Professional Help with Your Business

Financial Guidance

Running your own business is challenging enough without trying to handle your company’s tax planning and reporting. Most business owners would agree that hiring an accountant is a good investment.

Accountants can work with you and your financial officer or controller to keep your business financially sound. Some areas that accountants can help you with include preparing profit and loss statements, audit reports, and earnings projections. An accountant can also troubleshoot for you and help you fine-tune your budget.

Many accountants will help you organize your records for more efficiency. And if you need a loan, your accountant can help you determine what type might be appropriate for you.

In the early stages of your business, your lawyer helped you decide what type of structure (sole ownership, partnership, corporation, or franchise) would work best for you. And as you grow, an attorney can foresee various business needs, such as zoning regulations, employment practices, and workplace safety. It’s also important to retain a lawyer if you are applying for trademarks or patents, because many legal issues arise during the application process. Finally, it’s crucial to have an employment lawyer review your employee handbook to make sure you cover all the bases, legally speaking.

It’s essential to find someone who’s experienced in business law, preferably someone who has worked with businesses like yours. You may also want to think about the size of the firm. A smaller firm may give you more personal attention, but a larger one usually offers a wider range of services.

Finally, you should find out how you’ll be charged for the legal services you need. Most lawyers charge an hourly fee, and the cost of each consultation depends on the lawyer’s billing rate. That generally depends on level of experience, the part of the country where you live, and the type of firm it is. However, some lawyers charge a flat fee for a specific service, regardless of the amount of time it takes.

You can also employ a public relations (PR) firm or add a public relations specialist to your staff to help you gain exposure that you otherwise may not be able to attain. A PR agent can write press releases, manage your social media presence, and generally educate the public on the latest happenings in your business.

There are technology consultants who can help keep you updated with the latest software and manage the operation of your systems.

There are also soft consultants, who are trained to teach your employees how to maximize their productivity, cultivate working relationships with clients, and more.

Content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal or financial advice. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of WesBanco.

While we hope you find this content useful, it is only intended to serve as a starting point. Your next step is to speak with a qualified, licensed professional who can provide advice tailored to your individual circumstances. Nothing in this article, nor in any associated resources, should be construed as financial or legal advice. Furthermore, while we have made good faith efforts to ensure that the information presented was correct as of the date the content was prepared, we are unable to guarantee that it remains accurate today.

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