In this episode of QuickBooks Mastery for Small Business Success, father-daughter team Erica Northrup and Lee Davisdig into one of the most overlooked foundations of a healthy business: the business plan.

They start with a real story from Lee’s week—a potential client who reached out before jumping in—and contrast that with the many owners who launch with nothing but an LLC, an EIN, and a handful of credit cards. From there, they unpack why a business plan doesn’t need to be a 30-page document full of jargon—but it does need to be clear, simple, and actionable.

Lee shares how his own business started with an SBA-backed loan, a strong credit score, and a well-thought-out plan that covered structure, legal setup, and an operating agreement. Erica brings in her marketing perspective—especially around defining your ideal customer, niching down, and using both online marketing and old-fashioned word of mouth to build a sustainable client base.

Together, they walk through the 5 core sections every simple business plan should have and a 7-step framework you can use to build or refresh your plan—whether you are just starting or expanding an existing business. The episode closes with a 90-day action challenge and a free one-page business plan template to help you get started right away.

Listeners will gain clarity, encouragement, and practical steps they can put into motion immediately, plus a clear link between business planning now and budgeting in next week’s episode.

• A business plan isn’t busywork—it’s your roadmap so you lead your business instead of just reacting.
• The best business plans are short, specific, and focused on what you do, who you serve, and how you make money.
• Every business plan should cover 5 core areas: business overview, goals, products/services, marketing, and financials.
• Defining your ideal customer and your niche makes marketing easier and helps you say “no” to the wrong clients.
• Listing your revenue streams and key expenses gives you realistic numbers to bring to the bank—and keeps you out of the 14-credit-card trap.
• Word of mouth plus genuine relationship-building is still one of the most effective low-cost marketing strategies.
• Your business plan is a living document—review it at least annually (or quarterly) and adjust as you grow.
• A clear plan today sets you up for a smarter budget tomorrow, which Erica and Lee will walk through in Episode 6.

• Do I have a written business plan—or has most of my planning been in my head?
• If I had to explain my business in 2–3 sentences, who I serve, and how I help them, what would I say?
• What are the three biggest “rocks” that would truly move the needle in my business over the next year?
• Do I clearly understand my main revenue streams, pricing, and top 5–6 expenses?
• When was the last time I revisited my business plan or goals and adjusted them based on what’s actually happening?

• Free Business Plan Template
• Use this simple, guided template to map out your mission, ideal customer, goals, revenue streams, expenses, and marketing snapshot for the next 12 months.
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In this episode of QuickBooks Mastery for Small Business Success, father-daughter team Erica Northrup and Lee Davis dive into how to integrate QuickBooks with the other systems you use to run your small business.

Instead of entering the same information in three different places, they walk through how to connect QuickBooks to tools like payment processors, payroll and HR systems, ecommerce platforms, time-tracking tools, and CRMs so data flows automatically. They explore why integrations matter, how they reduce manual data entry and errors, and how they give you more accurate, real-time financial information.

Erica and Lee also outline a simple framework for getting started: identify your most time-consuming tasks, find the right QuickBooks apps, implement one integration at a time, and then layer on automation tools to refine your workflow. By the end of the episode, listeners will have a clear picture of which QuickBooks integrations to consider and what steps to take first to streamline their bookkeeping and operations.

• Integrating QuickBooks reduces manual data entry and errors. When your payment, payroll, and ecommerce systems sync with QuickBooks, you spend less time typing and more time running your business.
• Payment integrations speed up cash flow and reconciliation. Connecting tools like Stripe, PayPal, Square, or QuickBooks Payments to QuickBooks helps sales and payments flow directly into your books.
• Payroll and HR integrations keep payroll clean and compliant. Using tools like Gusto, ADP, or QuickBooks Payroll ensures payroll, taxes, and benefits are recorded accurately inside QuickBooks.
• Ecommerce integrations centralize your online sales data. Platforms such as Shopify, WooCommerce, or Amazon can sync orders, sales tax, and fees to QuickBooks so you can see true profitability.
• You do not need to integrate everything at once. Start with the one area where you are doing the most manual work (invoicing, sales, payroll, or time tracking), set up that integration, and test it before adding more.
• The QuickBooks App Store and automation tools like Zapier can extend what QuickBooks does. Used wisely, they help you build a simple, automated workflow that matches the way your business actually runs.

• Where are you currently double-entering information between systems and QuickBooks?
• Which integration (payments, payroll, ecommerce, or CRM) would save you the most time right away?
• How confident are you that the data coming into QuickBooks from other tools is complete and accurate?
• What is one manual process you would love to eliminate in the next 30 days?

