Writing is a skill that you can always improve. Whether you are a seasoned copywriter or a marketer who dabbles in writing now and again, you need to keep working on your writing technique. The good news is that improving your writing is often not a matter of mastering more complex grammatical rules about misplaced modifiers or sophisticated sentence structures. Instead of working on grammar, you should work on how to connect with your audience more effectively.

Here are five tips that will help you improve your writing:

1. Features and benefits

This is really Copywriting 101, but even veteran writers sometimes have difficulty avoiding this mistake. When writing about a product or a service, it is easy to write about the features. This is what the product offers to consumers. In short, it is about the product and the business that offers the product.

The problem is that people don’t want to read about the business, service or product. They want to hear about what the product will do for them. So, they don’t care about the amperage of the motor in a vacuum cleaner. They care that the product will last longer than its competitors and do a better job at cleaning. Customers have problems, desires and needs that they are concerned about. Unless the writer can transform the features of the product into benefits for the customer, it will not stir people to make a purchase.

So, when you are writing about a business, product or a service, always ask yourself “so what?” This will help you to uncover the benefit that customers are interested in. Avoid merely listing features; instead enumerate the benefits that the customer will get, the problems that will be solved and the desires that will be fulfilled by using this product or service. This will make your writing more compelling to your audience.

2. Forgetting the audience

The key to good writing is to remember your audience. Without any idea about your audience, you will never be able to make the emotional connection that will drive people to take the action that your writing is urging them to take.

The solution is to do some research about your audience before you start writing. You can look at any market research available to you, but you can also communicate directly with your customers either in person or online to find out what makes them tick. You want to find out what problems, concerns, desires and needs are driving their purchasing decisions so that you can write content that appeals to these issues.

Without this kind of intimate knowledge of your audience, it is easy to fall into writing about features instead of benefits. Since you don’t know what your audience wants, you can’t address it. This means that you will wind up writing about your business, product or service without reference to any benefit it offers your target market. Be sure to think about your audience before you start writing.

3. Trying to make everyone happy

The temptation for a writer is to try to make the product or service appeal to everyone. If you do this, you will wind up writing content that is so generic and unfocused that it will appeal to no one. Instead, you want to have a laser-focus when writing. Write for a very specific kind of customer or segment of your target market. That way, the customer will feel that you are writing just for them. They will respond to your message when you speak to them so clearly. It is like calling people by name. They know you are talking to them and respond.

4. Lacking credibility

You want to write with as much authority as possible. That is why you should provide as much evidence as possible for the claims you make in your writing. You can do this by interviewing experts, providing research studies and offering testimonials. Be sure to include these to establish authority for your writing.

5. Having a poor writing process

There is a misconception that good writing is inspired. But that is not true; the best writing is the result of a disciplined process that you work through. If you are faithful to a good process, then you will not have a problem writing great copy. The first step of the process is to do some research. It is good to set a time limit on the research so you don’t spend forever searching around the Internet for good sources.

After researching, you organize your arguments in a logical order. Writing the rough draft is next. Finally, you edit your work carefully. By simply following a good process in a disciplined way, you can improve your writing and your productivity.

Good writing does not occur by magic or sudden inspiration. It requires hard work and research to get the right message to your audience. You need to identify your audience and know their needs and problems. Then you need to focus your writing so that you appeal directly to those needs rather than writing about what your business offers. Finally, you need to make your writing more focused and specific to appeal clearly to a specific and targeted segment of your audience.

More from PR Newswire’s Small Business PR Toolkit

In 2006, I set out to brand myself. I had an idea that I shared with the owner of the small company at which I was employed. I called it “Publish or Perish,” and despite the lack of originality, the idea was simple, but purposeful: We needed to elevate the name recognition of our company — quickly.

The company had made a fortune working with a niche client, but unwisely, it chose to fly under the competition’s radar. In other words, it did the opposite of marketing for fear that if competitors knew how much money it was making from this niche client, it would face stiffer competition. So naturally, after years of this “guerilla obfuscation,” the niche client business dried up and now left the little-firm-that-couldn’t struggling to sell its wares to prospects who knew nothing of our work, history and values, or even if we could deliver on our promises. Rapid marketing needed to be done.

Publish, perish and politics.

