Since 1980, Small Business Tax and Management has been providing services to business owners. Lots of resources on this site. www.smbiz.com/

Bookkeeping and Tax Programs: Quicken, QuickBooks, Turbo Tax www.intuit.com/products_services

Taxes and Accounting www.quicken.com/small_business axes_and_accounting http://www.peachtree.com/

The Top 10 Essentials for Making a Hobby Into a Business http:/ opten.org/public/AA/AA82.html Dealing Effectively with IRS http:/ opten.org/public/AN/AN23.html

CPA or Bookkeeper? Besides trading on Wall Street, I was an Operations & Accounting Manager. At one point, I had bookkeepers and a few CPA's working for me. I was able to sign off on work performed by bookkeepers but I wasn't unable to sign off on any internal audits. Why? Because I didn't have a CPA License!

So you can see, there is a difference between a CPA and Bookkeeper. Now-a-days, with Quicken and Peachtree, many of us can set up our own bookkeeping and send out invoices - if that is how we choose to use our time.

If you are a sole proprietor, you can 1) hire a CPA firm that will also do your monthly bookkeeping 2) hire a CPA firm that will help you set up your monthly bookkeeping system and then you can do your bookkeeping or hire a bookkeeper 3) hire a bookkeeper to do your monthly bookkeeping 4) do it yourself.

Personally, I did my own bookkeeping for many years (I was an accounting manager) and then brought my records to a CPA yearly. I keep up with as many tax laws etc. as I can, I guess because I like that sort of thing. Many folks don't though! Know which you are!

As my business grew, I hired a bookkeeper and worked with them to set up a monthly bookkeeping system. The system was set up as suggested at IRS Tax Class I attended - with categories names and in close order to tax forms I'll use as a sole proprietor (Schedule C & Form 8829). I'll choose names of sub-categories based on how I spend money. They also suggested that you set up your file cabinet with similarly named files.

Enjoy my article on CPAs. It's called "10 Ideas To Help You Choose a CPA" http://www.coachmaria.com/articles/cpa.html

Day 6 ~~Spend an hour cleaning cabinets closest to dishwasher. Reline them with new shelving paper, if necessary. ~~Find covers for any pots, pans, Tupperware and like. Put any object that doesn't have a cover in a bag.

Day 7 ~~Find a piece of paper and take everything out of bag you've saved from day six. ~~Write down name of product (Revereware, Farberware, Tupperware, Rubbermaid, etc.) and measurements (2 quarts, 8 inches, etc.). Or do what I prefer. Draw outline of pot, cover, or container on a piece of paper with product's name in middle of circle. ~~Spend rest of hour cleaning and reorganizing cabinets.

Day 8 ~~Today is Kitchen Floor Day. 'Nuff said ~~Clean windows. Take measurements for a second set of curtains.

Day 9 ~~Make a trip to Goodwill, Salvation Army, or your favorite thrift store to find covers (or bottoms) of pots, rubber goods, etc. You'll be surprised what you can find for between 69c-$2.00! ~~And look for a second set of curtains to use, too.

Day 10 ~~Go to store. Buy yourself some flowers, a candle, or something to celebrate! ~~Go home, place a chair in middle of kitchen floor and enjoy all you have accomplished!