From the desk of Diligent Assistant

5 policies your Small Business should have in place!
How do you protect your Small Business from Legal Issues, Customer Complaints, Employee Concerns, Vendor Problems, etc.? With established business policies!

Software review – Zoom Video and Web Conferencing
Meet Zoom: a company labels it self as “One Consistent Enterprise Experience.” Lets dive into some features of Zoom!

14 Virtual Assistant Myths
1. I only need one Virtual Assistant Not true! Whilst there are some very good general administration Virtual Assistants out there, there are also some great ones that specialize in certain areas of business. To get the best advice and service, it is generally better to hire a VA that can specialize in an area you are looking for. For instance a VA that specializes in general administration is...

How to claim mileage for your small business
Vehicle mileage is one of the most common areas that is recorded incorrectly in the accounting process. Many people put through their fuel receipts as an expense, some also put through maintenance and other vehicle expenses. The only time you should be doing this, is if the vehicle is owned by the company. Whilst this may sound like a great idea, if you utilize your vehicle for...

Understanding your Chart Of Accounts (COA)
The most common question I get asked is "what account should I book this expense to?". So in this article I am going to give you the lowdown on your internal accounts - also known as Chart of Accounts or COA. Many people do not realize that government departments such as the Canada Revenue Agency, do not care what you book your expenses too. All they care about is how much profit you made at...

Software review – Hubdoc
Recently I had a chance to try out Hubdoc and I gotta say that I was instantly hooked! So much so that I have now gone on to complete training with them and I am now a Hubdoc Certified Partner and Hubdoc Certified QBO Pro-Advisor! If you have several online accounts with vendors where you find yourself logging on to each of them every month to pull off invoices and then, enter that information...

Start as you mean to go on!
You know what makes me really mad??? Hearing coaches constantly asking "what free software does this?" If you are serious about your business, why wouldn't you be serious about the software, applications and equipment you use? Yes they can cost a lot of money, but... you know what else costs you money? Having to change your software or equipment down the road because it no longer meets your...

17hats – Product Review
I have recently had the opportunity to try out 17hats - not only as a CRM but as a complete solution for the solopreneur regarding managing clients, projects and finances, and I have to say, I love it! A CRM is only as good as the person using it! In my quest for the ultimate CRM, I have found that 17hats is by far the best yet for companies where collaboration is not required. 17hats is a...

Find your purpose – your vision
Starting your own company needs to have more behind it, than just being more convenient than working an employed job; but at the same time, you also need to make it work around you and your lifestyle commitments. Otherwise what is the point? Running a business is hard work, I am not going to lie to you. But you are in control of what, where and when that hard work looks like, and it is...

Understanding your Small Business
Many people starting a new business think that it’s an easy ride. Tired of working for someone else, often thoughts of “I can do this myself” lead the way to start a business when all you have is a core skill and a desire to work less and earn more. While this is a great incentive to start, it’s not enough to keep you going when things get tough (and they will). Aside from this,...