CDM Accounting Blog

PCWorld – Websites for Small Business

cdmaccounting — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 23:36:24 +0000

In the June 2010 edition of PCWorld there is an article entitled “52 Incredibly Useful Sites.” The article discusses 52 sites that can help you be more productive, entertain you, help your business, or shop smarter. Include in the article are several sites that every small business owner must know about. I will not list them all, but here are three;
www.genbook.com
www.phonebooth.com
www.evernote.com
I highly recommend that you read this article and utilize several of these sits.

Charles D. McKenrick ~ CDM Accounting & Bookkeeping
www.CDMAccounting.com

Creating Time Final 2 Tips

cdmaccounting — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 13:47:55 +0000

Here are the final two tips from the Awake, April 2010 edition.

Tip “Use Transition Time”

During our typical day’s activities there are moments that we can multi-task, or use transition time. For example, while shaving you can listen to the news. While driving to and from work, you can listen to an audio book. Everyone has different transition times that can be utilized. Determine what yours are and utilize it.

Tip “Use Index Cards”

When we have several tasks at hand and we know that we will not able to accomplish them all, write each one on an index card. Then as you accomplish each task, you can remove the index card from your pile of to-do’s. At the end of the day, you will have some cards left and that is okay. Tomorrow write any new tasks that need to be completed and add them to the remaining cards from today. Prioritize and complete your pile of to-do’s.

Charles D. McKenrick ~ www.CDMAccounting.com

Creating Time Part 3

cdmaccounting — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:12:09 +0000

Tip: “Minimize Interruptions”

We live today in a technological era where phones are constantly ringing or beeping, emails are coming and going every other minute, and we are constantly updated on the day’s events. Trying to keep up with everything sucks our time away. Set aside time each day that you do not allow interrupts to distract you. If possible turn off your phone, shut down your email, and concentrate on the tasks at hand.

Tip: “Work Like A Professional”

I know that we are all professionals but do we always work that way? Sometimes it is easier to tell ourselves that we will be more efficient and refreshed after a few hours off or in the morning, that we just aren’t feeling it right now. Honestly our moods should not affect our work. We all need to work like a professional, dig deep, and keep pushing forward. Often once we stop working for the day, coming back to it just doesn’t happen. If you schedule your time each day in an effective and efficient manner, getting through the afternoon slump should get easier. The result: you can enjoy your evening without the day’s unfinished working hanging over you.

Tips are take from “20 Ways To Create More Time” from Awake, April 2010.

Charles D. McKenrick ~ www.CDMAccounting.com

Creating Time Part 2

cdmaccounting — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 14:09:34 +0000

Tip: “Schedule Less”

Each day we all have the same amount of time. If you have scheduled appointments or tasks from 9 AM until 9 PM, realistically you are never going to get it all done. Schedule each day with a reasonable number of appointments and tasks. Leave yourself a cushion of free time between each schedule item. You can utilize that time to regroup or if an appointment runs longer than you expected, you do not have to adjust your entire day.

Tip “Synchronize You Calendars”

For many of us, we have a calendar on our phone, on our computer, another on our work computer, and a family calendar. Make sure that all your calendars are synchronized to each other. Missing appointments because you put it your work computer but it never got to your phone is no excuse for blowing an important client lunch or missing your child’s play or game because you schedule a meeting but did not consider the family calendar. There are several online calendars from Google, Yahoo, etc. that you can share with everyone important in your life. This can help eliminate missing meetings or over scheduling a day.

Tips are take from “20 Ways To Create More Time” from Awake, April 2010.

Charles D. McKenrick ~ www.CDMAccounting.com

Creating Time Part 1

cdmaccounting — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 15:22:05 +0000

I recently read an article written in Awake that discussed the challenges that many of us face in utilizing our time. The article listed 20 ways in which you can create more time for yourself. Over the next week, I will be sharing with you a few of the tips that were presented and my own personal take on each one. Let’s get started.