With publish or perish, I argued, our team of very talented organizational designers, trainers and safety professionals would publish articles and thus get our name out there to get it associated with expertise in our industry. Well, my idea fell flat. A mousey woman with no actual marketing experience, education or aptitude had the top dog’s ear and whispered sweet gibberish into it. Print publication was dead, she said, so were trade shows. The answer was social media. We needed a Facebook page, but most importantly we needed to blog.

Related: Why Your #Small Business Must Start a Blog

I resisted, of course. I had no interest in blogging, which I still hold is, in the majority of cases, self-important dreck and a platform for those whose writing just isn’t good enough for publication. (I feel even less beneficent toward self-published books; if it isn’t eligible for academic and literary citation, I don’t see any value to it, but hey that’s just me.) At this point I might throw out a conciliatory “there are some top-shelf blogs out there…blah blah blah,” but that’s not my style. Good bloggers know when their work is good and don’t need my validation. As for the rest of you, well if you read my statement about most blogs being dreck and thought I was talking about you, I probably was. Deal with it. 

Despite my protestations I was ordered to blog. I fought and threw a tantrum to no avail, so I finally acquiesced, on one condition: I would write what I wanted without anyone else having a say-so. I also managed to convince my leaders to allow me to submit abstracts and begin a public speaking campaign. I soon learned how to become famous for nothing by using social media, key words, the Google Search algorithm and press releases. Quickly I became the Brook Shields of Safety — she’s always been famous and has big bushy eyebrows, and no one can account for either — I was famous for no apparent reason.

Press and public speaking.

I quickly learned that the true power of public speaking is the press before the event, promotion during the event and press after the event. At the time most of the major print magazines were scrambling for online content and had robots or interns using key word searches to get it. The Google algorithm leaned heavily on how many links a given post had (reasoning that the wider the distribution the more reliable and important the content).

By using a free press release site and a handful of key words carefully and artfully woven in — words like “aerospace” “automotive industry” and…well, false modesty prevents me from giving away all my secrets. Anyway, this site would blast my press release to publications looking for those key words and soon my press releases were on scores of pages, unread and unvetted. I was able to get my press releases, which had usually been run as articles, into minor and major business publications which I won’t name because they are competitors of Entrepreneur (which by the way, never fell for this Machiavellian scheme of mine).

Related: 4 Simple Steps to Creating Powerful Press Releases

Even today there are news outlets that aren’t as judicious as they had ought to be. Fox News routinely posted my Entrepreneur articles, assuming that I was a conservative business writer, until someone eventually got around to actually reading my work, and it was unceremoniously removed from the site.

The PR service allowed me to Tweet the press release, share it on Facebook and post it to LinkedIn. I used to post the links separately to LinkedIn because that way I could post it as a discussion topic in all 50 groups to which I belonged. For some reason, I keep getting thrown out of the groups on LinkedIn because many are run by the adult equivalent of the uptight high school girl who reached the pinnacle of her life and career by being voted third-runner-up for homecoming queen and alternate on student council. Such people ain’t buying what I’m selling.

It wasn’t long before I was an annual speaker at the National Safety Council, until I pointed out that in my obnoxious estimation several of their perennial speakers were nothing but snake oil salesmen, an embarrassment to the profession. I don’t burn my bridges, I dynamite them and pelt the repair crew with hot stones as they try to rebuild.

Posting and Peru.

It wasn’t long before my blog following grew: I’ve always said I’m a bit like watching an abandoned warehouse fire. You’re not glad that it’s burning, but it’s fun to watch the spectacle and nobody really gets hurt — or, if they do get hurt they should have known better than to have been inside it to begin with. I got a notice from www.wordpress.com that today is the seventh anniversary of my blog. It’s actually older than that, but I put it on ice for a while when the owner of my company finally got around to reading it and insisted that I get it approved before publishing. As is my wont, I recommended he engage in congress with himself and offered interesting and inventive suggestions of where he might consider sticking his approval. This did not look good on my review.

On WordPress, I have posted in the neighborhood of 364,000 words, plus I have spoken at over a 100 international and local venues, including an address to an International Safety Conference on Mining in the Andes, in Lima, Peru. This despite my only knowledge of mining safety at the time was to stay the hell out of one. I have 167 works in print, and I was named by the largest safety magazine to both its list of “The Most Influential People Working in Safety” and “The Young (or Relatively Young) Up and Comers in Safety.” This despite the fact I’m not young. (I am often mistaken for being younger than I actually am because of my full head of hair, youthful skin and gross immaturity.)

