10 Tax Prep Tips to Make the Process Easy and Stress-Free

Tax season can be a stressful time for many people. But it doesn't have to be! With the right tips and tools, you can make the process easy and stress-free. In this blog post, we will provide you with a tax prep checklist to help make tax season a breeze.

- Start early: The earlier you start preparing for tax season, the easier it will be. Begin by gathering all of your relevant documents and information. This will help you avoid last minute stress and scrambling to get everything together.

- Use a checklist: A tax prep checklist can be helpful in ensuring that you don't forget any important steps. It can also help you stay organized and on track throughout the process.

- Gather your documents: In order to file your taxes, you will need to have a number of documents handy. These include your W-­‐two form, income statements (such as bank statements and investment account information), receipts for deductible expenses, and proof of any tax credits or deductions you are claiming.

- Use a tax preparer: If you don't feel comfortable preparing your own taxes, consider using a tax preparer. Tax preparers can help make the process easier and less stressful. They can also offer advice on how to reduce your tax bill and avoid common mistakes.

- Check for errors: Once your return has been prepared, be sure to check it over for errors. This includes reviewing all of your information and ensuring that it is correct and accurate. If you find any errors, be sure to corrected them before filing your return.

- File electronically: Filing your taxes electronically can save you time and money. It's also more secure than mailing in paper returns.

- File on time: Tax returns must be filed by April 15th each year. If you miss the deadline, you will incur penalties and interest charges.

- Get organized: Organization is key when it comes to tax season. Keep all of your documents and information in one place so that you can easily access it when needed. This will help minimize stress and make the process simpler overall.

By following these tips, you can make tax season a breeze! So get started today and enjoy a less stressful tax season this year.

**Full Disclosure: I am not a tax preparer or financial consultant of any kind.

Tips For Small Business Owners Part One: How To Look Like A Pro At Vendor Events

By Toni Hetrick

Do you set up at local events?  There’s definitely a potential for some great sales, marketing and business growth IF you present yourself correctly.  A professional display is KEY! For most events, you will be confined to a small space.   Many times a 6 or 8ft table is all that you will have. At most you may have a 10x10 space, so summon your inner OCD and find ways to organize/maximize the area that you have.

Let us start with the basics…..

Invest in some quality folding tables.  Most often I use two 6ft tables and one 5ft table.  You can find folding tables at many stores, but if you are an Amazon shopper you can find them here. These may seem expensive at first, but they can take a beating and you’ll use them over and over again.  If I had to guess, I’d estimate that I purchased mine 10 years ago and they are still in perfect working condition. Another plus is that they can always be used for non-business related things too.  Ex: Family Picnics, group gatherings, etc. I have used my tables for so many purposes and since they fold they store rather easily.  

**VERY IMPORTANT TIP FOR BEGINNERS**

Tables most often are not provided.  Make sure you confirm this when booking.  There’s nothing worse than getting to an event and discovering you don’t have something as vital as a table.  Be prepared!

Invest in professional looking table cloths.  There are multiple options out there, such as these.  You can always have them made, or if you sew to make your own.  Whatever you decide to keep in mind you will want to hide the items stored under your table.  It’s also a plus to have something that is easily washable. For years, I went to the cheap/convenient route and purchased disposable ones from Dollar Tree.  Don’t get me wrong, they get the job done, however they are wrinkly from the start and rip very easily. Sometimes convenience takes over and you just go with that option.  Looking back at the money that I spent on those cheap table covers, I could have bought a nice table cloth 5x’s over.

Depending on what you sell, your setup may vary greatly from other businesses.  I carry an array of items, 90% of which is cash & carry. Because of this, the more I have on hand, the more I have available to sell on-site that day.  My tables are usually filled to the max but are organized kind of by categories if you will. An organized table helps attract customer’s eyes. Most people don’t want to have to root through a pile of stuff to see what you have.  Remember this is a reflection of your business. You don’t want people to feel like they are at a yard sale. Also don’t expect that your setup will be exactly the same each and every time. You’ll have to adapt.  Below is a video from a recent holiday event. As you can see I don’t have my fancy tablecloths at this set-up as the tables were provided and they were BIG tables. I adjusted and used my holiday ones.

One thing I have noticed over the years is that people seem intimidated to ask questions, especially about prices.  They will just walk right by if they can’t see prices. Having said that, make sure all your merchandise is priced and that those prices are easily visible.  If you’re selling a product that some may not know exactly what it is just from glancing at it, consider signage that explains what the product is used for. This is a task that you can accomplish easily, quickly and without breaking the bank.  I always have index cards and sharpies with me and will make extra little signs. Ex: Cutting Boards $25. When I implemented this, I could not believe the immediate difference in sales and customer interaction. I noticed customers looking at an item, seemingly interested but then walking away.  I started to verbally tell people what the price of the item was and found that people just naturally assumed that the item was expensive. My sales were increasing by this step, so I decided to take it further and make sure that EVERYTHING had a price tag that was facing outward and/or a sign with the price as well.

