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 […]
QuickBooks
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 […]
Where is all of the Money Going?
You’re a small business owner, keeping busy, but there always seems to not be enough cash. An entire book can be written on this subject, but here are a few reasons why you may feel your business is short on cash: Taking too Much: Unless you have other income sources, you need to either take […]
Smart Ways to Cut Your Expenses
A previous article was titled, “Don’t Cut Your Expenses,” and this time I am going to give examples of cutting expenses in a smart way. Personal Expenses: With mortgage rates at record lows, now may be a good time to refinance your existing mortgage. You need to compare the savings with any upfront costs. If […]
My Customer/Tenant Didn’t Pay Me. Can I Deduct This on My Tax Return?
I get asked this question a lot, mostly from business owners. The answer to this question is that it depends. First a quick accounting lesson of cash vs. accrual. I promise not to keep it too technical! If you are a cash basis taxpayer, then you record income or sales once you get paid, either […]
Do You Want to Audit-Proof Your Return?
While certain taxpayers have a higher chance of being audited, such as small business owners with a schedule C, how can you audit-proof your return? Actually, there is no way of insuring that you never get audited, but just in case you do, to make sure that you come out unscathed, there is one secret […]
Do You Use QuickBooks? You Should Be Doing This!
QuickBooks is a very popular accounting software program for small businesses, and I use it personally for my practice as well. But, if you are using QuickBooks, there is one key step you should be taking – reconcile your bank and credit card accounts! Why? When you reconcile your accounts, it helps to make sure […]
A Primer on QuickBooks
What exactly is QuickBooks? QuickBooks is an accounting program that is used primarily by small businesses. It is very user-friendly, which makes it ideal if you are not an accountant. QuickBooks will enable you to take control of your business finances to help you to make better decisions. Business owners can keep track of receivables […]