At Protea Financial, we often meet business owners who are incredible at what they do, whether that is crafting an award-winning Cabernet, running a non-profit, or managing a bustling retail operation, but who view bookkeeping as a necessary evil. It is often treated as an afterthought, something to be rushed through late at night or…
Read More
Bookkeeping Basics for Winery Owners
Owning a winery is a labor of love that combines the artistry of agriculture with the science of manufacturing and the charm of hospitality. But beneath the romance of the vines lies a complex business structure that demands rigorous financial attention. For many vineyard owners and winemakers, the accounting office is the least exciting room…
Read More
The Ultimate Year-End Financial Checklist for Wineries and Small Businesses
At Protea Financial, we know that the end of the year is an impossible time for business owners. You are simultaneously trying to push for final sales goals, manage holiday schedules, and prepare for the upcoming tax season. For wineries, this is compounded by post-harvest activities and the complexities of inventory management. It’s easy to…
Read More
Auditing Processes: Ensuring Compliance and Identifying Areas for Improvement
At Protea Financial, we know that the word “audit” usually sends a shiver down a business owner’s spine. It conjures images of IRS agents, stacks of receipts, and potential penalties. However, we want to reclaim the word. In the context of healthy business management, an audit is not an interrogation; it is a diagnostic tool….
Read More
Budgets, Forecasts, and Cash Flow: What They Mean for Your Winery
It is true, running a winery or vineyard is more than just making great wine. It is running a business. Between harvest timing, bottling schedules, tasting room sales, and distributor payments, money flows in and out on different cycles. Some owners rely on gut feel to gauge when cash will be tight or when sales…
Read More
Uncorking Efficiency: Leveraging Technology to Automate and Improve Processes
At Protea Financial, we have seen the future of the wine industry, and it isn’t just in the vineyard; it’s in the cloud. We often work with wineries that are crafting world-class wines using state-of-the-art fermentation technology, yet their back-office operations rely on processes that haven’t changed since the 1990s. The contrast is striking: precision…
Read More
