The Accountant's Office

Behold, I Do a New Thing!

admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:30:42 +0000

How long has it been since you could say that? Often we get stuck in a rut, doing the same thing year after year. I’m not suggesting that you stop doing something that you enjoy and you’re good at. What can you add to it to put a little zest into your routine?

Here are some things that I’ve incorporated that stay within my core competencies:

Writing books – The first two were easy as they were compilations of my weekly Biz-Tip emails. What have you written that you can compile into a book?
Speaking – Share your expertise and enthusiasm with an audience. What do you know that others want to know more about?
Mentoring – Give back. Those of us with years of business experience owe it to new or struggling business owners to offer guidance and encouragement.

Doing things like these add zest and excitement to our days. The purpose of all of these things is to help others so that it’s easier for them than it was for us. If it also adds to your credibility and helps your business, cool!

P.S. If you want to see my latest “new thing” click here.

Exploring the Possibilities

admin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:16:00 +0000

As part of a Mastermind group I find my mind is always open to possibilities – whether my own or those of the others in the group. My business has grown exponentially since beginning the path down being mentored.

Now the next step in my personal and business growth is on the cusp. Because of the growth and success that I’ve experienced in my business, I am thrilled to be working on an exciting new project! A week-long exclusive business owners-only retreat in Bimini.

So many people say, “I can’t afford to take a week away from my business!” and when I am mentoring them, I say, “If you can’t afford to take a week away then you’re working IN not ON your business.” I’ve learned that experiential adventures allow business owners to recharge their passion for their lives and their businesses. I hope you’ll join me in this exclusive retreat. Only four spots are available – ACT NOW to get yours!

Done Anything Exciting Lately?

admin — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:55:00 +0000

Isn’t it easy to get caught in the same old routine? When was the last time you did something that truly excited you? Are you thinking this? “Hey, I’m a business owner. I have responsibilities and duties. I don’t have time in my life for excitement.”

If you are, let me give you a few reasons to do something that excites you. When you’re doing or even anticipating doing something really exciting…

All your creative juices start to flow and they overflow into all areas of your life.
You’re energized! You may be so energized that you don’t want to sleep!
Even thinking about it for a few minutes, you leave the mundane and routine behind for a while and return to it refreshed and renewed.

If you haven’t done anything exciting or been that excited in a while, look for opportunities to do something truly different and exciting. Who knows, maybe such an opportunity will appear in your Inbox in the next day or two!

When was the last time you were really excited?

P.S. I’m excited to share with you my new and exclusive project. Watch your Inbox and open it right away!

Get ‘Em While They’re Hot!

admin — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:00:33 +0000

Calls to action. We’ve all read and seen them on various websites, in emails we’ve received and of course, on television commercials. If it’s a good product or service or seminar that’s being offered, I am thrilled to be part of that call.

Now, I’m able to have my own call to action to all of you! Hot off the press, we have a limited number of advanced copies of my latest book, Biz Tips Volume 2: 30 Quick Tips To Make You More Effective In Your Business available for sale.

Send your check $18, made payable to The Accountant’s Office, to PO Box 7780, Chandler AZ 85246. We’ll send your autographed, limited-edition advance copy to you right away.

Do You Open the Door When Creativity Knocks?

admin — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:00:57 +0000

Did you ever have your to-do list all prepared and a full day planned, when – wham – creativity hits and all your plans are shelved? That was today for me! I had a long list of things I wanted to get done today. Some of them were important. Some were even important and time-sensitive. (Double whammy!) But creativity often visits when you don’t have time on your schedule.

So what do you do?

Go with the flow. If creative ideas are flowing to you, don’t think you can finish up anything else and then explore it. Creativity flies out the window if you don’t embrace it immediately.
Exploring creative ideas when they come to you makes everything else you do better. Once you start entertaining creative ideas in one area, it often will overflow into other areas as well.
Record creative ideas where you can retrieve them. Maybe you’ll have a Creativity File, either paper or electronic, or a journal. Just don’t let them float around your desk and disappear. They rarely return to you!

