3 Ways to Kick Start Your Business into 2013

Um, hello--it's Q4, time to pull your head out of 2012 and start thinking about upping your business game in the coming year. The first tool for the job? My foot planted firmly (and repeatedly) on your backside. I'm going to help push your business forward by making you face up to some tough issues.

Swift Kick No. 1: How can you grow with crappy cash flow?
The main complaint I hear from new entrepreneurs is having to deal with erratic cash flow. What are you going to do to wrangle this growth-sucking beast? You don't have to be a financial wiz to know that cash flow isn't a client problem--it's a you problem. Start by completing a real profit and loss statement for the first three quarters of 2012. Next, meet with a CPA to discuss your business structure, goals, taxes and liabilities for the coming year. Don't wait until January; that's too late. Do it now. In the meantime, start socking away six months of living and operating expenses. That should take the sting out of any cash flow irregularities as you prepare to turn your financial dragon into a workhorse.