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4 Ways to Implement Sustainable Business Practices and Save Money

As a business owner, one of the most important phrases I live by is “People and Planet Over Profit”. Every decision I make for the business I look at how does this affect my team and the environment; can we do better? Before we buy office supplies or purchase from vendors, I want to look at their supply chain. Are they paying fair wages, where do they source their materials from, are their raw materials toxic or bad for the environment in any way? I want other businesses to know that they can implement sustainable and environmentally-friendly practices and not break the bank. In fact, you can even save money! Below are 4 ways to save money by implementing eco-friendly choices.

  • Buy reusable office cleaning supplies. I do not buy paper towels, cleaning wipes or cleaning supplies in plastic bottles. For the less than the price of one carton of paper towels, I was able to buy a 12-pack of reusable cloth rags for cleaning. Once they are used, I just take them home and wash with my other towels and sheets from home. I have not had to buy paper towels in 3 years. That also eliminates the need for cleaning wipes saving on the cost of office cleaning supplies every month.
  • Implement a hybrid or work from home schedule for employees. My company has a hybrid schedule where they work from home a couple days a week and by the end of the year, will be remote full time. We are working through enhancing our systems, processes, and communication so we can maintain our excellent level of service. But moving to a full-time work from home schedule saves my business thousands of dollars each month and saves money for my team. It eliminates the cost of rent and utilities for the office plus all of the other small costs that come with having an office. This also eliminates driving to and from work each day. Full-time remote work will save 18,252 miles driven each year! This is a huge cost savings for my team on gas and wear and tear on the vehicle, but also eliminates the emissions from our cars into the atmosphere.
  • We are a paperless company. We do not print documents. All of our documentation is electronic, contracts are sent and signed electronically, and any paper receipts are scanned and saved digitally for reference and then shredded for the compost. All of our notes are on shared digital notebooks so everyone can use for reference. Everything is much more organized as well because we don’t have papers floating around and getting crumbled in files. Here are all the things we do not have to buy now because of this: printer, printer ink, printer paper, notebooks, sticky notes, paper clips, and staples.
  • One thing that can get expensive is our branded gear. Shirts, hats, business cards, and swag can add up quickly! I spent a long time searching for a vendor that can provide eco-friendly options without breaking the bank. That is where James Gang Printing comes in! They were able to find me shirts and hats made from recycled materials for the same price as other brands. Paper products can also be made from post-consumer materials. Even the thread used in embroidery is made of recycled material. Check them out: James Gang Printing.

These are just some of the ways my company has been able to save literally thousands of dollars a month all while implementing eco-friendly business practices. I believe the individuals and businesses all need to do their part to fix what we broke!

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We Are Alacritous!

As TrueHeart Bookkeeping LLC was going through a rebranding, I was trying to think of a name that not only described the type of services we offer, but also how we work as a business. The “What” is important, but the “How” and the “Why” are more important. Alacritous means quick and eager, capable and willing, and enthusiasm. As a team, we are alacritous. Communication and partnership are key pillars of our organization. We always strive to provide prompt communication and set realistic expectations. The operational side of a small business can be daunting for some and we like to take that scariness away. Alacritous Solutions becomes, not just a vendor, but a partner to your business. We are with you at every step.

So many of our clients have come to us either feeling embarrassed or overwhelmed by the task of keeping their bookkeeping constantly up to date. We promise a judgement free environment! No one should ever be made to feel ashamed or embarrassed of something they have put their blood, sweat and tears in. And as a fellow business owner who has also put their blood, sweat and tears into their business, it is of the utmost importance to create a safe and trustworthy environment for everyone. There are no silly questions! We are here to make sure all business owners have the information they need to move their business in the right direction.

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Tools To Help Your Business

There are tons of different software systems out there to help you run your business. There are tools for every aspect of your business, but sometimes it can be overwhelming trying to determine what tool you need. The Alacritous Solutions Team is versed in many different systems that can integrate with your accounting software. Aside from using Quickbooks Online to manage your accounting, there are systems specific to every industry, systems for invoicing, systems for bill pay, processing payroll, managing inventory, Point of Sales, and many more.

Below are some of the many systems we manage for our clients and that we think are great tools to help run your business more efficiently.

  • Bill.com to manage all of your vendor payments
  • Paychex and Gusto for payroll processing
  • Shopify and Square for Point of Sales
  • Houzz for Interior Designers for invoicing, purchase orders, and project management
  • Jobber for cleaning and handy man service companies

These systems can do so much, but every business is different and every process is different so most of tools will not do 100% of what you need. One rule I follow is can I get 80% of my process managed by this system and then I can manage the other 20% with work arounds or adjusting my current process. Here are some steps to help you to find the best system for your needs.

  • Document your current process step by step to determine where systems, data and people are involved
  • Create a document with your system/process requirements. What are you Must Haves, Should Haves and Nice to Haves?
  • Determine who should manage the system. If everything was automated there would be no need for employees, so you will still need someone to manage the system to make sure the processes are correct and the data going in and out is correct. Don’t let it become “Garbage in, Garbage out”!
  • Try before you by! Many systems have trials period so you can test with sample processes and data. Test these out to see how the user interface looks and confirm it does what it says it does. Make sure the user interface feels intuitive to use. You can also chat with their sales reps or get on a quick call to talk through their system and make sure it meets your requirements.
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What’s due by January 31st

Below is a list of some of the key items your business needs to complete by January 31st to close out 2020.

Remember to get these items done on time. There may be more items your business needs to do to close out 2020, but below are key deliverables many small businesses have.

  • W2 Forms must be provided to each employee and send copies to Social Security Administration
  • Form 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC must be provided to each independent contractor you paid $600 or more during the year and send copies to the Internal Revenue Service and applicable state agencies
  • Federal and State Payroll Tax Returns. This may require filing and payment depending on your deposit schedule.

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