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Navigating Difficult Business Conditions

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As business conditions in the US and the world continue to deteriorate, it becomes increasingly important for business owners to devise and implement strategies to shield their entity as much as possible from the economic fallout. When the going gets tough, the smart start planning. In general, encouraging sales revenue and figuring out which expenses can be trimmed are primary ingredients of your business survival recipe. There are other actions you are also advised to consider.

Review financials

Reviewing and interpreting your financial data enables you to make wise decisions that will protect your company. To understand which protective strategies may be sensible and possible for your entity, the planning process begins by first consulting your financial data. Refer to the overview of the big three financial statements in the April 18 post. Trust the story the data tells you and plan accordingly.

The Cash–flow Statement shows the ebb and flow of money through your business and allows you to predict when the most cash will be available and when cash will be at a low point. The tidal flow of money is critical to surviving a business slowdown. The Income (Profit & Loss) Statement reveals which products, services and other activities are most lucrative and you’ll want that information, too, as you construct the plan. On the Balance Sheet, you’ll find company assets, liabilities and outstanding debts or loans. Now you can determine where the business stands financially and how the possibility of decreased revenue could affect you. Your survival plan will start to take shape.

Study the previous 24-36 months of business performance history and use that information to project 24-36 months into a future that will be colored by a degree of turbulence. Each month, monitor relevant KPI (key performance indicator) values that reflect income and expenses, including:

  • top line revenues (gross sales)
  • accounts receivable (outstanding invoices)
  • accounts payable (bills owed by the business)
  • payroll (W2 and 1099NEC)
  • rent
  • utilities
  • software subscriptions
  • taxes

It is imperative that you’ll be able to cover accounts payable obligations and payroll for employees and/or Freelance outsourced help. You do that by doing whatever possible to ensure that accounts receivable are paid on schedule. Invoice on time and include a line that states payment is due upon its receipt. In reality, an invoice that is 45 or fewer days old isn’t past due. However it’s always in your interest, particularly when business is slow, to collect receivables quickly, to promote the timely payment of what’s payable.

Create action plan

Planning for an expected economic slowdown is how to prepare your business for survival. Don’t wait until you’re underwater. To power difficult a difficult business climate, business owners are advised to take a view from 30,000 feet look at the operation. See the suggestions below for tried-and-true recommendations that could help you save the day. If you have the money, it’s also a very smart idea to create an emergency fund and purchase business interruption insurance, to cushion the blow if disaster strikes. Who could have predicted either the events of September 11, 2001, or the arrival of the coronavirus and the subsequent months-long shutdown?

Trim operating expenses

Trimming operating expenses is an obvious and effective way to soften the impact of a sluggish economy. Examine your budget and reduce or eliminate paying for what you don’t need. Also, pick up the phone and attempt to negotiate lower credit card and/ or loan interest payments, cell phone rate and more favorable vendor contract terms (if your payment record is good). Marketing automation and other software as a service subscriptions might also be lowered by a modest amount each month.

Business travel, maintaining membership in certain business or professional organizations and attending certain conferences and trade shows may be expenses that you should continue, if possible, if the ROI is good. Don’t bite your nose off to spite your face. If you can cut even $50/ month your accounts payable tab, it’s a victory.

 Prioritize customer retention

It’s been convincingly demonstrated that it costs 5x more of your valuable time and money to bring in a new client than it does to retain the client you already have. Your relationship with existing clients will be an important asset during turbulent times. Keep them coming back by not only offering the products and services that deliver the solutions they need, but also by providing the customer experience they value.

Invite feedback, sometimes by finding opportunities where conversation with your clients can take place or by sending out a quick survey, maybe with your next invoice, so that you can learn how clients feel about doing business with your organization. Client feedback may alert you to problems that need your attention, information that is crucial. Inviting feedback also demonstrates that customer satisfaction is a priority at your company and it further enhances the customer experience.

Focus on best-sellers

In an economic downturn, promoting your best-selling products and services is a prudent strategy for both attracting new clients and maintaining current clients. Let the top line revenue on your P&L be your guide. Furthermore, support your top line by ramping up your customer retention strategy (or create one). Next, evaluate and optimize the customer experience your company provides as well, including after-sale support. Make the most of every touch point.

