Prism Consulting VA, LLC

07/07/2026

Very helpful info from the SBDC about laws that went into effect on July 1.

📊 New Virginia Laws Effective July 1 — What Small Business Owners Need to Know

Several new laws took effect in Virginia on July 1st that may impact how you run your business. Here’s a quick overview:

🍽️ Restaurant Liquor Sales (HB 975)
The longtime food sales requirement for restaurants serving alcohol is changing, with updated thresholds and reduced ratios for many smaller establishments.

💼 Noncompete Agreements & Severance (SB 170)
New rules limit when employers can enforce noncompete agreements against employees terminated without cause.

🏥 Health Care Worker Noncompete Ban (HB 627)
Licensed health care professionals, including doctors, nurses, counselors, and social workers, can no longer be subject to noncompete agreements.

💰 Pay Transparency (HB 636)
Employers must now include a good-faith salary or wage range in job postings and cannot ask applicants about prior salary history.

🛡️ Wage Garnishment Protections (HB 601)
Certain funds and government benefits now have additional protections from garnishment.

♻️ Polystyrene Ban for Food Vendors (§ 10.1-1424.3)
Virginia’s ban on expanded polystyrene (EPS) food products goes into full effect for food vendors, including schools.

Have questions about how these changes may affect your business? Our advisors are here to help.

🔗 www.valleysbdc.org

06/12/2026

Big news, the Prism Consulting website got a refresh, and it's live now!🙌

It's faster, easier to use, and does a much better job explaining everything we offer, from bookkeeping to tax strategy to HR support. If you've been curious about what Prism actually does day to day, this is the place to look.

A huge thanks to Vistoso Creative for the work on this; you really brought my vision to life (and then some)!

Check it out and let us know what you think: www.prismconsultingva.com

05/24/2026

Make sure to check out the last day of Staunton Augusta Art Center's Art on the Town!

If you went, let me know who your favorite artists were 💚

05/13/2026

Spent this morning at the Internship Summit hosted by the , and I came home with a full notebook and a lot to think about.

One thing that's still sitting with me: "Internships are the new entry-level job."

That's a big deal for small business owners. If your business is growing but a full-time hire isn't in the budget yet, an intern might be exactly the move. I'm already thinking about how I can help my clients explore that.

More coming soon. 📓

05/11/2026

Friendly reminder: if you have one (yes, even one) employee, you have HR.

You might not need an entire HR department, but you do have HR responsibilities as an employer. And after years of working with small businesses nationwide, I can tell you that most are operating without the documentation, policies, or structure to support them.

It usually looks like this: no written offer letters, no employee handbook, no clear onboarding process, and definitely no documented procedure for when something goes wrong. Not because the business owner doesn't care. Because nobody ever told them they needed it, and there was always something more urgent to deal with.

Here's what I want you to hear: if that's you, it's fixable. HR doesn't have to be complicated. It just has to exist.

Start with one thing today. Write down your onboarding process. Create a simple offer letter template. Put your time off policy in writing. One small step is better than none, and once you start building, it gets easier.

If you're not sure where to start or want someone to take a look at what you have, that's exactly what Prism Consulting is here for.

What's one HR thing you've been putting off? What would you build first?
Drop it in the comments. 👇

05/08/2026

Not sure if Prism is the right fit for you and your business? Good news! That is exactly what the Vibe Check is for!

It's a free conversation. We talk about your business, your goals, where things stand now, and what kind of support would move the needle. No pitch, no pressure, no commitment. If it's not the right fit, I'll tell you that, too.

Just a real, honest chat to see if we are a perfect match. 💜

Book yours today through the link in bio!

05/06/2026

Mark your calendar for Art on the Town!

5th Annual Art on the Town at Gypsy Hill Park is fast approaching, and we wanted to shout out our top tier (aka Legendary Louvre) sponsor for this event, Prism Consulting VA, LLC. Prism offers Full-Service Bookkeeping, along with business and HR strategy. We are so lucky to have local businesses who care deeply about the Arts.
THANK YOU, Prism!! 🎉💜💙🩵

Of Prism's founder/CEO, Joa Garcia, client Molly S. says, "Her comprehensive and holistic understanding of bookkeeping, small businesses, non-profits and Human Resources means she looks at numbers in the context of the whole, and can advise accordingly."

05/06/2026

I kicked off this morning, hosting "Your Numbers Your Power" at the Staunton Wharf Resiliency Workshop Series.

Small group, great energy, deep questions. This is exactly the kind of morning that reminds me why I do this work. Not the spreadsheets (okay, also the spreadsheets), but the part where financial stuff stops feeling scary and starts feeling manageable.

Thank you to the Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center and the City of Staunton for having us. 💜

Financial literacy isn't just for accountants. It's for every business owner in this Valley.