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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.

Over the past year, we’ve learned to conduct business in new and unique ways. Many small businesses have had to open online or mobile stores, offer remote, delivery or curbside service and even manage staff remotely. And while video conferencing has been around for years, it became a meaningful way to regularly connect with customers and staff.

As the pandemic restrictions lift, some of the ways we used video conferencing will remain with us. Here are a few of the benefits:

• • Connect with your team. You may want to continue offering remote scheduling for your staff. Video conferencing allows you to keep up with projects and regularly communicate with your team — in person.
  • Reduce travel costs. Many small businesses will continue using video conferencing to connect with clients instead of flying around the country or driving around town.
  • Expand business opportunities. You can leverage video conferences to expand your reach to customers in your community and beyond — you may also broaden your scope for hiring staff.
  • Market engaging content. It’s easy to present information on a video conference call and then record it for future use, such as explaining how to use a product or service you offer.

Best Practices for Video Conferencing
No matter how you plan to use video conferencing, there are certain “best practices” to follow for ultimate success:

• • Check your lighting — you don’t want it to be too light or too dark.
  • Be sure you have a good signal, so there’s little chance of downtime.
  • Make a test call to a friend or colleague and fix anything before your conference call.
  • Have materials ready to present (if applicable) so you’re not fumbling around during the conference call.
  • Don’t meet with people in your pajamas — wear smart, casual attire if working remotely and business attire if at the office.
  • Start with a conversation before discussing business — introduce participants to each other or ask them to introduce themselves if they don’t know each other.
  • Meet in a quiet and professional space — steer clear of pets, children and any other distraction if you’re working remotely.
  • Mute phones and ask people to enter the conference call on mute so feedback is minimal to start — make sure all participants know how to unmute their device to participate when needed.
  • Maintain eye contact with those you talk to — and if you’re addressing the entire group, share eye contact with all participants.
  • It’s okay to stand to make a presentation if you’re more comfortable doing so — just be sure you exhibit open or neutral body language.
  • Be punctual — start and end on time and use an agenda.
  • Set up a video conference call that works in all time zones and with everyone’s schedule — if someone can’t attend, offer to record the session.

Making Video Conferencing Work for You
Video conferencing is a great equalizing tool for small businesses. It can be another part of your increasing marketing and education arsenal, allowing you to communicate with your staff, customers and potential customers as well. Using these best practices will help you improve your reputation, increase your sales and improve your bottom line.

Since the beginning of COVID-19, phishing and other scams have increased and small businesses are not immune. In fact, many small businesses are the target of fraud because they’re more likely to trust scammers and may not have the proper protections in place.

How Will You Know If It’s a Scam?

Scammers pretend to be someone you trust and make themselves as believable as possible. They create a sense of urgency and try to rush you into deciding about something before you’re ready to do so. Scammers also use fear and even intimidation to get you to send money quickly. And most importantly, they typically ask you to pay using an untraceable payment method, such as wire transfers, reloadable cards or gift cards.

Top Small Business Scams to Avoid

• • Phony invoices. Scammers will give you a fake invoice for products or services your company uses, such as office supplies or domain name registration. They hope you’ll pay the invoice and ask questions later (after they’re gone).
  • Unordered supplies. Scammers call to confirm an existing order (that you never made), verify your address and even offer a free catalog or sample. If you agree, unordered merchandise arrives at your door, followed by demands to pay for it. Remember, if you receive merchandise you didn’t order, you have a legal right to keep it for free.
  • Directory listing and advertising. Scammers pretend to be from the Yellow Pages or some other well-known directory or advertising service and offer you a free listing. All you need to do is provide your financial details to get the process going. You then receive a hefty bill and the scammer may use your call or even a recording of your call to pressure you into paying.
  • Government agency imposter. Scammers impersonate a government agent (including the U.S. Department of Labor), threatening to suspend your business license, impose fines, or take legal action if you don’t immediately pay taxes, renew your business license or registration, or other fees. Additionally, a scammer may call or write a letter stating to be from the U.S. Patent and Trademarks stating you’ll lose your trademark if you don’t immediately pay your registration fee.
  • Phishing, social engineering and ransomware. Scammers send an email or social media message that appears to be from a familiar source asking you to update a password or provide access to sensitive company information. If you or an employee click on the link provided, malware or other harmful files are used to gather personal financial information. Additionally, scammers may also use malware to take your files “hostage” and hold them for ransom.

How Can You Protect Your Business?

Follow these tips to protect your business from scammers and other fraud:

• • Train your employees. Your best defense is knowledge. Explain your concerns about scams to your staff. Share what to look for and provide easy ways to report anything they experience to you or another coworker. Additionally, make it a policy not to send passwords or sensitive information by email, so if employees are asked for this information, they’ll know it’s not a legitimate request.
  • Review invoices and payments closely. Never pay a bill unless it matches what you ordered and the items were delivered as promised—and tell your staff to do the same. Make all procedures for approving and paying invoices clear and limit the number of employees allowed to perform these functions.
  • Pay attention to payment methods. If you’re asked to pay for something with a wire transfer, a reloadable debit card, or a gift card, it’s likely a scam.
  • Keep your personal and financial information secure. Password-protect sensitive files and keep any paper files in a locked file cabinet. And control access to this information so only you and a few employees can use it.
  • Don’t provide sensitive information via email. Typically, legitimate companies won’t ask you to provide sensitive information via email or over the phone. For example, Pinnacle Bank will never ask you to update your account or other personal information via email. Additionally, don’t click on links or attachments provided in an email, especially if you didn’t request the interaction.
  • Be careful with social media. Scammers can hack into social media accounts and send messages that appear to be from people you trust. Don’t open any attachments or download files from something unexpected.
  • Do business with legitimate companies. Before you do business with any new company, search their name online with the term “scam” or “complaint.” Use your best judgment based on what you find. 

