Cheers To Business

It seems like everything is chaotic and scary in the business world these days. So, Karen thought we needed to hear some good vibes and inspirational messages. It was a no brainer to decided to replay the Christine Cumbie episode from last year. Christine is a local change-maker, entrepreneur, cancer warrior, and survivor. By always being the model of grace in any situation, Christine is living proof that optimism, intentional living, and gratitude can be a secret weapon in all aspects of your life. And we all can use some more of all these gifts in times like these. Cadie and Karen love Christine, and they are not kidding when we say they want to be like Christine Cumbie. Enjoy The Show and stay well!

Learn more about Karen Simmons & CFO Consulting

Karen C. Simmons, P.C.

CFO Consulting Services

In this episode, Karen talks with the CEO of DocRx and owner of Coast Diagnostics, Brian Ward. Brian explains how he saw and seized an opportunity to grow his small medical lab by providing much-needed testing for COVID-19. By investing and expanding his medical testing capabilities, the small Coast Diagnostics, LLC - Laboratory is now poised to create a huge opportunity for Brian and his team by helping the businesses and people in their community. Plus Brian shares his views on horizontal leadership, smart business growth and advocating work/life balance. 

Learn more about Coast Diagnostics

Key Takeaways

> Invest in opportunities in a crisis that fills a need.
> Diversify your portfolio of businesses and business services
> Create a culture of life/work balance with your employees and yourself.
> Work to be productive and profitable, not just busy.

Cheers To:

Providing a solution to a need at a reasonable price is a win for a business owner. - Karen Simmons

I don't do a vertical approach; I'm more of a parallel approach leader. My team doesn't work for me; I work with them. - Brian Ward

You're supposed to spend eight hours sleeping, eight hours at work, and eight hours with your family. A third of your day is spent literally with your work and with your job. There is a big deal in work-life balance. - Brian Ward

I always told my teams, I want you to feel productive when you leave at the end of every day. - Karen Simmons

Get into work. Do what you got to do, get out, and just be smart about it. - Brian Ward

If work doesn't produce results for what you're trying to accomplish, I call it fluff sitting over there that nobody's going to use. - Brian Ward

Learn more about Karen Simmons

Karen C. Simmons, P.C.

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On this special gameshow edition of Cheers To Business, Karen quizzes Chris and Laney Andrews, owners of Bienville Bites Food Tours, on a game called Deduction or No Deduction. Karen throws out a common business tax deduction and Chris and Laney yay or nay that you can deduct that cost on their 2019 business taxes. Pop a top or pop a cork and learn while having fun on this special episode.

{Editor's Note: This episode was recorded right before COVID-19 became the only issue in our lives. When the COVID-19 virus hit, we decided to make some new shows focused more on the information that would be important to business owners to help with the shutdown, PPP, and other daily crisis issues. Due to the COVID-19 shutdown and mass disruption in the restaurant industry, they had to pivot their tours with Bites In A Bag. Now that the shutdown as been lifted, Chris and Laney are planning to restart their food tours, and they are taking time right now to work with the local restaurants as they are reopening and recovering.}


Book a Tour With Bienville Bites


Check Out More Cheers Featuring Bienville Bites Food Tours

Key Takeaways:

> Not all business costs are a legitimate deductions.

> When in doubt, ask your CPA or bookkeeper any questions on legitimate business deductions.

> Keep all your receipts, use handy phone apps and technology to record all your expenses.

Learn more about Karen Simmons

Karen C. Simmons, P.C.

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cfocsi.com

On this episode, Noell Broughton talks to Karen Simmons about how difficult the COVID-19 shutdown has been on his bar and restaurant businesses. Plus, he describes the mountains of PPP paperwork, figuring out the maze of government regulations, and how he is getting his employees back to work and relaunching his operations at only 50% capacity. Karen and Noell deliver a feast of insights for business owners and employees concerning PPP, PPP loan forgiveness, understanding full-time and part-time employment issues, and how to gain access to the newly enacted Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act. It’s time for many of us to calm down, get off the ledge, and get back to work, and we hope this show helps out.

Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act Ins and Outs:

1. Allow forgiveness for expenses beyond the 8 weeks covered period
2. Eliminate restrictions for limiting non-payroll expenses
3. Eliminate restrictions that limit the loan payment to 2 years
4. Ensure access to payroll tax deferment for businesses that take the PPP
5. Extend the rehiring deadline to offset the enhanced unemployment insurance

Check out Noell's EP6 Cheers To Business Episode >>> Listen here

Key Takeaways

> Consult with your payroll experts, accountants, lawyers, and business consultants to make sure you are in compliance with PPP loan regulations and rules.

> Look into the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act for more relief in getting your business back open.

> Ask questions, do your own research and share the knowledge with other business owners on all these PPP and other government programs created to help in your business recovery.

> Roll with the punches, be patient, and take all the business that you can at this time, but definitely know and play by all the rules.

Franchise Action Network - easily contact your federal, state, and local officials about issues of concern through the state-of-the-art Phone2Action platform.

Learn more about Karen Simmons & CFO Consulting

Karen C. Simmons, P.C.

CFO Consulting Services

In this episode, Karen talks with strategic Information Technology consultant and specialist Abe Harper of Harper Technologies in Mobile, Alabama. Abe shares some simple and essential tools and procedures to ensure computer and network security, even when a company's workforce is primarily working remotely. Plus, Abe describes how the IT world has seen a boom in work and awareness of necessity since the beginning of the pandemic.

Check out Harper Technologies

Key Takeaways

> Use tools and procedures to secure your data from ransomware, computer viruses, and hardware or software damage (fire, water or physical destruction)

> Frequently audit your computer system, network, and procedures to determine vulnerabilities in your security and firewalls.