Free 3-Part Quick Start Guide to Getting Started with QuickBooks

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• Payment processors (for faster payments and cleaner reconciliation)
• Payroll and HR systems (for automated payroll and taxes)
• Ecommerce and invoicing platforms (for syncing online sales)
• Automation tools and QuickBooks App Store...

In this episode of QuickBooks Mastery for Small Business Success, father-daughter team Erica Northrup and Lee Davisunpack one of the most critical pieces of small business financial management: cash flow.

Even profitable businesses can fail if they run out of cash. Erica and Lee explain the difference between profit and cash flow, why so many business owners look at their QuickBooks reports and think, “I should have more money in the bank than this,” and how to use QuickBooks as a practical tool to understand where your cash is going.

They walk through cash flow fundamentals, how to think in terms of money in vs. money out, and how to use key QuickBooks tools like the cash flow statement, profit and loss, balance sheet, comparative reports, dashboards, accounts receivable aging, and accounts payable to get a clearer picture of your financial reality.

You’ll also hear real-world examples of overspending, impulse buying, using credit cards, and relying on lines of credit—and how to use cash flow forecasting to make better decisions, set realistic goals, and avoid running your business into a cash crunch.

Listeners will walk away with a better understanding of cash flow, plus simple, actionable steps to track it, improve it, and plan for the future using QuickBooks.

• Cash flow is money in and money out, not just profit on a report. You can show a profit and still run out of money.
• You must look beyond your bank balance and consider loans, credit cards, accounts payable, and upcoming obligations when evaluating cash flow.
• QuickBooks offers powerful tools—cash flow statements, profit and loss, balance sheets, comparative reports, dashboards, and aging reports—to help you understand and monitor cash flow.
• Overspending, impulse buying, and stocking up “because it’s on sale” can quietly destroy cash flow and push you into unnecessary debt.
• A cash flow forecast helps you anticipate slow seasons, plan for lean months, and adjust expenses, staffing, and investments ahead of time.
• A good banking relationship and a well-managed line of credit can be critical tools for navigating ups and downs—but only if used wisely.
• Simple habits—timely invoicing, clear payment expectations, using QuickBooks Payments, following up on overdue invoices, and scheduling regular financial review time—can dramatically improve cash flow.

• Do you know how much cash you truly need each month to cover loan payments, rent, payroll, and your own pay?
• Have you ever looked at your QuickBooks profit and thought, “Where did the money go?”
• Are you making spending decisions based on cash flow, or impulse and convenience?
• When was the last time you looked at your cash flow statement, accounts receivable aging, or cash flow forecastin QuickBooks?
• What is one small habit you could implement this week to better track or improve your cash flow?

Free 3-Part Quick Start Guide to Getting Started with QuickBooks

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In this week’s episode of QuickBooks Mastery for Small Business Success, father-daughter team Erica Northrup and Lee Davis tackle one of the biggest struggles small business owners face: QuickBooks messes. From confusing bank feeds to incorrect categorization to messy charts of accounts, this episode breaks down why QuickBooks often becomes overwhelming—and more importantly, how to fix it.

Drawing from decades of experience helping business owners clean up their books, Lee explains the foundational mistakes that lead to chaos in QuickBooks and the simple steps anyone can take to regain control. Erica adds practical insights, relatable stories, and a fresh perspective on why small, consistent habits make all the difference.

Whether you're new to QuickBooks or knee-deep in a bookkeeping tangle, this episode offers clarity, encouragement, and simple next steps to get your books back on track.

• Many QuickBooks messes begin with a misunderstanding of accounting fundamentals.
• Connecting bank feeds too early or without proper setup often creates duplicated or incorrect transactions.
• A messy Chart of Accounts leads to confusing financial reports and poor decision-making.
• Incorrect categorization—especially mixing business and personal expenses—causes tax issues and inaccurate cash flow.
• Reconciling your accounts monthly is one of the simplest ways to prevent major financial confusion.
• QuickBooks has tools that save time (like rules and automations), but they must be set up correctly.
• Sometimes the fastest path to clarity is hiring an expert to clean up your books and guide you forward.

• When was the last time you felt confident in your QuickBooks reports?
• Are your Chart of Accounts and categories helping—or confusing—you?
• Are your business and personal expenses fully separated?
• Do you reconcile every month, or only when tax season arrives?
• What small habit could you start this week to keep your books cleaner?

Free Resource:

3-Part Quick Start Guide to Getting Started with QuickBooks

Download at: www.leedavisandcompany.com

Send Us Your Questions:

support@leedavisandcompany.com

Chapters:

• 00:02 - Introduction to QuickBooks Mastery
• 03:28 - Common QuickBooks Mistakes and How to Fix Them
• 07:52 - Understanding the Chart of Accounts
• 13:50 - Cleaning Up Your Financial Mess
• 16:26 - Transitioning to QuickBooks Automation