--- title: Blog | Advice for Canadian Small Business Owners, Chartered Accountant | SMB Systems description: SMB Systems | Advice for Canadian Small Business Owners, Financial Results, Business Results, Big Data, Cloud-Based Systems, Investment Strategy --- [Home](https://www.inhousecfo.com/) [Contact Us](https://www.inhousecfo.com/contact/contact-us/) [Blog](https://inhousecfo.hs-sites.com/blog) [![InHouseCFO logo](https://www.inhousecfo.com/hubfs/inhousecfo/inhousecfo_logo1.jpg)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/) ![inhousecfo](https://www.inhousecfo.com/hubfs/inhousecfo/header-images.jpg) - [Home](https://www.inhousecfo.com) - [About Us](https://www.inhousecfo.com/about-us/our-people) - [Our People](https://www.inhousecfo.com/about-us/our-people) - [Philosophy](https://www.inhousecfo.com/about-us/philosophy) - [History](https://www.inhousecfo.com/about-us/history) - [Future](https://www.inhousecfo.com/about-us/future) - [Our Services](https://www.inhousecfo.com/our-services) - [Special Projects](https://www.inhousecfo.com/our-services/special-projects) - [CFO for Canadian SMB's](https://www.inhousecfo.com/our-services/business-oversight) - [Risk Management & Insurance](https://www.inhousecfo.com/our-services/risk-management---insurance) - [Investment](https://www.inhousecfo.com/our-services/investment) - [Planning](https://www.inhousecfo.com/our-services/planning) - [Our Solutions](https://www.inhousecfo.com/our-solutions/overview/) - [Overview](https://www.inhousecfo.com/our-solutions/overview) - [Small Business Software](https://www.inhousecfo.com/our-solutions/information-systems) - [Accounting solutions](https://www.inhousecfo.com/our-solutions/information-systems/online-accounting-software-for-small-businesses-in-Canada) - [Marketing Software](https://www.inhousecfo.com/our-solutions/information-systems/marketing-software-for-Canadian-SMB) - [CRM Software](https://www.inhousecfo.com/our-solutions/information-systems/crm-software-for-SMBs-in-Canada) - [Investment](https://www.inhousecfo.com/our-solutions/investment) - [Insurance](https://www.inhousecfo.com/our-solutions/insurance) - [Structural](https://www.inhousecfo.com/our-solutions/structural) - [Banking](https://www.inhousecfo.com/our-solutions/banking) - [Pricing](https://www.inhousecfo.com/pricing-for-services) - [Blog](https://inhousecfo.hs-sites.com/blog) - [Contact](https://www.inhousecfo.com/contact/contact-us/) - [Locations, how to reach us](https://www.inhousecfo.com/contact/contact-us) - [I'm interested, let's talk](https://www.inhousecfo.com/contact/why-did-you-visit-us-) - [Partner Sites](https://www.inhousecfo.com/contact/partner-sites) # InHouseCFO's Small Business Blog ## [Picking the Right Hardware for Your Canadian Small Business](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/377435/Picking-the-Right-Hardware-for-Your-Canadian-Small-Business) Posted by [Donald Cameron](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/author/donald-cameron) on Wed, Mar 05, 2014 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.inhousecfo.com/hs-fs/file-355983901-jpg/images/business_numbers-resized-600.jpg)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/377435/Picking-the-Right-Hardware-for-Your-Canadian-Small-Business) At InHouse CFO we're guilty of focusing on software that Canadian small business owners should use to run their business. If asked, you might think that the answer we'd give about which hardware to use would be is that we don't care, cloud-software works on all internet enabled devices and operating systems. Not true, we do care and for 6 very good reasons. [Read More](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/377435/Picking-the-Right-Hardware-for-Your-Canadian-Small-Business) 5 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/377435/Picking-the-Right-Hardware-for-Your-Canadian-Small-Business#comments-listing) Tags: [Picking a Professional](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/picking-a-professional), [SMB Systems](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/smb-systems) ## [Xero Accounting Software - Two Years Later](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/376473/Xero-Accounting-Software-Two-Years-Later) Posted by [Donald Cameron](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/author/donald-cameron) on Thu, Feb 27, 2014 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.inhousecfo.com/hs-fs/file-547282993-jpg/images/quickbooks-online-vs-xero-610x343-resized-600.jpg)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/376473/Xero-Accounting-Software-Two-Years-Later) Two years ago, we discovered the cloud-based accounting solution Xero by googling "alternative to quickbooks online". Truthfully, we were so frustrated with Intuit due to their disorganization, general lack of interest in Canada and refusal to create a solution that wasn't Windows-based, that anything was better. A quick road test of Xero at that time caught our attention and we've been avid supporters of Xero ever since. [Read More](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/376473/Xero-Accounting-Software-Two-Years-Later) 10 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/376473/Xero-Accounting-Software-Two-Years-Later#comments-listing) Tags: [SMB Systems](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/smb-systems), [Cloud Reporting](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/cloud-reporting), [Business Intelligence](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/business-intelligence) ## [Canadian Small Business CFOs' Top Priorities for 2014](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/366028/Canadian-Small-Business-CFOs-Top-Priorities-for-2014) Posted