It is a fact that small business money management has always been an area that has been neglected to some degree by the small business owner, because he is obviously primarily concerned with trying to create his business in the first place.

If you’re like most business owners, you’re frustrated with seemingly working harder every year, just to keep up with paying the bills, and never gaining the security of having a cushion of cash to deal with emergencies, or the freedom to buy the things you want. After all, you probably got into being a business owner for the freedom it provides, but not for the financial instability that unfortunately often comes with it.

One thing that small business owners are not aware of is that it’s not how much you make, it’s what you do with it that determines your financial condition. If the subject of small business financial management is tackled properly, you can leverage the power of your business in a way that your business can really take off. You will find that the most successful business owners are also very intelligent in this area of small business financial management.

It may be surprising to you that small business money management is NOT done with accounting software. Accounting software only looks back into the past, recording what has been made and spent after the fact. Accounting systems cannot tell you how to manage your money to your best advantage. They only tell you, after the fact, if you did well or made mistakes.

This means the agreed-upon financial system that we rely on to help us, only has the ability to tell us what happened in the past – not how to handle our money in the future to fix money management mistakes and get better results. This puts the company or individual in a position of being controlled by the money – always making financial decisions based only on how much money is left in the bank.

Small business money management means looking toward the FUTURE and actually planning out and controlling the flow of money that comes in and goes out of a business to the best advantage of the business.

Ideally, you should be using your money in such a way that it helps you to make even more money. Many common financial management actions tend to keep companies cash poor and in a dangerous financial condition. There is a science to controlling the flow of money to create wealth. Very rich people know this science.

There is only one money management software program on the market that teaches you this science. The revolutionary new Money Management Solutions Money Management Software makes using this science to control your money very simple. It is simple and easy to implement in any business.

Small Business Money Management software should help you increase profits and build wealth. Using this unique small business financial management system, a business owner can pay their bills on time and get out of debt, expand their business without going into debt, make higher profits, put away cash savings, have money for emergencies, and pay themselves more money. Who doesn’t want that, right?

Sandra Simmons, President of Money Management Solutions, Inc. specializes in helping people manage their money to achieve financial freedom. Claim your FREE Debt Reduction Solutions Guide

© 2007 Sandra S. Simmons. All Rights Reserved.

If you are like most people, you severely UNDER-estimate what the holiday gift list is going to cost. Here are some time-tested tips to help you not overspend on gift giving.

The biggest money management mistake you can make is to start out on your holiday shopping trips with NO GIFT PLAN and NO SPENDING PLAN. That usually causes spending to double and you end up a Grouchy Grinch after the holiday when you have to pay the bills or you are short on money.

1 – Decide what your total spending budget is for gifts. Hopefully you have stashed some money away for this ahead of time and don’t have to use credit cards you can’t pay off immediately. Add some to the budget to cover gift wrap, sales tax and shipping to out of town recipients.

2 – Make a list of everyone you have to buy gifts for. In large families, draw names so you don’t have to buy everyone a gift, that way your budget goes further and you can get nicer gifts for fewer people. Don’t forget the kids’ teachers, your beautician and the mailman if you usually get them something.

3 – Next to each person’s name write down the amount you want to spend. Add these up and make adjustments so you don’t OVER-spend on your plan.

4 – For each person, write down a list of gift ideas that can be purchased within the gift limit. Make a list of stores where you can shop to get a great selection of that item at great prices. The more ideas you have for each person, the more likely you are to find a great gift that is within the price limit.

5 – Consolidate your shopping trips to the places on the list and shop well in advance so you get the best selection. Even if you don’t usually read the newspaper, at least get the Sunday editions starting the week before Thanksgiving. That way you can see the sales at your targeted shopping destinations, get some great discount coupons and get some gift ideas for those hard-to-shop-for family members and friends.

6 – For long distance gift giving, consider gift certificates so the person can pick out what they actually want. Restaurant gift certificates are great for women who will be tired of cooking during the Holiday and will really appreciate a relaxing meal that someone else had to shop for, cook and clean up after.

7 – As you find the gift items and decide to buy, scratch the person off the list as a DONE so you won’t be tempted to buy more.

8 – Shop for the recipient. A well thought out gift that the person will truly use is better than a designer label anything that they wouldn’t think of wearing or using, no matter how much of a bargain it was. Gift Ideas with Flair

Make the box or container a part of the gift. Forget the gift wrap and shop for unique containers that can become part of the gift and used later. If you buy someone a scarf and one other item, wrap the item artfully in the scarf and tie on a nice ribbon bow.

A gift of homemade cookies in a nice container to keep them in can be a much appreciated gift for about $11; especially for a single guy who never cooks.