Say hello to everyone who enters or approaches your area.  I don’t care for pushy salespersons. Everyone has their own tactics, but I feel simple, polite conversation works wonders for keeping a person in your booth long enough to shop.  This also leaves an impression on your customers. I have found that a simple, “Hello, how are you today?” is more than enough to get a conversation started. You’d more than likely be a return customer to someone who is a delight, right?  I’ve paid a great deal of attention to people as they approach my booth. Most have their eyes down as they approach you. They are glancing down at the table, and I think are avoiding eye contact because they don’t want someone trying to sell them something in an aggressive way.  

Hand out business cards!!!!  This is a HUGE opportunity for you to make a connection.  I make sure that with every sale, a business card goes into their bag.  Anyone with whom I have a conversation with, I ask if I can give them a business card.  I’ve never been told no. With companies like Vistaprint, you can purchase business cards at very inexpensive prices.  Have those marketing materials ready! This is an opportunity to let customers and potential customers know everything and anything you offer.  If your business is anything like mine, I offer such a vast array of services/products that there’s no way for me to showcase all of that on just a 6ft table. 

I hope that these tips helped to some degree. If you have any questions please feel free to comment below. If you liked this post please click on the little heart to show some love. As always, thank you for visiting the website.

Tips To Starting A Successful Business

Before we get to the tips, I’ll provide a little background history on my business.  Frugal Fashionista By Toni has been a long time in the making.  I started out approximately 13 years ago, unlike many businesses, I did not have startup funds to speak of.  In fact, I started with $150.  I’ll admit, I was young, and wasn’t entirely sure what I was doing.  I had an idea in mind and just went for it.  I’m so happy that I did.

I hesitated greatly about creating this blog post.  Mostly because I feel as though I have a successful business, however, I certainly don’t live in a mansion, and I’m not making it rain flinging hundred-dollar bills into the air.  I suppose the way some of us view “success” may vary.  However, I have experienced both failures and successes over the last 13 years, while creating a business from the ground up.  From that, I feel I am qualified to share some helpful tips that I wish I would have known from the beginning. 

If there’s even one small business owner out there that I can help with these tips, then it’s worth the while to take the time to jot them down.  Who knows, perhaps I’ll inspire someone who’s been on the edge of deciding to take the dive into entrepreneurism.  Now for the tips.

·         Brainstorm and Develop Goals- Maybe you already know exactly what your business will be and what you will offer.  Maybe you have no clue, but you desperately want to be your own boss and have control over your own schedule.  Depending on where you are at in the phase of creating a business it may be helpful to sit and ask yourself a few questions.  Are you passionate about something?  I’m not sure about you, but I would rather work hard doing something I love, than to bust my hump doing something I hate.  I’d rather end the day tired but feeling accomplished and proud of what I’ve done, than to feel exhausted and defeated that I must do the same thing over again tomorrow. 

 Do you know what you want your business to offer?  It’s best to determine your niche in the market and what exactly you will be providing your customers.  This might sound easy but it’s a huge step in your business planning.  Once you have a good understanding of this, you will be on your way to branding and marketing your company.  You don’t want to fumble around when someone asks you what your business offers.  You want to clearly explain how your business can help them and why they need to be working with you.

·         Keep Organized – Take notes all along the way.  You’ll go down so many rabbit holes researching, that if you don’t write things down, you’ll forget.  This should help you use your time more efficiently. 

·         Research Your Competition- Let’s say you’re opening a boutique.  Are there any other boutiques in your area?  What do they carry?  Do they have a large following?  What are their prices?  You want to know your competition.  I’m not saying to make them your enemy.  In fact, I’ve made decent relationships with some of my competitors, but you want to make sure that your services will exceed the competition.  Obviously, you want to make sure that your prices are in check with the competition as well.  Also, you may not want to open a business exactly like 4 other businesses in your area.  Make sure you stand out in multiple areas.  Product/service quality, pricing, customer service etc.

I’ll end today’s blog with those three helpful tips.  I have many more, however I don’t want to overwhelm you right off the bat.  This will probably turn into a series, as there is just so much that I’ve learned over time.  If you have any questions, please feel free to email me or comment below.  I’m more than willing to chat regarding my experiences.