Link Up & Level Up

Healthcare is one of the biggest expenses we face, especially for small business owners and entrepreneurs. But finding affordable coverage shouldn't have to feel overwhelming.In this episode of Balance Your Books, Kina and Kimberly break down the rising costs of healthcare, how policy changes impact your coverage options, and creative solutions for small business owners seeking affordable health insurance.Through personal experiences and practical advice, they explore what you need to know to make informed healthcare decisions for yourself, your family, and your business.💡 It's open enrollment season. Are you making the most of your healthcare options?🎧 Tune in for a timely conversation about protecting your health without breaking the bank.Want to learn more about our preferred healthcare provider for small businesses that is AFFORDABLE with Benefit Allyship.Employer: Affordable Employee Benefits for Business | Benefit Airship https://benefitairship.com/pages/unlock-employee-benefits?ref=YBPHEALTHSolopreneur: Benefit Airship | Affordable Employee Health Benefitshttps://benefitairship.com/pages/affordable-benefit-plans?ref=YBPHEALTH

Get ready for the 2027 tax preparation season now, during the 4th quarter of 2026!Kimberly M. Johnson, CPA, MBA, shares 4 things you can do right now to get ready:1. Know your organization’s status. Are you a sole proprietor, LLC, or S-Corp?2. Make sure you have the correct information for your employees, vendors, and contractors.3. Gather all your business expenses, especially those paid with personal funds.4. Review your financial statements BEFORE the end of the year.

Latino entrepreneurs contribute to their communities, create jobs, support families, and build generational wealth—but navigating taxes, documentation, payroll, banking, and changing immigration policies can create serious challenges for business owners.In this special Hispanic Heritage Month episode of Balance Your Books, Kina and Kimberly sit down with Martha Juarez Ramirez, owner of Servicios Ramirez, a Kansas City-area bookkeeping and payroll firm that has spent 30 years helping Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs navigate the financial and administrative systems that affect their businesses.Martha shares what she is seeing firsthand in the Latino business community and practical steps entrepreneurs can take to better protect their businesses, income, assets, and families.

Misclassifying W-2 employees and 1099 contractors can cost a small business far more than payroll taxes - it can trigger penalties, audits, back taxes, and even lawsuits. If you hire people, pay contractors, or are thinking about scaling your team, this conversation with HR expert Anika Bowles is the reality check you need.Kina and Kimberly bring back Anika Bowles of Anika Bowles Consulting to break down the decisions business owners get wrong most often when building out their teams. The biggest mistake? Thinking you and the worker get to decide whether someone is a W-2 or a 1099. Anika explains why the role, the control you have over the work, and the way the person functions in your business determine classification - not preference.You'll discover why a W-2 employee is far more than a salary line item, how to budget for the real cost of hiring, and why "clarity before capacity" should guide every hiring decision. And the stakes are real. Misclassification can lead to unemployment claims, state audits, civil suits, penalties, interest, and damage to your reputation and cash flow. The hosts share real-world examples of what happens when businesses ignore the rules - and why paying for the right setup on the front end is always cheaper than cleaning up a mess later.Essential listening if you run a small business, manage a growing team, or want to avoid the costly mistakes that come with hiring the wrong way. Listen now before your next people decision turns into a financial one.

Unlock the secret to building a thriving business by mastering one often-overlooked aspect: people. In this episode of Balance Your Books, industry expert Anika Bowles joins us to reveal the critical first steps every entrepreneur must take before expanding their team. If you're wondering how to ensure your business is truly "people-ready," this episode is your ultimate guide to avoiding costly mistakes that could derail your growth. Anika, a seasoned HR professional turned small business consultant, shares her 20+ years of experience in creating robust human-centered strategies. She discusses groundbreaking insights like the importance of clarity before capacity—understanding exactly what roles you need and what your hiring process should look like before bringing anyone onboard. You'll discover common pitfalls, such as neglecting documented processes, leading to chaos that even top talent can't thrive in. Anika also emphasizes that operational chaos isn't solved by hiring more people; rather, it requires intentional culture-building and role clarity, or risk losing your top performers to burnout and disengagement.

Kina and Kimberly expose the costly mistakes behind Uncle Nearest’s recent legal troubles, revealing how lax governance and unchecked fraud can destroy a brand built on legacy. If you’ve ever wondered what silently threatens your business’s future, this episode is your wake-up call.By understanding the secrets of smart financial governance—and avoiding common pitfalls—you can shield your business from avoidable disasters. Whether you're a startup or scaling up, these lessons will help you develop the controls needed for sustainable growth. Get ready to make your financial foundation as strong as your brand’s story.And stay tuned for our upcoming Cash Flow Confidence program — designed to empower small businesses with actionable strategies for financial mastery. Because the difference between success and failure often comes down to how well you manage your money behind the scenes.

Link Up & Level Up explores how connection, collaboration, and community fuel real business growth. In this episode, we break down how to build relationships that support your goals, network without the awkwardness, and create partnerships that help you move forward faster. It’s important to know that sometimes excellence is not enough — the right connections can take you further than skill alone.If you’re ready to stop doing everything alone and start building connections that actually make a difference, this episode gives you the clarity and steps to make it happen.

Paid in Benefits- Running a business is a grind, but choosing the right benefits doesn’t have to be. Welcome to Paid in Benefits—the show that cuts through the noise and samples the best practices for small business healthcare. We’re here to help you navigate the system, save on your taxes, and take care of your people without skipping a beat. Don’t get played by the premiums—get your business Paid in Benefits.We have invited Jacob Guidi from Thrive Benefits Group (www.thrivebg.com) to join us and discuss how to SAVE money when providing health benefits to your employees. #cashflowconfidence #smallbusinessaccounting #yourbalancedpartners

In this episode , Kina & Kimberly explore the rise and fall of Spirit Airlines, lessons in business management, and the importance of strategic planning and customer service in the airline industry and small businesses.

You won’t believe the shocking ways fraudsters manipulate finances—and how small lapses in control can lead to millions lost.Kimberly's birthday week prompts a revealing deep dive into the hidden warning signs, real-life scandals, and smart strategies to prevent financial betrayal in your business—and even on your next cruise.Join us for a candid exploration of financial integrity, control systems, and the lessons learned from some of the biggest scandals in history. Whether you’re managing a team, running a company, or planning your next vacation, this episode is essential listening in today’s risk-filled world. Protect what’s yours—because a little vigilance can prevent a disaster.