BLOG
Click links to access individual blogs
• Avoid Sneaky Fees Draining Your Bank Account
• The Good - and Not So Good - of AI
• Watch Out for These Tax Myths
• Straight As: Ideas to Help Your Kids Thrive This School Year
• Ideas to Help Teach Your Kids About Money
• 5 Ideas to Help Save Money
• Debt Relief and Taxes
• Banks Won't Always Save You from Scams
• Early Mortgage Payoff- Small Payments Can Save You Big Money
• Expand Your Professional Vocabulary
• Ideas to Lower Back-to-School Shopping Costs
• Beware of Scammers Targeting Your Tax Info, Warns IRS
• Tame Your Summer Energy Costs
• Is trying to retire in your 30s or 40s the right move for you?
• Prepare Yourself Financially When Purchasing a Vehicle
• You Need Tax Planning If...
• Ideas to Help Set Financial Goals
• Important Moves to Consider When Interest Rates Change
• Digital Skills for Today's Kids
• Password Madness: Tips to Keep Your Growing List Under Control
• Building an Emergency Fund When Cash is Scarce
• Every Business Needs Cash
• Beneficial Ownership Rules
• Give Your Personal Brand a Boost
• Moves to Improve Your Credit Score
• Ingredients of a Successful Business Partnership
• Tips for a Smooth Tax Season
Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
• The Good - and Not So Good - of AI
• Watch Out for These Tax Myths
• Straight As: Ideas to Help Your Kids Thrive This School Year
• Ideas to Help Teach Your Kids About Money
• 5 Ideas to Help Save Money
• Debt Relief and Taxes
• Banks Won't Always Save You from Scams
• Early Mortgage Payoff- Small Payments Can Save You Big Money
• Expand Your Professional Vocabulary
• Ideas to Lower Back-to-School Shopping Costs
• Beware of Scammers Targeting Your Tax Info, Warns IRS
• Tame Your Summer Energy Costs
• Is trying to retire in your 30s or 40s the right move for you?
• Prepare Yourself Financially When Purchasing a Vehicle
• You Need Tax Planning If...
• Ideas to Help Set Financial Goals
• Important Moves to Consider When Interest Rates Change
• Digital Skills for Today's Kids
• Password Madness: Tips to Keep Your Growing List Under Control
• Building an Emergency Fund When Cash is Scarce
• Every Business Needs Cash
• Beneficial Ownership Rules
• Give Your Personal Brand a Boost
• Moves to Improve Your Credit Score
• Ingredients of a Successful Business Partnership
• Tips for a Smooth Tax Season
• Year-End Tax Planning Tips for Your Business
• Tips to Be Money Smart with Your Vehicle
• 5 Great Money Ideas
• Taxes: Knowing the Basics is Key
• Take a Look at Better Savings Rates
• Hiring Family Members - What You Need to Know!
• Multiple Jobs: Be Prepared for Tax Surprises
• Common Tax Questions
• Budgeting Basics
• Never Take on the IRS Alone!
• Prioritizing Inventory Management Can Help Your Business
• Safeguarding Your Business's Cash with Segregation of Duties
• The Home Gain Exclusion: Make Sure You Qualify!
• Five Small Business Insurance Review Tips
• Know Your Rights When Debt Collectors Call
• Getting the Most Out of Homeowners Insurance
• IRS extends tax deadline to Oct. 16 for disaster areas in California
• Save Your Business Time and Money by Getting Organized
• Tips to Get Your Finances in Tip-Top Shape
• Keys to Keeping Great Business Records
• Shrink Your Tax Bill in 2023
• 6 Ways to Cut Your Everyday Expenses
• 'Tis the Season for Gift Card Fraud
• Maximize Your College Financial Aid With These FAFSA Tips
• Planning for Future Care: A Financial Dilemma
• Student Loan Forgiveness Q&A
• Taming Monthly Bill Creep
Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
• Tips to Be Money Smart with Your Vehicle
• 5 Great Money Ideas
• Taxes: Knowing the Basics is Key
• Take a Look at Better Savings Rates
• Hiring Family Members - What You Need to Know!
