Three Financial Apps For A Small Business

 

Balancing the demands of a small business and full-time career is a full-time job by itself. I love my photography passion and can’t wait to shout it from the rooftop, and I equally love the excitement of my career as well, not to mention the lifelong friendships that I have formed with several coworkers. But with twenty-four hours in a day, last time I checked it was, it seems I always have a ball or two or even more in the air at any one time. Over the years, I have gathered some tools to help make the balancing act less daunting. I consider them my back office elves. Meet three of my favorite money-related apps.

1. Need to keep track of your mileage for tax purposes? And separate personal trips from business?. Chances are you own a smartphone, right? Good! Assign that mundane but penny wise task to an app called Mile IQ. Mile IQ  runs in the background of your smartphone while it keeps track of your driving as you start and stop. It “automatically logs your drives and calculate their value” straight from the horse’s mouth, not me. All you need to do is categorize your trips into personal (slide to the left) or business (slide to the right). Mile IQ is available from the App Store or Google Play.  You can get more details from here. Cost: 59.99 annual, $5.99 monthly or Free for 40 drives per month.
2. Then there’s the thing called bookkeeping. It’is supposed to be simple right? Money in is credit and money out is debit. Whatever is left, if any, is yours to keep. Well… yes and no. I learned there is this thing called chart of accounts that categorizes the dollars and cents for proper accounting and better reporting. Enter Waveapps the free, online, no frills, accounting and invoicing app with no accounting background required. Did I say Free? And it’s available online so there’s one more function for that smartphone of yours? What’s not to love. It comes complete with a tidy dashboard that provides an at a glance view of the health of your business. It even hooks up to most bank accounts to download transactions saving you from having to enter the transactions twice. You do have to categorize your transactions though. What’s more, it emails a weekly status. You can process credit card immediately without having to setup your very own gateway. Find out more here. Cost: Free
3. And there are those tasks I term ‘ankle biters’ that plague every small business owner. They are those necessary part of running a business. In most small businesses an 'ankle biter' looks something like this: inquiry to quotes, negotiations, emails to calendar management, reminders to collaboration, invoice to payment, contact lists to to-do lists. And on and on it goes. Well, there’s an app for that! It’s called 17hats. Consider it a super sized Waveapps and that's what I currently use it. It does an excellent job of placing everything into a tidy box. From inquiry to paid! Well, almost everything! It does not yet serve my coffee. And from this horses’ mouth “We created 17hats specifically for “businesses of one” with a focus on simplicity and ease of use.” You can find out more here: Cost:  Approximately $13 per month

Why do I use (2) of these? Simple, it's accessible from my smartphone. I have since switched from Waveapps to 17hats. While I missed the 'free', my workflow has grown from basic invoicing and bookkeeping, hence it lacks all the features 17hats offered. Waveapps is still a great tool for someone just starting out or with a simpler workflow.

What financial app do you use? It'll be great if you could share what works for you and why.  Next week, I’ll share 3 of my productivity-related tools.

Next week, I’ll share 3 of my productivity-related tools.

ELEVEN RANDOM FACTS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT ME | MARYLAND WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

Today is an easy read I promise. It’s random facts about my life, so grab a cup of your favorite drink, snuggle up while I put a smile on your face.

1. “Failure to reduce speed in adverse weather conditions” – the EXACT WORDING of the very first moving violation I received over 20 years ago. I still remember it because getting the ticket did not dampen my high spirit for finishing the last statistics exam for life! Moreover, I was too gullible to challenge the ticket considering I was only going 5 miles over the speed limit and just happen to pass PG County ‘finest’ when other drivers had slowed down.

2. 11 – my SHOE SIZE if I can ever find one. I tend to purchase 2 pairs when I get lucky, in different colors of course. And don’t say check Nordstrom’s, they may have it but not always in my style. What girl doesn’t have her own style?

3. Royal blue, purple and brown – my FAVORITE COLORS. Don’t ask me to pick one. It will be a long process.

4. Hot coffee – my favorite SLEEPING DRUG of choice. Add fluffy socks, pillow, and comforter and I’m down for the count.

5. One of seven siblings, one of six girls and 2ND IN LINE OUT OF 25 and counting children/grandchildren/cousins/nephew/nieces just from my mom’s tree alone. My mom believes she’s the female Abraham.

