Spark Blog
BOOKKEEPING. ACCOUNTING. PROFIT.
Every other Thursday we release one new blog based on the comments and questions we receive, the economic climate, seasonal happenings and occasional business and finance events and reviews I choose to undertake.
Have an idea on a topic you’d like me to cover? Send it over to kasey@sparkbusinessconsulting.com, or let us know via our Contact Form.
10 Viral Holiday Social Media Ideas to Boost Engagement
10 Viral Holiday Social Media Ideas to Boost Engagement December is a bustling month filled with holiday spirit, festive celebrations, and opportunities for reflection as the year comes to a close. This vibrant season provides a perfect backdrop for creating engaging...
Building Resilience: Financial Planning Tips for Uncertain Times
In today’s fluctuating economic environment, building financial resilience is more crucial than ever. This not only involves traditional financial planning but also innovative methods like the Profit First system, which prioritizes profit allocation to ensure...
10 Viral Thanksgiving Social Media Ideas That Will Skyrocket Your Engagement
Thanksgiving offers a unique opportunity for brands to connect with their audience in a festive, heartfelt way. With the holiday spirit in full swing, leveraging social media can significantly amplify your brand’s presence and engagement. Here are ten creative and...
Creating a Compelling Brand Story
In the crowded marketplace of today, a compelling brand story isn't just a nice-to-have—it's a crucial part of a successful marketing strategy. A well-crafted brand story not only differentiates you from the competition but also connects emotionally with your...
Building a Strong Social Media Presence for Your Brand
In today's digital age, social media is a crucial platform for brands looking to enhance their visibility and engagement with customers. A strong social media presence can help you connect with your audience, showcase your brand's unique personality, and drive...
31 Spooky and Fun Halloween Social Media Prompts to Engage Your Audience
Halloween is just around the corner, and that means it’s time to get creative with your social media content. Engaging with your audience during the spooky season is a fantastic way to build community and drive interaction. Whether you’re managing a brand account or...
Adapting Profit First for E-commerce Ventures
Running an e-commerce business is challenging, especially when it comes to managing finances. The Profit First method, created by Mike Michalowicz, offers a unique approach to ensure profitability by prioritizing profit in financial management. While it was originally...
Spark Steps to Get Your Business Ready for the Holiday Rush
As the holiday season approaches, it's time to begin gearing up for the busiest time of the year. This period is not just about increasing sales; it's also about enhancing your brand's presence, building customer loyalty, and ensuring smooth operations during...
Mastering Marketing Funnels: A Comprehensive Guide to Boost Your Business
Understanding how to attract, engage, and convert potential customers is crucial for digital marketing. The most effective framework to achieve this is the marketing funnel. A marketing funnel outlines the journey customers take from the moment they become aware of...
Key Principles of Effective Website Design
The importance of effective website design cannot be overstated. It serves as the digital face of your brand, influencing how visitors perceive your business and determining whether they stay or leave. An effective design combines aesthetics, functionality, and...
Small Business Forecasting Made Easy
Accurate financial forecasting is crucial for small businesses in today's competitive environment. It allows you to anticipate future trends, make data-driven decisions, and achieve long-term success. However, many small business owners find themselves overwhelmed by...
Maximizing Profit Margins: Spark’s Strategies for Businesses
Maximizing profit margins is crucial for long-term success and sustainability. By implementing effective strategies, retail businesses can improve their profitability, streamline operations, and provide better value to customers. Here are key strategies to help you...
The Importance of Strong Branding for Business Success
In today's fiercely competitive marketplace, branding goes beyond just a memorable logo or a catchy tagline. It encapsulates the essence of what your business stands for—its values, aspirations, and the unique value proposition it brings to customers. Strong branding...
Mastering Expense Control: A Profit First Approach to Cost Management
In the world of business, managing expenses effectively is not just about cutting costs—it's about making strategic decisions that enhance your financial health and sustainability. The Profit First approach, introduced by Mike Michalowicz, offers a transformative way...
Prepping Your Small Business for Summer
Summer is not just a season; it's a vibrant period of opportunity for small businesses. As temperatures rise, so do the possibilities for increased customer engagement and sales. Whether you operate a beachside eatery, manage a boutique, or run a service-oriented...
The Psychology of Pricing: Leveraging Behavioral Economics for Profit Growth
In the dynamic landscape of business, where strategies are constantly evolving, pricing stands as one of the most crucial elements determining success or failure. Yet, setting the right price isn't merely about covering costs and making a profit; it's a subtle...
How to Brand Your Business
How to Brand Your Business In the competitive world of modern business, establishing a strong brand isn’t just an option—it’s essential. A brand is more than just a logo or a tagline; it’s the entire identity of your business. It’s what sets you apart from...
