The Small Business Podcast

Episode Summary: 

Edel Hayes is the founder and owner of Accelerate Accounting Solutions and a Chartered Accountant (ACA) in Kildare, Ireland, with over 15 years of experience. She and her company specialize in customized approaches and strategies to help service-based female entrepreneurs manage their finances. Edel and her team are here to take the stress and uncertainty out of your accounting obligations and help grow your business. 

In this episode, Edel and I chat about the importance of financial education and having an accountant with who you interact more than once a year. Whether you’re just starting your business or you’ve been handling all of your finances yourself, join us to discover how you can grow your business by putting your finances first.

In This Episode, We Cover:  

The first thing you should do when starting your business

The process (and reasons) for setting up your business as a sole trader vs. a company

When to bring in someone like Edel

Edel’s good, better, and best approach

The difference between your bank account and your profit and loss

Determining your key financial measures to track monthly

How to view and decide your take-home pay when your income is inconsistent

What a drip account is and when to create one

The importance of money mindset and prioritizing the financial aspect of your business over your passion for it

Key Takeaways: 

Look for an accountant in the early days of your business because it can take time to find the accountant who is right for you.

A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work because everyone’s at different stages in their business at different times.

When you base your business decisions on facts, you’ll see an improvement.

There’s no need to apologize for your goals and aspirations.

Always seek help when you need it.

Quotable Moments: 

”Find an accountant that understands your business and has clients in a similar space as your business. They’ll be much more able to advise you.”

”Money is a tool, and that’s all it is. It’s not good. It’s not bad. But it’s going to give you choices in your life.”

”Never think that because you are a small business, you don’t need to understand your finances.”

Connect with Edel:

On her website: https://accelerateaccountingsolutions.com/

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/accelerateaccounting/

Connect with Alison: 

On her website: https://desmondconsultancy.wixsite.com/website

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desmondconsultancy/ and https://www.instagram.com/thesmallbusiness_podcast/

Episode 3 - Sheelah Moloney

We’re living in a world full of visuals and there is a power and simplicity to using the right ones in marketing your brand so that it represents you authentically.

Our guest this episode, Sheelah Moloney, is an art historian and graphic designer with a wealth of knowledge to share. Sheelah and I have a wonderful conversation about figuring out how to create a brand that allows you to be visually perceived the way you want and to make sure your brand messaging is clear.

We delve into how you can use email marketing to bring your brand to life, why it’s important to really know your purpose when creating newsletters, and some essential tips so you can avoid ending up in your audience’s spam folder.

I’d love to hear more about your thoughts on this topic, let’s have a chat on Instagram!

In this episode, we cover:

What to look for when choosing someone to help you with your marketing and brand messaging

The natural process of discovering how you want your brand to be perceived visually

How many colors do you really need in your branding?

Translating your brand feel into your email marketing

The positives of email marketing and how it helps you to connect with your audience

Tips for creating a well branded email newsletter that reflects your brand, your purpose, and your voice

What you can do to prevent you emails from ending up in spam!

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

Visit Sheelah’s website, 2020 Curates

Connect with Sheelah on Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/2020curatesdesign/

Follow The Small Business Podcast  for updates and new episode alerts https://www.instagram.com/thesmallbusiness_podcast/

Are you a small business owner needing help with your marketing strategy? Check out Desmond Consultancy for more information

https://www.instagram.com/desmondconsultancy/

Episode 2 - Fiona Brennan

Social Media Marketing is a crucial part of small business success these days, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy.

In this episode, I chat with Fiona Brennan, Holistic Success Coach, and Mentor, about getting comfortable with social media marketing and how crucial it is to have the right mindset when confidence begins to wane.

Fiona and I talk about how running a small business can lead you down a path of personal development and why, particularly for service-based providers, your business needs to be connected to who you are. We also discuss what can happen when you view your competitors in a more positive light, why clarity is key, how your money mindset can affect your messaging, and what you can do to build your confidence when you begin having doubts.

I’d love to hear more about your thoughts on this topic, let’s have a chat on Instagram!

In this episode, we cover:

How to overcome a lack of confidence

The connection between having a small business and personal development

How the current crisis has led us to feelings of FOMO and burnout 

Avoiding the pitfalls of comparison and validity on social media

3 major tips for marketing your business on social media

Fiona’s incredibly effective method to stop spinning negative stories in your head

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

Visit Fiona’s website, Inspire Action Success https://inspireactionsuccess.com/

Connect with Fiona on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/inspireactionsuccess/

Follow The Small Business Podcast  for updates and new episode alerts https://www.instagram.com/thesmallbusiness_podcast/

Are you a small business owner needing help with your marketing strategy? Check out Desmond Consultancy https://www.instagram.com/desmondconsultancy/

Hello!!

Welcome to the first episode of The Small Business Podcast. 

This episode introduces the host Alison Desmond and why she created the podcast. Alison also gives great advice on how to start your marketing and why maybe it is not working for you at the moment. 

Marketing Strategy Template: https://trello.com/b/Y4toA0YD/marketing-strategy-template

If you have any feedback or would like to be a guest contact via email: smallbusinesspodcastpr@gmail.com

Instagram: 

The Small Business Podcast https://www.instagram.com/thesmallbusiness_podcast/

Desmond Consultancy https://www.instagram.com/desmondconsultancy/