6. 216,000 plus – TOTAL MILES on my old Toyota Highlander. I drove every inch of those miles chauffeuring kids/carpool/football/wrestling/softball/ice hockey athletes/Robotics meetings/college move in and out, and everything in between. From Bowie to Ocean City, MD to Virginia Beach, VA. Bethesda to Severn, MD, Providence, RI to Morgantown, West Virginia, to Burlington, NC. Phew!

7. 8 – the NUMBER OF READING GLASSES in various shapes and colors that I own. Some gizmo declared me far sighted so I’m saddled with those things perched on my nose only for reading of course. Problem is I always lose them. The solution to saving my sanity from the constant searching is to leave a pair in each room, bathroom and kitchen included. I even have an extra pair in the car. My grandma used to say if it doesn't have a voice, it's not smarter than you! Problem solved!

8. Brad Thor, David Baldacci, Preston & Child – my grip-you-from-the-start, blood-pumping-heart-racing, hard-to-put-down, drive-around-the-neighborhood-a-little-longer, stay-up-if-you-must FAVORITE FICTIONAL, MYSTERY & SUSPENSE, and THRILLER AUTHORS. I love the local library CD collection. Yes, it must be CDs, not downloads. There's something magical about changing those CDs and the return trip to the library. It makes me feel like a kid with a library card. My tax dollars at work!

9. ALL GIRLS SCHOOL – my early formative years in the Anglican school system. Both elementary and secondary school. Clothes at least 2 inches below the knee, hair all natural and cut short, no longer than an inch. Not a smidgen of nail polish, not even the clear one. And you have to sit properly, after all, ladies do not cross their legs. Those rules stick with you forever.

10. DO I GET A REFUND FOR THE DAY? – the question I ask my kids when they claim to be sick and can’t go to school. Funny how they managed to live through the school day and come home all healthy. I bet they’ll use the same parent knows best trick on their kids someday, or maybe not. My job is done.

11. Mamma Mia – my favorite musical of all times. Watched it at least 5 times at the movie theater and over 20 times on DVD until the boys declared they'd had enough of Merryl Streep and hid or broke it, can’t find it since. SLIPPING THROUGH MY FINGERS holds a special place in my heart.

There you have it, another glimpse into my life. Care to share one or two of your random fact?

WRITE THE VISION MAKE IT PLAIN

 

Write the vision, make it plain ...(Hab. 2:2). So, I wrote my vision for 2016, on this hi-tech tablet.

A #bosslady once told me to write my big hairy AUDACIOUS goals, naturally some are lofty goals, some requires nothing but discipline while others will challenge me. In the process of writing, I managed to work some personal goal into the vision. Here's to 2016.

Business goals:

• Introduce Vibrant Journal, a weekly journal to bring you along on my journey, share relevant  and even entertaining vibrant life, love and living.
• Expand Ronnie Bliss Photography. More to come on this topic in future posts.
• Enhance the Ronnie Bliss Wedding Experience. My ultimate goal is to pull off an annual weekend getaway with my brides. Lofty for now but I'll get there.
• Continue to improve my craft by getting out of my comfort zone. Never stop learning.
• Surround me with people that are smarter, wiser and all round interested in my success. Business coach, mentors and cheerleaders.
• Improve blogging to at least 2 times a week. Consistently. This blogging thing is HARD work!
• Read at least 1 business book per month. January read - Jab, jab, jab, RIGHT HOOK by Gary Vaynerchuk.
• Hire an intern or part-time assistant. I can't do it alone.

A great segway into my personal goals:

• Get at least 7 hours of sleep. Every day sleep. Any small business owner will understand this one.
• Travel, travel, travel. Did I say travel? I promise to bring you along through my images. Or better yet, pack a bag, let's go!
• Read 2 books per month for pleasure. My daughter does not agree that audiobooks are same as 'reading', so I will 'listen' to at least 2 books. 
• Complete a 52-week photo challenge just for pleasure. This is a CHALLENGE I'm willing to try. I already missed week 1, but I'm not deterred, be patient with me. Clickin Moms is my source of inspiration, in case you wish to tag along. 

Phew! There I wrote it. If you have read this far, thank you for spending part of your day with me. If there's a topic you would love to read, please let me know. Don't forget to subscribe and share my posts with friends. Wishing you a wonderful year ahead.

 Ronnie

 

A GIFT | RONNIE BLISS PHOTOGRAPHY | MARYLAND WEDDING PHOTOGRAHER

Do something Good for someone this Monday.

First, an apology for missing a few series. I was on travel and should have prepared well in advance, but I was so giddy about the travel, visiting my 'motherland' after well over a decade. But now I'm back. Home sweet home!. On to today's series.