> A network and information system is only the strong as your weakest link.

> Consult with a reputable IT specialist to determine the appropriate firewalls, anti-viruses, data backup systems, and security protocols for your specific needs.

Learn more about Karen Simmons & Abe Harper

Karen C. Simmons, P.C.

Abe Harper

In this "let's get back to work" episode, Karen talks with Bienville Bites owners Chris and Laney Andrew. They created Bienville Bites to be a guided walking food tour of the best food spots in Mobile, Ala. You walk, eat, and learn about the historic sites in their town while making a few friends along the way. This hobby and side hustle became a bustling full-time job for this husband and wife business team. Hear their story, how they share the load running a business and raising a family, and what's next for growing Bienville Bites. Enjoy the show and please support Bienville Bites when you're ready for a night out on the town.

{Editor's Note: This episode was recorded right before COVID-19 became the only issue in our lives. When the COVID-19 virus hit, we decided to make some new shows focused more on the information that would be important to business owners to help with the shutdown, PPP, and other daily crisis issues. Due to the COVID-19 shutdown and mass disruption in the restaurant industry, they had to pivot their tours with Bites In A Bag. Now that the shutdown as been lifted, Chris and Laney are planning to restart their food tours, and they are taking time right now to work with the local restaurants as they are reopening and recovering.}


Book a tour with Bienville Bites

Key Takeaways

> Look for opportunities to turn hobbies and side hustles into a full job.

> When operating a business or running a family divide the work and responsibility.

> Offer more than just a product, create a true experience or memory for your customers.

Learn more about Karen Simmons

Karen C. Simmons, P.C.

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cfocsi.com

On this episode, Karen talks with local attorney and host of Lawcall Bill Eiland of Eiland and Richie Law Firm in Mobile, Alabama. Bill gives his legal insights on business interruption insurance and how he is helping local businesses deal with insurance carriers who have denied policyholders coverage during this COVID-19 business shutdown. The insurance companies are smart, and you need expert help receiving the benefits that you are owed.

Need help with your Business Disruption Claim?
Contact Bill Eiland at 251-301-6167, or email him at [email protected] for a free and no-obligation consultation. Visit erlawfirm.com for more information.

Key Takeaways

> If your business claim has been declined, consult with a lawyer or local insurance expert and have them review your business liability insurance to see if your business is covered because of COVID-19.

> Get your 2019-20 business financials in order now to prepare any claim or appeal to your insurance denial. You need to be able to prove damages with real numbers.

> If your business disruption claim has been declined, do not give up and resubmit. All claims are denied at first.

Learn more about Karen Simmons

Karen C. Simmons, P.C.

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cfocsi.com

On this episode, Karen talks with HR expert and founder of Morale Resource, LLC, Dr. Gia Wiggins to discuss helping out employers, employees, and customers to transitioning back into the workplace after the mandated shutdown. What does this "new business normal" going to look like? Is the management playbook from the past is no longer relevant? Owners, managers, and employees all need to reevaluate their processes, protocols, and workspace. Gia lays out some sage-like advice to rewriting the employee handbook and transitioning back into working in the office to feel important, safe, and effective. It's time always to be thinking globally and building locally.

Check out Morale Resource, LLC: Human Resources + Consulting

Takeaways

> Try to create a safe and flexible work environment to transition your workforce back into the office.

> Management and staff need to create a new psychological contract of transparency and trust to all be moving forward in a time of uncertainty.

> Reevaluate your business to pivot your operations and revenue streams to be pandemic-proof and crisis-proof in the future.

> Leverage internal relationships and those with vendors, customers, bankers, and competitors.

> Document all the conditions and obstacles you have encountered in this pandemic and business shutdown. Let's learn from this challenging period to prepare for the next crisis.

Learn more about Karen Simmons & Gia Wiggins

Karen C. Simmons, P.C.

Gia Wiggins

On this quarantine special episode, Karen and Cadie are talking surviving and thriving through this coronavirus crisis, and business shutdown with the sage-like, hilarious, and Mobile, Alabama Radio Legend Uncle Henry. Uncle Henry shares what he is seeing now inside his company and with advertisers on WNTM 710AM and iHeartradio. And, he gives his thoughts on the effects of this mandated shutdown on the "nonessential" local businesses and the whole community. On a lighter note, Karen asks about the NEW FRIDAY NIGHT UNCLE HENRY INTERNET SHOW on FACEBOOK LIVE, Bedtime Stories for Seniors, and keeping your spirits up during these anxious times.

Stick around to the very end of the show to hear The New Neighbors from Uncle Henry's Bedtime Stories for Seniors. We promise it will make you smile and give you a big ole belly laugh.

Check out the New Uncle Henry Internet Show

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Learn more about Karen Simmons & Cadie Gaut

Karen C. Simmons, P.C.

Payroll Vault - Mobile & Baldwin Counties

In this special episode, Karen takes a different perspective on the COVID-19 quarantine and its effect on businesses, specifically on young entrepreneurs. She talks with 10-year-old fashion and snack entrepreneur Anthony Allen, creator and owner of Snocks. Taking his hobby of fashion and his love of snacks, Anthony combined both into Snocks, an online gift packaging company of tasty snacks paired with snack designed socks. Anthony, like all local business owners, is struggling to survive and grow during this Coronavirus (COVID-!9) quarantine. He shares his plans weathering this disruption, how he and his Mom are looking to expand the product line, and how he is reevaluating what’s an “essential” job and product. Anthony is one smart cookie and has a lot to say about starting a business, building a brand, and how we all need to stay safe and help one another.

Check Out Snocks

Learn more about Karen Simmons & Anthony



Karen Simmons

Anthony Allen