Fine-Tuning Your Financial Strategy: Advanced Profit First Techniques
Fine-Tuning Your Financial Strategy: Advanced Profit First Techniques In today's dynamic business environment, managing finances with foresight and agility is more critical than ever. The Profit First methodology, pioneered by Mike Michalowicz, has transformed the way...
Becoming Certified as a Restaurant Accountant: Everything You Need to Know
The journey from being passionate about the restaurant industry to becoming a certified restaurant accountant is one that's close to my heart. Having been on both sides of the restaurant world—from the hustle of running a restaurant to the intricacies of financial...
How to Find Your First Job as a Bookkeeper or Accountant
Embarking on a career in bookkeeping or accounting, especially with a niche focus like restaurant accounting, is a journey filled with learning and growth. After honing your skills and maybe even deciding to specialize, the next pivotal step is landing your first job...
The Accountant’s Guide to Working with Restaurants
In the dynamic world of dining, where the sizzle of the grill meets the crunch of the numbers, restaurants stand as unique entities with their own set of financial challenges and rewards. At Spark Business Consulting, rooted in a deep love and understanding of the...
The Accountant’s Guide to Finding Your Niche Client Industry
In a world brimming with competition, standing out is not just an option; it's a necessity. For accountants and financial consultants venturing into the realms of restaurants, caterers, cafes, and all small businesses, carving out a niche is akin to discovering a...
Top 5 Mistakes Most Bookkeepers/Accountants Make (And How to Turn Them Into Wins!)
In the journey of any professional, mistakes are inevitable. They are, in fact, valuable stepping stones to mastery and success. For bookkeepers and accountants, understanding and learning from these mistakes can transform your career. Let’s explore the top five...
Top Seven Reasons to Become a Small Business Accountant: Redefining the Cool in Calculating!
Gone are the days when accountants were stereotyped as old men crunching numbers in a drab office. Today, being a small business accountant is about embracing a dynamic and vital role in the business world. It’s an exciting career path that offers more than you might...
11 Compelling Reasons to Transition to QuickBooks Online for Your Business
If you're a business owner navigating the complexities of financial management, you are in the right place. Like many, I started with QuickBooks Desktop, the robust, traditional accounting software that ruled the financial management world. However, as the business...
Harnessing the Primacy Effect: How ‘Profit First’ Transforms Business Priorities
Harnessing the Primacy Effect: How 'Profit First' Transforms Business Priorities In a world where businesses often navigate through the maze of revenue, expenses, and growth strategies, the concept of 'Profit First' emerges as a revolutionary approach. This...
3 Common Mistakes Made When Implementing Profit First
Having spent a significant part of my career in the restaurant industry before moving into bookkeeping and consulting, I've witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of the Profit First methodology on businesses. However, as with any system, success lies in its...
Understanding Parkinson’s Law and Its Application in Business: A Profit First Perspective
Understanding Parkinson's Law and Its Application in Business: A Profit First Perspective In the realm of business management and personal productivity, Parkinson's Law emerges as a pivotal concept that can significantly impact how we approach tasks and manage our...
10 Simple Ways to Increase Profit in your Restaurant
10 Simple Ways to Increase Profit in your Restaurant Optimize Menu Pricing Analyze your menu items to ensure they're priced appropriately. Consider factors like food cost, preparation time, and popularity. Sometimes, a small increase in price and/or a thoughtful...
How Do I Know if Profit First is for Me?
How Do I Know if Profit First is for Me? You're staring at a sea of spreadsheets, your coffee has gone cold, and you're wondering where all the money went this month. If this sounds like you, then it's time to ask yourself: "Is Profit First for me?" I've been down...
Profit First for the Holidays: A Smart Way to Budget Your Festivities
Profit First for the Holidays The holiday season, as we all know, is synonymous with festive joy, warmth, and, let's face it, quite a bit of spending. While our previous blogs have highlighted the importance of preparing for the holidays, checklists, and the...
Key Takeaways from ProfitCon 2023
Key Takeaways from ProfitCon 2023 ProfitCon has always been a whirlwind of information, inspiration, and networking. This year, at the ProfitCon 2023 in Morristown, NJ, it was no different. This marked my seventh time attending, and although the novelty of the first...
Transforming Tables & Tidbits: How ‘Profit First’ is Stirring Up the Restaurant Scene
In the ever-evolving restaurant landscape, especially in a post-pandemic world, maintaining financial health is no longer just a strategy, it's a survival skill. But fret not, because a revolution is brewing in the restaurant industry, painting a fresher, more...