• Multiple Jobs: Be Prepared for Tax Surprises
• Common Tax Questions
• Budgeting Basics
• Never Take on the IRS Alone!
• Prioritizing Inventory Management Can Help Your Business
• Safeguarding Your Business's Cash with Segregation of Duties
• The Home Gain Exclusion: Make Sure You Qualify!
• Five Small Business Insurance Review Tips
• Know Your Rights When Debt Collectors Call
• Getting the Most Out of Homeowners Insurance
• IRS extends tax deadline to Oct. 16 for disaster areas in California
• Save Your Business Time and Money by Getting Organized
• Tips to Get Your Finances in Tip-Top Shape
• Keys to Keeping Great Business Records
• Shrink Your Tax Bill in 2023
• 6 Ways to Cut Your Everyday Expenses
• 'Tis the Season for Gift Card Fraud
• Maximize Your College Financial Aid With These FAFSA Tips
• Planning for Future Care: A Financial Dilemma
• Student Loan Forgiveness Q&A
• Taming Monthly Bill Creep
• Tips to Improve Your Credit Score
• Debit Card Smarts
• The IRS Announces Tax Scams
• Watch for These Tax Surprises
• Six Simple Ideas to Help Your Small Business
• Money Management Tips for Couples
• Summer Jobs and Taxes
• Making Your Home Office a Tax Deduction
• The Benefits of Being a Sole Proprietor
• Debt: Gone But Not Forgotten by the IRS
• Review Financial Decisions When Interest Rates Change
• Cryptocurrency: The IRS is Watching You!
• Protecting Your Digital Footprint
• Small Business Tax Return To-Do-List
• Ideas to Improve Your Financial Health in 2022
• Five Great Money Tips
• Fake Products (and Money!) Are Big Business
• Year-End Tax Planning Ideas For Your Business
• Time to Schedule Your Tax Planning Session
• IRS Backlog of Historical Proportions
• Protect Your Valuables BEFORE Thieves Arrive
• Make the Most of Your Vehicle Expense Deduction
• Help! I Just Got a Letter From the IRS
• Manage Your Business's Unemployment Taxes
• Common Tax Mistakes When Selling a Home
• The Hidden Tax Consequences of Cryptocurrency
Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
• Debit Card Smarts
• The IRS Announces Tax Scams
• Watch for These Tax Surprises
• Six Simple Ideas to Help Your Small Business
• Money Management Tips for Couples
• Summer Jobs and Taxes
• Making Your Home Office a Tax Deduction
• The Benefits of Being a Sole Proprietor
• Debt: Gone But Not Forgotten by the IRS
• Review Financial Decisions When Interest Rates Change
• Cryptocurrency: The IRS is Watching You!
• Protecting Your Digital Footprint
• Small Business Tax Return To-Do-List
• Ideas to Improve Your Financial Health in 2022
• Five Great Money Tips
• Fake Products (and Money!) Are Big Business
• Year-End Tax Planning Ideas For Your Business
• Time to Schedule Your Tax Planning Session
• IRS Backlog of Historical Proportions
• Protect Your Valuables BEFORE Thieves Arrive
• Make the Most of Your Vehicle Expense Deduction
• Help! I Just Got a Letter From the IRS
• Manage Your Business's Unemployment Taxes
• Common Tax Mistakes When Selling a Home
• The Hidden Tax Consequences of Cryptocurrency
• Building a Fortress Balance Sheet
• Taxes: These Basics are for Everyone
• Starting a Business Now Could Make a Lot of Sense
• What's New in 2021
• Organized Business Records Save Time and Money
• Your Identity is NOT Your Own!
• Seven Tips For Financial Wellness In 2021
• PPP Loan Expenses Are Now Tax Deductible
• Deductibility of Business Meals Provided by Restaurants in 2021 and 2022
• Ideas For Better Savings Rates
• Retirement Savings Tips for Small Business Owners
• Steer Clear of Money-Making Scams While You're Stuck at Home
• How to Build Your Emergency Fund - When You Have No Money
• Great Tips to Improve Your Credit Score
• What does the executive action deferring payroll taxes mean for employers and employees?