Related: 9 Practices for Achieving Emotional Maturity

The point I am yet again meandering around is that people try desperately and pathetically to use just one social network to build their personal brands when the true secret is to use all social media outlets as tools to get their brand out there, by using them holistically. Oh, and it helps if you can write, if your message and style are distinctive, and if your brand is of interest. Remember, you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him think.

It’s not out of the norm for teens to focus on school, friends, hobbies and even part-time gigs that put some spending money in their pockets. Although, there are some kids who have taken their passions and side-gigs and turned them into successful startups. Here are 25 kids who not only launched successful businesses, but made millions of dollars doing so.

1. Ashley Qualls

At the age of 14, Ashley Qualls launched a website called whateverlife.com in 2014, which was designed to provide free Myspace layouts and HTML tutorials for people in her age group. The site was so popular that Qualls received a number of offers, such as $1.5 million and the car of her choice from an anonymous buyer.

2. John Koon

Believe it or not, John Koon opened the first auto parts business in New York City at just 16-years-old. Koon made millions when the company, Extreme Performance Motorsports, became one of the main suppliers for the MTV reality show Pimp My Ride. He used his connections to start a clothing company alongside rapper Young Jeezy, which helped him earn a cool $40 million.

3. Cameron Johnson

In 1994, when he was just nine-years-old, Cameron Johnson launched a greeting card company called Cheers and Tears. By the time he reached high school, Johnson moved onto online advertising and software development, which earned him a monthly income of around $400,000.

4. Adam Hildreth

Adam Hildreth established his first company, Dubit Limited, in 1999, when he was 14. The UK-based social network became one of biggest teenage websites in the UK and now markets itself as a “Youth Marketing Agency.” Hildreth is now the brains behind Crisp Thinking, a company specializing in online child protection technology for internet service providers (ISPs).

5. Evan of YouTube

With the assistance of his dad, Evan was just eight-years-old when he started his own YouTube channel, EvanTube, which reviews toys and discusses things that kids his age are into. The channel brings in about $1.3 million annually.

6. Juliette Brindak

At 10, Juliette Brindak began creating sketched characters, which then led to a complementary all-girl tween and teen social networking site by the time she was 16. It’s estimated that her Miss O & Friends company is now worth $15 million, which is primarily through ads.

7. Tyler Dikman

Tyler Dikman started his own businesses when he just five. This has included selling lemonade, mowing lawns, babysitting and performing magic shows. By the time he was 15, he launched Cooltronics, a business that repairs computers. In just two years, which was in 2001, it was worth a million dollars.

8. Christian Owens

After teaching himself how to code in middle school, Christian Owens started his first business at the the age of 14. With Mac Bundle Box, he was able to offer simple and discounted Mac applications after he negotiated with developers and manufacturers. He also founded Branchr Advertising.

9. Adam Horwitz

When he was just 15-years-old, Adam Horwitz made it his goal to become a millionaire by his 21st birthday. After launching several start-up websites, Horwitz found success with Mobile Monopoly, an app that teaches users how to turn a profit with mobile market leads. He also started the text advertising service YepText.

10. David and Catherine Cook

David and Catherine Cook are the sibling masterminds behind myYearbook, a popular social media site based on where you go to school. In 2011, myYearbook merged with Quepasa Corporation and has been renamed MeetMe, Inc. It focuses on helping users discover new people to chat with on mobile devices.

11. Nick D’Aloisio

After learning how to code when he was 12, Nick D’Aloisio designed the app, Summly, when he was 17-years-old. Summly is an automatic summarization algorithm, which he sold to Yahoo for a $30 million.

12. Farrhad Acidwalla

While attending school in Mumbai, 16-year-old Farrhad Acidwalla launched the marketing agency, Rockstah Media, with $10 from his parents. Acidwalla is now a multimillionaire, investor and TedX speaker.