Tip: “Write an Action Plan”

If you have a project due or several projects due, write an action plan. This will allow you to list out all the steps you need to accomplish to complete each project. Once you have them listed, you can prioritize them and set a scheduled time to complete each task.

Tip: “Schedule Your Most Important Tasks First”

Our important tasks typically are the ones that cause us the most stress but do not necessarily consume the majority of our time. If you schedule them first each day, your stress will diminish and you will find time to accomplish your less important tasks. If you put them on the back burner, your time will feel stretched as you stress about them and you will be less efficient. Get them done first and enjoy your day.

Charles D. McKenrick ~ www.CDMAccounting.com

New video from Nigel Swaby for CDM

cdmaccounting — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:04:16 +0000

Enjoy the video. Thanks Nigel!

Effective Business Plan Writing (Cover, Table of Contents, Executive Summary)

cdmaccounting — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:05:41 +0000

To begin, we will explore each area of a business plan as one would go about reading it, from front to back. However, you do not necessarily write a business plan from front to back. Often each area is worked on simultaneously while the beginning of the plan is written last. The first three section of a business plan are relatively straight forward. They are the cover sheet, table of contents, and the executive summary. A cover sheets should be on company stationary and contain at the following:

• Company logo

• Company address

• Institution or party receiving the plan

• Date of submission

•Requested capital or other request

• A paragraph stating the confidentiality of the plan

A table of contents should follow. Each area of the plan should be state on the table of contents with the correlating page number. The table of contents is important as it gives the reader a road map of what is to follow.

Next is the executive summary. It is the first glimpse for your reader of your company. You must capture your reader’s interest from the very first sentence. Selling your product, service, and your plan begins here. In a few concise pages you must lay out the rest of the plan that is to follow. This includes your mission statement, a general descriptions of the business, what makes you unique, a summary of your financial projections, your management team, marketing strategy, your company needs, and a timetable. It makes sense that the executive summary will be the last section of your business plan that will be written. We will next explore your present situation and your objectives.

Charles D. McKenrick ~ CDM Accounting & Bookkeeping ~ www.CDMAccounting.com

Effective Business Plan Writing

cdmaccounting — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 23:30:17 +0000

Starting a business is a fun and exciting venture that many individuals today are embarking on. The thought of working for oneself, making the rules, and setting the bar are so attractive that you see new businesses popping up everyday. The sad fact is that approximately 85% of those businesses will not make it more than 2 to 5 years. Why such a high rate of failure?

There are numerous reasons why businesses fail but often the reasons for failure are only the effects of a business lacking proper structure, vision, and the ability to review and predict. The simple fix for many businesses is to develop a strong and realistic business plan. A business plan will help prospective owners to see their strategies and weaknesses, balance their enthusiasm with sobering facts, and set a path to be followed. The time and effort it takes to write an effective business plan is well worth every second and ounce of energy.

A business plan is also necessary for any business owner who needs to raise capital. There are several areas that any potential investor or even supplier will want to read about and fully understand before they will even consider doing business. Spending adequate time performing local and industry analysis and properly documenting your plan is essential.

So where does one start with writing an effective and useful business plan? We will spend the next week exploring each crucial area.

Charles D. McKenrick ~ CDM Accounting & Bookkeeping ~ www.CDMAccounting.com

Free tools for a small business professional

cdmaccounting — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:38:12 +0000

Every small business owner wants to look and be professional without breaking the bank. In this article from the business know-how there are 5 FREE tools that you can use as a small business that will keep you looking and being professional.

http://www.businessknowhow.com/technology/freetools.htm

Visit us at www.CDMAccounting.com

CDM Accounting & Bookkeeping Blog

cdmaccounting — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 03:26:11 +0000

Here at CDM Accounting & Bookkeeping we will be using WordPress to keep Salt Lake City and the world up-to-date on the constant changing financial world. We hope that some will find this blog and utilize it while doing research and making decisions to grow and strengthen their companies.