How was your Christmas? Was Santa good to you? Or were you the Santa? Did you make all your deliveries in time? Although Christmas is over, the spirit of giving lives on and that is our focus this week. We focus our attention on doing something good great for someone else.

Todays’ task? A gift. Just because.

Take a good look around. I bet you received more than one gift. And if by chance you only received one gift, take a look around the house, I know you're blessed with more than a single gift. Sometimes it just takes a different perspective, so today, take that different perspective as you look around the house. Is there a gift you can give someone else?

This Monday's Do Good For Someone Else task is not about re-gifting, although it's not a bad idea especially if you are not going to use that gift. Nor is it about gifting someone that has less than you because there simply is no way to determine what each one of us values and, therefore, hold close to our hearts. I am talking about gifting a friend, just because. Not for Christmas, not for New Year but just because you thought of that person, and you took the time to select just the right gift, wrap it up and deliver it. That's where the magic is.

For those who are at a loss for a gift idea, how about a gift of your time? Coffee, a meal, a movie together? Take turns reading a book, or a walk down memory lane. The idea is to make a difference today. Deliver a gift. Just because.

Do Something Good. Happy Monday!

Love the idea? Share the post. Have an idea? Let's hear it. Until next Monday…. Do something Good for someone.

TELL THEM | RONNIE BLISS PHOTOGRAPHY | MARYLAND WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

Do something Good for someone this Monday.

Welcome to another beautiful week. Even more special since it's Thanksgiving week this side of the world. A double header to do something good this Monday for someone else and give thanks all week long.

Todays’ task? Tell them.

Tell anyone and everyone around you that you are truly thankful to have in your life or sphere of influence what each person mean to you. Tell your families, friends, loved ones. How you tell them is up to you, but tell them, verbalize it, communicate, let them know what they mean to you. Tell your frenemies too because without them, you wouldn't be where you are today.

Take this a step further, it's Thanksgiving week afterall, count the many blessings you're thankful for, and tell each source of that blessing. Number your challenges too, they make us strong. Think of them as the speed bump in the road that slows us down when we suddenly find ourselves running the Indy 500 without a plan, it causes us to refocus.

Make a difference today, all week long, tell someone how thankful you are to have them in your life.

Do Something Good, for someone else. Happy Monday!

Love the idea? Share the post. Have an idea? Lets hear it. Until next Monday…. Do something Good for someone.

A PRAYER | RONNIE BLISS PHOTOGRAPHY | MARYLAND WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

Do something Good for someone this Monday.

How was your weekend? Busy? Got your much-needed rest? Welcome to another beautiful week. Another opportunity to do something good, for someone else.

Todays’ task? A Prayer.

Say a prayer for a complete stranger. Throughout today, the week really, or better yet, cultivate the habit of praying for strangers. You don't need to stop, kneel, clasp your hands, close your eyes or anything like that. Just pay in your spirit, or if you like openly. Don't worry, they won't think you strange, no more than when Bluetooth just took over and folks would ask are you speaking to them? Remember then? They will think you're on the Bluetooth or talking to your imaginary friend and in this case they'd be right. But seriously, lift someone else up in prayer, the people around you needs it, the world needs it and you need it too. This is probably going the be the easiest task, however, it is also easy to forget, because life gets in the way. Afterall, we have a million other things that demand our attention like that long never ending to-do list, you should see mine. Try it, do it, pick the next person you see, no don't touch them, just saw a word of prayer, start in general, everyone needs prayer, you know it, I know it, it's settled. Depending on your level of prayer, start with something simple like peace and watch your prayer muscle grow.

If you would like to take this a step further, ask your friends if they have a prayer request. Or keep your own list of people to pray for. In writing down names or need, you are likely to pray more often.

And the reward?

Take a good look around you, see that huge tree? or any tree for that matter, when was it planted? When was it watered to give the shade it offers today? That's the reward of your prayer. You're planting seeds that will, guaranteed, to grow into a tree, metaphorically speaking of course, offer shade to you and others when you least expect it and for the benefit of hundreds, thousands and millions. In your praying for others, someone else might just be praying for you. Sometimes the answer is a 'maybe', 'not yet, or 'no' for sure, and other times it is a resounding YES! but there is always an answer.

Make a difference today. Say a prayer. Your prayer may be the missing link all along.

Do Something Good, for someone else. Happy Monday!

Love the idea? Share the post. Have an idea? Lets hear it. Until next Monday…. Do something Good for someone.