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Should You Start as a Sole Proprietor or an LLC? Choosing how to structure your business is one of the first real decisions you’ll make as an owner. It affects your risk, your taxes, and how your bus iness is perceived from day one. For most small businesses, the choice comes down to two options: operating as a sole proprietor or forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC). Neither is universally better, the right fit depends on how you plan to operate and grow. Understanding t

One of the most common questions I hear from small business owners is whether they need a CFO or a Fractional Controller, and almost every time the answer is the same: you don’t need a CFO yet, you need a Fractional Controller. A CFO is focused on capital strategy, fundraising, investor relations, exit planning, and board reporting, which is incredibly valuable when you’re at that stage of growth. But if you’re not actively raising money, preparing for an acquisition, or man

Founders often talk about their most critical resources as money or people. Both are important, but the one resource you cannot replace is time. In practical terms, this is measured as runway, the window between available cash and when the company runs out of funds. Runway shapes nearly every decision, from product development and hiring to marketing and fundraising. Every inefficiency, delay, or misstep eats into this limited resource. As a fractional CFO, I work with startu

Austin’s tech economy has shifted from rapid expansion to long-term, sustainable maturity and that shift is driving a major need for stronger operational and financial foundations. As Silicon Hills continues to grow, businesses across Central Texas are increasingly turning to outsourced bookkeeping, fractional CFO services, financial operations support, compliance management, and admin/ops help to keep up. Austin’s Tech Workforce Is Scaling Up Fast Over the past few years, A

Here's a story about a mess we cleaned up: When this small business came to us, they hadn’t reconciled any accounts since 2022. On paper, everything looked fine since invoices were being sent, payments were coming in but the numbers were off. Profit margins were swinging wildly from month to month, even though sales were solid. We dove into two years of financial chaos and here's what we found hiding in there: - About $12k in expenses that had been misposted or duplicated - M

Austin’s 2025 holiday markets are kicking off, creating one of the biggest seasonal revenue opportunities for local makers and small businesses. Pop-ups, artisan fairs, and holiday markets often double or triple monthly sales, but long-term success depends on strong financial systems—not short-term volume. Small businesses in Austin that maintain accurate bookkeeping, monitor cash flow, and adjust pricing for rising costs are the ones that carry holiday market momentum into

Entrepreneurs and business owners are adapting, creating, and keeping things moving despite everything this year has thrown at them. One thing is clear: having a strong financial foundation matters now more than ever. Clean books, clear cash flow, and reliable systems make all the difference when things shift fast. Howdy Partners Advisory LLC exists to help small business owners feel confident in their numbers so they can focus on growth, not paperwork. Whether just starting

Small-business optimism just hit a six-month low and here’s what Austin owners need to know: If you run a small or mid-sized business in Austin, now is the time to lean into clarity. Sales are softening, profits are under pressure, and costs are rising—but there is opportunity if you focus on what you can control. According to the NFIB, small-business sentiment fell in October as sales softened, profits dipped, and costs rose. And we're seeing signs of that here in Austin too

Heads up, Texas business owners: the Comptroller has paused new and renewed HUB certifications while reviewing the program to comply with legal rules (Executive Order GA‑55). Here’s what that actually means: • Your existing HUB certifications are safe. • You can still register via the CMBL and go after state contracts—but the HUB “boost” is on pause. • New rules are coming, focusing on race- and gender-neutral criteria—so expect some changes, but the goal of inclusion isn’t g