"Action is the fundamental key to all success." - Pablo Picasso

Many different types of businesses suffer from the problem of accumulated "past due" receivables.

And it's a problem which shouldn't *just* be addressed by "normal means" (calling, pestering, etc.).

The good news is that you don't have to accept the normal status quo -- you can actually change the way the game normally works. How? Well, I suggest that you use tactics similar to those which WON you the sale in the first place: discounts, premiums for advance or prompt payments, and good old multi-step follow-up.

If you do have (or ever develop) a receivables problem, you'll need to take this same sort of aggressive action to clean it up. "Preserving the relationship" with a client who can't (or won't, more likely) pay his bills is of little value.  And, left alone, collection problems tend to get worse, not better.

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"It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something." - Franklin D Roosevelt

If you measure your key metrics you can manage the performance of your business, AND you can see problems well in advance of when they might show up in revenue or profit figures.

Each and every business has key performance metrics [Key Performance Indicators (KPI's)], some of which are common to other businesses, some are industry-specific, and some companies create their own KPI's.

These sort of things are our bread and butter, when working with small businesses tax pro.

Do you need help?

Financial metrics are often common to all businesses. Some examples include:<
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“When the storm has passed, put your energy into rebuilding your life, don’t waste time looking back.” -Leon Brown

Entrepreneurship is the conversion of your knowledge, talents, guts, and time into money.

Time is valuable, although the value differs from person to person. And while I recently covered the best way to think about the value of your BUSINESS ... this calculation is actually a little easier.

But it takes a certain mindset.

You see, when most people place value on their time, they do so based on an eight-hour workday, which is not all that correct. It's hard to get eight productive hours out of each day.

One study involving Fortune 500 CEOs revealed that they achieved 28 productiv
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"A man should always consider how much he has more than he wants." -Joseph Addison 

The financial picture for the various states in our nation is a mishmash of various revenue sources (and expenses). 

Unlike, say, the federal government, the states cannot print money. So, they are forced to go hunting for it. And they get it from a few primary sources: sales tax (based on purchases/consumption), income tax (individual and business taxes based on income), property tax and "other" taxes like the tax on fishing licenses, driver's licenses and a lot of other smaller items.  

And the most volatile -- and COVID-affected -- of these sources is ye olde income tax. Sales tax has obviously tak
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Just when we thought that the business-related news might slow down for business owners...

Not only are unemployment numbers improving (much to the surprise and delight of the stock markets), but ...

Congress passed, and the President has signed a bill that affords businesses who received the PPP (whether in the first or second round) some big flexibility when it comes to applying for forgiveness.

Namely:

1. 60% Threshold: Business owners  around the country only need to use 60% of the loaned money for payroll*, not 75% as previously required. The other 40% can be used on rent / mortgage, utilities, and loan interest.
2. 24 Weeks: Business owners can now spend this money
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"Oh, my friend, it's not what they take away from you that counts. It's what you do with what you have left." - Hubert Humphrey

As difficult as it might be right now, let's project forward to next year.

Let's cross our fingers and believe that we all get through this donkey of a year that is 2020.

Maybe you have a business that clung to life, and you're headed towards recovery in 2021. You took the PPP, or perhaps the EIDL (or both). Or perhaps you had to take unemployment for a period of time, but are slowly (but surely) getting back on your feet. The economic stimulus checks helped.

But then ... taxes are due.

Uh oh.

W
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It feels to me that we're all in need of some good news.

I have some great news for the young (ish) and the old (ish), but before I get there, I'd like to encourage EVERY person who is reading this:

Keep your head in the game.

Yes -- we can so easily get caught up in seemingly nefarious schemes on every side. Whether you are Team ReOpen or Team StayLockedDown ... there are data points and new stories plentifully available to bolster your case.

But what are you doing about what YOU can control?

That's the game right now.

Many people receive these emails that I send out. But of all of them, in point of fact, there might be only a small handful that have actual power to enact change by influencing minds or implementing action.<
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Well, if you were wise, you probably saw this coming.

Turns out ... if you received a PPP loan, that the expenses you pay from the proceeds of this (forgivable) loan ... are not deductible for businesses.

Ouch.

The IRS just released new guidance to this end (which is being protested by CPA associations). This reduces the value of this "loan", depending on your tax rate.

And it's a good lesson for all of us: Congress can do whatever it likes. And it doesn't need to tell you in a timely fashion. It can come in at the 11th hour and change everything.

Welcome to my world.

That said, your tax pro can do certain things on your company
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Anytime (like now) that there is a rollout of government assistance, you can count on two things:

1)    Bumps in the road (it's hard to manage many millions of people needing help)

2)    SCAMS

I haven't yet heard of any of my clients or friends being taken in by this stuff, but I did want to alert you to this dynamic.

How to make sure your check is the right check.

Most of the Economic Impact Payments (i.e. stimulus checks) have been direct deposited by now. So if you have NOT received it, you might want to check the status using the tool the IRS has set up here:

https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments

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So, you got that stimulus check (or, as the government wants to call it, your "Economic Stimulus Payment")...

What next?

Please use these funds wisely.

If I could sum up my advice for next steps, it would be this: act like you did NOT receive this payment.

And, yes ... some of you have not yet received it.

If that's the case for you, the IRS has set up a tool where you can check your status: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment

And there are plenty of other links on that page to help ensure that the IRS has all the info they need so that you do get it.

Now ... if you did get this check (and even if yo
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