Being a small business owner can be exciting, intriguing, and rewarding. The ability to live your entrepreneurial dreams always comes with some sense of fulfillment and purpose. However, being a small business owner also introduces some challenges that your employees or workers of other organizations do not face. 

One of these challenges is protecting your personal or private finances from the legal or financial issues your business may face. If you're curious about how to protect your personal finances from being harmed as a small business owner, here are a few methods to consider.

Get the right insurance coverage

A common yet effective way of protecting your private assets is to get the necessary insurance coverage. Insurance coverage for your vehicle, home, health, and life, can offer massive protection to your assets. They'll also protect your finances should you face any significant business issues. 

However, it is essential to conduct sufficient research before you purchase any insurance policy. You can read legal news, reviews, and information from the National Life Lawsuit or National Life Group to gain more insight into various life insurance companies, policies, and packages and always consult a professional before making a final decision. 

Separate your private finances from your business

Understandably, you may pay for startup expenses out of your pocket when starting your business. However, as the company gets established, it's unwise to blend your private finances with your business, leading to a messy financial situation in the future. 

It's imperative to create a separate bank account dedicated to your business for several reasons. 

• It makes for more straightforward tax deductions and audits.

• It helps you manage your business debt separately from your personal liabilities or that of your partner or spouse, limiting the potentially damaging effects.

• You can keep your private money untouchable in case your business loan creditors come knocking on your door.

If you’re reading this advice a little too late and find yourself in a messy situation, perhaps dealing with bankruptcy, don’t give up. Seek the advice of a professional attorney (click here for resources) and make a plan to move forward.

Create an emergency fund

For many small business owners, their personal finances get entangled with their business due to emergency issues. 

Suppose you need to make urgent payments for your business, but there aren't enough business finances to cater for it. In that case, you may prefer to use your personal finances to handle the bill. However, this is not advisable. 

Determining how much money to save for retirement can be a daunting task for some. One expert guide on saving for emergencies or retirement from Bankrate uses nationwide data to break down how much you need to have saved at each stage of your life based on age, and income, as well as providing crucial information for financial saving.

The main idea behind creating an emergency fund is to help you get through your business financial issues without causing harm to your personal finances.

Choose the proper business structure

You can avoid many personal financial issues by choosing the proper business structure right from the start. There are four common types of business structures to choose from: creating a corporation, LLC, partnership, and sole proprietorship. 

While you may focus on tax favorability when deciding on your business structure, you shouldn't miss out on how the proper structure can also help protect your personal finances. 

Starting a new business can involve complex and time-consuming decisions but few will have more of an effect on how things run than your financial decisions. Take time to consult your local financial professional or seek out advice from more established business owners. 

In the end, you'll be able to focus on making money and trust that you've set up everything behind the scenes successfully. 

Until next time,

Andrea

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