6 PROJECTS TO COMPLETE BEFORE THE SUMMER

     It has been some time since I last added to my blog. There are a number of things I could blame but time has been one of them. I was recently asked to help out a friend who has assumed the role of General Manager of a business. He will be traveling this summer and wanted [...]

7 BENEFITS THAT COULD BE TAXED IN 2013/2014

     I just spent the last three weeks helping out my former firm get through tax season. Although the majority of my time was spent reviewing tax returns for quality control, I was taken back by the sheer number of benefits offered to employees and shareholders. Besides the retirement types such as 401K plans, there are a [...]

6 REASONS TO HIRE AN OVER 55 PERSON

   Over the past week I have been involved in a number of meetings and conversations. Most of these have been with small business owners regarding adding people to their businesses. Many are concerned about the cost without enough of a benefit to go along with it. They tell me hiring  people can be a [...]

7 SIGNS THAT THE FIRE WENT OUT

     Recently I have been helping out my old firm with some tax work to make tax season a little easier for them. I apologize for not getting my blog out this time of year but it seems like my time is less every year. I met with a long-term client last week in my helper [...]

6 THOUGHTS ON KEEPING THE RIGHT PEOPLE

     I remember trying to get by in the accounting business with limited staff. After all if I was able to produce the same amount of work or more than the previous year we would normally show a better profit. I was driven early in my career in growing my practice and how to service clients [...]

7 STEPS IN PREPARING FOR A TAX AUDIT

   One of the most intimidating aspects of business is dealing with the taxing authorities. Nothing strikes more fear in a businessperson than the thought of going through a tax audit. It does not matter that it may be for as simple a thing as verifying unemployment compensation and categories. Audits denote penalties, huge tax [...]

6 WAYS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS

     For many years I have consulted with businesses about their problems. Although profitability and growth have been the overriding topics one that often arises is that of diversity. Should I or shouldn’t I have been asked of me so many times I can not count. Obviously each business is different.. Therefore there is no [...]

6 GUIDELINES FOR BUSINESS RECORD RETENTION

     Every January as businesses wrap up the previous year I get the same question. How long must I keep this information ? While it is fresh in our minds here are 6 guidelines to use when retaining business records.    1/ Always back up ALL of your computer files and documents. It is the [...]

7 WAYS TO CONTROL COSTS IN 2012

     Happy New Year to all. I am back from a three-week hiatus and ready to jump into 2012. I had sufficient time to reflect on small business during my break and wondered if it would be better to begin the year with a few cost savings ideas. Although business may be better in the [...]

6 BUSINESS GIFTS THIS CHRISTMAS

   It is that time of year when people begin to think of gift receiving more than gift giving. I was never one for dreaming of expensive or outlandish gifts since I truly believe in the concept “it is the thought that matters”. However we business types deserve a wish list of gifts this year. [...]