Welcome to the new version of the Fish Food Podcast, now on audio and video, making it even easier for you to get the accounting and tax advice you need! While we are here to talk making money, keeping as much of it as you possibly can, and tracking it appropriately for taxes, in this episode, host Keila Hill-Trawick answers some common questions about herself and Little Fish Accounting. From why Keila decided to leave corporate to who can benefit from her services, lean in and learn why Little ...
Feb 15, 2023•15 min•Ep. 91
Little Fish Accounting presents Build To Enough. The pursuit of endless growth and scaling can leave entrepreneurs feeling burned out and unfulfilled. This podcast explores how to build sustainable, purpose-driven businesses that align with your lifestyle and values, rather than defined by rapid expansion alone. On this show, we’ll reframe definitions of success, provide strategies for structuring companies around desired lifestyles, and share stories of entrepreneurs finding deeper fulfillment ...
Feb 15, 2023•1 min
Wondering what it’s like to work with a tax professional? In this episode, I continue last week's conversation about how to prepare for a stress-free tax season and invite Kenya Todd , our account manager, to lay out what it's like to work with Little Fish. Not only do we lay out what our year-round service, Tax Prep Suite, entails, but we also interview one of our clients, Nix Avant-Brown , about her experience with this service. In the interview, Nix tells us how using Tax Prep Suite helped he...
Dec 21, 2022•17 min•Ep. 90
Merry-almost taxes! This week I have a special episode where I'm sharing actionable steps to help you prepare for a stress-free tax season. I'm answering frequently asked questions about quarterly estimates, best practices when working with a tax professional, and what expenses you should deduct annually. In this episode, I'm sharing an overview of how taxes work and why the IRS prefers that you make an educated guess and 'pay on the go.' I'm also breaking down the different types of taxes that ...
Dec 14, 2022•40 min•Ep. 89
I’m so excited to bring you a client spotlight episode. Ona Oghogho is the founder of Adode Media , a full-service podcast production, content, and storytelling studio for entrepreneurs and small businesses. To call Ona a “creative powerhouse” is an understatement. In addition to Adode Media, she’s also the founder of Blk Pod Creative – a global digital community for Black audio creatives, and Blk Pod Festival – an annual podcast conference where Black audio creatives come together to learn and ...
Dec 07, 2022•35 min•Ep. 88
It seems like everyone in the business and entrepreneurship world is always moving on to new goals, and aiming for new heights. However, I’ve always known that there was going to be a cap to Little Fish’s growth because there are sacrifices I’m not willing to make for the sake of my team and the lives that I want us to be able to lead. And that’s okay. In today’s episode, I’m talking about what it means to intentionally reject never-ending growth and how you can do so with care and intention. I ...
Nov 30, 2022•7 min•Ep. 87
When I first started Little Fish, I had one mission – to make accounting information accessible and digestible for small business owners who are often left out of the conversation. I didn’t have my branding figured out, I didn’t have a clear target audience in mind, and I didn’t even have a business plan or a real goal until this year. So this episode is for my listeners who have dreamed about starting a business of their own, but are remaining on the fence because they don’t know where or how t...
Nov 23, 2022•6 min•Ep. 86
Confession: I don’t like tracking my time. It’s hard for me to clock in and clock out when I’m wrapped up in my day-to-day tasks. But in this episode, I’m making the case for tracking your time. Today, I share 3 reasons why you should track your time and the benefits you and your business will gain from doing so. Tracking your time reveals the gaps and needs in your business so that you can develop a more strategic plan of action. From reflecting on what you and your team have been able to focus...
Nov 16, 2022•7 min•Ep. 85
I'm so excited to introduce you to none other than Simone Little . Simone Little is an operations architect (also known as a chief operating officer) who helps small, women-owned businesses run their business efficiently and productively without burning out. She joins the show today to chat with us about the importance of having systems. More specifically, she explains how having the right systems can impact your finances for the better. In this episode, Simone starts by distinguishing the diffe...
Nov 09, 2022•38 min•Ep. 84
Did you know that 37% of small businesses outsource accounting and financial responsibilities? However, many of them report having bad experiences that make it difficult to trust a new provider. In this episode, I’m sharing what you need to look for when you’re finding the right accountant or tax professional for your business. I share tips to help you navigate the process, the basic services to look for when hiring an accountant, and why you need to get transparent about the deliverables you’re...
