Читать книгу The Consulting Bible - Alan Weiss - Страница 30

Keep your business checking account separate from your personal accounts. You can create a savings account or money market sweep account to accommodate funds that aren't immediately needed. Be aware that almost everyone has some combination of these needs:

 Regular expenses: food, clothing, mortgage/rent, recreation.

 Special events: marriages, college, extended trips, and so on.

 Unexpected events: family help, illnesses, uninsured losses.

 Impulses: spontaneous purchases, ego needs.

 Lifestyle changes: new cars, house remodeling.

 Debt reduction: zero‐out credit cards, one‐time purchases.

 Nonretirement investments: stocks, bonds, real estate.

 Philanthropy: contributions and memberships.

Don't simply spend what you make, and don't spend it on whatever happens to be in front of you. Think about priorities, because you also have these business needs:

 Professional development

 New hardware, software, and technology

 Office support

 Nonreimbursed travel

 Marketing

 Communications

These can be sobering when viewed in this manner, but they are better viewed in daylight than hidden in dark corners. That's why lean and mean is best. I've never had a staff or part‐time employees, and my office has always been in my home.

Don't mix personal and business funds, even in a Subchapter S corporation, until the year is nearly ended and you can be advised on distributions and bonuses. Try to establish a separate, business line of credit with your bank. If you have both personal and business accounts, you'll have more clout and probably obtain more credit.

The purpose of credit is to even out the unequal flows of revenue and expenses. Credit should be paid off as soon as possible. That is responsible and appropriate in business. People who tell me they “never use credit cards” and pay only by check are amateurs, and remind me of people who put the rent money in one envelope and the milk money in another. If you're not willing to confidently use credit, then you simply don't trust your own abilities.