by [Donald Cameron](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/author/donald-cameron) on Mon, Jan 06, 2014 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.inhousecfo.com/hs-fs/file-438071336-jpg/images/chalkboard_priorities-resized-600.jpg)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/366028/Canadian-Small-Business-CFOs-Top-Priorities-for-2014) A lot has been and continues to be said about the radical changes in how small businesses in Canada (and throughout the world for that matter) must carry on business to continue or be successful. These changes have and are occuring as a result of the internet and everything digital. [Read More](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/366028/Canadian-Small-Business-CFOs-Top-Priorities-for-2014) 1 Comment [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/366028/Canadian-Small-Business-CFOs-Top-Priorities-for-2014#comments-listing) Tags: [CFO for small business](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/cfo-for-small-business), [SMB Systems](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/smb-systems), [Sales](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/sales), [KPI](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/kpi) ## [A Budget for Staying Competitive as a Small Business in Canada](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/317243/A-Budget-for-Staying-Competitive-as-a-Small-Business-in-Canada) Posted by [Donald Cameron](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/author/donald-cameron) on Wed, Sep 25, 2013 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.inhousecfo.com/hs-fs/file-226131469-jpg/images/15-07-2013_cloud_software_costs_graphic_3-resized-600.jpg)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/317243/A-Budget-for-Staying-Competitive-as-a-Small-Business-in-Canada) In this article, we are going to speak only of the outlay costs that you, as a Canadian small business owner should budget for subscriptions to the core tools you require to stay competitive in todays' changed business environment. Be cautioned though, that, as outlined in our article, [Big Data](http://inhousecfo.web13.hubspot.com/blog/bid/312221/Big-Data-Not-just-for-Big-Business), the biggest costs you could be seeing are the value of lost opportunities or, worse yet, lost market share from NOT using these tools. [Read More](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/317243/A-Budget-for-Staying-Competitive-as-a-Small-Business-in-Canada) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/317243/A-Budget-for-Staying-Competitive-as-a-Small-Business-in-Canada#comments-listing) Tags: [SMB Systems](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/smb-systems), [Budgeting](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/budgeting) ## [Software Gives Canadian Small Business Owner's Intelligence](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/312501/Software-Gives-Canadian-Small-Business-Owner-s-Intelligence) Posted by [Donald Cameron](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/author/donald-cameron) on Wed, Jun 12, 2013 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.inhousecfo.com/hs-fs/file-215731989-jpg/images/xero_logo-resized-600.jpg)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/312501/Software-Gives-Canadian-Small-Business-Owner-s-Intelligence) While there are always technology solutions that are business specific, there are certain ones that all small to mid-sized businesses (SMB's) must have today. At InHouseCFO we see these must-haves falling into 4 main categories: [Read More](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/312501/Software-Gives-Canadian-Small-Business-Owner-s-Intelligence) 1 Comment [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/312501/Software-Gives-Canadian-Small-Business-Owner-s-Intelligence#comments-listing) Tags: [SMB Systems](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/smb-systems), [Cloud Reporting](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/cloud-reporting), [Business Intelligence](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/business-intelligence) ## [What Does Inbound Marketing Mean for a Canadian Small Business CEO?](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/312493/What-Does-Inbound-Marketing-Mean-for-a-Canadian-Small-Business-CEO) Posted by [Donald Cameron](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/author/donald-cameron) on Mon, Jun 10, 2013 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.inhousecfo.com/hs-fs/file-209837050-png/images/inbound_marketing_1.png)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/312493/What-Does-Inbound-Marketing-Mean-for-a-Canadian-Small-Business-CEO) [Read More](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/312493/What-Does-Inbound-Marketing-Mean-for-a-Canadian-Small-Business-CEO) 3 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/312493/What-Does-Inbound-Marketing-Mean-for-a-Canadian-Small-Business-CEO#comments-listing) Tags: [SMB Systems](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/smb-systems), [Marketing](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/marketing) ## [Big Data - A Threat and an Opportunity for Small Business in Canada](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/312221/Big-Data-A-Threat-and-an-Opportunity-for-Small-Business-in-Canada) Posted by [Donald Cameron](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/author/donald-cameron) on Wed, May 15, 2013 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.inhousecfo.com/hs-fs/file-233765541-jpg/images/big_data_rectangle-resized-600.jpg)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/312221/Big-Data-A-Threat-and-an-Opportunity-for-Small-Business-in-Canada) On