Avoid Cash Flow Crisis

“The secret to success is to do the common things uncommonly well.”
John D. Rockefeller

Business Processes

For small business, the need for well-defined processes in the beginning is important. Think of it this way, good processes are like good tires that keep a business running smoothly. If they aren’t in place early on, the ride is going to be bumpy.

Developing needed systems and methods is hard work, especially if there is a single owner responsible for doing it all. It can feel like ditch digging, labor intensive and time consuming. Most business owners are ambitious people, so anything slowing them down from charging forward is the last thing they want to do. But consider this: Without taking the time and energy to dig good ditches, the road to success could be flooded with problems.

Practices and procedures for money management, people management, sales management, product management, and customer management all should be in place. Developing these is not as hard as it used to be when 5-year plans dominated business thinking. Business today moves at break-neck speed, so most processes have been streamlined, making it much easier to adjust to ever-changing circumstances. Take money management for example. A good system does not need to be complicated, but it doesneed to be comprehensive and used consistently.

John D. Rockefeller, one of the richest men to ever live, certainly understood money management. He started out as a bookkeeper. Logic would suggest that he discovered through his bookkeeping jobs how businesses make money and spend it. Money management should be the first ditch you dig ‘uncommonly well’ since your business can’t survive without it.

Tips for handling business money well:

Forecast the yearly budget. You can pivot if needed and even dance around some, but if you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up somewhere else. Plan your work and work your plan.

Keep personal and business finances separate. Mingling money can cause problems at tax time and could cause you to miss insights into how your business is really doing financially.

Know what’s happening. Your bookkeeper is your record keeper, not the CFO, you are. Review your bottomline often. This will reveal what adjustments are needed not only in finances, but also in sales .

Have a cash source for the unexpected. A line of credit is better than a loan, but both can be hard to get these days. Don’t spend the profits. Secure them for the unexpected, as well as future expansion.

Manage business credit cards properly. Don’t accumulate too much debt and pay on time. Business cards can be one source of emergency funds for you if balances are kept down.

Keep all receipts and all related documents. You don’t have to organize them. Someone else can do that. Receipts tell you where the money went and how you might save on expenses.

Automate accounts receivable. Automation cuts down on problems collecting money from customers. If you don’t know how to do this yourself, there are resources that can help. Consider a late fee policy; this encourages customers to pay on time.

Use a payroll company. Even if you only has a few employees, payroll companies are worth the commissions you pay to avoid headaches. Payroll reporting must be exact, and unless you are a payroll company, you don’t need to be doing this work.

For 18 years, River City Consulting has been helping businesses make money. As a professional advertising and branding agency, we help companies determine realistic advertising budgets that produce results. Visit us at rivercityconsulting.com or call our office at 804-447-5757 for an appointment to talk about your business.

Your success is our business.

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ADA Website Accessibility: What Businesses Need to Know in 2026

August 14, 2026

Website accessibility has been a conversation for years, but recent changes to federal accessibility requirements are putting an even bigger spotlight on how websites work for people with disabilities. And if your website hasn’t been reviewed for accessibility recently, now is a good time to take another look. At River City Advertising, we have the tools to add accessibility-focused features that are easier for everyone to use. What Changed With ADA Website Accessibility? In 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a new rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act establishing a specific technical accessibility standard for websites and mobile apps provided by state and local governments. That standard is WCAG 2.1 Level AA —a widely recognized set of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines designed to make digital content more accessible to people with visual, auditory, physical, cognitive and other disabilities. In 2026, the DOJ extended the deadlines for these public entities: April 26, 2027: State and local government entities with populations of 50,000 or more April 26, 2028: Smaller public entities and special district governments While these particular deadlines apply to state and local governments, the changes reinforce something that affects organizations of all kinds: website accessibility is becoming increasingly important. Businesses should also remember that accessibility obligations can vary depending on the type of organization, services provided and applicable federal, state and local laws. What Does an Accessible Website Actually Mean? Accessibility isn't simply adding a button to your website. An accessible website is designed so people with disabilities can navigate, understand and interact with its content—including visitors who use screen readers, keyboard navigation or other assistive technologies. Some of the elements that can affect accessibility include: Alternative text for meaningful images Appropriate color contrast between text and backgrounds Clear heading structures Keyboard-friendly navigation Properly labeled buttons, links and form fields Readable text and logical page layouts Accessible forms Captions or alternatives for multimedia content Correct website language settings Content that works effectively with screen readers Many of these features also happen to make a website easier to use for everyone , not only visitors with disabilities. How Our Platform Helps Us Build More Accessible Websites At River City Advertising accessibility isn't treated as an afterthought. Our platform includes built-in functionality that can help developers create more accessible websites, including support for alternative text, keyboard navigation and automatic website language definition. Our platform also integrates with accessibility solutions such as UserWay and AudioEye for businesses and organizations that want additional accessibility tools, monitoring and remediation capabilities. However, there is an important distinction: No website platform, plugin or accessibility widget can automatically guarantee that a website is 100% ADA compliant. Accessibility depends on the platform and how the website is designed, written, maintained and updated. For example, adding an accessibility tool doesn't fix a poorly structured page, unclear link text, an inaccessible third-party application or every issue created when new content is added. That is why accessibility should be viewed as an ongoing website-management practice rather than a one-time checkbox. Why Businesses Should Pay Attention Now Even if the newest Title II deadlines don't apply directly to your business, there are several reasons to make website accessibility a priority. Reach more people. An accessible website makes it easier for more potential customers to interact with your business online. Create a better user experience. Clear navigation, readable content, properly labeled forms and thoughtful page structure benefit everyone. Support your SEO efforts. Several accessibility best practices—such as descriptive image text, organized headings and well-structured content—can also help search engines better understand your website. Reduce unnecessary risk. Digital accessibility continues to be an important legal and regulatory issue. Proactively improving accessibility is much better than waiting until someone identifies a problem. Prepare your website for the future. Accessibility standards and expectations continue to evolve. Building accessibility into your website now makes it easier to adapt as requirements change. Accessibility Isn't "Set It and Forget It" This may be the most important takeaway. Your website can become less accessible over time as new pages, images, videos, forms, integrations and other content are added. That's why website accessibility should be part of ongoing website management. At River City Advertising, we can help businesses evaluate their current websites, identify accessibility concerns and determine what tools or updates may make sense. Is It Time for an Accessibility Check? If you're unsure how your current website measures up, we can help you take a closer look. Contact River City Advertising to talk about your website, accessibility options and how we can help make your online presence easier for more people to use. This article is provided for general informational purposes and is not legal advice. ADA and digital accessibility requirements can vary depending on your organization and jurisdiction. Businesses with questions about their specific legal obligations should consult qualified legal counsel.