What Should You Do If You Spot a Scam?

Above all else, if you spot a scam or if you’ve been a victim, report it to FTC.gov/Complaint. Your report can help stop the scam. Additionally, it would be best if you alerted your state Attorney General.

Important: If you believe you’ve been a victim of fraud or you notice an unauthorized transaction in your Pinnacle Bank account, please notify us immediately at 877-759-7939.

 

 

Managing accounts payable (what you owe) and accounts receivable (what your customer owes you) is essential to any business. Staying on top of your accounts can mean the difference between overpaying or not being paid as agreed.

Here Are Three Tips to Help You Successfully Manage Your Accounts:

Tip #1: Shorten Transaction Cycles
The shorter your transaction cycle is for items bought or sold, the more you can avoid low cash flow and workflow bottlenecks. It’s a good idea to establish consistent timelines for receivables and payables. For example, implement a company policy that you’ll pay invoices within 30 days of receipt and you’ll receive a payment within 30 days of sending an invoice. You may have to make some exceptions, but this will keep things consistent for your company. Additionally, consider issuing invoices or purchase orders on the same day each month to establish a routine.

Tip #2: Maintain Open Lines of Communication
Regularly check in with your vendors and clients to ensure timelines continue to work for both parties. For receivables, keep track of aging accounts and reach out to your vendor or client to set up payment. If you need to extend your time for payment on the payables side, talk to the other party to set up a reasonable payment option to avoid fees.

Tip #3: Work to Automate Your Accounts
The quicker you get paid, the easier it is to manage your payables. See what you can do to set up ACH payment or direct deposit to ensure on-time payments on both sides. Plus, it’s easier to manage because you can create invoices, receipts, financial statements and more when you can automate.

Smart idea: Use Pinnacle Bank’s Online Banking or Mobile Banking  service to check your balance, transfer funds and more.

Managing accounts payable and accounts receivable is critical to determine the financial health of your company. Implementing these tips will help you know where you stand at all times and allow you to make smarter business decisions.

More and more people are using touchless payments at stores and among friends. You can pay for groceries or quickly deposit a check just by using your smartphone. And since the pandemic, more merchants offer touchless payment options than ever before.

Easy-to-use touchless payment options to use when you’re on the go.

When you’re out running errands or on vacation, it’s easy to pay for things by just unlocking your smartphone or watch. Here are a few touchless payment options to consider:

Mobile Wallet

A convenient way to pay using your phone or watch instead of cash or a plastic card (debit or credit). Just link your Pinnacle Bank debit card to the mobile wallet of your choice (Apple Pay®, Google Pay®, or Samsung Pay®), follow the instructions to verify your information, and you’re all set.

You can use your mobile wallet to pay for things in person, online, in an app, or at an ATM. Plus, mobile wallets add an extra layer of security to your transaction because a unique code replaces your card number for each transaction.

Learn how to set up your mobile wallet.

Zelle®

You can send, request or receive money using Zelle®. For example, you can easily split the lunch bill with your colleagues, pay your babysitter, or even give your son a little extra cash while at college. It’s easy to get started at Pinnacle Bank:

• • Log into Pinnacle Bank’s online banking or mobile app.
  • Navigate to Bill Pay and select Send Money with Zelle®.
  • Accept the terms and conditions and enter your email address or U.S. mobile phone number.
  • Enter your one-time verification code, and you’re all set.

Once you set up your account, you can send, request or receive money by following the directions on Zelle®. You’ll need the recipient’s email address or U.S. mobile phone number to send or request money.

What to do: Download our mobile app to get started.

Managing your account is easy using remote banking options.

While we enjoy seeing our customers inside the branch, it’s not always feasible for you to make the trip. So instead, consider using these remote banking options to manage your account 24/7:

• • Online Banking — check your balances, set up account alerts, pay bills, get eStatements, download transactions to your money management software program, make loan payments, transfer funds, set up account alerts, and more. Find out how to get started at Pinnacle Bank.
  • Mobile Banking — perform nearly all the same functions as online banking, plus you can search for nearby ATMs, deposit checks, and use your mobile wallet. Download the free Pinnacle Bank mobile banking app. 
  • Text Banking — you can easily and instantly request information about your accounts using simple commands, such as checking your account balance or receiving an alert when a bill payment transfer clears your account. And a smartphone is not required to use Text Banking. Learn how to sign up at Pinnacle Bank. 

It’s time to go touchless!

Take advantage of the many different ways you can make touchless payments and manage your accounts 24/7. We’re confident you’ll find going touchless gives you a safe, convenient and flexible way to bank at Pinnacle Bank.

 

#OneBankforLife.

Bronson Lavender recently joined the Pinnacle Bank team as the Market Manager in the Lumpkin, Dawson and Forsyth counties Market areas, bringing over 30 years of banking experience to our team.

Bronson grew up in Jefferson, Georgia, and graduated from the University of North Georgia with a degree in business administration. He worked through high school and college in the banking industry—starting in 1985 as a janitor and working his way through many different operational opportunities, which he enjoyed. After graduating from college, Bronson attended a financial institution management training program and has since worked in several management positions throughout his career.

While he has worked in many areas and positions in banking, Bronson feels his expertise lies in commercial lending and market expansion, which will be his primary responsibility at Pinnacle Bank. More than anything else, though, Bronson gets the most satisfaction in his career from finding ways to help clients achieve their financial hopes and dreams and mentoring employees to be the best they can be.

When Bronson is not at the bank, he enjoys being with this family, spending time outdoors (especially hunting and fishing), and leading the young men’s group at his church.

We’re glad Bronson is a part of the Pinnacle team and look forward to great things happening in the future.