Your biggest customer might be the one you work hardest for and earn the least from. In this Planting Seeds Podcast recap, Nick and I talk through how to find out which customers actually make you money, and what to do about the ones who don’t.

You've done the work, sent the invoice, and now you're waiting to get paid. In a recent episode of the Planting Seeds Podcast, Nick and Josh talk about why collecting payments can be so uncomfortable, when to require deposits, how prepaid services can help, and what to do when customers keep falling behind.

A full calendar doesn't always mean a profitable business. In a recent episode of the Planting Seeds Podcast, Nick and Josh talk about how to know if you're charging enough, when it's time to raise prices, and why being the cheapest isn't always the best strategy for your business.

Slow months happen. The real problem is getting surprised by one you could have seen coming. Here’s how cash reserves, better planning, controlled spending, and using downtime wisely can make seasonality a lot less painful.

Your business can look profitable on paper and still feel broke at the bank. Understanding the difference between cash and accrual accounting can help you see what your numbers are actually telling you, and avoid making decisions based on the wrong picture.

Some local businesses have been around for generations. Others are newer but have already found a way to make a difference. This month, we’re spotlighting four businesses across Columbia, Suwannee, Baker, and Lowndes counties that show what it means to serve the community you call home.

AI is already built into many of the tools businesses use every day. The real question isn’t whether to use it…it’s how to use it responsibly, verify what it tells you, and make sure a human still owns the decision.

A Write-Off Doesn’t Make Something Free
“I’ll just write it off” gets thrown around a lot, but a tax deduction doesn’t make a purchase free. The better question is whether the expense actually makes sense for the business in the first place.

Don’t Wait Until January to Ask for a W-9
Contractor reporting gets a lot easier when you collect the right information upfront. A simple process at the beginning can save business owners from scrambling for W-9s, payment details, and answers at year-end.

Growth Is Good. Until Your Business Can’t Handle It.
Growth sounds like the goal, but more customers and more revenue can expose weak systems fast. Here’s why sustainable growth depends on structure, visibility, and knowing when the business is actually ready for more.

You Can Delegate the Work. You Can’t Delegate the Responsibility.
Business owners can hand off payroll, accounting, marketing, and plenty of other tasks. But outsourcing the work doesn’t mean outsourcing responsibility. Good leadership still means understanding what’s happening, asking questions, and staying connected to the decisions that affect the business.

Most expensive business mistakes don't happen because someone didn't work hard enough. 

They happen because someone made an important decision without enough information. 

It happens more often than you might think. 

 A business owner decides to buy a new piece of equipment because business has been good. They hire another employee because they'reoverwhelmed. 

 They lease a bigger building because it feels like the next logical step. 

None of those are bad decisions. 

But they're big decisions. 

And big decisions deserve a conversation before they happen, not after. 

Whether you're selling homemade baked goods, handmade jewelry, woodworking projects, candles, custom apparel, or any other product at a local craft show, there are financial and tax responsibilities that come with those sales. 

Whether you sell handmade products, self-publish books, earn affiliate commissions, or land brand deals online, understanding taxes and sales tax is essential. Learn how creators and makers can protect their profits and avoid costly surprises. 

Many people assume a business begins when they form an LLC. 

Others think it starts when they reach a certain income level. 

Some believe it's only a business once they quit their day job. 

None of those things actually determine whether you're operating a business.