Business owners have several choices of how they can operate a business. The decision should be well thought out and be able to meet their objectives. Here are some of the pros and cons of each structure: Sole Proprietor: The easiest form of operating your business is as a sole proprietor. A sole proprietor has […]
What I Learned as a Paperboy
When I was 11 years old up until age 13 I was a paperboy. As far as I know they don’t exist anymore in North Jersey, and I was one of the last paperboys to deliver The Record until they replaced us all with adults. It wasn’t until I owned my own CPA firm that […]
Choose Your Business Partner Wisely
Running your own business is challenging enough, and you don’t want the added burden of having to worry about your business partner. When choosing a business partner you should keep in mind that this decision can make or break your business. Here are a few things to look for and some things to avoid: What […]
Municipal Bond Investing Mistakes
Investing in municipal bonds can be a benefit due to the fact that the interest income they provide is generally tax-exempt. In order to realize the full tax benefits of municipal bonds, you have to be careful not to make the following mistakes. Low Interest Rates: Interest income from municipal bonds is usually much lower […]
Don’t Be a Co-Signer Unless You Want to Pay Someone Else’s Debts
Your friend, child, brother, or parent can’t get a mortgage or a car loan so they ask you to be a co-signer. Of course you will be a hero and co-sign for your loved one! But beware of the dangers before doing so. In reality, the lender is assuming that the odds are fairly high […]
Simplify Your Home Office Deduction
The home office deduction is used by both small businesses and employees, which allows a deduction for using part of your home exclusively and regularly for business purposes. This allows a percentage of certain expenses to become tax deductible or at least more tax favorable such as mortgage interest, property taxes, rent, utilities, homeowners insurance, […]
Getting More from QuickBooks
The most popular small business accounting software by far is QuickBooks. It can be easy to use, is very affordable, and can help you to run your business better. Unfortunately, QuickBooks is quite often not used to its potential. Here are some things you should be doing with QuickBooks: Running Financial Reports: To know how […]
Before You Buy a Business
Businesses are bought and sold each day and some make better investments than others. Before you buy a business, here are a few things to make sure you make the right move: Why is the seller selling? There can be many reasons why a business is for sale, and some reasons are better than others. […]
The Hidden Retirement Asset
Financial advisors frequently mention the three main pillars of retirement, which are social security, pension plans, and personal savings. Yet, you rarely hear them speak about an asset that may prove to be an individual’s largest asset – their business. Many business owners invest their money back into their business over the years, especially during […]
Do You Have Too Many Customers?
What do you think is better, 100 customers or 200 customers? It might actually be the lower number, and I’ll explain why. Let’s say that a small business provides landscaping and maintenance services for both businesses and for residential customers. Most of the customers are within a reasonable driving distance from the main office, and […]