With so many businesses turning to COVID-related remote work over the past year and a half, employees are feeling as though they have fewer things tying them to a certain area. Because of this, many employees have begun to relocate. What does this mean for employers?

Budgeting for your small business would be much easier if it only required adding up your fixed expenses. However, when you throw in variable expenses, it can be easy to go over budget. How can you expect the unexpected and get a more accurate idea of what you should be spending?

Minnesota Main Street Covid Relief Grants Program will grant $10,000 - $25,000 to several thousand Minnesota businesses that can prove a financial loss due to COVID-19. The selection process is random, and the online application portal will only be open for 10 days - are you ready?

Here, we'll cover what you need to have prepared, when the portal opens, and if you qualify.

Here comes the Main Street Covid Relief Grants Program! Grants ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 will be given to Minnesota businesses that can prove a financial loss due to COVID-19. The selection process is random, provided the applicants are eligible, and we're looking at several thousand businesses being chosen.

The online application portal is set to open sometime in September for 10 days only - are you ready? Let's see if you're eligible.

NOTE: The application portal is open as of 10:00 a.m. on September 20, 2021. It will only be open for 10 days!

The ERC is a great COVID relief effort, so why aren't there more eligible small businesses applying?

In this blog post, we discuss what it is, how it's expanded, and if you're eligible. Most importantly, we talk about how CSI Accounting & Payroll has helped applicants in the past (and can help you as well!) - no hassles, no worries.

Most small business owners have tax filing season on their radar each Spring. However, a shocking number don't have a tax planning strategy session on their calendar. When you only work with an annual tax accountant, they can only record the history of your year and give minimal advice on the upcoming year.

At CSI Accounting & Payroll, we use monthly accounting to give business and financial advice year-round, but we also set up tax planning sessions each Fall. The goal? We want our clients to know what their tax season is going to look like ahead of time to maximize benefits.

When you run a small business, you're usually working with a tight budget. This means that many small businesses tend to purchase supplies and services from large, national providers, even when they want to support their fellow small businesses.

Often, it's a misconception that national providers cost less than small businesses - or if they do, they certainly don't give you the same bang for your buck. We're here to walk you through the differences between the cost and value of larger companies versus small businesses when it comes to outsourcing your financial activities, such as accounting and payroll.

What happens when you file your taxes late? How about when you file them late without an extension? These are questions that we're frequently asked when we sit down with prospective clients.

If you're only meeting with an annual tax accountant, you probably aren't being treated as a priority. This can result in missing important due dates and being penalized for it - and it's much more common than you'd think. When was the last time you felt like you had good communication with your accountant?                     

All business owners know the importance of communication. Good communication is needed with your suppliers, advisors, and employees to keep your business running smoothly from an internal standpoint. Do you ever think about the importance of communication with your customers?

Regardless of your type of business, this needs to be considered. Customers who purchase more temporary goods or services have the opportunity to be repeat visitors, customers who make a large single goods or services purchase have the opportunity to offer impactful referrals or reviews, and clients with accounts have the opportunity to be long-term partners. Gaining insight into customers' perspectives is ideal for growth.

When you run a small business, there are tons of numbers involved. A lot of owners are focused on the basics like sales and expenses, and they trust their accountant to handle their statements. While an annual tax accountant can give you a reflection of your last year, you might not have a deeper understanding of what each line on your financial statements means.

Here are the KPIs (key performance indicators) you should be tracking year-round for your small business.