Building A Stellar Business

Michele Johnson and Lorraine Kennedy are partners in Stellar Support Associates in Westport,CT. They provide bookkeeping, CFO services and business consulting for many small businesses and individuals. Between them they have over 40 years of financial consulting experience and have helped scores of clients become more financially fit and independent. Michele Johnson and Lorraine Kennedy are partners in Stellar Support Associates in Westport,CT. They provide bookkeeping, CFO services and business consulting for many small businesses and individuals. Between them they have over 40 years of financial consulting experience and have helped scores of clients become more financially fit and independent.

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1 - A Business Check-Up
-- Straight Shooting Questions
-- Are You Making Money?
-- More Questions
-- Goals and Details

Chapter 2 - Know Where Your Money Is
-- Why Maintain Good Books?
-- Make Us Better Consultants
-- Getting Your Act Together
-- Set Up Your System
-- Giving Access and Letting Go

Chapter 3 - Document, Document, Document
-- Documenting Systems
-- Filing Systems
* File System #1
* File System #2
-- Filing Notes
-- Receipts
-- Cash Receipts
-- Other Documents to Protect and Maintain
-- One Final Word on Documentation

Chapter 4 - A Meaningful Set of Financial
Statements
-- Behind the Numbers
-- The Meat and Potatoes of a Financial
Statement - Your Profit & Loss Statement
* Income
* Profit Margin
* Expenses - Where does all my money go?
-- The Balance Sheet
* Assets
* Liabilities
* Equity
-- Other Reporting

Chapter 5 - Show Me The Money
-- Billing Your Clients
* Billing based on a project
* Billing based on monthly service and project completion
* Billing based on monthly flat fee
* When billing goes awry
-- Collecting Those Receivables
-- Paying Your Bills
* Payroll Employees
* Independent Contractors
* Inventory
* Other Payables
-- A Word About Assets

Chapter 6 - Budgeting and Forecasting
-- How Do I Make The Money I Want To Make?
-- Forecast With No History
-- Fine Tune Your Forecast
-- Your Assumptions
-- Working With The Highlights

Chapter 7 - Human Resources
-- All Shapes and Sizes
-- Structure of Your Company
-- Job Descriptions and Cross-Training
-- Human Resource Policies
-- Employment Contracts
-- Payroll Companies

Chapter 8 - Building Your Support Team
-- It Takes a Village
-- Bookkeepers
-- Controllers/CFO (Chief Financial Officer)
-- CPA or Tax Preparer
-- Lawyer
* Business Agreement
* Contracts with Clients
* Collections
* Succession Planning
* Franchising
-- Insurance Agent
-- Financial Advisor
-- Banker
-- Credit Card Merchants
-- IT Support

Chapter 9 - Some People Steal
-- Keeping a Watchful Eye
-- Bookkeepers and Treasurers
-- Your Staff
-- Internal Controls
-- Who Has Access To What?
-- Safeguarding Your Files
-- Money Coming In
-- Money Going Out
-- Separation of Duties
-- Safeguarding Your Assets

Conclusion

Glossary

About the Authors