Nov 02, 2022•8 min•Ep. 83
As the end of 2022 approaches, you’ll hear a lot of your favorite influencers share the rush of squeezing in your end-of-year tax spending. This isn’t sound advice, but it’s common because it gives off the impression that it’ll save you in tax deductions. In today’s episode, I share why the “spending free” advice is just cash out the door. From what deductions really look like and why they don’t equate to an even dollar-to-dollar amount, I share why you shouldn’t follow the advice to go spend cr...
Oct 26, 2022•8 min•Ep. 82
Tax season is a notoriously stressful time of year. But what if I told you that by doing 3 simple things, you can eliminate the shock, surprise, and strain of it all? In this episode, I’m sharing the 3 steps you need to take in order to prepare for taxes throughout the year. This will help you alleviate worry during the already stressful tax season, so you can head into it confidently, knowing exactly what to expect. From why bookkeeping is the foundation to how to manage the contractors you hir...
Oct 19, 2022•9 min•Ep. 81
In today’s episode, we’re discussing taxes. More specifically, we’re reframing your beliefs around taxes by helping you understand why taxes are funds that never belonged to you. If you listened to last week’s episode all about having cash on hand, this episode will help you understand why taxes are different from your business cash and how you can better prepare your business to handle them when tax season approaches. From how to have better insight on your taxes to why you should hire a profes...
Oct 12, 2022•8 min•Ep. 80
A lot of business owners tend to make a clear distinction between their bookkeeper, their accountant, and their tax person. However, it is extremely valuable to have all your accounting and tax functions in one place instead of spreading it across experts. This is why in today’s episode, I’m talking all about why small businesses can benefit from a more cohesive accounting and tax support. I share 3 benefits of having all your accounting and tax functions under one roof, from avoiding the hassle...
Oct 05, 2022•8 min•Ep. 79
Everybody wants to get paid. No one starts a business just so they could avoid receiving money, or worse… chase up on payments constantly. In today’s episode, I’m talking you through everything you need to know in ordered to get paid on a timely basis. The tips I share in this episode are easy to follow and incredibly actionable. I share ways in which you can make receiving money very easy just by switching to electronic and online payments. Then, I discuss how you can prepare for additional fee...
Sep 28, 2022•8 min•Ep. 78
In the previous episode of Fish Food, we discussed how important it is for your business to manage and account for cash flow. There will always be peaks and valleys in the seasons of running your small business, which is why in today’s episode, I want to share how you can establish a financial safety net through having business cash on hand and emergency funds. I share ways in which you can build a reserve of money available for your business so you can handle current operating needs while prepa...
Sep 21, 2022•8 min•Ep. 77
Making enough income in just one side of the equation. Making enough income at the right moment so that you have the cash on hand to pay your team and vendors is another. However, the latter is key to keeping your company afloat. That is why in today’s episode, we’re talking about the most common cash flow challenges and what you can do about that. Most of the time, what you have isn’t a bill paying issue. Instead, not being able to categorize and do your bookkeeping is the culprit. In this epis...
Sep 14, 2022•9 min•Ep. 76
Raising prices for your services can feel scary, but it's often necessary as your business grows and evolves. But how do you if it's time to raise your prices? As your business grows and your costs increase, you may find that you need to raise your prices. This can be a scary proposition, but it's often necessary in order to keep your business afloat. By doing some research and understanding your options, you can make sure that you raise your prices in a way that won't hurt your business or alie...
Sep 07, 2022•8 min•Ep. 75
Building a consistent and trusting relationship with your financial manager or accountant is a game-changer. In today’s short and sweet episode, I’m reframing how you think about your relationship with your bookkeeper, financial manager, or accountant. I discuss what we learned about our clients when we first started Little Fish Accounting and how we discovered that long-term, consistent education alleviates a lot of our client’s fears and uncertainties regarding their finances. Take a few minut...
Aug 31, 2022•5 min•Ep. 74
Knowing how to review your financial statements is a crucial skill as a business owner. Not only will knowing how to read these numbers help you make empowered decisions, but it’ll help you plan for growth, check-in with your business, and maintain your financials as expected. In this episode, we’re discussing how to review your balance sheet and what you should be looking for from your average expenses each month and your accounts receivable line. Then we discuss reviewing your P and L, startin...