Revamp leadgen marketing

Don’t let tough economic times diminish your brand’s success. Instead, reassess your marketing strategies to stay ahead of the competition. If you’re working with a tighter budget, narrow marketing focus to enhance customer loyalty and encourage retention. Energize social media presence and digital marketing solutions to increase your brand’s visibility. Keep your finger on the pulse of the latest trends in marketing to tap into what’s capturing the attention of your target audience.

If you or a friend are adept at shooting and editing visually-engaging short videos, revitalize your marketing on YouTube (if your A/V skills are good), TikTok, or Instagram. They key is getting creative in your marketing messages to stand apart from competitors. By all means necessary, during the adverse economic conditions (and also when things improve), stay visible, watch your financials, be agile, look viable stay relevant and be cautiously optimistic.

Thanks for reading,

Kim

Image © Susan Doyle (pictured), founder and owner of Go Paddle in County Wexford, Ireland is an avid kayaker, coach, outdoor educator and a paddling ambassador for Canoeing Ireland through the Bridge the Gap program.

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Figuring Out How to Take a Vacation

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Summer is here at last and for many, thoughts turn to taking time off to relax and have fun.  Vacations make us feel good but they’re slipping from the grasp of an increasing number of workers, most notably the country’s 57.3 million Freelancers (2017 data), who receive no paid vacation benefit.  In fact, we pay twice for our vacations.  The first hit happens because we stand to lose money when we don’t work. The second hit occurs when paying for the vacation itself, if we choose to travel. Vacations are an expensive proposition for us.  Yet, they are an investment in our well-being and they are worthwhile.

Numerous studies show that we become psychologically healthier, we have a more positive outlook on life and we’re more resilient when we regularly take vacations. We’re also more productive, better problem solvers and more inclined to create and achieve business and personal goals.  It’s been amply documented that uber analyst Sigmund Freud was especially fond of vacations and he took great pleasure in personally planning his family’s annual summer get aways.

I’ll take my usual mini-vacation this summer and with some advance planning, I’ll bet you can, too.  No matter when you’re able to get away for a few days, or even if you opt for a “stay-cation” and take local day trips or just unplug from the daily grind, planning will be the key.

Step One of your vacation planning is to consider your business cycle so you can arrange to slip in a vacation during the usual slow periods.  In most industries, the Christmas to New Year’s Day period is very slow and the final week or two in August is almost as dormant.  However, for wedding planners and those who participate in that industry, summer vacations are out of the question because it’s your busiest season.  If you’re an accountant, celebrating Valentine’s Day at Punta Cana is something you’ll never do, because it’s tax season from January – April.  If you are in certain retail businesses, then traveling is out of the question between October 1 and Christmas Eve.

When you see a gap in your schedule of projects, pounce. “Stay-cations” are of course a lot easier to fit in.  You just have to do it.  Maybe you can schedule a spa “stay-cation” that’s spread out over three or four days, when you’ll schedule a massage one day, a mani /pedi the next, a facial the day after and so on?  You might also visit a museum or find a free outdoor music performance nearby.

Step Two entails your vacation budget.  Wherever you’d like to go, you probably already have an idea of the cost.  Research the price of air fare if you must fly and compare traditional B & B, airbnb and small hotel room rates.  Start setting aside funds that will get you to your preferred destination several months in advance.

Step Three will find you plotting out your work load, to ensure that all projects are completed by their deadlines and all milestones reached as promised.  In some instances it will be necessary to inform certain clients (a month in advance) that you’ll be away for a few days but ideally, you’ll schedule the vacation when you know you’ll be between projects.

Create a spreadsheet with all project tasks listed, with milestone and deadline dates noted, so you can plan and pace your work load 4 – 6 weeks in advance of your vacation date.  Do you publish a blog or newsletter that would appear while you’re on vacation? Add your content marketing to the spreadsheet as well, so you’ll have time to write posts and schedule them for automatic publishing on the desired dates.  You may need to work a few nights and weekends to ensure that all work is completed, but you’ll have something to look forward to, right?  While you’re at it, make a post vacation to-do list that will be ready for you when you return, to give yourself a stress-free re-entry.

Finally, take care of your accounts receivable so that cash-flow will not be interrupted, a very important matter when paying for a vacation.  Ready all invoices, attach to the appropriate emails and save as drafts.  On invoicing days, go into your phone and send from anywhere in the world.

