Well this week has been crazy. My kids are home from school... I just became a teacher. Two years ago I "homeschooled" (I use that term loosely because she had teachers online) my oldest daughter and well, let's just say that she went back to school the year after because I discovered that it was not for me when I was also trying to run a business and take care of babies. 

Anyways, this week they came home and although they have teachers, I still need to help, monitor, supervise and assist and that has rocked my world. Juggling four kids, a business with four employees and a shared household is tricky... BUT I'm getting back to mental normalcy. This season is starting to and continuing to prove to be an ever changing pile of unknowns. Which in the world of being a business owner, it can be intimidating, not foreign but definitely way more than what we could possibly imagine. That being said, I've been almost tirelessly working to try and find as much as I can on how to help and where I can point people to so we can navigate through this season and still get through "Alive" 

Here is what I've pulled together so far. Expect there to be additional information as the days continue because that is also changing every single day. As always, feel free to reach out and as a question or offer your own suggestions. We are here to help! 

• I just got word that WI got approved, or what have you, as a disaster location with the SBA. It will be listed on the SBA website and open for application in the next day or so. Start gathering your information now! (see below link for more info) https://wisconsinsbdc.org/services/covid-19/disasterloans/?fbclid=IwAR0gotQ-46JxZAkVJsgZ7NQXiB0ZajJBlTZNTFRH0mztEU693nsiySsOwl0
• It was also recommended that people that are current clients of WWBIC call their SBCs as there are some additional options available specifically to you.
• SBA loans are also being deferred up to 6 months so those with loans should contact their lenders. Many are doing a 2 month deferment with a revisit at that time.
• Unemployment is available to those who would normally be eligible for it, they removed the one week wait. If you are the owner and your business is shut down but you have been getting a paycheck with payroll taxes being paid you should be able to also collect unemployment but you may need to call or push (per an owner I spoke with)
• A new FMLA extended law was passed which would impact employees and employers of businesses with 25-499 employees. It indicates that employers may be required to provide paid leave after 10 days and up to 12 weeks at 2/3 the current pay rate. More information is available if you need it
• WEDC is offering assistance up to $20,000 for businesses that already have a loan with a CDFI - It would be for the costs of payroll and rent for 2 months up to the 20k mark. I have additional information regarding this if you need it. Please let me know if you do.

Keep pushing and be blessed. We will get through this season and will be all the stronger for it. Try to enjoy your families, rest and tackle that honey-do list in your down time. 

Yep, I’ve done it! I’ve taken our brand and put a new name on it. Talk about scary! The main motivation behind this was of course my change in status, however, after walking through this process, I’m really excited at getting a bit of a fresh start and refined purpose to my business. But let me tell you… I’ve decided that picking a business name is really tough and not for the faint of heart.

Our choice of name was met with a lot of various opinions and reactions which forced me to really, really contemplate what our name was going to be. I spent weeks thinking about it, nights praying, thinking, considering and thinking again. Finally after much deliberation and a company vote, we chose our new name! I was really excited about it but then I started thinking and talking and questioning my gut. To be honest, I was faltering in the chosen name! Of course, that was after I already started purchasing all of our rebranded material. *Face palm*

I was in the car driving back Appleton from Milwaukee when all these thoughts hit me. Driving is often when I do the most thinking. Sometimes I listen to books or music but sometimes I listen to silence and just think! Being the Mom of 4, there aren’t many opportunities for silence or even hearing myself think, but that’s a story for another day. As I was driving, thinking about our new name, I was trying to figure out how we really need to market this in order to be successful. The truth is that our name is different from the norm, maybe a little “cute” or unprofessional BUT it does something no other accounting firm name does… It vocalizes our passion, mission and purpose.