Aug 24, 2022•11 min•Ep. 73
If you’ve seen Little Fish Accounting out in the world or on the internet, you know how seriously we take compliance and advisory. Our entire firm is built and based around the idea that compliance and advisory make up the most important pieces of your financial strategy. But what does it mean? In today’s episode, I explain exactly what compliance and advisory mean individually while helping you understand why your business needs it. I share examples and instances of how compliance can show up i...
Aug 17, 2022•13 min•Ep. 72
Understanding the different categories that make up your chart of accounts will help you make better and more informed financial decisions in your business. That is why in today’s episode, I’m defining what a chart of accounts is. More specifically, I’m breaking down the different categories you can expect to see on your chart of accounts. From the three main categories of your balance sheet and what each of them means to how to read and categorize your profit and loss statement. This episode is...
Aug 10, 2022•12 min•Ep. 71
Hello, hello! Welcome back to Fish Food, the podcast for entrepreneurs that are building companies that grow into thriving businesses. We aim to provide accounting/business tips in 20 minutes or less! Delegation is a skill any entrepreneur needs to have. While your business may be small, it can be overly ambitious to take on every task. Knowing who to delegate to and when to delegate is a critical element to ensure your business is firing on all cylinders and reaching its full potential This is ...
Aug 03, 2022•8 min•Ep. 70
Navigating the world of finances is overwhelming, especially as an entrepreneur or freelancer. In today’s episode, I’m giving you some quick tips on what you need to know about bookkeeping, reviewing financial reports, and tax repair so that you can take better charge of your finances. Good bookkeeping is so much more than logging your income and expenses. At its core, it is the foundation of all your reports from which the financial strategy and goals for your business are built. That’s why I’m...
Jul 27, 2022•8 min•Ep. 69
Welcome back to another episode of Fish Food, the podcast for entrepreneurs building companies that grow into thriving businesses. We aim to provide accounting/business tips in 20 minutes or less! Managing your expenses is a major part of life as an entrepreneur. Since you are the boss, the bottom line falls on you. Every financial decision you make plays a huge part in staying afloat. Understanding how to handle your revenue and expenses can make or break your business. Part of this involves cu...
Jul 20, 2022•8 min•Ep. 68
Welcome back to another episode of Fish Food, the podcast for entrepreneurs that are building companies that grow into thriving businesses. We aim to provide accounting/business tips in 20 minutes or less! As a small business owner, it can be natural to use personal funds for business (and vice versa). Even though you are a small business, creating separate accounts for business and personal matters is critical to protecting yourself, your business, and any assets you have. Today, we are going t...
Jul 13, 2022•9 min•Ep. 67
As an entrepreneur, your pricing strategy is a primary factor in determining the success of your business. Your time, level of expertise, and infrastructure make you more efficient at what you do and your prices should reflect that. On this episode, we discuss how charging for the experience is a way to optimize your earnings while also allowing you to serve your clients better. Looking for tips, insights, and support with all your accounting needs? Then head over to the Little Fish Resource Lib...
Jul 06, 2022•8 min•Ep. 66
Being an entrepreneur can be terrifying when the world is more uncertain than usual. There are so many rumors (and recent truths) about a new direction for our country and the citizens living in it, and it can be hard to believe in the future of our businesses and dreams when we are facing so much fear. But there are ways that we can better prepare ourselves for potential pivots or downturns so that we're not completely caught off guard. In today's episode, we're talking about how to prepare fin...
Jun 29, 2022•7 min•Ep. 65
We all have a "how it started / how it's going story", and Little Fish is no different. Beginning as a solopreneur, to a team of a couple of contractors, and now today, a team of FT and PT employees, we've had ups, downs, and in-betweens as we created then grew a different kind of CPA firm. In this episode, we talk about: How I thought I would get out of accounting as a career Stumbles when first hiring team members How our founding mission guides us today. If you've ever wondered how Little Fis...
Jun 22, 2022•20 min•Ep. 64
As an entrepreneur, outsourcing is an important step that allows you to focus on growing and achieving your business goals. Think about how much time you could get back if you could offload some tasks off your plate. On this episode we discuss how not hiring could be holding you back and best practices to keep in mind as you look to expand your team. Looking for tips, insights, and support with all your accounting needs? Then head over to the Little Fish Resource Library ! If you're ready to out...
Jun 14, 2022•7 min•Ep. 63
