I’ve answered hundreds of small business accounting questions this year from clients, consults, and through this blog. Instead of responding to a finance query from an entrepreneur this week, I wanted to address some of the biggest issues I’m asked.

Being a business owner is one of the most rewarding jobs in the world, but it’s not for the faint of heart. There is no instruction manual to run your company. It requires research, stamina, support, and confidence.

Your budget is just comprised of pieces of information that you already have. This is a process of helping you put it together in a meaningful way.

I’ll walk you through the basics in 5 easy steps.

There is so much going on at all times in our lives, and that intensifies at the holidays. We never have enough time for family. There’s rarely the opportunity to take care of ourselves. If you don’t make the time, it will never appear.

Sure, as business owners we rarely truly get time 100% off. There are always small things to attend to, or ideas that come to mind. But if your business slows down over the holidays, then so should you.

In order to make this possible, but start making your plan now and expect to have several longer days than usual to ensure that you’ve attended to the necessary details.