The Weekly Spark

Expert advice to increase your margins and grow your business.

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How to Send an Invoice That'll Actually Get Paid

How to Send an Invoice That'll Actually Get Paid

How to Send an Invoice That'll Actually ...

As a business owner, you must know how to send an invoice that won’t get lost, ignored, or put off. A survey conducted ...

By Eddy Hood / Aug 8, 2021
Collect Every Outstanding Payment: 5 Reasons This Accounting Group Recommends Biller Genie

Collect Every Outstanding Payment: 5 Reasons This Accounting Group Recommends Biller Genie

Collect Every Outstanding Payment: 5 ...

If the events of 2020 inflicted mayhem on your cash flow — specifically your accounts receivables — you’re not alone. ...

By Eddy Hood / Jul 15, 2021
Accounting Tips for a Sustainable Launch

Accounting Tips for a Sustainable Launch

Accounting Tips for a Sustainable Launch

About half of all startups don’t survive past year five. And in the last year, more businesses have been formed than ...

By Eddy Hood / Jun 18, 2021

Bookkeeping Basics

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What Does a Bookkeeper Do? Hint: More Than You’d Expect

What Does a Bookkeeper Do? Hint: More Than You’d Expect

What Does a Bookkeeper Do? Hint: More ...

Almost half of all small business owners say they don’t have a bookkeeper or an accountant. Source: Clutch 2018 Small ...

By Eddy Hood / May 20, 2021
4 Marketing Agency Pricing Models and Which You Should Choose

4 Marketing Agency Pricing Models and Which You Should Choose

4 Marketing Agency Pricing Models and ...

U.S. Census Bureau data shows that in the last 15 years, revenue generated by marketing agencies hasn’t just grown—it’s ...

By Eddy Hood / Apr 8, 2021
Why (and How) to Draft Payments from Your Customers and Improve Cash Flow

Why (and How) to Draft Payments from Your Customers and Improve Cash Flow

Why (and How) to Draft Payments from ...

Think about your back-office finance operation for a moment. If you could eliminate two time-consuming administrative ...

By Eddy Hood / Mar 4, 2021
Basic Accounting: The Accounting Cycle Explained

Basic Accounting: The Accounting Cycle Explained

Basic Accounting: The Accounting Cycle ...

This infographic breaks down the steps of the basic accounting cycle. If you feel like your books are broken or your ...

By Eddy Hood / Feb 11, 2021
Year End Checklist for Small Business Bookkeeping

Year End Checklist for Small Business Bookkeeping

Year End Checklist for Small Business ...

As the end of the year approaches you might be overwhelmed by the task of getting your books in order. So many business ...

By Ann Whittaker / Dec 1, 2020
How To Determine Net Profit Margin For A Service-Based Business

How To Determine Net Profit Margin For A Service-Based Business

How To Determine Net Profit Margin For ...

It is the goal of every business - to be profitable.  But, how do you truly know the profitability of your small ...

By Eddy Hood / Oct 16, 2020

Financial Strategies

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Accounting Tips for a Sustainable Launch

Accounting Tips for a Sustainable Launch

Accounting Tips for a Sustainable Launch

About half of all startups don’t survive past year five. And in the last year, more businesses have been formed than ...

By Eddy Hood / Jun 18, 2021
Drive Your Marketing Agency with Financial Business Reports

Drive Your Marketing Agency with Financial Business Reports

Drive Your Marketing Agency with ...

Imagine trying to drive a car while wearing blinders. Not only would you struggle to find your way, but you could also ...

By Eddy Hood / Jun 4, 2021
Make Better Business Decisions Using Your Financial Statements

Make Better Business Decisions Using Your Financial Statements

Make Better Business Decisions Using ...

Most business owners don’t lack confidence or decisiveness. No, to make better business decisions, most leaders lack ...

By Eddy Hood / Mar 18, 2021
7 Benefits of Alternative Corporate Cash Cards

7 Benefits of Alternative Corporate Cash Cards

7 Benefits of Alternative Corporate ...

Traditional bank debit cards don’t allow you to get rewards while reducing your debt. Cash cards from partners like ...