So get away from it all and enjoy yourself! Even if your schedule and budget won’t allow you to spend two weeks in Buenos Aires or Marrakesh, taking one or more short vacations throughout the year is also beneficial, according to a 2010 study published in the Journal of Applied Research in Quality of Life.  The study researchers queried 974 Dutch vacationers and found that the excitement and anticipation associated with vacation planning delivers more of the psychological and physical benefits than the vacation itself and those benefits are multiplied when vacations of any length are taken throughout the year.

Thanks for reading,

Kim

Photograph: ©  Rachel Landau

Go with the Flow, a sand sculpture designed and built by Melineige Beauregard of Quebec, Canada for the 14th Annual Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival (2017) in Revere, MA

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Your Marketing Plan Is Meaningless Until You Assign A Budget

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Oh, how you love to talk about planning—your business plan, financial plan, vacation plan and what I think is most often discussed—your marketing plan.  Congratulations to you if you’ve drawn up an official marketing plan for your venture.  But if you intend to transfer your plan from the page to reality, you must assign it a budget.  Somehow, that practical reality is sometimes glossed over.  Ask a Freelancer or business owner what the company’s annual marketing budget is and you’re likely to be met with a blank stare or incoherent stammering.  That is not the ideal response, my friend! So today, let’s learn how to estimate a reasonable budget for a B2B annual marketing plan.

Laurel Mintz, founder and CEO of Elevate My Brand, a Los Angeles digital marketing agency, has developed what she calls “marketing math,” to help her clients determine what would be  a realistic B2B marketing budget range for their organizations.  According to Ms. Mintz:

New companies in business for one to five years would be wise to allot 12 – 20 % of  gross or projected revenues on marketing activities.

Established companies in business for more than five years are advised to commit 6 – 12 % of gross or projected revenues to marketing activities.

Those figures seemed rather hefty, at least they did to me and maybe you agree.   According to Laurel Mintz,  if a new business generates just $35,000 in after-tax bottom line revenues, she nevertheless feels that the owner should devote $4,200 – $7,000 annually to a marketing budget.  Ouch! I mean, how does one pay the living expenses and taxes and health insurance when in the salad days of a start-up?

Think of it like this—no one said that self-employment, whether Freelance solopreneur or entrepreneur, was going to be either easy or inexpensive.  Just like you set aside money for other vital expenses, marketing deserves a budget, too, because without marketing you could wind up presiding over a stunted venture that never gains traction and never fulfills its potential.

Marketing activities, whether innovative or predictable, give the venture a needed push into target markets.  Marketing promotes the expansion of prospective clients who will flow into the sales funnel, distinguishes the organization from competitors, establishes and promotes the brand, justifies the pricing structure and keeps the enterprise at top of mind and positioned to beckon clients and referrers.

Now for the cold water—there are no guarantees in marketing and the ROI is notoriously tricky to quantify.  But realize that marketing is all about testing and that means (calculated) risk.  If you approve a certain sum of money to devote to the year’s marketing activities, you might achieve all of your marketing campaign goals, or do twice as well, or only half as well as you projected

Risk is real in marketing, but it’s mitigated by your awareness of how your clients have been known to respond to the marketing tactics that you can afford.  Research shows that if you conduct marketing  activities that resonate with your target clients and are within budget, then over time,  the marketing campaigns will enhance the bottom line and your brand.  Treat marketing activities as an investment that will surely pay off and allocate funds each year.

Marketing  campaigns are all about planning, budget and execution.  If meager finances make you feel that the budget formula given here is too risky for your venture, then focus on planning and execution and roll out “sweat equity” campaigns that utilize tactics that cost time instead of dollars, such as content marketing, face to face networking and social media.  Just do it.

Thanks for reading,

Kim

Director and actress Ida Lupino on the set of The Hitch-Hiker (1953)                    Photograph courtesy of RKO Pictures/ Photofest

 

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Launch 2017 With Strategic Planning For Your Business

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Happy New Year! My wish for all my readers is that 2017 will be filled with good health, good choices and prosperity and a year where you recognize opportunities and successfully move forward to attain what will benefit you.

Part of the process of realizing your goals may involve strategic planning. The process of strategic planning encourages business leadership teams to ask (the right) questions about the value that the business creates and sells at a profit, which is a reflection of its vision and mission.  The goals, objectives, business model and guiding principles (that is, culture and values) are likewise impacted by the organization’s vision and mission. Below are six strategic planning and positioning principles to enhance your planning.

