Every service business has had one or two clients that fill them with a sense of dread. The business relationship may have started out well and then turned sour. Occasionally, there are those clients that were predictably difficult and that pit in your stomach told you they would be from the very first phone call. Depending on the status of your business and cash flow, you may choose to grin and bear it. You may also wonder how you can prevent future toxic client relationships.

Toxic client relationships can negatively affect service-based businesses. Here's how to deal with them and red flags that would have predicted them.

The catch-22 of running a creative, digital marketing or ad agency is that it takes money to make money. While it would seem that bringing on more clients would increase cash flow, the challenge is having enough employees available to handle the client work. And if a client quits your agency, will you be laying off those employees? These are only a few of the thoughts that plague the mind of an agency owner when they're trying to get to sleep at night. Cash is king and must be available to keep the lights on, the employees happy and your clients on board for the long haul.

Tackle these four things to solve the cash flow problem of marketing and ad agencies. 

Running a business when you can't predict monthly income can stress out any business owner. Some months, new clients seem to drop from the sky and other months, there's an actual sound of crickets chirping. A feast or famine lifestyle isn't healthy for anyone but there is a way to not only survive, but thrive. A little organization and a some steady work habits can help keep your budget on track.

Here's a freelance survival guide to thriving during the feast or famine cycle of income.

A 2017 study reveals that 41% of small businesses surveyed reported cash flow challenges within the past year. Over half of those same businesses said the impact of the cash flow challenges was consequential to their business. Unfortunately, this news isn't that surprising. Freelancers and small business owners frequently struggle with poor cash flow or management. The good news is that these challenges are quite common and can be remedied through a closer look at company financials.

Here are some common cash flow challenges faced by small businesses and suggestions on fixing them.

Do a survey of successful business leaders and you'll find essentially similar qualities. Leadership is not about telling people what to do. Successful leaders demonstrate passion, perseverance and the willingness to get into the action to build their dream. Running a small business means wearing many hats, trying something new almost daily and admitting when help is needed. If you're starting a business or hiring new people...

Build a successful small business with these 10 leadership qualities.

If your company sells software as a service or SaaS, your business model and accounting may look different than others. Traditional software sales included purchasing a tangible disk - a finite sale that would be taxed appropriately. With more software being "leased" monthly rather than sold, accounting and tax standards are trying to catch up. 

Here are 5 things that a SaaS startup accounting team must know to help build a successful business.

Whether you're starting your business and need a solid plan or your company is thriving, there are many benefits to hiring an accounting professional. Your small business may not be ready to hire an accountant or accounting department full-time, however, relying on an experienced hourly-based accountant can save time, money and headaches.

If your company is faced with any of the following, it may be time to invest in hiring an accounting professional. 

If your business is feeling the pressure of financial stress, know that you're not alone. Some of the biggest enterprise corporations - like Netflix and Best Buy - have had to change things to pull out of a business death spiral.  Those changes could be revamping marketing strategy, dropping product lines that aren't working, or letting go of staff that doesn't match the new face of the company. The stress could also be brought on by mismanaging company financials. 

If your business is financially stressed, consider these questions and strategies for a company turnaround.

Have a great business idea? Getting that idea to market may seem like the next challenge but there are plenty of other challenges ahead. The good news is that others have treaded the path of startup success before you. Yes, you may be creating your own industry or entering one already established but some basic business rules remain the same.

Here are some secrets to startup success as told through the eyes of entrepreneurs and others who've been there.

Last month, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship, released a report titled, "Tackling the Gender Gap: What Women Entrepreneurs Need to Thrive." In the report, female business leaders shared their incredible stories but also highlighted the challenges they face in business, in balancing family and work life, and in raising capital for their companies. A common theme dominated the struggles of women entrepreneurs - the failure to ask for what they are worth.

Women entrepreneurs, you are changing the face of business and it's time to get paid what you're worth.