Buying someone a book or book store gift certificate? Find a unique container and include something to enjoy with the book like a selection of tea and organic chocolates; A nice gift for about $35.

A pound of organic coffee, a bar of organic chocolate and a great music CD can be boxed up for under $30.

P.S. – Our business money management software and books make great gifts for those entrpreneurs and business owners on your list!

Sandra Simmons, President of Money Management Solutions helps business owners and individuals manage their money to achieve their financial goals. Visit her website at www.MoneyMgmtSolutions.com

© 2007 Sandra S. Simmons. All Rights Reserved.

Ever wondered how to take charge of your business money management and control your cash flow so you have no worries about money? Are you working hard to reach your financial goals and feel like you are running in quicksand? Are you spending more than you make and going deeper in debt? You CAN reverse that trend!

The first thing you need know is this: if you are making financial planning decisions based on how much money is in the bank right now, then you are being controlled by the money, and this usually creates a constant worry about money problems. You need to control the cash flow to achieve your financial goals; not the other way around.

Fortunately, there is a business money management software system that you can use to control your income and debts to get on the road to financial freedom. Unfortunately, too many business owners are still completely unaware that it exists.

The 7 Steps of The Business Money Management System

Are you ready to take charge of your financial future? Okay, then here are the seven steps of this business cash flow control system that you can use to get in control of your cash flow.

Business Money Management Step 1 – Budget Correctly

Accurately predict how much money is needed to operate the company this week and in the future. Figure out exactly what has been spent, by category, over the past year and then add in increases for cost increases, future expansion and that all important wealth building plan. This becomes the budget. The correct definition of budget here is: the amount of money it takes for the organization to function and to attain its goals. That is also called the “better than break even point” and tells you the  amount of income required to survive, not just to stay afloat. This is the first step in effective cash flow management.

Business Money Management Step 2 – Get Paid Well For What You Do

Figure out how to collect the amount of income needed, and more, to do better than just break even. Review costs and your prices to maintain or increase profitability. Establish cash flow policies to insure  you get paid, like not accepting checks if you get a lot of bad checks, and sending invoices to collections that are 60 days past due. Remember, you’re taking charge of your financial future here.

Business Money Management Step 3 – Confront and Handle The Debt

Find out exactly how much you owe in bills and other debts. This takes a bit of courage to confront, but what you don’t know because you’re just not looking at it, can undermine your profit and wealth building progress. Cut discretionary spending. Figure out a plan to start knocking down the debt. (Note: for a business, spending on promotion is NOT discretionary, it is mandatory.)

Business Money Management Step 4 – Spend Less That You Make

Find out how much of your incoming cash flow is actually available to spend. Most business owners forget that when the money comes in, some of it is already committed. When you spend more than you brought in, the difference usually ends up on a credit card as debt. When you are working to achieve your financial goals, don’t shoot yourself in the foot. Spending more than your available cash flow can cripple your business.

Business Money Management Step 5 – Pay Yourself First

Set aside regular amounts of money from your weekly cash flow for your long-term wealth building plan – always pay yourself first and put the money in savings or investments that will grow over time. You cannot rely on Social Security taking care of you. So if you don’t pay you into a retirement plan, who will?. For substantial wealth building, a minimum of 10% is recommended.

Business Money Management Step 6 – Allocate The Cash Flow To YOUR Best Financial Advantage

Portion out some of your money toward paying past-due bills, debt, current bills, and then portion out a bit for future large expenses that are difficult to pay when they come due. Careful, consistent business money management can speed up your business wealth building progress.

Business Money Management Step 7 – Use Your Cash Flow To Create More Income

Use any money left over in ways that increase your ability to produce more income. Why is cash flow management important to a business owner? Your cash flow is the energy and life blood of a business. It is necessary to pump it through the income producing areas to keep it running well. Everything runs smoother when cash is available.

Seems simple, right? And it is simple. This system is easily learned, and can be used to do these seven steps of business money management planning in very little time each week. It does, however, take personal discipline and commitment to achieve the goal of financial independence so you never have to worry about money again. Done correctly and consistently, the end result is always having lots of cash on hand, all bills paid, and plenty of money in reserves to finance what you really want to do with your money; not just pay bills. Who doesn’t want that, right?

Sandra Simmons, President of Money Management Solutions, Inc. says, “Use your cash flow wisely. Treat it as a resource to use to achieve your financial goals. Correctly managing your cash flow will determine how well your company will survive now and into the future. Correctly applying these seven steps of smart business money management planning is simple when you use the Money Management Solutions software because it quickly puts you in control of your financial future.”