INSIGHTS & 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.

Three classic business mistakes and how to avoid them
Julie DeVincenzi Julie DeVincenzi

Three classic business mistakes and how to avoid them

Even the best entrepreneurs make mistakes. In fact, most would advocate that you need to make a few mistakes to learn and grow. So it’s important not to let those missteps stop you from following your dream of running your own business.

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The common time waster that stops your business from growing
Julie DeVincenzi Julie DeVincenzi

The common time waster that stops your business from growing

Being a small business owner can be fantastic. You get to be involved in every aspect of your business, from marketing to event planning, from sales to employee development. Being involved in so many areas of your business saves you from boredom and allows you to use skills you might not have known you had.

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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.

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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.

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Why Bookkeeping is Crucial to Your Success
Julie DeVincenzi Julie DeVincenzi

Why Bookkeeping is Crucial to Your Success

Keeping track of sales, earnings, expenses, and purchases is fundamental to the overall health and sustainability of your business. Effective bookkeeping produces the data you need to evaluate your current practices, anticipate challenges, and set attainable future goals.

But despite their proven importance, many business owners dread and avoid accounting tasks. In fact, 40% of surveyed entrepreneurs claim that bookkeeping is one the worst parts of running a business!

Wondering if it’s really worth the aggravation?

Here are four reminders of how effective bookkeeping is the cornerstone of small business success.

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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.

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Signs it’s time to upgrade systems
Julie DeVincenzi Julie DeVincenzi

Signs it’s time to upgrade systems

Most small business owners can’t afford to think small. They always need to keep their mind on growth strategies to help them achieve long-term profitability.

But becoming profitable in the first place often requires business owners to work long hours on a shoe-string budget. They don’t always have time to implement systems that will support them when they’re ready to scale. It’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs to use free or low-cost software solutions that can get them up and running, but hold them back as their needs evolve.

Read on to learn if it’s time to upgrade your current systems to support your small business as it grows – and what to look for.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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