The Art of Productivity: Lessons from a Life in Restaurants and Business Consulting
The Art of Productivity: Lessons from a Life in Restaurants and Business Consulting If you've ever wondered what juggling looks like in the real world, step into a busy restaurant on a Friday night. Picture a waiter managing five to ten tables, coordinating with the...
How to Hire a 5-Star Employee
How to Hire a 5-Star Employee Finding a 5-star employee is no small feat. A streamlined, thoughtful hiring process can make all the difference. At Spark Business Consulting, we've crafted a meticulous 10-step gauntlet to ensure we bring aboard only the best. While we...
How to Open a Catering Business
How to Open a Catering Business Are you passionate about enjoying the hustle, joie-de-vivre and pride that a catering business can provide? If so, opening your own catering business might be the perfect business for you! But where do you start? Follow this...
How to Open a Food Truck: A Step-by-Step Guide
How to Open a Food Truck: A Step-by-Step Guide Are you passionate about enjoying the freedom and spontanaeity that owning a food truck can provide? If so, opening your own food truck might be the perfect business for you! But where do you start? Follow this...
My Self Care Journey Through Writing Profit First for Restaurants
The process of writing a book can be an intense and transformative journey. It requires dedication, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to bringing your ideas to life. Throughout my 18+ month adventure of crafting "Profit First for Restaurants," I discovered...
Profit First for Restaurants is AVAILABLE!
Profit First for Restaurants is AVAILABLE! 4 Things You Should Do Now You and I have been in the restaurant industry for a little while now, right? (Can you believe it's been 25+ years in my case?!) That doesn't make it any easier when a major shift occurs and...
How to Open a Bar: A Step-by-Step Guide to Launching Your Dream Venture
Are you passionate about creating a vibrant atmosphere for people to unwind, socialize, and enjoy quality drinks? If so, opening your own bar might be the perfect venture for you! But where do you start? Follow this step-by-step guide to navigate the process of...
How to Open a Café: A Step-by-Step Guide to Your Dream Business
Are you a coffee enthusiast with a passion for entrepreneurship? If so, opening your own café might be the perfect venture for you! But where do you begin? Follow this step-by-step guide to help you navigate the process of launching your dream café. Step 1: Develop a...
5 Ways to Find your Business Community
5 Ways to Find your Business Community As an entrepreneur or business owner, finding your community can be crucial to your success. A business community is a group of people who share common interests, goals, and experiences, and can provide support, advice,...
5 Tips to Bounce back from the Holidays & Kick-Start 2023 STRONG!
The most recent holiday season was one of the most challenging times of year for pretty much everyone I know - especially my colleagues and team members. Two of our Divisional Directors were out at the same time with Covid and related illnesses that affected not only...
Spark Tank 2.0 is LIVE
Cue the confetti everyone! We’re super happy to announce that Spark Tank 2.0 is coming up! This year, we hope to make it local - so where are all my Boston peeps!?. Although we ‘heart’ pretty much all entrepreneurs, we just have that ‘local love for Boston’ and...
July Restaurant Spotlight
It is no secret that I love restaurants. I love restaurants of all shapes and sizes. I love expensive and inexpensive, big restaurants and small restaurants, different cuisines and concepts, indoor and outdoor, fancy and casual – I just love them. But that’s not to...
We Love Restaurants!
I love going out to eat. And I probably do it way more than I “should” for health and wallet purposes. And then there are my kids, 12 and 15, who are now pretty much spoiled by going out to eat too often, which is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, I want them to...
![How to Navigate Your Balance Sheet and P&L [VIDEO TUTORIAL]](https://sparkbusinessconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/IG-Thumbnail-Balance-Sheet-Tutorial-400x250.png)
How to Navigate Your Balance Sheet and P&L [VIDEO TUTORIAL]
Not everyone is a numbers person. I get it. And thank god for that – that’s why we have work! But, when you’re running your own business, you have to know your numbers. It is so important to have some idea behind the story YOUR numbers tell you about your business and...
Don’t Make These 5 Business Mistakes!
In the 13+ years I have owned Spark, I have met with a lot of business owners - literally hundreds. And we all make or have made mistakes - literally hundreds (if not thousands). In this blog, I am writing about the same mistakes that I see currently as well as from...
Goal Setting for 2022
Today I'm going to talk about goal setting for 2022, and just in general. I get the vibe when I talk about it with potential clients, current clients, and my staff, that some people might think that planning or projecting or budgeting or goal setting is just one of...
Prepare for Emptier Holiday Shelves!
So... Thanksgiving just happened - that came up super fast as it always does, right? Kids had 2.5 days of school last week and of course, after Thanksgiving came the mad dash to every store imaginable to try and fill underneath the tree. Holidays 2021 are Going to Be...