(With apologies to our nonprofit friends…)

Let’s start with an apology to our nonprofit customers whose world revolves around budgets. We get it — grant compliance demands a budget. You have to show exactly how funds will be spent. Budgets in your world are a necessary evil.

But for everyone else? Let’s be honest: budgets are a waste of time.

In the for-profit world, a budget is like a New Year’s resolution: full of good intentions and forgotten by February. They’re static. You set them, you tuck them away, and you hope they magically keep you “on track.” But a budget doesn’t help you create results; it just tells you how to spend what you already have. With budgets, you aim low to feel safe. You plan for what you think you can do. Then you call it “realistic.”

That’s not how growth happens.

Why Forecasts are More Valuable than Budgets Every Time

A forecast is different. It’s alive. It moves! It changes as you do.

Forecasts are forward-looking. They don’t ask, “What did we spend?” They ask, “What are we going to make happen next?” A forecast…

• tells you how to make a profit.
• gets updated every month as real numbers roll in.
• helps you see trends early and adjust before the year runs off the rails.
• forces you to make decisions — not excuses.

With a forecast, you’re not reacting to last quarter’s mess. You’re designing next quarter’s success.

How to Stop Thinking Like a Budgeter and Start Thinking Like a Forecaster

Step 1: Start with the end in mind. Decide how much profit you want next year — yes, decide. Profit is a choice, not an accident.

Step 2: Work backward. What level of revenue do you need to hit that goal? What will it cost to get there?

Step 3: Update your forecast monthly. When sales shift or expenses change, adjust the forecast and re-aim. The goal is progress, not perfection.

Step 4: Aim high. Budgets play defense. Forecasts play offense. If you want to grow, you have to stop “budgeting” for survival and start forecasting for success.

Here’s the Bottom Line

A budget tells you how to spend your money.
A forecast tells you how to make more of it.

If you’re serious about hitting your 2026 revenue and profit goals, stop budgeting for what’s safe — and start forecasting what’s possible. Reach out to learn more about how we can help create a living forecast that keeps you on track (and off the hamster wheel).

We are pleased to announce that Britney Schaub has earned her designation as a Certified Bookkeeper from the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers as of October 2025.

Founded in 1987, the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB) certifies bookkeepers who meet high, national standards. To become certified, she was required to have at least 3,000 hours of experience in performing bookkeeping services, to pass a four-part national examination which included testing in the areas of adjusting entries, error correction, payroll, depreciation, inventory, internal controls, and fraud prevention, and to sign a Code of Professional Ethics.

Britney has been part of the New Business Directions team since 2016. She started as our Office Assistant and quickly worked her way up to becoming a certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor. Britney has certifications in QuickBooks Enterprise, Desktop, and Online, as well as BILL, TSheets, Fathom, and Hubdoc. Britney holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Finance from Granite State College and now adds Certified Bookkeeper to her list of accomplishments!

Congratulations Britney! We could not be more proud of you. We are delighted that you are a part of our team!

As your business grows, your QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise file can get cluttered—duplicate vendors, overlapping accounts, multiple versions of the same item. That kind of mess slows you down. Merging list items is a powerful way to clean up your QuickBooks data while preserving your transaction history and keeping your books reliable.

In this post and the accompanying the video tutorial, we’ll cover why you should do this, when not to, and how to approach merging with confidence.

Why Merging List Items Matters

Over time, duplicates sneak in. Maybe someone on your accounting team entered “Acme Corp.” as a vendor when “Acme Corporation” already existed. Alternatively, a third-party app integration could have created a new vendor entry instead of reusing yours. That inconsistency causes confusion, misentries, and wasted time hunting for the “right” item during transactions.

When you merge list items properly:

• You consolidate duplicates so your lists stay clean.
• You reduce the risk of picking the wrong vendor, customer, or account during bookkeeping.
• You make your system more intuitive — fewer names, fewer distractions.

When It’s Not Safe to Merge List Items

Not every duplicate should be merged. Be cautious in these cases:

• Different tax or legal identities: If two vendor entries have different tax IDs (e.g. for 1099 filing), keep them separate.
• Distinct roles or histories: If one “duplicate” is really a variation (say, a parent company vs a separate branch) with unique transactions, merging might obscure important details.
• Irreversible actions: Once you merge two items, the change is permanent. There’s no “unmerge” button—so always back up your QuickBooks file first.

When in doubt, a safer alternative is marking one item as inactive instead of merging.