By Eddy Hood / Feb 25, 2021
Steps to Take Before Buying a Business (Plus, Ways a Virtual CFO Can Help)

Steps to Take Before Buying a Business (Plus, Ways a Virtual CFO Can Help)

Steps to Take Before Buying a Business ...

Businesses acquired in an economic downturn outperform those purchased during “good times” by more than 9%, on average. ...

By Eddy Hood / Jan 21, 2021
Know When to Hire Employees Without Breaking the Bank

Know When to Hire Employees Without Breaking the Bank

Know When to Hire Employees Without ...

If you’re considering hiring right now, you’re not crazy, and you’re not alone. Many business owners are eyeballing the ...

By Eddy Hood / Dec 11, 2020

Business Taxes

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[Ebook]: A Tax Director’s Top 7 Tax Strategies for Small Businesses in 2021

[Ebook]: A Tax Director’s Top 7 Tax Strategies for Small Businesses in 2021

[Ebook]: A Tax Director’s Top 7 Tax ...

Six billion. That’s how many hours Americans spend each year collecting their financial information to file their ...

By Eddy Hood / May 6, 2021
How to Save on Your  Business Taxes

How to Save on Your  Business Taxes

How to Save on Your  Business Taxes

This trick reduced a client's tax liability from $100K to nearly $10K within a few hours of work. Watch the video where ...

By Eddy Hood / Jul 1, 2020
What is the 2020 standard mileage rate and how do I use it in my business?

What is the 2020 standard mileage rate and how do I use it in my business?

What is the 2020 standard mileage rate ...

Learn about the 2020 standard mileage rate and how to save the most on your small business taxes this year.

By John Riggs, CPA and Director of Tax at Ignite Spot / Jan 13, 2020
AGI vs Taxable Income

AGI vs Taxable Income

AGI vs Taxable Income

Let’s talk about everyone’s favorite subject: taxes! Just like death, taxes are a constant source of lighthearted fun. ...

By Eddy Hood / Jun 3, 2019
An Accounting Error Almost Cost This Entrepreneur Everything. Here’s How He Recovered

An Accounting Error Almost Cost This Entrepreneur Everything. Here’s How He Recovered

An Accounting Error Almost Cost This ...

A sales tax oversight set this company back six figures, but its founders persevered.

By Tami Brehse / Mar 22, 2018
13 Red Flags That Will Get Your Small Business Audited

13 Red Flags That Will Get Your Small Business Audited

13 Red Flags That Will Get Your Small ...

Understanding the importance of accuracy when it comes to small business tax preparation, many small business owners ...

By Eddy Hood / Jan 30, 2018

Profitable Business Leader

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5 New Ways to Increase Your Customer Retention Rate in 2021

5 New Ways to Increase Your Customer Retention Rate in 2021

5 New Ways to Increase Your Customer ...

As businesses emerge from the uncertainties of 2020, their priorities — and spending — will shift toward improving ...

By Eddy Hood / Apr 22, 2021
When to Fire Someone: 7 Indicators It’s Time to Let Go

When to Fire Someone: 7 Indicators It’s Time to Let Go

When to Fire Someone: 7 Indicators It’s ...

When someone on your team isn’t happy or performing to standards, you have two options: ignore the issue or get to the ...

By Eddy Hood / Apr 15, 2021
4 Things Entrepreneurs Should Know Before Becoming a Franchise Owner

4 Things Entrepreneurs Should Know Before Becoming a Franchise Owner

4 Things Entrepreneurs Should Know ...

There's never been a hotter time to buy a franchise. Franchises have become steadily more profitable over the last ...

By Eddy Hood / Apr 1, 2021
Start a Business with Less than $1k: These 11 Entrepreneurship Success Stories Prove it Can Be Done

Start a Business with Less than $1k: These 11 Entrepreneurship Success Stories Prove it Can Be Done

Start a Business with Less than $1k: ...

Most entrepreneurship success stories you read tell you how massive Fortune 500 list-makers got their start. But what ...

By Eddy Hood / Mar 25, 2021
Are You a Serial Entrepreneur or Just Distracted? (How to Build a Business that Lasts)

Are You a Serial Entrepreneur or Just Distracted? (How to Build a Business that Lasts)

Are You a Serial Entrepreneur or Just ...

We recently heard a serial entrepreneur describe the many tantalizing business ideas in his mind. “I’m like a caged ...

