Fiscally Professional Corporation

We're lucky to have our client Sarah Crabbe, President of Agnostic, in our #smallbusinessmonth spotlight today, sharing some truths about balancing instincts with insights, compassion with commercial reality, and the drive to just get GOING. Q: What’s the biggest risk you've taken as a founder, and how did it pay off? ◽ Starting Agnostic! For anyone starting a business, day one is terrifying but then so is day two, day 10 and on and on!!! In truth, the biggest risk is in starting and that is the biggest reward - just start. It's incredible what you can achieve with the right mindset in the right environment - so the biggest risk is the biggest reward - go for it! Q: What’s a myth about running a small business that you'd love to debunk? ◽That culture is not something small businesses have to work at. Investing in culture is sometimes viewed as a nice to have in small business but our culture is our success. Simple as that. No great culture, no great work. No great work, no great clients. No great clients, no great business. No great business, no great talent….. You see where I'm going! Our culture is the very fabric of our team. Q: What’s been your most unexpected challenge as a business owner? ◽Agnostic was born in 2019 and so we weren't even a year old when the pandemic started. Leading through a time of no playbook, no next step, no clear planning was terrifying and yet, forced me to really focus on leading with ‘the next right thing’. It was not just leading the agency but leading our clients through the next right thing that was an incredibly challenging and high-pressured time and yet, produced some of the finest leadership moments of my career. Leading during that time required empathy and vulnerability and asking clients and staff to trust me. You have to bet on yourself in those moments and on what you have built and on what you know to be the best decision you can make that day. Growing a young independent business like Agnostic during these years was really a lesson in balancing compassion with commercial reality. In the years since, it’s been a journey for leaders but I often remind myself to slow down in decision making and rely on instinct as much as insight. It was a skill honed when we had no other choice and one that we don't want to lose now. #agencyleadership

Running a business is no small feat. We understand the unique challenges facing creative agency leaders every day. This #SmallBusinessMonth, you'll get to meet a few of our clients as they reveal their founder journeys and share valuable insights. But we also want to flip the script and hear from YOU—the creative firm founders and leaders in our community and beyond. What would you like to learn more about? ▪ Managing cash flow more effectively? ▪ Understanding what metrics to track for growth and profitability? ▪ Interpreting financial reports with confidence and ease? ▪ Navigating payroll and benefits administration? ▪ Tips on staying resilient in an ever-changing industry? Let us know in the comments or send us a message - from bookkeeping, reporting, payroll, CFO-level questions - we likely have you covered. (Corporate tax, M&As is not our thing but we might have a reco if you need it!) #agencyowners #financialmanagement #agencyfinances

Cheers to 5 years!

Small business owners, take note. We stand behind a strong financial strategy to help get you unstuck but that often starts with knowing your strengths. This sounds like a half-day well spent!! 👇

Our clients are usually making the ads and not starring in them, but I couldn't be more proud of my friend Robert Kastelic, partner of our longstanding client Akb Architects, for being part of this movement to reclaim the narrative around Parkinson's. It's so well done. You are invited to either donate or share a story, and it's been eye opening to see how this has helped others come forward to see their own swagger reflected, thanks to Robert and everyone else responsible for making this happen. Broken Heart Love Affair Parkinson Canada Bold, brave, and beautifully unsteady. Check it out below and learn more at www.findyourswagger.ca #findyourswagger

Now Hiring: Our Next Future Ready Finance Manager. Fiscally is growing and ready to onboard a business savvy finance professional ready to apply their accounting firm expertise to a more modern approach that professional service firms in creative industries need today. Read on to learn if this role is right for you. https://lnkd.in/gCZSVddt

Our team is lead by people who've sat in all the seats around the agency table - client, accounts, and of course, the finance seat. This is why we have the confidence and proven process to know what good looks like for creative service firms, how to help founders get there (and the good stories to back them up.) Investing in our own brand building is made easier when being part of communities like The PR Net who keep us in touch on current trends along with a focus on the future, even if it means validating what's always worked in the past. We're a bit kindred that way! Finally Remote Accounting Teams Heather Purcell, CPA, CMA, MBA Cecillia Long #financialleadership #fractionaladvisory #agencyfinancials

#Outsourcedaccounting teams are well positioned to help meet the needs of companies particularly during a shortage - and in fact, for the owner-operated creative firms we exclusively work with, it's often the more strategic way to go. Increased Demand: As we see in this article, there is a struggle to find enough highly-skilled in-house accountants. Firms with 10+ FTEs can't just rely on one bookkeeper (and certainly not their office manager.) Plus they need financial professionals who understand their industries. Try talking media prespends or influencer incentives to an oil & gas accountant. Proper Benchmarking: Industry-relevant accounting teams know what good looks like for firms like yours, and can help you get there. They can (and should) be both strategic business advisors and day-to-day doers. Flexibility: Outsourced firms can quickly adjust their resources based on client needs. They can scale up or down as required, and all at a fraction of the cost of a 3-4 full time team members when staffing a full accounting department. A little more evidence that our finance team of the future model is more fact than feeling, particularly for our favourite kind of firms. #financialleadership #agencyfounders #remoteaccounting

Do you only rely on a bookkeeper and corporate tax accountant? You’re likely only getting half the story. Over at Finally Remote Accounting Teams we shared how having an outsourced bookkeeping team can help founders be better prepared for tax time - not to mention the many other benefits, including knowing how your business is performing year round thanks accurate bookkeeping and crystal clear financial reporting (link to article in comments). Beyond better bookkeeping, agencies with more than 10 full time employees may also be overlooking their “strategic middle”. Success at this stage relies on the expertise of a mature finance department that bridges this gap, allowing leaders to interpret their firm’s financial information and receive strategic advice on growing their agency profitably. With the rise of the #fractionaladvisory models, growth-oriented small businesses can benefit from what would otherwise be out of reach. Our solution is designed to be the finance team of the future, and (don’t say it…don’t say it….) the future is now. (Had to.) Check out what we offer over at https://lnkd.in/gzbiXT8D #financialleadership #accountingforagencies

(said one highly motivated woman to many others, I'm sure...👇)