• Should You Incorporate Your Business?
• How to Eliminate a Tax Surprise
• New law provides relief for eligible taxpayers who need funds from IRAs and other retirement plans
• How Stay-at-Home Orders Change Money Habits
• IRS guidance provides RMD rollover relief
• Financial Questions to Ask Mom and Dad
• The New Face of Banking
• PPP borrowers get concessions, additional guidance on forgiveness
• The IRS clarifies the deductibility of PPP-funded expenses
Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
• Taxes: These Basics are for Everyone
• Starting a Business Now Could Make a Lot of Sense
• What's New in 2021
• Organized Business Records Save Time and Money
• Your Identity is NOT Your Own!
• Seven Tips For Financial Wellness In 2021
• PPP Loan Expenses Are Now Tax Deductible
• Deductibility of Business Meals Provided by Restaurants in 2021 and 2022
• Ideas For Better Savings Rates
• Retirement Savings Tips for Small Business Owners
• Steer Clear of Money-Making Scams While You're Stuck at Home
• How to Build Your Emergency Fund - When You Have No Money
• Great Tips to Improve Your Credit Score
• What does the executive action deferring payroll taxes mean for employers and employees?
• Should You Incorporate Your Business?
• How to Eliminate a Tax Surprise
• New law provides relief for eligible taxpayers who need funds from IRAs and other retirement plans
• How Stay-at-Home Orders Change Money Habits
• IRS guidance provides RMD rollover relief
• Financial Questions to Ask Mom and Dad
• The New Face of Banking
• PPP borrowers get concessions, additional guidance on forgiveness
• The IRS clarifies the deductibility of PPP-funded expenses
• SBA extends the PPP repayment deadline for self-certification
• Beware of Scams Tied to COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments
• Answers to Common COVID-19 Unemployment Questions
• CARES Act provides COVID-19 pandemic relief to businesses
• The IRS announces new COVID-19-related assistance for taxpayers
• 3 Major Charity Scam Red Flags
• 2020 Social Security Benefits
• Avoid These Common Tax Mistakes
• What Employers Need to Know About Assembly Bill 5
• Bill Collector Calling? Know Your Rights
• Tips to Protect Yourself From Tax Scams
• The IRS Is Not Always Right
• Select the Right Health Insurance for Your Business
• The IRS Loves Your Business...and That is NOT Good
• Help Older Adults Stand Up Against Scams
• Amazon and eBay Sales Tax ALERT!
• No Excuses. Time to Lower Your Tax Bill.
• How To Protect Your Social Security Number
• You Know You Need Tax Planning If...
• What You Need To Know About IRS Audits
• How to Correct Common Financial Mistakes
• Don't Leave Your Business Exposed
• Watch Out! 7 Vacation Costs That Sneak Up on You
• Major Life Changes Ahead? Read This!
• 7 Tax-Free Ideas to Bolster Your Business Benefits Package
• Stay prepared to sell your business
• Great uses for your tax refund
Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
• Beware of Scams Tied to COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments
• Answers to Common COVID-19 Unemployment Questions
• CARES Act provides COVID-19 pandemic relief to businesses
• The IRS announces new COVID-19-related assistance for taxpayers
• 3 Major Charity Scam Red Flags
• 2020 Social Security Benefits
• Avoid These Common Tax Mistakes
• What Employers Need to Know About Assembly Bill 5
• Bill Collector Calling? Know Your Rights
• Tips to Protect Yourself From Tax Scams
• The IRS Is Not Always Right
• Select the Right Health Insurance for Your Business
• The IRS Loves Your Business...and That is NOT Good
• Help Older Adults Stand Up Against Scams
• Amazon and eBay Sales Tax ALERT!
• No Excuses. Time to Lower Your Tax Bill.
• How To Protect Your Social Security Number
• You Know You Need Tax Planning If...
