Like we mentioned on a few occasions, running a small-to-medium business is a 24/7 kind of a job. It more or less becomes your life and there are innumerable things to keep in mind and juggle around. Of course, a huge part of it all will be your company’s finances. This will entail wages, income vs. expenses, retirement plans, contract negotiations, negotiations with suppliers, tax and insurance paperwork and so much more.
For someone who is struggling to keep their SMB afloat and who is dealing with numerous strictly business-oriented problems, keeping track of finances and making sure every financial decision is the right one can be quite difficult.
This brings us to the star of our article today – the independent financial advisor who will not be an employee of yours in the strictest sense of the word but who will still do work for you, making sure your SMB is being expertly handled from the financial standpoint.
How an IFA Helps You
There are innumerable things that an independent financial advisor can do for you and your company and, in the end, it will all depend on what you need from them.
For example, many SMBs need a financial helping hand in the earliest of days. Namely, a number of SMBs do not get structured and registered the right way and they suffer down the line. This is especially true if there are a few partners who are getting into the venture together and who are not quite sure how to get things rolling. An IFA will be the objective actor here, giving advice on what the best course of action is.
They will also ensure that you do not rush into things when handling other, more specific financial matters. For example, they will help you find the right insurance company and the right plan. They will also probably know some people who will handle your taxes in the best way possible. They are, basically, your protection against getting into bad deals and putting your SMB in danger.
Your independent financial advisor will also be able to take care of some more advanced financial dealings. For example, they might advise you on perhaps purchasing another business or partnering up with someone. They will put everything on paper and try to figure out whether this is something that would benefit your business from a purely financial standpoint.
They can also think of ways in which certain improvements that are a sizeable investment can actually be a great financial move. A great example of this are green home improvements that are made more alluring for SMBs through financing plans like PACE and other government-sponsored incentives.
How to Recognize the Right IFA for Your Company
Of course, in order to reap all the benefits of having an IFA work for you and your company, you should find someone who knows what they are doing and who fits well with your company.
The best place to start are your fellow SMB owners who might have used the services of an IFA themselves and who have someone to recommend. You can also check the local directories and websites where IFAs advertise their services.
When narrowing your search, you should look at the areas in which they are true experts. For instance, one IFA can be better at day-to-day financial dealings of an SMB while others might be more versed in investments and purchases.
You will also want to check their past track record and talk to people who hired their services in the past. It is also a good idea to try and discover whether they will be a good fit for you and your business philosophy. This is something that often gets overlooked
Closing Word
The business world has become so harsh for the SMB owners that they need all the help they can get. If you can afford it, finding a great independent financial advisor can turn out to be the best decision you have made for your SMB.