Notes on running a business.
Practical guidance on cash flow, accounting, and the decisions that come with running a business.
Start with the decision you need to make
Choose your accounting support
Compare the operating model, decide when to hand off, and define the scope.
Close the books with confidence
Work through the close, reconcile balances, and understand the resulting statements.
Understand client and project margins
Connect delivery effort to fees and make scope decisions using a consistent margin definition.
Plan capacity and cash
Compare staffing capacity, payment timing, and hiring commitments before making a decision.
All Articles
Realization Rate Formula: Benchmarks for Consulting Firms
Realization rate measures how much of your recorded billable time actually reaches a client invoice. This guide covers the formula, a benchmark table by firm type, and the most common causes of realization leakage.
Agency Days Sales Outstanding: DSO Formula & Collection Playbook
Days sales outstanding measures how long your agency waits to collect after invoicing. This guide covers the DSO formula, what a healthy target looks like, and the collection sequence that moves the number fastest.
Outsourced Accounting for Medical Practices: Cost, Scope & What Changes With Multiple Providers
Outsourced accounting for a medical practice typically costs $2,500–$7,500/month, depending on size and scope. This guide covers what's included, what drives the price up, and how multi-provider or multi-location practices should think about scope.
Agency Gross Margin Benchmarks: Formula, Targets & What Pulls You Below
A healthy gross margin for agencies is 50% or higher. This guide covers the formula, benchmark ranges by agency type, and the three structural problems that pull gross margin below target.
Fixed Price vs Time and Materials: Which Model Protects Your Studio's Margins?
Fixed price and T&M contracts distribute risk and margin potential very differently for software studios. This guide compares both models on profitability, risk, and when to switch — so you can choose the structure that fits the project in front of you.
Fixed-Fee Software Project Revenue Recognition: A Practical Reference
Fixed-fee software projects require recognizing revenue as work is delivered — not when invoices go out. This guide explains how ASC 606 applies, when percentage-of-completion is appropriate, and how to measure progress accurately.
Consulting WIP Accounting: How to Record and Manage Unbilled Revenue
WIP accounting for consulting firms tracks work delivered but not yet invoiced. This guide explains how to record unbilled revenue, when it becomes recognized, and how it appears on your balance sheet.
Tax Extension vs. Payment Deadline: What Business Owners Must Know
A tax extension moves your filing deadline — not your payment deadline. This guide explains the file-versus-pay distinction, the penalties that apply when you extend but don't pay, and how to estimate what you owe by the original due date.
FAQ
Before we talk.
A few practical details, so you know what to expect.
Where can I see an example of Laya’s monthly reporting?
Which plans include monthly accounting?
How should I use the examples and calculators?
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you’re building.
We’ll talk through your business, your books, and where you could use a hand.