There is more software available for small businesses and freelancers than ever before, and it’s getting easier and cheaper to use. In an industry where time is money, how can you find the tools that help you earn more and do less? We gathered our favorite software for freelancers that help with everything from productivity, […]
You’re Going Out Of Business, You Just Don’t Realize It
We’ve all driven past businesses with “Going out of Business” signs. Being that our businesses don’t have storefronts, what does a failing freelance career or failing tech business look like? Here’s a common case of a web consultancy A freelancer will get a couple of well-paying clients. Hooray! Months of money earning goes by, slowly […]
Priming a Possible Buyer
With LessAccounting, our goal is to take a website visitor and turn them into a long-term, 36+ month customer. That’s at least a three-year relationship with us. So how do you take a website visitor and convince them to get into a long-term relationship with you? It starts with priming the customer, overcoming objections and […]
How To Track Personal & Business Finances In One Spreadsheet
I’ve been running a small business for six years and I’ve finally settled on a simple way to answer these key questions: Are we making money? And if so, how much? My business is incorporated, so I get paid as an employee and the business has a separate set of financials. I’ve always found it […]
Business Planning Really Does Help
Business owners tend to react in one of two ways when asked to create a business plan: They roll their eyes, knowing they will have to create a complex, 40-page report full of lofty narratives and colorful charts. They mutter something about not needing a plan to operate their businesses because they are not seeking a […]
How We Hire a Developer
I’ve been leading development teams for many, many years. Whenever we needed to hire a developer, I tried all sorts of ways to figure out if the person would be as good (technically) as they say. In the old days, I would ask all the right questions, have someone write pseudo code on a whiteboard […]
How we hired our first customer advocate
In 2010 LessAccounting had grown to a size that we needed to hire a person to help with customer support. We’d never hired customer support before and didn’t know how to hire the right person. We did know that judging applicants on resumes is stupid. We didn’t want to hire a “customer support guru” or […]
Employment Handbooks, why does your small business need one?
The word “handbook” might bring back memories of a little book your high school issued that covered things like the student dress code and grade point averages. Or maybe you remember your Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts handbook, which had everything from how to wear your uniform to how to start a campfire. But you’re […]
Summer Vacations – How to Save $$$ on Travel
As entrepreneurs it’s vital for you to take time off from your business. Working all day, all week is not sustainable. Here’s how Allan took an 18 day workcation to Costa Rica. Read on to learn ways to save money on your next vacation. The sun is shining, the water’s warm, and more than likely, there’s […]
An Example of Brand Personality
We live in a fast-moving world. We work in an industry that focuses on metrics, conversion, high profit margins, automation, scaling and data. We struggle to connect with our customers on a personal level. “Hi, I’m a real person here to help you.” …This is rarely how a piece of software or customer support makes you […]