Keeping Businesses in Business

In this episode of Keeping Businesses in Business, Haley Norton sits down with Evelyn Chimal, owner of Café Chimal, a Mexican-inspired coffee trailer turning a longtime passion into a growing business! 

Evelyn shares how her 10 years of experience as a barista inspired her to take the leap into entrepreneurship, how social media and word of mouth are helping her build a loyal customer base, and her plans to expand into new areas. Haley and Evelyn also get into the realities of starting a small business, from managing expenses and hiring employees to understanding your numbers and knowing when it’s time to bring in professional bookkeeping support.

Whether you're dreaming of starting a business or already navigating the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, this episode is full of inspiration, real-world lessons, and reminders that keeping your business organized is just as important as growing it.

📍 Follow Café Chimal on Instagram at @cafe_chimal to find out where the pink coffee trailer is headed next!

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Welcome to 10 Minutes with Thomas, a new segment of Keeping Businesses in Business! 🎙️

This week, Thomas is joined by Haley Norton to discuss tax and IRS scams, including common red flags to watch for, how to protect yourself and your business, and what to do if you receive a suspicious call, email, or letter claiming to be from the IRS.

At Accounting Services Unlimited, we believe that staying informed is one of the best ways to protect your business. Tune in for practical tips, helpful insights, and a few minutes of financial clarity!

10 Minutes with Thomas: Real conversations. Practical advice. Smarter business decisions.

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Employee turnover can get expensive fast, especially for small businesses. In this episode of Keeping Businesses in Business, Thomas sits down with Ruth Ragusa, a life, health, and accident insurance producer, to break down employee benefits and why they matter for both businesses and their teams.

They talk about health insurance, dental and vision coverage, short term and long term disability, supplemental policies, employer contributions, and the “hidden paycheck” that benefits can provide. They also discuss how offering the right benefits can help businesses attract and retain great employees while potentially providing valuable tax deductions.

Whether you’re hiring your first employees or trying to keep your best people around, this episode breaks down what business owners should know before choosing a benefits package. 

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In this episode of Keeping Businesses in Business, Thomas and Haley recap their first experience working the Louisiana Restaurant Association Showcase and Expo. From setting up the booth and reconnecting with longtime clients to Thomas taking the stage for a packed speaking session, they share some of their favorite moments, biggest takeaways, and a few hilarious behind the scenes stories.

They also talk about what Accounting Services Unlimited has learned from working with restaurants for more than 20 years, why understanding the numbers can make a huge difference in restaurant decisions, and how ASU helps restaurant owners move beyond simply surviving to actually growing their businesses.

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In this episode of Keeping Businesses in Business, Thomas Fontes of Accounting Services Unlimited sits down with Erin Ducote, Branch Manager at First Horizon Bank, to discuss why having a strong relationship with your banker is just as important as having a great accountant.

Thomas and Erin dive into the balance between maximizing tax deductions and maintaining the financial profile needed to qualify for loans and lines of credit. They explain why accountants and bankers should work together to help business owners make informed financial decisions before they need financing.

The conversation also covers practical advice for entrepreneurs at every stage of business, including setting up business banking correctly, using business credit wisely, establishing lines of credit to support growth, and building cash reserves for unexpected challenges. Erin shares valuable insights on protecting your business from fraud, monitoring accounts, and avoiding common banking mistakes like mixing personal and business finances or relying too heavily on debit cards.

Whether you're launching a new business or preparing for your next stage of growth, this episode is packed with real-world advice on financing, financial planning, fraud prevention, and building the banking relationships that help keep businesses in business.

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In this episode of Keeping Businesses in Business, we sit down with Lisa Laird to discuss the strategies behind building a stronger sales process, improving performance, and creating a system that helps businesses close more deals. Lisa shares valuable insights on sales strategy, pipeline management, accountability, and how business owners and sales teams can build better relationships with potential clients.

Lisa Laird is a sales strategist, speaker, consultant, and the author of The Closer, a practical guide focused on developing the mindset and strategies needed to win more business and build lasting client relationships. She is also the creator of SalesProTracker, a platform designed to help sales professionals track performance, manage pipelines, and improve accountability.

With a focus on sales leadership, revenue growth, and measurable results, Lisa helps professionals and organizations become more effective closers and create repeatable sales systems that drive success.

Tune in as we break down the journey from prospect to client and learn how the right sales process can help keep your business growing.

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Can marketing really make or break your business? In this episode of Keeping Businesses in Business, Thomas Fontes sits down with AnaMaria Bech of Scene It Creations and Viva Nola Magazine to discuss why consistent marketing is one of the smartest investments a business owner can make.

They cover the connection between marketing and your financials, why tracking your return on investment matters, the power of digital content, and how the right strategy can fuel long-term growth. Whether you're relying on word of mouth or ready to build a stronger brand, this conversation will help you understand how marketing and accounting work together to create a profitable business.

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In this episode of Keeping Businesses in Business, host Thomas Fotes is joined by Haley Norton for a conversation all about profit acceleration for small business owners. From increasing revenue and improving cash flow to knowing when to raise prices, cut costs, or expand, they break down practical strategies that help businesses grow smarter, not just bigger.

Tune in for real conversations, honest insights, and actionable tips designed to help business owners maximize profitability while building a business that actually works for their life and goals.

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Scaling a business sounds exciting… until you realize growth is not always the goal. In this episode, we dive into the real questions every small business owner faces: Is there actually room to grow, and do you even want to?

We’re talking about the signs it’s time to open a second location, how to know when a client relationship is doing more harm than good, and the tough realization that not everyone is your ideal customer. We also unpack the pressure entrepreneurs feel to constantly expand, and why sometimes keeping your business smaller, simpler, and more profitable can be the smartest move of all.

Whether you’re trying to scale, stay lean, or figure out what success really looks like for you, this conversation is packed with honest insight, practical advice, and real-world perspective for business owners at every stage.

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In this episode of Keeping Businesses in Business, we’re breaking down the numbers every business owner needs to understand to stay in control and make smarter decisions.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by your financials or unsure what you should actually be looking at, this episode is for you. We’re covering the basics of business accounting in a way that’s simple, practical, and easy to apply no accounting degree required.

We’ll walk through key concepts like revenue, expenses, profit, and cash flow, and explain what they really mean for your day to day operations. You’ll also learn which numbers matter most and what to actually pay attention to on a regular basis.

This episode is a straightforward look at the fundamentals so you can better understand what’s going on behind your numbers and where your business stands.

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