Principle 1:  Sustained profitability

Economic value and the conditions for generating profits are created when clients value your product or service enough to pay more than it costs the business (you) to produce and provide it.  Strategic planning is all about Defining  business goals and objectives and devising strategies and action plans with the thought of ROI, in particular long-term ROI, in mind.  Assuming that profits will be inevitable when sales volume and/or market share are the most accurate measurements of success is not the best way to approach the matter.

Principle 2: Value proposition

First, be certain that what you consider to be the value proposition—that is, the most desirable benefits—matches what clients consider to be the value proposition. Be aware that strategy is not about offering services or products that will be all things to all prospective clients.  Businesses are in need of strategies that allow the venture to compete in a way that allows it to effectively and efficiently deliver what clients consider the value proposition.

Principle 3: Competitive advantage

The unique and desirable benefits that sustain the value proposition must be reflected in and supported by strategy that shapes them into a sustainable competitive advantage.  The successful enterprise will differentiate itself from competitors through the products or services offered, how those are packaged and/or delivered, customer service practices, branding, pricing and so on; those unique features and practices will matter to current and prospective clients.  Still, the company’s business model will likely resemble that of its rivals.

Principle 4: Choices and priorities

Resources are inevitably finite and choices about your products and/or services must be made, in order to define what is necessary and possible and therefore, a priority.  Some  product or service features will not be offered, so that the benefits (priorities) that clients have chosen as highly desirable can be optimized.  These priorities are what sets the business apart from competitors and define the brand.

Principle 5: Flow

Choices and priorities must be baked into the strategies that you and the leadership team devise, to enhance and enable the consistent  delivery of the value proposition. These strategies will be both stand-alone and interdependent, like dominoes.  Choices made to define the target customers that the business will pursue also impact product design and by necessity will impact choices that determine the manufacturing process and its cost.  Choices that determine what will be included in a service will be influenced by the expected target customers and will impact how that service is delivered and priced.  Choices about product positioning and branding will impact where the product is sold and the marketing strategy.

Principle 6: Direction

The late style icon Diana Vreeland, who served as editor-in-chief at both Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar Magazines, once said that “elegance is refusal.” A company must define its unique value proposition and that will eventually cause certain potential choices to be declined, because they are contrary to the brand.  The product or service lines can be altered to satisfy customer demands over time and business models can be adjusted to reflect current or anticipated market conditions.  Nevertheless, the vision and mission must be upheld to maintain brand awareness and trust. Strategic direction will guide that process.

Thanks for reading,

Kim

 

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Budget Plan: The Unexpected Windfall

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Now check this out—what if Santa Claus comes to town and leaves a nice financial windfall under your Christmas tree? What a sweet surprise! You took a chance and competed for a very lucrative assignment and by some miracle, you won.  Along with making sure that you’ll deliver, if not surpass, your new client’s expectations, you should as well think about how you can most effectively utilize the proceeds from the billable hours.

Most often, we approach the subject of financial contingency planning from the negative side and prepare ourselves for unexpected expenses that could ruin a budget or seriously deplete our savings.  But why not manifest prosperity and think about what you can do if your ship comes in? Here’s a sampling of where extra money can be applied:

Erase debt.  Without a doubt, pay down and pay off all outstanding debts.  Interest rates are at loan sharking level and eliminating the burden will increase your credit score and decrease your stress level.  If you are not in debt, then pay ahead monthly installment obligations such as health and auto insurance policies or renewable business licenses and certifications.  Payment of these types of accounts payable is recorded as an asset on your Balance Sheet.

Professional development.  Are there continuing education workshops and courses or certifications that if acquired stand to enhance your stature and brand? Is there a conference that not only provides good business information, but also excellent networking opportunities? Explore how you might be able to raise the bar on your qualifications and make yourself a more employable Freelance consultant.

Business investment.  Maybe your billable hours are sufficiently generous to allow you to buy a new car? Ask your accountant or business attorney if the proposed new automobile can be designated as a company vehicle and permit you to write off some portion of the expenses plus depreciation, so that you could sweeten the investment.  You might also consider computer or other technology upgrades, or office equipment such as a new desk or an ergonomically correct office chair.  Much smaller but still significant branding upgrades include personalized business note cards, holiday greeting cards, stationery and your invoice statement.

Retirement account.  Fund your retirement account to the maximum annual amount with pre-tax dollars.  If you have extra money, open a Roth IRA account in tandem with your primary retirement account and enhance your financial future with after-tax dollars. Verify first the financial guidelines required for simultaneously holding these two retirement funds.