• What You Need To Know About IRS Audits
• How to Correct Common Financial Mistakes
• Don't Leave Your Business Exposed
• Watch Out! 7 Vacation Costs That Sneak Up on You
• Major Life Changes Ahead? Read This!
• 7 Tax-Free Ideas to Bolster Your Business Benefits Package
• Stay prepared to sell your business
• Great uses for your tax refund
• How to File Nonprofit Taxes
• 7 Common Missing Tax Return Items
• Is a Tax Surprise Waiting for You?
• School yourself on the student loan interest deduction
• The 6 Biggest Threats to Your Finances
• Last-Second Money-Saving Tax Moves
• Retirement Contributions Get a Boost in 2019
• 5 Estate Planning Myths
• Disaster Preparedness Tips for Taxpayers and Businesses
• Five Tax Breaks for New Parents
• Setting up Your Business Accounting System
• Ideas to Improve Your Financial Health
• It's tax-planning time
• Managing Money Tips for Couples
• 6 tax benefits of owning a home
• Five Great Finance Tips Everyone Should Know
• How to handle a gap in health care coverage
• Update on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
• When an extension makes sense
• Tax checklist for business startups
• Answers to commonly asked tax questions
• New FASB Standards for Nonprofit Accounting
• The best way to avoid an audit: Preparation
• Boost your retirement savings now
• IRS Urges Travelers Requiring Passports to Pay Their Back Taxes
• Scam Alert: IRS Urges Taxpayers to Watch Out for Erroneous Refunds; Beware of Fake Calls to Return Money to a Collection Agency
• How to Get a Green Light for Commuting Expense Deductions
Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
• 7 Common Missing Tax Return Items
• Is a Tax Surprise Waiting for You?
• School yourself on the student loan interest deduction
• The 6 Biggest Threats to Your Finances
• Last-Second Money-Saving Tax Moves
• Retirement Contributions Get a Boost in 2019
• 5 Estate Planning Myths
• Disaster Preparedness Tips for Taxpayers and Businesses
• Five Tax Breaks for New Parents
• Setting up Your Business Accounting System
• Ideas to Improve Your Financial Health
• It's tax-planning time
• Managing Money Tips for Couples
• 6 tax benefits of owning a home
• Five Great Finance Tips Everyone Should Know
• How to handle a gap in health care coverage
• Update on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
• When an extension makes sense
• Tax checklist for business startups
• Answers to commonly asked tax questions
• New FASB Standards for Nonprofit Accounting
• The best way to avoid an audit: Preparation
• Boost your retirement savings now
• IRS Urges Travelers Requiring Passports to Pay Their Back Taxes
• Scam Alert: IRS Urges Taxpayers to Watch Out for Erroneous Refunds; Beware of Fake Calls to Return Money to a Collection Agency
• How to Get a Green Light for Commuting Expense Deductions
• Federal requirements for substantiating charitable contributions
• How to cut taxes under the new tax act
• FBI Warns of Online Dating Scams
• IRS issues 2018 standard mileage rates
• Year-end tax checklist
• The Equifax breach and you: be proactive
• Beware of Bogus Charities
• Planning A Wedding Over The Holidays?
Plan For Taxes Too
• Don't Include The IRS On Your Gift List
• Ready To Start Year-End Planning?
Focus On The Big Picture.
• Know When To Sell
• Put Your Tax and Financial House
in Order
• Are You Prepared For These Common
Business Problems?
• Scams Against the Elderly:
Know the Danger Signs
• Tax Benefits of Corporate Retirement
Plans
• Maneuvering the Corporate
Retirement Plan Maze
• Documenting your Business Travel and
Entertainment Expenses
• Maximizing your Travel and
Transportation Deductions
• Deducting Business Meals and
Entertainment Expenses
• Do Yourself a Favor by Filing
Your Taxes
• Do I Need A CPA?
• How to Save Money on Your Tax
Preparation Costs
• What To Do If You Can't Pay
Your Taxes
• What To Do If You Haven't Filed
Your Taxes
Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
• How to cut taxes under the new tax act
• FBI Warns of Online Dating Scams
• IRS issues 2018 standard mileage rates
• Year-end tax checklist
• The Equifax breach and you: be proactive
• Beware of Bogus Charities
• Planning A Wedding Over The Holidays?