13. Maddie Bradshaw

When she was 10, Maddie Bradshaw wanted to decorate her locker. Since there was nothing on the market that interested her, she started to decorate bottle caps. Maddie became the founder and president of M3 Girl Designs, premiered on Shark Tank and wrote her own book, Maddie Bradshaw’s You Can Start a Business, Too! Even though M3 became a multimillionaire dollar business, it appears that it was too much for the Bradshaw family and they have since closed up shop.

14. Sean Belnick

In 2001, Sean Belnick founded BizChair.com, one of the first online office furniture retailers. By 2005, the company was reporting $13.6 million in sales and today is still turning a profit.

15. Ryan Kelly

Ryan Kelly is another kid who appeared on Shark Tank to secure funding for his dog treat bakery, Ryan’s Barkery. At just 11-years-old, he was able to strike a deal with Barbara Corcoran. The company is still operational, but has been renamed Ry’s Ruffery.

16. Isabella Barrett

After making a name for herself on the show Toddlers and Tiaras, Isabella Barrett launched her own jewelry and clothing lines — Glitzy Girl and Bound by the Crown Couture. Yep. She’s a nine-year-old self-made millionaire.

17. Kiowa Kavovit

At just six-years-old, Kiowa Kavovit had the guts to appear on Shark Tank and pitch Boo Boo Goo, which paints band aids onto cuts. She was able to get a $100,000 investment, and word is that the company is in negotiations with a major band aid company.

18. Fraser Doherty

At 14, Fraser Doherty began making jams using his grandmother’s recipes in Edinburgh, Scotland. By 16, he left school to work on his business full-time, which is called SuperJam. He has since founded Envelope Coffee and Beer52.

19. Mikaila Ulmer

This 11-year-old took her great grandmother’s 1940’s lemonade recipe, conquered Shark Tank and now sells her “Me & The Bees” lemonade at 55 Whole Food stores in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Florida. She donates a portion of her sales to local and international organizations that are committed to saving honeybees.

20. Robert Nay

Through his app Bubble Ball, Robert Nay became an overnight sensation when he was just 14. In fact, the game raked in $2 million in a mere 2 weeks. Today, Nay still develops games under his company Nay Games.

21. Madison Robinson

At the age of 15, Madison Robinson created Fish Flops. Initially, the business only sold flip-flops with teen-centric designs, however, she started to include other apparel and even created a complementary app.

22. Jack Bonneau

Like many other kids, Jack Bonneau started selling lemonade when he was eight. This Colorado native, however, took it to the next level by starting a business appropriately called Jack’s Marketplaces & Stands. The company supports other children entrepreneurs looking to start their own stands by helping them obtain the proper insurance, permits and supplies.

23. Farrah Gray

Farrah Gray launched his first business, Farr-Out Food, when he was 13. By the time he turned 14, the company was worth $1.5 million. Today, Farrah is also an investor, author, columnist and motivational speaker.

24. Cory Nieves

Cory Nieves started Mr. Cory’s Cookies in 2009 as a stand that sold hot cocoa, cookies and lemonade. Unfortunately, it was shut down by the health department. So, what did this kid do? He legally incorporated the business, came-up with his own recipes and now is a stylish 10-year-old CEO.

25. Gabrielle Jordan

After launching Jewelz of Jordan at the age of nine, Gabrielle Jordan created the Excel Youth Mentoring Institute, where he began mentoring other kids wanted to start their own businesses. 

Opportunities exist everywhere — not just in your own home country or hometown. While much has been said about globalization and our increasingly connected world, if you’re starting a business, your first thought might not be to launch it in, say, Denmark.

Related: 5 Tax-Reporting Tips for U.S. Entrepreneurs Doing Business Overseas 

But it turns out that Denmark is actually a very good idea: The World Bank Group has ranked that Scandinavian nation third in the world in terms of ease of doing business there. By comparison, the United States ranks eighth.

Depending on your target audience and its needs, plus taxation laws, the nature of the local workforce and other factors, doing business overseas just might offer advantages to you that exceed those of the country where you live right now. 

Starting with a place you may be familiar with, here are some of the best countries to consider when starting a business:

The United States

What makes the United States a good country to start a business in? The workforce is diverse and skilled. It is a recognized leader in research and development as well as innovation. You can also find a wide variety of funding sources: investment firms, banks, venture capitalists and angel investors.

