Tag: cpa

It’s year end, and time to reflect on the year gone by and plan for the year ahead. But thinking about your business and how to improve it can be stressful. We wrote about the importance of having a solid Vision Statement to help guide you and your staff to a more successful business, with a better business model, more satisfied customers and more focused staff. Need a little prodding?…  Read more

There are some things in life that go together well and others that definitely do not! Business and personal finances are in that category of items that should not be mixed. Although it may seem like a headache to keep them separate—who wants to manage all those bank accounts?—your life will be greatly simplified once you separate your personal and your business finances, especially your expenses. Paperwork and taxes will…  Read more

The holiday season is once again here, and with it comes time to relax, focus on family and friends and take stock in what is really important in life. What if you are a small business owner who has not worked through your processes to create a business rather than a job?  Every small business owner knows that being away from the office can be just as stressful as being…  Read more

It was great to end my conference travels right here in New York for the 2019 Long Island Tax Professionals Symposium.  I followed my own advice on setting goals for the conferences I attend, but these takeaways and highlights were unexpected! Try to take at least one “in-person” update course per year on the software you use and depend on in your office.  I was thrilled that this year we…  Read more

Positive energy resulting from respect, appreciation and support of ideas can bolster most relationships. What works for accounting firms works for other businesses as well. Click through to read my full article published this week on Tax Pro Center | Intuit ProConnect site:    “How to Channel More Positive Energy in Your Tax Firm”   Looking to create a better work environment but need some help? You may also want to perform…  Read more

It was great to have Elizabeth with me for this conference. We split up for several sessions and have already compared notes. We were even able to spend time while still away to make plans for implementing our joint takeaways: Many businesses today are challenged with recruiting and retaining talented loyal staff.  You can start solving staffing problems by looking at the way management is currently interacting with their team.…  Read more

I’m on the road again enjoying sharing insights from the specialized industry accounting conference I am attending.  Today’s takeaways started even before we reached the registration desk, where I introduced Elizabeth Spradley, our firm’s accounting manager to some of the returning attendees and conference administrators.  They continued as we participated in the day’s workshops and on through the welcome reception. Here are my highlights and takeaways from Day 1 of…  Read more

I hope you enjoyed my photos and takeaways as much as I enjoyed sharing with you.  Please do send feedback if these tips have resonated with you.  Please share in the comments if and how you have implemented them in your firm/business/practice, I hope you can tell from these photos that I have taken “selfie” taking lessons. Andrea & Ivette You can be an inspiration to your accountability coach when…  Read more

I’m on the road again and sharing insights from the San Jose accounting technology conference I am attending. Liquid Breakfast Today’s conference takeaways started at breakfast, I sat down at a random table and the conversation started with “where are you from?” My computer was in my backpack so that “takeaway” was written on a napkin. Here are my highlights and takeaways from today’s conference: Show your clients you care.  It’s…  Read more

I hope you were able to watch the vlog I posted last week. In the video I discuss the importance of a solid vision statement, one that you and your team create together and believe in. Here is the link to watch the video and read the post in case you missed it.  I hope it inspires you to take action. Have you been working to create a successful business/professional…  Read more

On the road again, this week I am heading to San Jose for an accounting technology conference; in the next few weeks I am also scheduled to travel to Florida and Long Island for specialized industry and tax conferences with my staff members. Recently I have shared “best practices” for attending conferences and networking events, no need to reiterate, but follow these links for a refresher: Tips for getting the…  Read more

Do you want to stay on the path to creating the business you want? Once you can clearly identify your short term and long term goals, use your vision statement to keep you and your team on track. Watch our video below to see what we mean. I hope this video inspires you to take action… Then start creating your business plan using this complimentary resource: how to develop an…  Read more

I hope you were able to watch the vlog I posted last week. In the video I discuss how we “create time” by eliminating or reducing administrative tasks with the smart use of technology. My example of an easy win is to implement an automated payroll portal system that eliminates administrative time for the employees and the “boss”.  Implementing just this one administrative task can free up time, eliminate notices…  Read more

In our office, we like to say “we create time”.  We would much rather be out playing than writing checks, entering invoices or adjusting accounting records.  We figured that if we “hated” these tasks, our clients would too. I love the example of how adding an automated payroll portal system eliminated administrative time for the employees and the “boss”.  Implementing just this one administrative task freed up time, eliminated notices…  Read more

I hope you were able to watch the vlog I posted last week. In the video I discuss how we “create time” by eliminating or reducing administrative tasks through our technology bundle. Here is the link to watch in case you missed it. I hope it inspires you to take action I wanted to follow along on the same theme of creating time, to give you an excerpt from our…  Read more

I was excited to contribute to the article “Short and Sweet Networking Tips for Your Tax Practice.”  which went live last week;  the URL is   https://taxprocenter.proconnect.intuit.com/practice-management/short-and-sweet-networking-tips-for-your-tax-practice/. I  love collaborating with other tax professionals about issues in our practices and our industry; again one of the advantages of attending industry specific conference. Here is my full submission which included several other important points that I feel work well for any industry: In…  Read more

If you’re like most small business owners, there are never enough hours in the day to complete every task on your list. Often you’re faced with prioritizing what you need to do right now – deal with a customer, meet a deadline, attend an event – and the things you know you should do for the ongoing growth of your business. Scheduling time to attend to these business activities on…  Read more

Small business owners know that to encourage and maintain a loyal customer base, they must stand out from their competitors. Offering outstanding customer service should be the cornerstone of any business and one of the best ways to create and maintain your customer base. How you and your staff treat your customers/patients/clients reflects on your entire business. Unfortunately, many small business owners focus a lot of attention on their products…  Read more

Want Your Goals to Become Reality? Work With Your Accountant to Create & Implement Your 90 Day Action Plan.  A solid business plan encompasses short and long term goals: 1 year, 3 year, 5 year plus an exit strategy.  Staying on track and accountable can often seem overwhelming. In our office we find that the 90 Day Action Plans we set up with our clients are a great tool…  Read more

Think your taxes went up because of the new tax law, think again. It may be time to hire an expert! Caution! Don’t have breakfast at my house. Those who know us, know that even though the coffee is amazing, our refrigerator is usually bare. Of course if we know you will be visiting we will pick up bagels and cream cheese and you are in luck if we are…  Read more