With today’s competitive labor market, it’s important that your company has an onboarding system ready to go when you get a prospective employee to say “Yes!” to joining your company. Here are some ideas:
Engage before day one. Once a contract is signed or a verbal acceptance given, candidates may still be hearing from other companies that they have interviewed with and could easily rescind their acceptance. So keep your company top of mind until day one by making periodic check-ins to answer any questions and ensure your new employee knows what to bring and do on their first day of work.
Immediately schedule one-on-one meetings with the supervisor. A study by Microsoft Analytics found that employees who got little or no one-on-one time with direct managers were more likely to be disengaged. Similarly in a LinkedIn survey, 72 percent of respondents said that such one-on-one time was the most important part of their onboarding process. Whether these meetings take place in person or virtually, consider scheduling several one-on-one meetings with the new employee’s manager throughout the first few months of employment.
Schedule meetings with other team members. In addition to scheduling one-on-one meetings with the new employee’s supervisor, consider scheduling meetings with other team members. These meetings will help the new employee further develop more personal connections with people throughout the company.
Ensure equipment arrives on time. With widespread supply chain disruptions still plaguing many industries, double-check with your suppliers that all necessary equipment arrives and is set up and tested prior to your new employee’s first day.
Develop milestones. Many new employees are unsure of their performance during the initial months of a new job. To help both the employee understand how they are doing and to give your business an idea of what tasks you want your new employee to be responsible for, consider developing a list of milestones to ensure the new employee is being properly utilized.
As always, should you have any questions or concerns regarding your tax situation please feel free to call.
Summer reveals what January planning can’t – which goals survived contact with customers, cash flow, and capacity. A mid-year review helps turn these lessons into better decisions for the months ahead. Here are several areas to consider evaluating before the second half of the year begins.
Financial performance
Revenue and sales goals. Compare your year-to-date revenue against the goals you set at the beginning of the year. If you’re ahead or behind schedule, now is the time to adjust your expectations and strategy.
Profit margins. Revenue growth doesn’t always translate into profitability. Review margins across products and services to identify areas where rising costs may be reducing returns.
Cash flow health. Cash flow issues can develop even when sales are strong. Evaluate receivables, payables, and cash reserves to ensure your business remains financially flexible.
Employee and team performance
Staffing levels and workforce needs. Consider whether your current team has the capacity to support business goals through the rest of the year. Growth, turnover, or changing priorities may require adjustments.
Employee engagement and retention. Mid-year is a good opportunity to gauge morale and identify potential retention concerns. Simple conversations with employees can reveal issues before they become costly problems.
Training and development progress. Review the skills your team has gained so far this year and identify any gaps that could limit performance. Investing in employee development can improve both productivity and retention.
Customer experience and marketing
Customer satisfaction. Customer reviews, surveys, and support requests can provide valuable insights into the customer experience. Look for recurring themes that may require attention.
Customer retention and loyalty. Acquiring new customers is important, but retaining existing ones is often more profitable. Review repeat purchase rates and customer retention trends to understand long-term customer value.
Marketing effectiveness. Evaluate which marketing activities are generating results and which are falling short. Redirecting resources toward the most effective channels can improve return on investment.
Operations and productivity
Operational efficiency. Examine daily workflows to identify bottlenecks, redundancies, or unnecessary complexity. Small process improvements can create meaningful gains over time.
Technology and systems. Review the tools and systems your business relies on every day. Outdated software, manual processes, or underused technology may be limiting growth and efficiency.
Products and services
Product and service performance. Analyze which offerings are driving revenue, profitability, and customer interest. Mid-year is an ideal time to refine, expand, or retire products and services based on actual performance rather than assumptions.
A mid-year review doesn’t need to be complicated. By looking at the right areas now, your business can make practical adjustments, protect momentum, and enter the second half of the year with a clearer sense of where attention is needed most.
As always, should you have any questions or concerns regarding your tax situation please feel free to call.
Before summer spending melts your budget, use this financial checklist to keep more cash in your pocket and make every dollar work harder this season.
Beat the heat without burning cash. Summer utility bills can rise fast when temperatures climb, making this the ideal time to reassess your energy habits. Small changes like adjusting your thermostat, replacing filters, or sealing drafts can help lower monthly expenses without sacrificing comfort.
Make vacation memories while keeping spending in check. Travel spending adds up quickly when meals, activities, and unexpected costs are not planned ahead of time. Creating a vacation budget before booking helps you enjoy your trip while keeping your finances on track once you return home.
Don’t leave summer tax perks on the table. Summer can open the door to valuable tax opportunities, especially for families with children enrolled in camps or for investors reviewing gains and losses midyear. Taking time to organize receipts and revisit tax strategies now can make filing season much smoother later.
Turn your clutter into a summer side hustle. Summer cleaning is not just good for your home – it can also boost your bank account. Selling unused clothing, furniture, electronics, or sporting goods can generate extra income while helping you create a more organized space.
Give your emergency fund a warm-weather boost. A midyear contribution to your emergency fund can strengthen your financial safety net before the busy fall and holiday seasons arrive. Even small additions from side gigs, bonuses, or garage sale profits can make a meaningful difference over time.
Stop sneaky summer spending in its tracks. Streaming services, outdoor events, dining out, and seasonal activities can quietly inflate your monthly budget during the summer months. Reviewing recurring charges and prioritizing lower-cost entertainment options can help keep spending under control.
Get ahead of fall before it gets expensive. Preparing early for upcoming seasonal expenses can help you avoid relying on credit cards later in the year. Setting aside money now for school supplies, clothing, or extracurricular activities makes those costs feel much more manageable.
Give your summer paychecks a fresh purpose. Extra income from overtime, seasonal work, or reduced school-year expenses can create an opportunity to strengthen your finances. Consider directing a portion toward savings, debt payoff, or long-term financial goals before everyday spending absorbs it.
Refresh your financial goals before the year speeds up. Summer is a natural midpoint to revisit the goals you set at the beginning of the year. Reviewing your progress now gives you time to adjust your budget, savings habits, or investment strategy before the busy fall season arrives.
A few thoughtful money moves this summer can create more flexibility and a stronger financial foundation for the rest of the year.