The U.S. #Small Business Administration suggests that you should first determine your business needs, evaluate your finances, check to see if the area is business friendly and do investigative research on other businesses in the community.

In an interview with Virgin.com, James Wilkinson, COO of Streaming Tank , extoled the benefits of business in New York. “People in New York are open and hungry to new ideas and concepts,” he said, “and once you open the doors their money will follow.” He added that New York is where much of the action happens within an organization.

The Big Apple, then, is at the center of the action. But places like Oklahoma City, Minneapolis, Miami, Atlanta, Seattle and other U.S. cities are also often cited as being good cities to launch businesses in.

Related: 5 Tips for Starting a Business Abroad

Singapore

Singapore has long been considered one of the best places to do business in the world. Hawksford Singapore is an example of a company that located there and an investor, Jim Rogers, told GuideMeSingapore.com why. Among other reasons, Rogers said, Singapore is one of the wealthiest nations in the world, is politically stable, has a strong labor force and imposes no dividend or capital gains taxes.

In 2011, former CD Baby founder and entrepreneur Derek Sivers wrote on his blog about why he too moved to Singapore, citing the ease of doing business there. In particular, Sivers noted that flights to surrounding countries are affordable, which puts Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines and many other countries within easy reach. Today, Sivers spreads his time between Singapore and New Zealand, also touted (see below) as a great place for starting a business.

Singapore is known for the many international businesses that station their headquarters there. Due to strong trade and investment opportunities, the city attracts global entrepreneurs and leaders and has been named the most competitive Asian country to start a business.

New Zealand

In New Zealand, incorporating a business takes only a day, and registering a property can be done in two. The workforce is skilled and educated, and labor costs are low. In terms of taxes, there are no payroll, social security or capital gains taxes. It is considered one of the easiest countries to do business.

New Zealand, small as it is, has set up several business structures: An entrepreneur can apply to be a sole trader who operates a business individually or, in several farming industries, can be part of a partnership among professionals who benefit from sharing operational costs. Another NZ structure sets up limited liability companies that are their own legal entity, separate from shareholders. And there are publicly listed companies on the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZSX), as well.

It’s important to learn about trends and the market when you enter into a new country or location. You can look into Statistics New Zealand for market information to help decide if your business niche is suitable for New Zealand or not. 

Norway

Norway has a strong economy, and most communication with the government can be done digitally. Registering a property is fast, and complying with tax laws is relatively straightforward. Resolving insolvency in Norway is also low-cost, with fees averaging 1 percent of the bankrupt entity’s value.

There are downsides to Norway, however: Getting construction permits can be lengthy, and labor regulations can be quite rigid.

Anne Worsoe, founder of Innovation House and director of Innovation Norway, told Virgin.com that one of the best aspects of doing business in Norway was the fact that, “Norwegians are known as digitally advanced and early adopters, willing and able to pay for new technology.”

She went on to explain that the nation boasts highly skilled workers, in categories like information technology, finance, design and even music tech. Entrepreneurs there have access to industrial expertise, investors and talent.

Further, technology in Norway can help develop foreigners’ business models, Worsoe said. In the software category, she cited a company called Less Everything, which helps entrepreneurs build out their software ideas.

Norway’s business community also helps foreign entrepreneurs decide what categories to explore: Merch Informer provides merchants with information on what products are popular and niches that consumers are most interested in. 

Overall, said Babou Olengha-Aaby, CEO and founder of Mums Mean Business, who also spoke with Virgin.com, the primary benefits of doing business in Norway include “wealth, economic and governmental stability, well-developed communication and transport infrastructures and [the nation’s] longstanding trade ties with the EU.” 

United Kingdom

Incorporating a company in the U.K. is both fast and affordable, making it one of the easiest places in Europe to set up and run a business in. David Mytton, founder of server monitoring startup Server Density, gave Virgin.com the following reasons why Britain is a great place to do business:

• It’s easier to start a business there: Incorporating a company can be completed in an hour, for £14.
• The tax authorities understand that new companies generally aren’t profitable in their early years.
• The British government offers various tax benefits for investors, founders and employees.

Some of the best places to start a business in the U.K. include Derby, Stoke, Belfast, Stirling and Durham.