the plane this week I read an ad in the Wall Street Journal by IBM all about "Big Data". What they said in the ad, and have dedicated a whole web presence to ([IBM Big Data](http://www-01.ibm.com/software/data/bigdata/social.html)) is that, while available data about a business and its operations is exploding, it's "the analysis and use of the right data" that's important. [Read More](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/312221/Big-Data-A-Threat-and-an-Opportunity-for-Small-Business-in-Canada) 1 Comment [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/312221/Big-Data-A-Threat-and-an-Opportunity-for-Small-Business-in-Canada#comments-listing) Tags: [SMB Systems](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/smb-systems), [Cloud Reporting](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/cloud-reporting), [Big Data](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/big-data) ## [Does a Small Businesses in Canada Need an MIS?](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/312197/Does-a-Small-Businesses-in-Canada-Need-an-MIS) Posted by [Donald Cameron](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/author/donald-cameron) on Sun, Apr 07, 2013 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Management Information Systems, or "MIS" have, with everything else as a result of digital media and the Internet, evolved to a point now where the smallest of businesses can operate like the biggest of businesses gathering key operational data that is relevant, available in real time, and very useful in making business decisions. So much so that for any business NOT to have the information at its fingertips puts it at a very competitive disadvantage. [Read More](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/312197/Does-a-Small-Businesses-in-Canada-Need-an-MIS) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/bid/312197/Does-a-Small-Businesses-in-Canada-Need-an-MIS#comments-listing) Tags: [CFO for small business](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/cfo-for-small-business), [SMB Systems](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/smb-systems) [All posts](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/all) ### Subscribe by Email ### Latest Posts ### Browse by Tag - [Big Data (2)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/big-data) - [Budgeting (2)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/budgeting) - [Business Intelligence (5)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/business-intelligence) - [Business Processes (3)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/business-processes) - [Business Reading (1)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/business-reading) - [CFO for small business (8)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/cfo-for-small-business) - [Cloud Reporting (7)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/cloud-reporting) - [Investments (2)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/investments) - [KPI (2)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/kpi) - [Marketing (2)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/marketing) - [Picking a Professional (9)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/picking-a-professional) - [Remote Working (1)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/remote-working) - [Sales (3)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/sales) - [SMB Systems (8)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/smb-systems) - [Tax Planning (1)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/topic/tax-planning) ### Follow Us ### Posts by Month - [May 2020 (1)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/archive/2020/05) - [September 2014 (1)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/archive/2014/09) - [May 2014 (2)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/archive/2014/05) - [March 2014 (1)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/archive/2014/03) - [February 2014 (1)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/archive/2014/02) - [January 2014 (2)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/archive/2014/01) - [December 2013 (1)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/archive/2013/12) - [November 2013 (3)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/archive/2013/11) - [October 2013 (1)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/archive/2013/10) - [September 2013 (3)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/archive/2013/09) - [August 2013 (3)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/archive/2013/08) - [July 2013 (3)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/archive/2013/07) - [June 2013 (2)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/archive/2013/06) - [May 2013 (2)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/archive/2013/05) - [April 2013 (5)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/archive/2013/04) - [January 2013 (1)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/archive/2013/01) - [September 2012 (1)](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/archive/2012/09) - [Home](https://www.inhousecfo.com/) - [About Us](https://www.inhousecfo.com/about-us/our-people) - [Our Services](https://www.inhousecfo.com/our-services/) - [Our Solutions](https://www.inhousecfo.com/our-solutions/overview/) - [Pricing](https://www.inhousecfo.com/pricing-for-services/) - [Blog](https://www.inhousecfo.com/blog/) - [Contact](https://www.inhousecfo.com/contact/contact-us/) © 2015 InHouseCFO