veryone knows the universal presence of QuickBooks in the small to medium business sector. This presence is not marketing hype. QuickBooks boasts over 4.5 million users and QuickBooks enjoys over 90% market share for the small business sector and an ever increasing market share among emerging businesses with 1 to 5 million dollars in annual [...]

Over the past few years, social media has gained momentum in the tax and account- ing profession. Sites like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube enable professionals to exchange information in real-time, while accounting-specific blogs keep accountants apprised of the latest technology trends and efficiency-elevating innovations. There is no denying that the Internet provides excep- tional convenience; [...]

While many firms wrestle with client retention and growth issues, a small but growing number of firms are actually thriving. Such firms have transformed themselves into a “different way of being” that makes it relatively easy to attract great clients. These firms are expanding existing relationships with some of their better clients into higher, value [...]

Workflow has been an integral part of our firms for years and our hosts Kim and Brian discuss how to better move work throughout the office. There has been old traditional ways to move work which included folders, notes, call messages; all were too easy to lose. A new form of workflow has emerged through software, [...]

have consulted with hundreds of firms over the last fifteen years about setting up billing software and practice management software. While each firm has its unique needs, one thing is clear: owners want to earn a good living for what they do. There are entrepreneurs, leaving the comfort of a secure job and paycheck to brave [...]

My clients have ignored the IRS, maybe even ticked them off. Many of them have failed to file tax returns, sometimes for many years. Others have filed their tax returns but neglected paying their taxes. They can be difficult to get information from. There records are frequently poor; if they keep any records at all. [...]

Managing documents can be difficult at times, especially when transitioning to a paperless methodology. More and more offices are going into a paperless system; it’s difficult to keep documents well organized and manages how those documents will move through our workflow. While it solves some of the challenges of storage and accessibility with physical files, [...]

  Workflow is something that needs to be mastered. Mastering workflow is just processing and organizing. First you need to understand the process in which everything happens; information comes in, then you determine what it is and last you figure out if it’s actionable or not. If it’s actionable then look to see if it’s [...]

Have you ever wondered if you are not making the most out of your billable time ? Maybe retrace your steps and see if there is a way to recapture billing opportunities. If a policy is established that accounts for all time in the day, some may find that certain clients that actually end up [...]

  When we are tracking time we face a lot of problems that have surprisingly easy ways to fix them. Whether a guestimation or manual time sheets, they can both be incorrect. Manual time sheets are okay for smaller businesses, but can be inaccurate or someone may accidentally enter something twice. Be sure software or [...]

As an office manager you know effectively implementing new procedures is critical. New procedures are implemented to improve results and efficiency. Say there is a procedure that takes 5 steps but it can be done without doing step 2 and 4, so they are eliminated, now you are left with a 3 step procedure that [...]

According to a recent Touche Ross study, the survival rate for companies without a disaster recovery plan is less than 10%. It’s difficult to think ahead and to have the foresight that something monumental will happen, forcing you into decisions you never want to make. The reality is that at some point in the lifecycle [...]

  As an office administrator, managing staff workflow and accountability are vital in turning a profit. When tracking something on paper it can easily get lost, which hinders workflow. Many companies are moving to software programs to manage workflow, but sometimes they move to too many applications or the software they get is too complicated [...]

A clients’ perception of a staff influences their expectations of a business. These tips should help with improving a client’s perception of your staff. Mark twain once said “Clothes make the man, naked people have little or no influence in society.” Presentation means a lot and it is important to constantly maintain and improve a [...]

Now there’s a concept. What an elusive practice that is hard succeed at. I believe good management is an acquired skill that usually comes with age and wisdom. Learning from experiences, both successful ones and those riddled with failure. But experience alone isn’t enough. Good management skills can be learned and when combined with experience [...]

There is more to backing up your information than you might think, and I’ll show you how to properly do it. Some might be asking, “Why should I back up?” The answer to that is simple, disaster recovery. Some might be thinking that a disaster is highly unlikely, well, what about accidental deletion or user [...]

Most staff members are trust worthy, but defending sensitive data must be considered. With Internet access on every work station as well as the growing amount of devices like iPods, businesses run an increased risk of data theft by employees and others with access to confidential data. Some hand held devices have memory capacity that [...]

Some people think that they only need to make sure the computer is digitally secure, but it needs to be physically secure as well. Physical security is the tedious task of making sure that unauthorized personnel do not have access to the system. Put all the firewalls and passwords the world has on a computer [...]

Spring has arrived and you know what that means. Clean out the shed, trim the bushes and repair the sprinklers. Yes, I woke up to the beautiful sound of birds chirping and the site of blue skies and oh yeah, the “honey do list.” If you are a home owner you know all too well [...]

Having outside help may be the best medicine to quickly and effectively manage a firm. Here are some tips to consider before investing the money on an outside consultant. When anything needs to be taught or fixed, the first thing a company should do is evaluate whether the company has the internal resources or expertise [...]