Related: 5 Benefits Of Starting A Business Overseas

Final thoughts

The exact specifics of starting a business in a specific country are obviously subject to the town, city, state or province you choose to create your entity in. Those specifics are worth a closer look if you’re thinking about starting your new organization overseas.

In 2015 bitcoin finally made its mark: More than 100,000 businesses, including industry giants like Microsoft, Overstock.com and Dell, accepted it. But, what exactly is this mysterious “cryptocurrency” everyone has been talking about for years? And, is it time your #small business accepted it, too?

Related: 5 Ways to Participate in the Bitcoin Revolution

Here’s what you need to know about what bitcoin is, its advantages and potential drawbacks.

What is bitcoin?

Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency or an entirely digital form of money, invented in 2009. While that might not sound interesting, what sets bitcoin apart is that it’s purely person-to-person, with virtually no banks, financial institutions or government bodies standing in the way between you and your money. Bitcoin relies on a technology system called blockchain that keeps your bitcoin wallet safe and secure from fraud.

The currency’s digital format also makes for faster, cheaper, easier exchanges of cash, from which many small businesses may benefit. Overall, Bitcoin’s assets stem from its decentralization. Blockchain, the technology bitcoin was built on, allows you to not have to rely on a bank to process your financial transactions.

Here are other reasons to consider bitcoin:

1. No fees

If your 2 to 3 percent merchant transaction fees are a drain on your cash flow, then bitcoin has you covered. Bitcoin transactions typically cost between 1 percent and zero.

That’s no typo. You can send or accept bitcoins as payments with no fees attached. Since bitcoin doesn’t require a bank to verify each transaction, you don’t have to sacrifice your own revenue to the financial institutions that own your business loans or credit cards.

However, you’ll often have the option to pay an extremely small transaction fee, which can speed up your processing.

2. No wait

Maybe those fees aren’t bothering you, but waiting around for your money to arrive in your bank account does. Because there’s no centralized institution that checks every bitcoin transaction — its underlying technology, blockchain, does it for you — there’s no need to wait nearly as long to receive your payment. Bitcoin transactions are processed quickly, usually in a fraction of the time credit card transactions do.

You can charge a customer, go for a walk around the block and receive your money. Bitcoin is that fast.

3. No borders

If you export your goods and services or purchase supplies or materials from abroad, then bitcoin is a great solution for dealing with foreign transaction fees, exchange rates or currencies.

Why? Because bitcoin is a global currency, not tied to a single government or company, it ignores border restrictions. As long as your customers or suppliers accept bitcoin, you’re good to go.

4. No payment disputes

Even though bitcoin is digital, it works more like cash than credit. Bitcoin transactions are final and can’t be contested by a customer on the basis that he or she, for example, didn’t enjoy the service you provided. If you have trouble with customers disputing their credit card payments, then accepting bitcoin could help.

5. An investment opportunity

Like other currencies, bitcoin fluctuates in value. However, it’s generally less stable than the payments in cash, gold or other commodities you’re used to.

Related: The Strange Positive Effect Political Uncertainly Has on Bitcoin

While this fluctuation can be a drawback to accepting bitcoin, as we’ll discuss below, it can also have a large upside. You can look at bitcoin as an investment: By accepting bitcoins, then waiting to cash them in, you’re taking a chance on their value increasing.

Bitcoin makes investing in a currency seem much less absurd or boring. From 2011 to 2013, the value of a single bitcoin rose from $2 to $1,242. Although it has since fallen back to around $800 today, there’s still much potential for growth.

Challenges of accepting bitcoin

It’s always important to be aware of the potential dangers, as well. Here are the three largest obstacles to running a business with bitcoin.

1. It’s unregulated.

Although its decentralization is a plus, bitcoin’s lack of government support may scare some away. The U.S. government recognizes bitcoin as a valid commodity and possibly even a positive influence on financial regulation, but some other countries have restricted or banned the use of bitcoin.

2. It’s unstable.

Although bitcoin has become increasingly more stable over time, even recently beating out gold, it’s still fundamentally a currency that isn’t overseen by a single financial institution. If the economy requires it, the Federal Reserve can raise or lower interest rates, but no such option exists with bitcoin.

Some observers point to this “unstable” quality as a good thing, since the bitcoin market has no interference, but it could also make things difficult for your small business if that market suffers. You’ll want to figure out your aversion to risk before investing big in bitcoin.