Share your most recent creative idea here!

P.S. The team at The Accountant’s Office is NOT creative! Creative accountants are called convicts! We make sure your financial records are kept properly and your bills are paid on time. Need help? We’re just a phone call away!

Tax Deadlines are THAT Close!?

admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:45:47 +0000

Small business owners are faced with deadlines on a daily basis; whether its project deadlines for clients, follow-up calls for clients or filing deadlines for taxes, they are a necessary part of being an entrepreneur. While you want to pay attention to all deadlines, tax deadlines are ones you definitely want to meet.

As virtual accountants, it’s our business to remind our clients of impending IRS and tax filing deadlines. In case you haven’t communicated with your CPA recently, here are some dates you need to keep in mind:

February 15 — Owners of corporations need to get their records for 2011 to their CPAs by that date because
March 15 is the deadline for filing your tax returns
March 15 is also the deadline for partnerships and individuals to get their records to their CPA so they can meet the
April 17 deadline for filing your annual tax returns

Talk with your CPA or tax preparer to discuss these deadlines. Give us a call if your records aren’t in order. We can help get them organized, capture all our expenses, and have your books CPA-ready.

Wonder Why You’re Not Making Money?

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:45:16 +0000

In this country, only the U.S. Mint makes money, the rest of us have to earn it. When it seems that money is not flowing to you as quickly or easily as you want, it could be because you are lacking one vital element: clarity.

Clarity attracts money! Here are a few things you need to be really clear about:

How much money do you want to earn?
What will you do in exchange for that amount of money?
Who would be willing and even eager to pay you that amount of money for those services?

When you are really clear about these things, you will attract them to you.

2011 is Over! Have You “Closed” the Year?

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:30:09 +0000

January is a busy month for accounting services and the business owners that they serve. There are lots of deadlines: annual and 4^th quarter payroll tax reports and 1099s by January 31^st. Most CPAs want all the information for your business income tax returns at least 30 days before tax filing deadlines, so that means February 15^th for corporations. Everything seems to come so fast that it really keeps you hopping!

Some things to remember:

Don’t miss the deadlines – the penalties and interest add up really fast
Even if you can’t pay your taxes, make sure you get the reports in on time
Do a thorough general ledger review to catch any errors before filing reports
Make adjusting journal entries as needed
Review the changes to 1099 regulations – there are some significant ones
Discuss tax law changes that apply to your business with your CPA

If you need help, get it from the experts. For a recommendation for an income tax preparer, contact us. We know lots of great CPAs who can help you!

And let us know if our team of highly-skilled accountants can help get you ready!

Excuse Me!

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:30:17 +0000

Are you plagued by interruptions? Do they destroy your productivity? Does it seem like you can’t go even ½ hour without an email, a phone call, or a text message vying for your time and attention? It makes it difficult to concentrate and get any work done. If so, it’s time to take charge!

Here are a few ideas to help:

Set times when you will reply to emails, phone calls and text messages
Set a length of time you’ll spend replying (like 20-30 minutes)
Turn off your email program and don’t have your cell phone on your desk

Some interruptions are good – like a prospective client calling – but the majority of interruptions could easily wait until a more opportune time. Use the above ideas to take control of your day.

Buy ‘Forever’ Stamps NOW!

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:42:51 +0000

Did you know that postage is going up on January 22? As a small business owner, the increase in postage is something that could impact your bottom line, depending on how much you mail.

Forever stamps are good forever. You can buy them now and any increase in postal rates will not impact. If you’re like most business owners every penny counts. You can stock up on some Forever Stamps from the post office. Forever Stamps can help you beat the postal increase and keep the penny from that increase in your pocket!

The postage rate increase also got us to wondering: How much physical mail does your small business still send out? Do you rely more on electronic communication? Let us know.