A business owner in Joliet called us in a panic last spring: their QuickBooks said they had $18,000 in the bank, but two checks had just bounced. Nothing had been stolen. The software was simply set up wrong — duplicate accounts, uncategorized transactions, and a bank feed that had been silently double-counting deposits for [...]
After more than thirty years running Keep A Count, I've watched the way business gets done shift dramatically — and nowhere is that shift more obvious than how my clients sign and notarize their documents. The driver under-the-table contracts, the cross-state vendor agreements, the loan packages that used to require a half-day off — they're [...]
There is a quiet shift happening in the way small business owners think about their finances in 2026. It is not dramatic or loud, but it is consistent. More and more entrepreneurs are stepping back from trying to manage everything themselves and are instead choosing to trust professionals with one of the most important parts [...]
At 2:00 in the morning, the Bolingbrook truck stop is usually just a place for drivers to fuel up or grab some rest. But earlier this week, it became the unexpected location for a major life milestone. While most of Will County was asleep, we were out there meeting a driver who needed help [...]
As a small business owner, I’ve seen firsthand how cash flow issues can quietly derail even the most promising companies. You might be generating revenue, closing deals, and growing your customer base—but still struggling to pay bills on time or feel confident about your financial future. Many entrepreneurs start searching for answers like how to [...]
If you’re a small business owner, freelancer, or entrepreneur, chances are you’ve been there before. A drawer stuffed with receipts. A folder on your desk that keeps growing. Maybe even an actual shoebox filled with crumpled paper you swear you’ll organize “someday.” You’re not alone—and you’re not failing. You’re simply busy. I’m Kathleen Lee, owner [...]
For many business owners, bookkeeping is one of those necessary evils that always seems to get pushed to the bottom of the priority list. I see it every day. Receipts pile up, bank accounts don’t quite match, QuickBooks feels intimidating, and before you know it, you’re months behind and stressed about your finances. As [...]
As a business owner, one of the most stressful parts of growth is managing your finances while trying to keep the rest of the business running smoothly. I speak with entrepreneurs every day who tell me they feel buried under invoices, drowning in spreadsheets, or completely unsure whether their books are accurate. As the [...]
Running a small business comes with excitement, dreams, and plenty of moving parts. But one of the biggest challenges that often sneaks up on business owners is keeping the books in order. Financial management isn’t just a formality—it’s the foundation of every successful business. I know this firsthand, as the owner of Keep A [...]
