The Chronicle’s Business blog / Jerry Bellune

How do you know your bookkeeper, employees or vendors aren’t helping themselves to your hard-earned revenue? After working with business owners for 38 years, our friend Ruth King can almost smell when the books are not right. Often it is a bookkeeper, employee or vendors. Ruth hates telling owners, “Someone is embezzling and here’s the proof.” All leave tell-tale signs. Sadly, most could have been caught quickly by owners doing one simple thing – having their bank statements sent to their homes. If you aren’t getting your bank statements sent home, stop reading this and get your bank to send your statements home. Check them carefully. The microfiche’s show signatures, who the checks were written to and the numerical sequences. If something doesn’t make sense, ask questions. This is your first line of defense! Ruth has caught vendors changing the amounts on checks before depositing them. A $40 auto repair invoice became $400 when the vendor deposited the check. You have to watch your vendors, too. Get Ruth’s helpful newsletter by writing her at rking@profitabilityrevolution.com We share such ideas in “Maverick Entrepreneurs’ Million Dollar Strategies.” For a $20 personally autographed copy, contact us at 803-359-7633 or email mailto:Jerry-Bellune@yahoo.com Jerry-Bellune@yahoo.com .

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