Plan For Taxes Too
• Don't Include The IRS On Your Gift List
• Ready To Start Year-End Planning?
Focus On The Big Picture.
• Know When To Sell
• Put Your Tax and Financial House
in Order
• Are You Prepared For These Common
Business Problems?
• Scams Against the Elderly:
Know the Danger Signs
• Tax Benefits of Corporate Retirement
Plans
• Maneuvering the Corporate
Retirement Plan Maze
• Documenting your Business Travel and
Entertainment Expenses
• Maximizing your Travel and
Transportation Deductions
• Deducting Business Meals and
Entertainment Expenses
• Do Yourself a Favor by Filing
Your Taxes
• Do I Need A CPA?
• How to Save Money on Your Tax
Preparation Costs
• What To Do If You Can't Pay
Your Taxes
• What To Do If You Haven't Filed
Your Taxes
Keys to Keeping Great Business Records
Your bookkeeping system is the financial heart and lifeblood of your business. When set up and operating properly, your books help you make smart decisions and seamlessly turn your financial data into useful information. Here are four key characteristics to building and maintaining a healthy bookkeeping system:
• Select the proper accounting method. There are two different methods for recording transactions: cash-basis and accrual-basis. In general, the cash-basis method records a transaction when a payment is made, while the accrual-basis method books the transaction upon delivery of the good or service. Cash-basis is easier to track and a useful option for smaller businesses and sole-proprietors. Larger businesses who buy from vendors on account (accounts payable) generally use accrual-basis accounting. Selecting the proper method affects any related financial transactions and how your financial statements are displayed. A correct approach will also include consideration of outside factors, including IRS rules (businesses with more than $25 million in gross receipts must use accrual-basis), bank covenants, and industry standards. Once a choice is made, it can be changed but it must be properly reported to the IRS.• Create an account structure that fits the company. Every business has a chart of accounts included in their bookkeeping system. These accounts sort the business's transaction data into six meaningful groups. They are assets, liabilities, equity, income, cost of goods sold and other expenses. Each group will often have numerous accounts and sub-accounts associated with them. Having the right mix of accounts, created and grouped in an organized fashion, will help you properly classify transactions and prepare usable financial statements. The proper account structure for your company will mesh with your specific information needs.
• Enter accurate and timely transactions. The value your data provides is dependent on each transaction being recorded correctly and on time. Entering transactions in the wrong account can cause major issues down the road. Financial reporting that is delayed can hide problems that need immediate attention. Some transactions are relatively straightforward, and some are more complex (like payroll, accruals and deferrals). It's important to have someone who understands both your business and the accounting rules to enter your transactions in a timely fashion. In addition, a good month-end close process that involves reviewing each account will help you identify and fix mistakes from the initial entries.
• Establish financial statements for decision-making. The main financial statements are the income statement (income - expenses = gross profit), the balance sheet (assets - liabilities = equity) and statement of cash flow. Each statement has a specific purpose:
• Income statement. The income statement shows company performance for a select period of time, typically monthly with a full-year summary. At the end of each year the income statement restarts.
• Balance sheet. The balance sheet displays a company's overall health on a specific date. It is perpetual. This means it doesn't end until the business is closed or sold. It includes one line that summarizes the current year and prior year results from the income statement.
• Statement of cash flow. This statement summarizes the inflows and outflows of cash. It ensures you know whether you have enough cash and the pattern of your cash position over time.
• Balance sheet. The balance sheet displays a company's overall health on a specific date. It is perpetual. This means it doesn't end until the business is closed or sold. It includes one line that summarizes the current year and prior year results from the income statement.
• Statement of cash flow. This statement summarizes the inflows and outflows of cash. It ensures you know whether you have enough cash and the pattern of your cash position over time.
If properly executed, your bookkeeping system will create accurate financial statements that can be used to make key financial decisions. Feel free to call with any questions or to discuss bookkeeping solutions for your business.