3. It’s tough to plan for.

With a decentralized, volatile, purely digital currency, it can be difficult to plan financial statements, figure out taxes and determine your prices.

How can you make projections that account for large fluctuations or changing government regulations? This is not an easy task, although it is do-able. You’ll definitely need to speak with your bookkeeper and accountant before accepting bitcoin at your small business.

Related: Bitcoin Is Money, U.S. Judge Says in Case Tied to JPMorgan Hack

Overall, there’s a lot that bitcoin can help your small business with, but also plenty of question marks involved in accepting the currency. If you’re considering accepting bitcoin, sit down and determine why it can help your business and how you will deal with the challenges it may bring.

As the saying goes, you have to spend money to make money. But any smart business owner knows when and where to cut down on costs and still make that statement true.

Related: What to Expect from a Part-Time CFO

Certainly, there are certain aspects of your business plan that you can’t and shouldn’t skimp out on if you want to be successful. One of the major must-haves for a business is a financial consultancy service. Otherwise, how will you know where you can and should cut down on those costs?

If the resources are there, hiring a full-time accountant or chief financial officer (CFO) is obviously the best choice. But oftentimes, for a #small business or an operation that is strapped on cash, a full-time position is not  an option. Fortunately, there are a few less expensive options that will still give you valuable insights into how your business can save, spend and grow.

A virtual CFO

Just because you need someone to look over your finances for your business doesn’t mean that person has to physically be there. A large portion of business today is done online, so why couldn’t you conduct your financial planning through the internet as well?

A virtual CFO is an outsourced service provider that offers financial assistance and guidance to an organization. This can be a single contracted accountant or even an entire team of accountants.

A virtual CFO is largely identical to a conventional CFO, the only difference being that a virtual CFO works remotely. This approach actually has an advantage in terms of communication; with the advancements we’ve seen in screen-sharing technology, remote meetings are a breeze.

Now, say you don’t want or can’t afford a CFO on retainer. A virtual CFO can also offer one-time assistance with strategic transactions, financial processes, business planning and budgeting, making this type of service one of the most versatile financial options around.

Business-plan or forecasting software

Are you entirely sure that your accountant is actually an accountant? Oftentimes, someone with inadequate financial knowledge will prematurely market himself or herself as being certified, which means you’ll be paying for inferior work. How do you know that you’re getting what you (think you) paid for?

Investing in business-plan or forecasting software is a viable option for a small business or startup. This software gives the business owner the ability to enter raw data into a template and receive back real-time, actionable knowledge about the company and its future. It also gives you total visibility into the online company’s background, eliminating the risk of hiring a phony accountant at a high salary.

While you won’t be getting person-to-person consultation, you will get an up-close look at how your business runs. This may include which processes or actions are working for your operation, and more importantly, which aren’t. LivePlan gives you business plan insights, for $20 per month. PlanGuru combines business plan and forecasting elements, for $99 per month. And Startegy, for $50 a month, combines business plan and forecasting, with an emphasis on solving accounting problems that entrepreneurs commonly experience.

Related: What You Need to Know About Hiring a CFO

A part-time or interim CFO

Have you found yourself short a CFO following a round of layoffs or an unforeseen termination? Do you lack enough income to hire a full-time financial advisor but could use such a person’s expertise? If so, consider a part-time or interim CFO.

Several agencies out there specialize in commissioning part-time and interim CFOs. Often their goal is to temporarily fill such a position for businesses that can’t afford it or have recently lost theirs. A part-time CFO is a great option for a small business that requires the knowledge of an financial advisor, but doesn’t have the budget for a full-time position. An interim CFO is the perfect solution for a business that is currently searching for another full-time CFO.

This route is more a temporary solution than a long-term plan, but getting insight from an outsider’s perspective when it comes to finances can sometimes help.

Going the traditional route by hiring a full-time CFO or accountant is definitely going to give you the most return on your investment — you develop an in-person relationship and get to work closely with this professional over time. Unfortunately, these experts come at a high price and sometimes don’t fit the budget of a small business or startup.

Related: A CFO’s Perspective on Mastering Time When Your Startup Needs You Most

But all hope is not lost for the budding business owner: There are many options out there that offer comparable knowledge and expertise for a fraction of the price.