Bring Your Records To The Interview Bring a copy of at least one year's tax return when you interview a CPA. This way your prospective CPA can give you educated "guesstimates" as to what their services will cost you.

How To File If you want to save some money, ask how they want your paper files.... If you bring your files to them in shoeboxes (hey, many folks do), you will pay to have all that deciphered! You can save money if you separate information way CPA suggests.

Corporation vs. Individual Are you interested in hiring a corporation of CPAs or a CPA that has their own business? If you opt for corporation, find out if you'll be dealing with one particular person, or will it be whoever answers phone when you call. It's best to have one person to build a relationship with!

When do they work? What are their hours of operation? Make sure that you can call them at hours that are convenient for you.

Making a Decision Interview at least 3 CPAs. Don't rush this decision. Make sure you have best CPA and bookkeeper for you and your business!

A less visible but possibly more lasting reaction to our changed world is a focus on things that really matter: Family, community, home and values - what trend watcher Faith Popcorn calls 'cocooning.'

It is a term Popcorn coined back in 1984 as a reaction to news of time: environmental problems, overindulged Yuppies and conspicuous consumption of Reagan era - all of which were surpassed by excesses of decade we just completed. The first years of this century will accelerate that trend, she says.

It's 'about insulation and avoidance,' Popcorn told Los Angeles Times. 'We know now that it's important to understand other cultures and international politics. But we're going to learn by watching TV and reading, not by traveling.'

Popcorn says that 'men and women are functioning more as partners instead of adversaries.' She told Times that families will decide together on big purchases, 'rather than men buying their toys, and women saving for their luxuries. The question will be, what does family need rather than what does individual want?'

Sell products that answer that question and you may well ride latest economic wave:

--> Anecdotal evidence indicates that new world order has prompted Americans to appreciate simple pleasures of life. The 'simple' movement has been in force for some time; events of last several weeks may accelerate it. Working parents may not be so willing to work longer hours to afford bigger homes - look for increased demand for home improvement. Furniture, decorating and cooking will be in.

--> Demand for home security is likely to increase, as will home entertainment.

--> Between threat of layoffs and desire to be with family, trend toward working at home may grow at an even faster rate than in previous years. Home office furniture, equipment and supplies will continue to be in demand. Interest should grow in network marketing and other easily financed home business programs.

September 11 may have marked end of world as we knew it - but not end of world, or your home business, which may emerge from this period stronger than ever.