Banish Those Bookkeeping Blues!Written by Tracey Lawton
Are you one of those people who are guilty of just stuffing your receipts into a folder and thinking 'I'll sort that out when I've got time'? Do you need a more organised bookkeeping system, nothing too flash, just something that's simple and easy to manage? Follow my tips below and you'll soon have that simple and easy-to-manage bookkeeping system that won't bring you out in a cold sweat whenever you hear words 'tax return'. And I promise you, it works! Gather your supplies! Get hold of a large ring binder, divider cards, A4/letter-sized paper, stapler, pen, all your business receipts and invoices, plastic folders and a large coffee (or whatever else you prefer!). Then lock yourself away for a couple of hours. Get organised You now need to organise your ring binder into following sections: Invoices - Unpaid -- this section is for your outgoing business expenses that have not yet been paid i.e. supplier invoices. Write on top of each invoice date it needs to be paid by and place all unpaid invoices in 'date to be paid' order with earliest one on top. Invoices - Paid -- this section is for your outgoing business expenses that have been paid or you've paid at time service was rendered, i.e. that ream of paper that you bought from office supplies store. Staple each receipt on to a blank piece of paper rather than just putting them directly into ring binder. This just makes it easier to see at a glance all your receipts and you can also make notes on paper. Also write on top of each invoice/piece of paper method of payment.
| | Useful Tips for Evaluating Your Meeting Venue OptionsWritten by Susan Friedmann
However, large or small meeting, location is key. Your environment, formal or informal, helps set necessary mood and ambiance for meeting to take place. Think about choosing a comfortable, yet stimulating environment that encourages attendees to concentrate, but beware of making it too cozy and relaxing that they’re likely to fall asleep. When thinking about right location, consider meeting objectives, length of meeting and, of course, your budget. Decide how appropriate/necessary/important it is to hold meeting on or off-site. For example, sometimes a neutral, off-site location is necessary for confidential, top secret discussions. Different types of locations to consider: 1. Local off-site meeting space 2. Out-of-town off-site meeting space 1. Local off-site meeting space When it comes to selecting an off-site location, be it a local hotel conference room, a restaurant or other meeting space, your budget will rule and determine outcome. To play it safe, always inspect space first-hand before finalizing any decisions. Make sure space is right size for meeting. You want to avoid “maxi-sizing,” that is having a space big enough to seat 200 for a 20-person meeting. You only want to consider venues that are larger enough to handle event you’re planning. Much will depend on number of participants and complexity and/or variety of program. Will it be formal, informal or both? Do you want a rural or an urban location? Chances are that every event you plan will possibly meet different criteria, and thus have different space requirements. 2. Out-of-town off-site meeting space This option is usually used for extra special meetings, such as sales meetings, as costs will inevitably be much higher. These kinds of meetings may well last for several days so you want to make sure that all necessary details are well taken care of. If you want to make it high on your colleagues’ popularity poll, consider using a resort facility, as they usually offer various enjoyable relaxation options, golf, swimming, fitness center, etc. A site visit is essential so as to avoid any unexpected surprises. With this in mind, let’s look at various venue options available to you: · Hotels · Conference centers · Convention centers · Resorts · Retreat centers · Cruise ships · Unique environments Hotels. These fall into three main categories: 1. Well-known and established chains, such as Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Sheraton, Holiday Inn, that offer a certain level of service that you can expect worldwide. They offer a wide range of amenities especially if you need room for large banquets, trade show or exhibit areas. 2. Independently owned properties, such as those belonging to Preferred Group (http://www.preferredhotels.com), whose luxury hotels and resorts offer a unique character, one-of-a kind ambience, and provide highest standards of quality and extraordinary service.
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