Month: August 2021

Casey Bramlett joined Pinnacle Bank in July 2021 as an AVP, Government Lending Support, bringing over 19 years of banking and SBA industry experience. Casey started in the banking industry as a teller and quickly moved up the chain to loan processor. After graduating from Georgia State University with an Associate of Science in Business Administration in 2011, Casey returned to banking as Government Guaranteed Lending Administration Officer II.

Casey loves having a small part in helping entrepreneurs achieve their dreams of owning businesses and achieving success. She thrives on watching her clients achieve their financial goals and does anything she can to help them.

When she’s not working at the bank, Casey enjoys relaxing at the beach and working on her photography; her work has even been featured in Mexico Beach, FL’s Annual Photography Calendar in 2018 and 2021 as well as being displayed in the Habersham County Medical Center as a part of the Foothills Photography Group.

We welcome Casey to Pinnacle Bank and look forward to seeing her contributions to our team.

Small business owners are always looking for innovative and cost-effective ways to market their business. And while it may seem a little overwhelming at first, there are plenty of free, low-cost options available to promote your business. Here are a few:

1. Set Up Your Google Listing. Put your business on the map by visiting google.com/business to set up your Google My Business listing and choose various promotional options for free.
2. Create a Website. Every business needs a website — and you don’t have to be a designer or copywriter to get started. You can quickly and easily create a website for free or a small monthly fee (depending on the online tools you desire to use). Most online web design services will walk you through each step of the process, including domain registration.
3. Get Social. Your business must have a social media presence for real success. Social media is a free-to-cheap way to get the word out about what you offer and develop a deeper connection with your customers (and potential customers). As you build a following, you’ll begin to have more fun interacting with customers and provide different ways to increase engagement, such as surveys, special offers and more.

Tip: Keep your business and personal social media accounts separate.

4. Start a Blog and Write Relevant Content. You want people to look to you as the expert in your field. So speak from the heart (it’s your business) and provide relevant information about your business and industry. For example, if you own a local restaurant, share unique recipes you’ve developed from scratch. Or, if you’re an organization consultant, show a before-and-after post from your latest project. Then, push your content on your blog (which should be connected to your website).

Do this: Share your blog posts with local newspapers or industry associations regularly to see if they’ll feature them. Additionally, subscribe to “Help a Reporter Out,” where you can respond to reporters or other media sources looking for story ideas and resources.

5. Join Groups on Social Media. Join communities or groups that are relevant to your business or industry on Facebook and LinkedIn. Offer advice and suggestions when people have problems or questions. And make sure your profile links back to your website.
6. Teach a Class. Whether done in-person or online, offer a free class in your area of expertise. For example, if you’re a yoga instructor, offer a class that discusses different ways to manage stress or give a free class at a location away from your studio. And video or record your class so you can use it in the future on your website or other social media channels. Get creative – there’s a lot you can do to share your knowledge without spending a lot of money.
7. Ask for Referrals. Don’t be shy about asking your customers for referrals — and make it as easy as possible for them to do so.

These inexpensive marketing strategies will help you engage customers, build relationships and improve your brand image. Remember, it’s not always about how much you spend on marketing that matters, but rather what relevance your efforts have on your customers.

Every business owner views financial freedom differently. For some, it may mean having the ability to work whenever and however they want. For others, it’s saving for a rainy day and making sure retirement is clearly defined. And still, for others, it’s being able to work as long as they want, doing what they love.

Whatever financial freedom means to you, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to reach your goals. Instead, begin with a financial plan that focuses on your business needs and your personal financial goals. Without the right focus on proper financial management, your small business may never get where you want it to be — and you may not ever achieve financial freedom.

Tailor Your Financial Plan to Meet Your Needs.
Your financial plan must focus on your business and your industry. For example, if you sell insurance, you won’t have similar financial needs as restaurants or local clothing shops. Consider your specific needs, which may include:

• • The number of employees you have
  • Your company size
  • Whether you own or rent your building space
  • What you sell
  • How you receive payments from customers 

Choose the Right Banking Accounts and Use Them Wisely
The banking accounts you choose to run your business can make or break your financial plan. Learn what’s available to help you conduct daily transactions or save money appropriately for your business. For example, you may consider Pinnacle Bank’s free business checking account if your company conducts a limited number of transactions each month. Or, if you’re a sole proprietor, you may opt for an interest-bearing checking account to earn more daily.

Tip: Talk to a Pinnacle Bank business expert to help you find the best checking and savings accounts for your business.

