Author:

Rachel Blakely-Gray

As Patriot's Content Manager, Rachel creates engaging and informative content aimed to help business owners understand complex accounting and payroll topics.

3 Upselling and Cross-Selling Tips for Small Business Owners

By Rachel Blakely-Gray

Your current customers spend an average of 67% more than new customers. Why? Current customers are more familiar with and loyal to your brand. And, you have upselling and cross-selling opportunities when it comes to your current customer base. What business owner doesn’t want to bring in more revenue? Learn about upselling and cross-selling, the […]

License to Sell: Your Guide to Applying for a Sales Tax Permit

By Rachel Blakely-Gray

Many businesses need to collect sales tax from customers. But before you can start collecting it, you must obtain a sales tax permit with the state. Find out how to apply for a seller’s permit by state to keep things legal.

Recording Credit Card Sales in Your Books

By Rachel Blakely-Gray

Do you accept credit card payments in your small business? If you do, that’s great news for the 80% of consumers who prefer playing with plastic. But, it comes with additional business responsibilities, such as recording credit card sales in your books.

Customer handing a check to a business owner.

7 Precautions for Accepting Checks: Check Acceptance Guidelines

By Rachel Blakely-Gray

Accepting check payments from customers may increase your chances of making a sale, but it comes at a price. If you receive counterfeit checks or checks from people with insufficient funds, you may have to deal with bank fees, wasted time, and lost money. To avoid these bad check nightmares, follow some standard precautions for […]

Step up Your Accounting Game With a Compound Journal Entry

By Rachel Blakely-Gray

If you use a double-entry bookkeeping system, you know that every account you debit requires you to credit the corresponding account, and vice versa. But what happens when the transaction affects more than two accounts? It’s time to create a compound journal entry.

Going the Freemium Pricing Route: What to Know

By Rachel Blakely-Gray

When Goldilocks broke into the Three Bears’ home, she needed a bed that was just right—not too small and not too large. Likewise, when you break into the market, you need to set prices that are just right—not too low and not too high. Could freemium pricing be your “just right” strategy?

Use the Average Vacation Time to Build Your Business’s Policy

By Rachel Blakely-Gray

Do you want to give your employees paid time off from work? If you choose to offer paid vacation days as an employee benefit, you might not know how many to provide. To stay competitive, take a look at the national average vacation time.

Should You Consider Opening a Payroll Account for Your Small Business?

By Rachel Blakely-Gray

Keeping track of your expenses is part of being a business owner. You probably heard it said that you need a separate business bank account in addition to your personal bank account. But, you might not be familiar with a payroll account. What is a payroll account, and should you consider opening one for your […]

Terminated employee carrying box of belongings out of the office.

There’s More to the Cost of Firing an Employee Than Meets the Eye

By Rachel Blakely-Gray

Losing employees can be devastating for your small business. Employee turnover can drain workplace morale and cost you time and money finding replacements. What’s even worse is having to fire an employee. Read on to find out the cost of firing an employee.

Employee waiving health insurance coverage.

Handling Employees Who Want to Waive Coverage from Health Insurance

By Rachel Blakely-Gray

Health insurance is a great benefit to offer employees. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 71% of all private industry businesses offer health benefits. But, what happens when employees want to opt out of employer health insurance? They waive coverage.