General savings. You might also meet with a wealth manager, if you meet the investment minimum and can find someone who can be trusted.  Alternatively,  on your own you can research and invest a couple of thousand dollars in a mutual fund that is indexed to the stock market and watch it grow (and it will, despite some ups and downs along the way).

Splurge.  Oh, go ahead! When’s the last time you took a wonderful vacation? Freelancers work so hard and we worry so much about how we will be able to satisfy our clients, find new clients, win back lapsed clients, generate relevant content marketing, distinguish ourselves from our many competitors and on and on.  I don’t know about all of you, but I am so exhausted it’s absurd.  I’ve been able to take brief local vacations, but I dream of taking two weeks or even more in Marrakesh, Morocco. Or Bahia, Brazil. Or Shanghai. Or Rome. Or Tokyo. Or Buenos Aires. Mmmmm….!

Thanks for reading,

Kim

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Open Enrollment: Freelancer’s Health Insurance

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Open enrollment for 2015 Affordable Care Act health insurance began on November 15.  Individuals who earn maximum $46, 680 and families of four (couples with two dependent children) that generate a maximum total income of $95, 400 are potentially eligible for a tax credit that will help defray the cost of insurance premiums. In tax year 2015,  the penalty for not carrying insurance will rise from $95 to $325,  or 2% of household income,  whichever is greater.

Business entities of 50 or fewer employees and located in Delaware,  Illinois,  Missouri,  New Jersey or Ohio can set up a Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) account by completing an application that determines eligibility and if accepted,  investigate plans and prices and contract with an insurance company.  A 2014 University of Chicago study found that 2013 insurance prices offered through SHOP exchanges in 26 states were on average 7 % lower (about $220) than comparable insurance bought outside of the SHOP exchanges marketplace.

Freelancers and small business owners who did not buy health insurance in 2014 will need information to guide decision-making about the upcoming year.  The Freelancers Union  http://freelancersunion.org,  a New York City-based nonprofit organization that advocates for the interests of self-employed workers,   plans to help its 233,000 members purchase medical and/or dental insurance in all 50 states.

Freelance Union members also have access to retirement plans and disability,  liability and life insurance.  Additionally,  the Union operates two health and wellness centers in New York City,  where members can obtain primary care services at no charge and also participate in classes such as tai chi and yoga.  Membership in the Freelancers Union is free.

I went to the Union website and found that medical insurance is not offered in my state,  but dental coverage is available for $60.77 /month  ($112.32 /married couple and $164.89 /family).  The twice-yearly cleanings are 100% covered as are annual x-rays.  Services such as crowns,  fillings and anesthesia are covered at 80% after a $50 deductible and root canals,  endodontic and periodontal services are covered only after a 12 month waiting period and then at 50 % after the $50 deductible.  The yearly maximum benefit is $1250.

An individual pays about $730 for the year.  I might spend that amount in a year paying out-of-pocket for two cleanings with bi-annual x-rays averaged in.  My gums are not great and I must very soon see a periodontist.  Heaven knows what he will charge but the visits will not be covered,  since only two are allowed in 12 months.  Periodontal work would only be half covered and the maximum annual benefit is only $1250 for a premium that costs $730/year.  In sum,  health insurance is all too often not an advantage,  unfortunately.  Maybe the medical plans are better?  An individual Bronze level plan in New York City will cost $393/month in 2015.

Still,  it appears that Freelancers can benefit in other ways from Union membership (I am not a member).  There are plans over the next five years to open 15 primary care clinics across the country,  including Los Angeles and Austin, TX.  The clinics will not charge co-pays for office visits and will be open to all who purchase health insurance through the Freelancers Union.  There are numerous professional benefits as well.  Maybe I will join before too long.

More good information on health insurance prices is available at the Consumer Reports Health Law Helper,  which walks you through questions to help you understand your options for buying health plans,  with links to marketplace sites   http://healthlawhelper.org.  The American Association of Retired People AARP sponsors the Health Law Answers site,  which provides information for health insurance seekers of any age  http://healthlawanswers.aarp.org/en.  The Kaiser Family Foundation provides the Insurance Marketplace Calculator,  which helps you estimate the cost of health insurance based on your location,  age and income,  along with pricing for various level plans  http://kff.org/interactive/subsidy-calculator/.

Thanks for reading,

Kim