Brian C Jensen

You improve your financial control and simplify your bookkeeping when you choose the right accounting software for your small business. The best tools help you track money accurately, automate repetitive tasks, and make well-informed decisions without extra administrative burden. This guide walks you through five leading options that consistently rank at the top of search queries from small-business owners. You will see how each tool supports cash flow management, invoicing, bank reconciliation, reporting, and daily operations. By the end, you will know which platform fits the way you run your business and the stage you are in. 1. QuickBooks Online — Most Versatile for Growing Businesses QuickBooks Online gives you a full suite of accounting features that support businesses at every stage. When you use it, you get access to invoicing, bank feeds, expense tracking, tax-ready reports, and financial dashboards that keep you informed without manual calculations. QuickBooks Online remains ...

If you’re managing client communications and high-stakes presentations, the right presentation design tools can elevate your work from average to exceptional. These five tools help you create polished, data-rich, brand-consistent presentations faster—so you can focus on strategy, not slide formatting. In this article, you’ll explore the most effective presentation software platforms for consultants , how they optimize workflows, and what to consider before adopting one. Each recommendation focuses on practical use—speed, collaboration, and storytelling that converts insight into impact. 1. Canva: Best for Brand Consistency and Fast Design Canva has become the go-to design tool for consultants who need beautiful, professional presentations without relying on a graphic designer. You can start with thousands of ready-to-use templates tailored for business, strategy, and client pitches. Its Brand Kit feature ensures your color palette, fonts, and logos remain consistent across decks—essen...

The best workshop facilitation tools give you structure, engagement, and measurable outcomes when running client sessions. They help you design, manage, and execute workshops with clarity and confidence. As a consultant, your credibility rests on the outcomes you deliver—not just the conversations you host. With the right digital facilitation tools, you can create seamless sessions, keep participants focused, and produce results that clients trust. This article explores five tools you should master and how to apply them effectively.  Why do consultants need facilitation tools? Consultants use facilitation tools to guide structured workshops where ideas are generated, prioritized, and aligned into actionable outcomes. Without these tools, sessions often lack focus, making it harder for teams to reach decisions. Facilitation software also saves you time. You can prepare agendas, manage participation, and export insights without juggling spreadsheets or scattered notes. Whether onlin...

You elevate management consulting with AI tools that automate analysis, accelerate project execution, and enhance client value. These platforms deliver sharper insights, faster delivery, and competitive differentiation. In this article, you’ll discover best AI-powered tools that are changing how consultants work . By numbering the platforms, you’ll see how each one addresses a specific need in analysis, project oversight, research, and strategy development. IBM Watson, Alteryx, and Databricks – Analytics at Scale AI-driven analytics platforms like IBM Watson, Alteryx, Tableau, and Databricks help you process complex data sets quickly and translate them into actionable insights. You no longer depend on manual data preparation. Natural language query features let you ask questions conversationally, while predictive models generate scenario simulations and forecasts. In practice, these tools allow you to provide faster client diagnostics, competitor benchmarking, and market modeling. They...

Top management consultants lead through precision, discipline, and results-oriented behavior. You can learn critical leadership lessons by studying how they analyze, decide, and drive change.  This article gives you five proven lessons rooted in consulting practice—practices you can implement today to elevate your leadership effectiveness. Each lesson draws from the behavior of consultants who solve high-stakes problems across industries with clarity and consistency. 1. Lead with Structured Thinking Consultants approach leadership with frameworks. You should too. When faced with complexity, consultants break problems down using MECE structures—mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive. They don't start with solutions. They start by clarifying the problem, categorizing variables, and isolating root causes. Whether it’s a supply chain bottleneck or a margin squeeze, they always segment and structure. Adopt this mindset. Before making a decision, ask: What are the drivers? What are...

When you're managing a business in today’s high-volatility supply chain environment, planning for disruption isn’t optional—it’s expected. From blocked canals to cyberattacks to political conflicts, supply chains are exposed in ways that test your company’s financial flexibility. If you want to remain competitive, your financial strategies must do more than respond—they need to anticipate. This article outlines the financial tools, risk mitigation tactics, and operational decisions you can use to stay agile, protect cash flow, and maintain momentum when supply lines break down.  Rethinking Cash Reserves for Disruption Readiness You need to start by reassessing how much liquidity your business holds. Traditional rules of thumb around cash reserves may no longer be enough. In times of uncertainty, keeping 30 to 60 days’ worth of operating expenses available in liquid form gives you room to maneuver—whether that’s buying from alternate suppliers, absorbing price surges, or accelerati...