Recently Enacted Tax Breaks for Small Businesses

Keeping track of tax changes these days is quite a task. Congress is constantly tweaking the tax laws in an effort to stimulate the economy and deal with the budget deficit. The following is a compilation of recent changes to keep you up date. Cell Phones No Longer Listed Property – This means that cell […]

QuickBooks Income Tax Reports And Filtering Options: Target The Right Output

April 15 is getting uncomfortably close. QuickBooks, of course, can’t do your taxes for you. But it helps you lay some of the groundwork. Following up on last month’s column on customizing reports, we’ll look at the program’s tax-related reports and its powerful report-filtering options. But first, you’ll need to make sure that this output […]

Tracking Bills in QuickBooks, Worth the Effort

Next to payroll, paying bills is probably your least favorite task in QuickBooks. You don’t have to use this feature – you can keep stacking bills on your desk, scrawling the due dates on a paper calendar, and writing checks. If you’re still operating this way, though, you’re missing out on the numerous tools that […]

Repetitive Transactions. Memorize Them.

Filling out invoices the first time can be a pain, especially if they’re lengthy. But doing the same thing repeatedly if the identical invoice recurs regularly? No need. QuickBooks can memorize a variety of transaction types, including invoices, purchase orders, and bills. After you’ve memorized them, you can edit, reschedule, and delete them, as well […]

Small Business Expenses 101

For small business owners, tax breaks often come in the form of tax deductions – which can offer a nice little instant cash savings – if you know how to navigate tax law and claim the deductions you deserve (not what you believe you are entitled to). Large tax deductions are a notorious red flag […]

After Further Review, the Penalty Stands

Former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Joe Bruner made headlines last week as he was sentenced for battery. Bruner’s accountant, Wayne Montgomery, testified that Bruner punched him in the eye, pushed him face down into a recliner, and hit him repeatedly in the head, neck, and back at a meeting at Bruner’s house last July. Bruner was apparently “upset” with the size of his refund.

Use Accounting Ratios to Stave Off Financial Problems

Does the mere mention of accounting ratios put your teeth on edge, and bring back bad memories of Accounting 101?  It shouldn’t as ratios can help your quickly determine how your business compares against others. Banks often use ratios to analyze your financial statements as part of the loan approval process, so it’s helpful to […]

Ten Overlooked Reports You Should Use

Just about every QuickBooks user relies on the Report Center and Reports menu, but if you’re like most, you have a small handful of reports that you tend to rely on. In this article we’ll go off the beaten path and explore ten reports that many users overlook. Even if you are using some of […]