Paypal, ADP, Vend, Deputy, Stitch Labs, ZenPayroll, Expensify, BodeTree, WorkflowMax, Evernote, Square, Bill.com, Harvest, Squarespace, Kabbage
Our Rating: Read more “Xero Review: Easy-to-use Software for Small Businesses”

Our firm are film enthusiasts, so what better way to start our 2015 blog post by discussing the 87th Academy Awards that are being held next month.  There were a lot of great films in 2014 including some amazing performances – some that did and did not receive Oscar nominations.  Best individual performance – Eddie […] Read more “Boyhood – A innovative approach to the film industry”