Choose The Right CPA For Your Business

Written by Maria Marsala


CPA's are more than just individuals who do your yearly taxes. They can advise you a long list of other services, which may include advice on your accounting system, financial, retirement, estate and tax planning. CPA's are part of a business owner's professional team along with a Banker and Lawyer.

Ask for recommendations. Your local Chamber of Commerce will tell yourepparttar names of CPAs who are members. When you attend any type of meeting, or meet other business owner's, ask for CPA recommendations.

Userepparttar 106638 60% rule. If you're a business owner, pick a CPA who has 60% of their business coming from business owner's -like you! They're more apt to keep up withrepparttar 106639 laws regarding clients they deal with most often. If you're a corporation, make sure thatrepparttar 106640 person specializes in corporate accounting, including financial statements, audits, etc.

Interview CPAs! Ask what type of services they do for their clients, how long they've been in business full time, and for referrals, etc. Don't forget to ask to see their license. Ask them aboutrepparttar 106641 benefits of choosing them over another CPA.

Rates Ask about their rates and what those rates include. If they have a rate chart, allrepparttar 106642 better! Also, ask what their hourly rate is and whatrepparttar 106643 cost would be to answer questions duringrepparttar 106644 year.

Ask Them About Record Keeping Ask what computer program they prefer you use for your record keeping and why they prefer that program. Many times, if you userepparttar 106645 program they suggest, it can save you some money because they can use your data files. Some even have programs they'll set up especially for you!

Good News in Our Brave New World

Written by Donna Schwartz Mills


Asrepparttar year 2001 winds into its final quarter, it is safe to say we're not inrepparttar 106637 20th century any more.

The unprecedented long cycle of prosperity we enjoyed inrepparttar 106638 90's led many to believe that we were experiencing a new economy; one that was immune torepparttar 106639 ups and downs we knew inrepparttar 106640 past. This year, that notion came to a crash along withrepparttar 106641 NASDAQ. The events of September 11 andrepparttar 106642 aftermath that continues to ripple throughrepparttar 106643 world economy prove that we are indeed in a new era. How it will affect your home business is anyone's guess.

Many pundits predicted that consumer confidence, already low in 2001, would plummet afterrepparttar 106644 attack onrepparttar 106645 World Trade Center. Whilerepparttar 106646 economic shakeout has indeed been disturbing -- with layoffs, poor profit reports and entire industries asking Congress for bailouts, inrepparttar 106647 case of consumers,repparttar 106648 experts appear to be wrong. A Gallup Poll report issued on October 17 states that 'today, 38% raterepparttar 106649 economy in positive terms -- excellent or good -- up slightly from 32% in a Gallup survey taken Sept. 7-10.

'Thirty-three percent say economic conditions as a whole are getting better inrepparttar 106650 United States, up from 19% just beforerepparttar 106651 attacks.'

Gallup speculates that a 'rally effect' is behindrepparttar 106652 good numbers, and notes that approval ofrepparttar 106653 President is at record levels, while Americans are behind Congress at levels not seen in 27 years.

Increased trust inrepparttar 106654 U.S. Government may be a byproduct ofrepparttar 106655 most visible reaction torepparttar 106656 terrorist threat: The American flag is everywhere. It is now cool to wear your patriotism on your sleeve -- not to mention your home, your business and even flying fromrepparttar 106657 antenna of your car.

But in an unusual response to an extraordinary threat, government officials from President Bush to Mayor Giuliani have urged citizens to exercise their patriotism in a unique manner: by spending as much money as they possibly can. This would seem like a perfect marketing opportunity, and many businesses have created ads that play onrepparttar 106658 nation's new sense of duty - with mixed results.

'There's no mixing green with red, white and blue,' saidrepparttar 106659 Los Angeles Times in a study of post Sept. 11 advertising campaigns. Nothing will alienate your customers quicker thanrepparttar 106660 appearance of trying to cash in on a national tragedy.

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