Since I’ve started this business my goal has always been to change the face of accounting, to do it different, to fight this statistic that 8 out of 10 small businesses fail. By educating, processing and analyzing your financial data and specializing in small business, we will help process and translate your books. Every owner needs somebody to help them grow a successful, profitable business and we want to be that somebody for you! It goes so much farther than the numbers (even the numbers are key)... We are here to help you conquer your books and assist as needed; whether that’s simply helping with the books, developing a plan to get to the next level, teaching a business owner how to understand their financials, create a budget or projection, or understand what profitability really means and what cash flow is and what the difference is, we want to be that partner for you. When you’re working on your margins and planning, it all comes back to the numbers and if you don’t know them it’s going to be a lot harder to make the right decisions for your business.
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Regardless of which level you may be at as an owner you need to know what your numbers mean and how to use them to run your business more and more successfully. We are your backup and partner to creating a profitable business! We will help you conquer your finances by taking control of where your money comes and goes. We are here to help, and we will continue to refine, define and grow in our ability to do just that! So, on that note, I am so pleased to introduce you to Sidekick Accounting Services! Conquer Your Books! Change the Statistic! 

 
2745 N MLK Dr, Suite 203F  ​
Milwaukee, WI 53212​
 
 
414-702-5012​
info@sidekick-accounting.com​
Schedule Your FREE Consultation today!!

When running your own business, there’s a lot of things that you must keep focus, but one of those things many neglects is: organization. Effective organization requires a mixture of the right mindset and conditioned habits over time. You won’t be a good organizer or even like it, day one, but all it takes is repeated self-practice. Here are three easy ways to start managing your business’s finances better.

Go Digital ​

Having filing cabinets, folders and piles of papers is completely unnecessary in today’s world. In fact, having that clutter makes organization almost impossible. It’s easier to keep track of everything when it’s all in one place and it will save you time. Cutback on the amount of paperwork you have around – there are programs that aggregate your business spending that keeps you organized and saves you a lot of time. These software’s allow owners to neatly organize expenditures, income earned and other financial matters, right on your computer. 

Make it a Daily or Weekly Practice

Take time at the end of every day or week to review expenses and sales. This can be as little as 15 minutes. By doing this you’ll get a clear view on where you are financially, and what you need to do to move in the right direction. Organization is all about habit, and by setting aside time to do this daily or weekly creates that habit, making it easier each time you do it. It will also help you monitor cash flow and business growth, while maintaining a clear, complete record. Last but not least, consider bringing in an accountant quarterly to give you professional eyes. This is a great way to learn as well, if you are not an expert in finances. 

Don’t Pay as You Go

According to many experts, paying your bills all at once at the end of the month gives you a much better perspective of your expenses than if you pay your bills once they arrive. You’ll be able to see everything from the month at once, so you can make all your adjustments, planning, and budgeting at once. If you pay as you go, you wouldn’t be able to do that as you might put your financial plans in one problem, while a much bigger problem could still be possibly looming. 

Your business is very important to us. If you have questions or you are interested in learning more about what we can do to help your business out financially, let’s meet to discuss our services and all your options.
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Give us a call 414-702-5012 or visit us at https://www.mccrayaccountingservices.com/ to see how we can help you TODAY!

Position: Data Entry/Office Intern (Part time)
Description: Sidekick Accounting Services provides quality full service bookkeeping, accounting, and payroll services to small businesses in the Greater Milwaukee Area and virtually throughout the United States. We have quickly grown and are looking for a dedicated, passionate individual that is self- motivated, willing to learn and a team player. This position has tremendous room for growth as the company continues to grow. Part time position has some flexibility for hours between 8:30 and 4:30 pm M-TH at our office and is expected to go to a full time position within 6 months. This is the ideal position for a college student or someone looking to grow with a successful small business starting from an entry level position.

Requirements:

• Demonstrate working knowledge of computer software packages, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, and MS Word
• Sufficient customer service experience/ability
• Attention to detail is a must
• Valid driver's license and insurance (errands, pick up/drop offs will be part of this position)

Responsibilities: 

• Attention to detail to correctly enter and categorize transactions
• Filing and other administrative support tasks
• Answering/forwarding business calls and emails
• Document pick up/drop off as needed
• Tasks for on site clients
• Other duties as assigned

Compensation/Benefits:

• Starting pay: $9 - $10 per hour depending on current experience
• Mileage reimbursement
• Full time benefits will include holiday, vacation and possible bonus pay​​

Please send resumes to: info@mccrayaccountingservices.com