Smart Tips for a Smooth Merge

• Make a backup file first. Don’t skip this step. Since you can’t undo, it’s your safety net.
• Confirm the match: Compare names, addresses, phone numbers, and transaction activity.
• Transfer info carefully: If the duplicate has valid contact info, copy that into the version you’ll keep before merging. Otherwise, that data disappears.
• Only like account types can be merged: Items that are not of the same account type, such as “Other current asset” and “fixed asset” can’t be merged. They must be the same type.
• Watch for integrations: If apps or plug-ins link to list items, double-check after merging so nothing breaks downstream.

What You Can and Can’t Merge

✅ Can Merge:

• Vendors
• Customers
• Chart of Accounts (within same types)
• Inventory and non‑inventory items
• Price levels, fixed asset items, etc.

🚫 Can’t Merge:

• Employees (QuickBooks doesn’t allow it)

A word of caution: merging inventory items can really mess with your average cost (changing your costing method requires IRS approval), so if you’re not sure, don’t do it. 

Merging — when done right — is a practical tool to shape order out of chaos. For your growing business, it’s a way to keep your accounting file leaner, cleaner, and more trustworthy.

Ready to Clean Up Your QuickBooks File?

If you’re over having duplicate list items, confusing entries, or frustration chasing which list item is “real,” here’s your next move: Schedule a Diagnostic Review with our team. We’ll assess your QuickBooks setup, chart of accounts, workflow gaps, and list hygiene — then deliver clear, actionable next steps.

Book Your Diagnostic Review today — let’s bring clarity and confidence to your accounting system.

When your business grows, so do your compliance responsibilities. Certain safety, training, and recordkeeping requirements kick in once you hit specific employee thresholds—and they’re not just red tape. These rules protect your team and your business.

Here’s a quick overview of key federal and New Hampshire employer requirements:

Federal OSHA Requirements for Businesses with Over 10 Employees

• More than 10 employees: Most businesses must keep OSHA injury and illness records (Forms 300, 300A, 301).
• Hazardous chemicals present: You must have a written Hazard Communication Program with Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) and employee training.
• Emergency Action Plans (EAPs): If required for your industry, must be written if you have more than 10 employees (smaller employers can communicate verbally).

New Hampshire-Specific Requirements

• More than 10 employees: Written safety program must be submitted to the NH Department of Labor every two years.
• 15 or more employees: You must establish a Joint Loss Management Committee that meets quarterly.
• Public works construction over $100,000: Workers must complete OSHA 10-Hour Construction training.

Why Compliance Matters for a Small Business

Meeting these requirements isn’t just about compliance—it can reduce accidents, lower insurance costs, and create a culture of safety and care. Even if you’re below the thresholds, adopting best practices early can save headaches later.

Here’s what it means to work with New Business Directions  — and more importantly, why it matters to the success of your business:

1. Organized, Accurate Books

We handle the monthly accounting services — properly and consistently categorizing your transactions, reconciling your accounts – all of your accounts, not just the bank account, and keeping your financial records accurate and up to date. This is the foundation that allows everything else to happen: advisory conversations, timely tax filings, clear cash flow insights, and data you can actually rely on.

Strategic Value: This supports our goal to create order out of chaos. Clean books bring peace of mind, reduce overwhelm, and give you control over your business finances.

2. Clear, Customized Financial Reports

Each month, we provide management reports that actually mean something: not just the profit and loss and balance sheet, but the statement of cash flows and other tailored dashboard reports that reflect how your business or nonprofit is performing, not just this year, but compared to last year and the year before that and compared to your forward looking projections.

Strategic Value: These reports are the dashboard that show you if you’re better, smarter, faster, and more profitable than you were last month or last year and if you’re meeting your goals. It’s not just about having the numbers — it’s about understanding the story they tell, the trends, the direction.

3. Advisory Meetings with a Purpose

We don’t just send reports and disappear. We meet with you to review your numbers, answer your questions, and talk about where your business is headed. Whether we’re brainstorming ways to improve margins or talking through hiring decisions, you’ve got an experienced advisor at the table with you.

Strategic Value: Our team has a seat at your table — that’s how we help you to make smarter decisions, avoid costly mistakes, and spot opportunities. We’re not just reporting the past — we’re helping you shape the future.

4. Peace of Mind + A Forward Plan

Ultimately, we want you to feel in control of your business, not burdened by the back office. That means fewer surprises, more clarity, and a partner who’s proactively watching out for you, collaborating with you — not just checking boxes.

Strategic Value: Our mission is to help you live the dream: succeed without having to work 24/7. We do that by streamlining your financial processes and giving you the confidence to move forward.

If you ever want to dig deeper into any part of what we do — or add more tools to your financial toolkit — just say the word. We’re here to help you grow smarter and stronger every month.