By Eddy Hood / Feb 5, 2021
Pros and Cons of Starting a Business in 2021

Pros and Cons of Starting a Business in 2021

Pros and Cons of Starting a Business in ...

In 2020, becoming a business owner was the last thing on people’s minds. Right? Wrong. Americans applied for over 1.5 ...

By Eddy Hood / Jan 15, 2021

CFO Services

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Accounting Tips for a Sustainable Launch

Accounting Tips for a Sustainable Launch

Accounting Tips for a Sustainable Launch

About half of all startups don’t survive past year five. And in the last year, more businesses have been formed than ...

By Eddy Hood / Jun 18, 2021
Drive Your Marketing Agency with Financial Business Reports

Drive Your Marketing Agency with Financial Business Reports

Drive Your Marketing Agency with ...

Imagine trying to drive a car while wearing blinders. Not only would you struggle to find your way, but you could also ...

By Eddy Hood / Jun 4, 2021
What Is A Virtual CFO And Does My Business Need One?

What Is A Virtual CFO And Does My Business Need One?

What Is A Virtual CFO And Does My ...

Growing your company’s revenue is a beautiful thing. There’s no feeling quite like the one that comes with hitting a ...

By Eddy Hood / Oct 15, 2020
Protect Your Business from Unforeseen Expenses with Agile Finance

Protect Your Business from Unforeseen Expenses with Agile Finance

Protect Your Business from Unforeseen ...

As businesses begin planning for next year, it’s wise to adopt an agile finance model. That way, leaders can handle ...

By Eddy Hood / Sep 17, 2020
10 Cash-Flow Problems That Cripple Your Business & How to Solve Them

10 Cash-Flow Problems That Cripple Your Business & How to Solve Them

10 Cash-Flow Problems That Cripple Your ...

Congratulations. You’ve built a business and made it profitable. But profitability isn’t the finish line. Your next job ...

By Eddy Hood / Aug 13, 2020
How to Forecast Cash Flow for Your Business

How to Forecast Cash Flow for Your Business

How to Forecast Cash Flow for Your ...

Your cash flow forecast is a foundational tool that allows you to look forward in your business instead of looking at ...

By Kisha Velazquez / Aug 6, 2020

News & Updates

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Phase Three Is Here: How to Reopen Your Business After Covid-19 Lockdown

Phase Three Is Here: How to Reopen Your Business After Covid-19 Lockdown

Phase Three Is Here: How to Reopen Your ...

As state governments waffle between reopening in phase two, phase three, and even a few phases in between, businesses ...

By Eddy Hood / Mar 11, 2021
How to Find and Work with the Right Marketing Agency for Maximum ROI

How to Find and Work with the Right Marketing Agency for Maximum ROI

How to Find and Work with the Right ...

Marketing impacts revenue. Research from experts at OutboundEngine shows that even a small increase in marketing spend ...

By Eddy Hood / Jan 25, 2021
[Quiz] Is Your Marketing  Remarkable? | Agency Scorecard

[Quiz] Is Your Marketing  Remarkable? | Agency Scorecard

[Quiz] Is Your Marketing  Remarkable? | ...

Hiring a marketing agency is a great way to invest in your company's growth. After successfully onboarding your new ...

By Kisha Velazquez / Jan 21, 2021
PPP Second Draw FAQ’s

PPP Second Draw FAQ’s

PPP Second Draw FAQ’s

The SBA reopened the Paycheck Protection Program loan portal for the first and second draw on January 11, 2021. Find ...

By Kisha Velazquez / Jan 12, 2021
The Future of Accounting Technology for Business Leaders

The Future of Accounting Technology for Business Leaders

The Future of Accounting Technology for ...

Accounting automation doesn’t replace your accountant. It makes them better at giving you strategic advice. It’s one ...

By Eddy Hood / Nov 20, 2020
Why CEOs Must Mind Their Mindset (Plus, Ways to Improve Your Outlook Now)

Why CEOs Must Mind Their Mindset (Plus, Ways to Improve Your Outlook Now)

Why CEOs Must Mind Their Mindset (Plus, ...

Half of CEOs report experiencing loneliness. I’ve worked with thousands of business leaders and believe that if CEOs ...

By Eddy Hood / Oct 2, 2020