Save Money and Cut Costs with Smart Business Services
Without full knowledge of the latest banking services, you may be missing out on how to make the most out of your dollar. Here are just a few of the many options available to you:

• • • Merchant Capture — get paid fast because you’ll deposit checks on your time electronically.
    • Positive Pay — monitor and detect unusual or unauthorized disbursement activity by comparing paid items against issued information to identify discrepancies.
    • Merchant Services — use only the payment system you need for your customers.
    • Payroll Processing — shop around to find the suite of payroll services to process your payroll effectively and efficiently while staying compliant with Human Resource laws.
    • Credit Cards and Business Loans — when you need a loan, you need it quickly, so it’s important to find options where you can easily apply for and receive safe, secure and competitive funding.
    • ACH (Automated Clearing House) — allows you to get paid sooner and is safer than receiving checks through the mail.
    • Online and Mobile Banking — gives you 24/7 access to your business accounts, so you’re always in the know.

Tip: Pinnacle Bank has all these options and more to help your business move forward. See what’s available.

Set the Right Course with Financial Strategies Designed to Make a Huge Impact
Once you get your basic banking needs on track and the right services to drive your business, you need to focus on the following:

• • • Investment Management — create an investment strategy that works with your risk level.
    • Estate Planning — determine how to factor your business into your estate plans.
    • Tax Strategy — develop strategic, proactive and timely tax planning to keep you and your business in the best financial situation possible.
    • Employee Retirement Plans — decide what retirement plans are best for you and your employees, such as IRA or SIMPLE 401(k) plans.
    • Business Succession Plan — create an exit strategy to protect you, your family, your employees, your customers and all other stakeholders in the business. 

What to do: Talk to an expert to set up a comprehensive financial plan to include every element needed for success. Start by making an appointment with our partners at Highland Trust Partners.

Get the help you need from Pinnacle Bank.
More than anything, our bankers are here to help you with any of your financial needs. We always put our customers first, and that means giving you the best banking has to offer. We go above and beyond to help your money work for you, giving you the financial freedom you desire.

As a business owner, you’re constantly looking for ways to reduce expenses and increase profits. Take a look at eight cost-cutting strategies that may help you save thousands of dollars each year:

1. Use Freelance Contract Employees When Possible. Instead of paying for benefits and other employee expenses, hire freelance contract employees to help you with specific operational duties, such as accounting, marketing, payroll and more. Not only will you pay for what you need, but you’ll get expertise that you may not be able to afford otherwise.
2. Maintain a Virtual Office. Why pay rent for office space if your business doesn’t require it? Instead, maintain a virtual office where you and your employees have the flexibility to work from home. And if you need to hold a business meeting or get together as a team, consider renting a workspace to do so. You can find local businesses that will sublet or rent temporary office space by the hour, day, week, or month.
3. Go Paperless. Send invoices via email, opt to pay bills online and advertise to your customers using email. And internally, get everyone on board with Microsoft, Open Office, Google Drive, or Adobe to share, review, edit and sign documents. Plus, you can keep your files securely in a password-protected digital file instead of printing everything and storing it in a file cabinet. Think of not only the paper you’ll save but the toner and other costs associated with printing and mailing documents.
4. Review Your Phone Plan. Do you really need a landline? And if so, you may be able to negotiate a better deal by combining your cell phone with your landline. Or consider using a virtual phone line, which will save you a lot of money. But if you don’t need a landline, cut it and then shop around to ensure you’re getting the best mobile plan available for your needs.
5. Negotiate a Great Deal for Everything. Don’t be shy to ask for a discount on anything and everything — from office equipment and business insurance premiums to lunch for your staff. Use discounts you’ve earned through reward programs to pay for your supplies. Consider getting money-saving apps installed on your phone or computer (such as Honey, Swagbucks, or Shopkick) to get even more out of everyday shopping.
6. Buy Used Equipment and Furniture. Browse Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace to find used office equipment at discounted prices. People will often sell home-based business office equipment at a fraction of what you would pay at a store. Additionally, pay attention to going out of business sales or online auctions as well.
7. Consistently Manage Your Subscriptions. There’s usually an open-source, free alternative to nearly any product in today’s market. Unless you absolutely need a specific type of software for your business, get rid of it. Do your homework and see what’s out there before you pay for another year. And conduct a quarterly audit to make sure you’re using all the “bells and whistles” you’re paying for — if you’re not using a complete package of services, cut back (or cut it out completely).
8. Avoid Paying Unnecessary Fees. Businesses spend thousands of dollars annually on extraneous expenses, such as annual fees, late fees and processing fees. By simply staying on top of bills and paying them on or before their due date, you’ll save a lot of money each year. And if you use a credit card to pay bills or purchase equipment, or have taken out a loan for business purposes, pay down your balance as soon as possible to minimize your interest charges.

While this is not an exhaustive list of ways to cut costs, it can give you a jumpstart for the next several months. In addition, as you implement some of these strategies, you’ll see your cash flow increase, allowing you to get what you need when you need it and improve your bottom line as well.