Insights and resources

The MATAX blog: ops and accounting insights for founders

Actionable advice, operational playbooks, and strategic deep dives to help you scale your business without the chaos.

AccountingMonthly close, investor-ready books, Xero
OperationsWorkflow automation, integrations, SOPs
AIAgents, human-in-the-loop, what actually works
D to the Power of 4 - Four Steps to Better Time Management
Julie DeVincenzi Julie DeVincenzi

D to the Power of 4 - Four Steps to Better Time Management

Time management skills are increasingly important in a world where people seem to rush headlong from one crisis to another. Add in the effect of social media and addictive computer games that can be accessed from anywhere at any time and it's no wonder that some people struggle to fit everything into their days.

Read More
Three ways to speed up invoicing
Julie DeVincenzi Julie DeVincenzi

Three ways to speed up invoicing

Everyone likes making money, especially small business owners. Invoicing, however, is typically one of the tasks that small business owners like the least.

Read More
4 questions you should ask your accountant
Julie DeVincenzi Julie DeVincenzi

4 questions you should ask your accountant

Ideally, you and your accountant are more than just “adviser” and “client”.

With your combined skills, expertise, and shared mission to support a thriving business, you’re more like strategic partners.

The key to achieving success in any partnership is, of course, strong communication. At your next meeting, be sure to ask your accountant these four important questions.

Read More
Ways To Keep Customer Data Secure
Julie DeVincenzi Julie DeVincenzi

Ways To Keep Customer Data Secure

Cyber crime is a serious concern for business owners. Recently IBM Chair, CEO, and President, Ginni Rometty, called it “the greatest threat to every company in the world”. According to Juniper Research, by 2019 cyber crime will cost businesses a staggering $2 trillion.

It’s impossible to put a dollar value on what your customer data is worth – or the cost to your business should sensitive data be compromised by theft or loss. For many small companies, a security breach could simply mean the end of the business.

If you don’t already have a data security plan in place, these tips will help you take steps to prevent a devastating loss.

Read More
9 reasons to switch to cloud computing
Julie DeVincenzi Julie DeVincenzi

9 reasons to switch to cloud computing

Discover the top 9 reasons why small businesses should switch to cloud computing. Save money, time, and improve security with this innovative solution.

Read More
How to learn from failure in business
Julie DeVincenzi Julie DeVincenzi

How to learn from failure in business

Ask any successful entrepreneur about their path to greatness and you’ll get the same answer: failure is an inevitable part of the journey.

It took Thomas Edison 1,000 failed attempts before he finally invented the light bulb.

Tim Ferris received 25 rejections before his bestselling book, “The 4 Hour Workweek” was finally published and sold millions of copies.

It’s a fact that 20% of businesses fail in their first year – and many fold before their fifth.

The truth is, building a successful company is typically a very long game. Not every idea is a winner; not every decision yields success. But you can learn from experience, gaining wisdom as you nurture resilience – key ingredients, along with hard work and a pinch of luck, that eventually lead to victory.

Here’s how to stay in the game long enough to win, and make the most of failure along the way.

Read More
4 Tips for Getting Your Business Through Tough Times
Julie DeVincenzi Julie DeVincenzi

4 Tips for Getting Your Business Through Tough Times

If you’re a small business owner whose company hasn’t gone through hard times, that’s great but it’s likely to happen at some point. As much as we dream about being brilliant enough at business that we’ll never face slow times, there are many things beyond our control that can negatively affect our business.

Here are four tips for getting your business through difficult periods so you can look forward to many more years of business ownership.

Read More
Getting Started with Xero
Julie DeVincenzi Julie DeVincenzi

Getting Started with Xero

How to get the most out of Xero right from the start

When you start using Xero, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it. We’re big fans here at Acme Accountants and know how happy clients are when they can see their cash flow situation whenever they want, send online invoices, pay bills and run their businesses more effectively.

Read More