Accounts Receivable Software - What It Is?

When you are in business you are able to understand the need for accurate accounting methods, especially in the accounts receivable department. If you're not paid for your products or services it's easy to be closing your company doors. Accounts receivable software programs or ARS are available to accommodate any size business. In the mom and pop store front towards the multi national corporation, it's within the companies best interest to use ARS. With ARS, it is simple to track all the billing you need to do for your clients. This will supply you, along with your customers, with accurately prepared invoices that'll be easier to track from issuance to payment. This will help you avoid double billing and billing mistakes. Most of the available ARS packages are able to have pre completed amounts for specific services or items.

This enables you're A/R employee to simply type in the amount of each product or service and the program will automatically enter the price and also the total amount. This program will have the ability to add appropriate taxes or fees and you will no more have to worry about approaching short because of miss-billing. Another advantage of utilizing ARS is to track your visitors spending and paying trends. This really is highly useful information when initiating a marketing strategy. Targeted advertising greatly increases sales. By reviewing your accounts receivable invoices you can see what products or services are highest in demand.

This can also help you determine products or services that have become a liability. Also, to help tha harsh truth, your ARS can help you determine great paying customers and those who may need some coaxing to pay their bills. Actively using account receivable software will increase your companies profitability. The info that it can provide management, along with the accuracy it'll provide your visitors, makes accounts receivable software well worth the cost.
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Accounts Receivable Jobs for Business Accounting

Have you ever desired to work with numbers? If multitasking within an office setting, going through fine details and other accounting-related duties sound appealing, then looking into accounts receivable (AR) jobs can be a career move for you. Duties entailed in accounts receivable jobs are the receipt and posting of payments to some company's account, generating as well as mailing invoices to clients, data entry, maintaining a collection record of overdue records, examining and making an aging report along with other tasks related to incoming money. Occasionally, AR jobs may include secretarial or clerical duties such as photocopying, reception duties and filing. Anyone who has an eye for details, capable of taking on multiple duties, like working in an office setting and may meet deadlines with no problem are good candidates for most AR jobs. A person does not need a four-year degree to obtain this jobs but vocational training or an Associate degree is helpful. These days, most employers prefer that their support staff has some formal education running a business procedure.

Working understanding of software applications is strongly desired too. Like most administrative support positions, the independent capability of using word processing and spreadsheet programs would be the core requirements for the majority of receivable jobs. Knowledge of databases is really a plus as well as having the ability to navigate the internet for research and relevant information. AR jobs are usually found in mid-to-large sized companies by having an on-site accounting or finance department.

The working hours are usually during normal business hours and depending on the company, may offer overtime with an as-needed basis. With respect to the nature of the business and also the duties involved. Accounts receivable jobs average $30,000 annually. Those with many years' experience and/or a diploma can expect to make noticeably more per annum. Even in this economy, accounts receivable jobs are one of a few stable careers that don't need a lot of formal educations.
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Free Accounts Receivable Software

There are a variety of totally free accounts receivable software packages or ARS designed especially, for the record keeping that can be downloaded directly from the web. Several companies offer free accounts receivable software, which can be very productive for home or running a small company. One well-known company that offers free accounts receivable software programs is Intuit who is the maker of Quick Books. In 2009 Intuit offered a version of Quick Books called Simple Start Simple Start is restricted in the number of customers it will handle. Almost all the free ARS programs can give the consumer the functionality to print checks, create invoices and pay bills. Another free ARS package is GnuCash. This is an open source program that mimics Quick Books to look at and functionality.

This free accounts receivable software package is available in versions, which will work on both Mac OS X and Windows platforms. Gnu Cash is much more like the commercial version of Quick Books and is worth a test run. Microsoft's Office Accounting Express their offering of free ARS that are obtainable using their website. The Express comes with as many predefined reports that may be exported to Excel. This free ARS allows storage of customer, employee and vendor records in one location. Another among the free ARS programs available is Express Accounts, which usually states to be an accountancy program, which operates on both Windows and Mac.

With this particular program, you can produce balance sheets as well as profit plus loss statements along with standard accounting functions. Additionally, it can fax or email from within the program. For PC Users Adminsoft includes a free accounts receivable software program that runs using the PC only and works together with Windows versions from 95 to Windows '07. This program offers the ability to establish books for more than one company and can be set up for multiple users.

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Qualities of a Successful Accountant

So you want to be an accountant? Successful accountants don't only have the educational background to make it big but most also have a few qualities that should make him stand out from the rest. If you want to be a successful accountant, then make sure that you have the following abilities:

Areas of Expertise
As an accountant salary you have to have some areas of expertise, great if these areas are the usual needs of the public like taxation for example. You must already imbibe the basic accounting principles but to make you more competitive, it would be a great idea if you are also an expert in business management and administration. Finally, you will be presenting yourself and writing reports so as much as possible, you should be able to speak clearly and fluently as well as write good, engaging reports.

Personal Characteristics
Your expertise as an accountant is not enough for you to succeed. Most of the time, your success would rely on how good you are when it comes to dealing with your clients. As such, you have to have certain characteristics like the following:

* Knows how to dress well and make a good visual impression of himself.
* Should be well-groomed and have a good personal image.
* Must be credible and trustworthy.
* Must be confident, showing his areas of expertise without looking cocky or overbearing.
* Must be inviting enough to allow questions and answer the worries of clients.
* Must be warm and pleasant and can get along with a number of people from different walks of life.
* Must be creative and resourceful in finding ways to solve clients' problems.

Management Skills
As an accountant, you will be in charge of some employees and staff or you might have to supervise the work of junior or assistant accountants. As such you must be able to work and handle your staff well. As boss, you might also have to be in charge of your company's finances. You must be good with money, not just in making sure that the money's safe but also in making sure that you and your company are not going over-budget

Corporate Relations Tips
As an accountant, you might be hired as a consultant for a company or an organization. Successful accountants should know how to deal and maintain relations with these companies. Here are some tips:

* Be on time on appointments
* Introduce yourself properly and shake hands
* Practice Common Courtesy
* Send Thank You Notes
* Schedule and manage meetings properly.


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Advantages of Bookkeeping for Small Businesses

Be it small or big, every business needs to record and maintain its financial day-to-day transactions. This is exactly the purpose that bookkeeping software serves, yet in a more convenient way.

Before the advent of professional bookkeeping software, traditional ways of recording and maintaining the accounting books were used. Although these conventional ways stayed in the finance industry for years, but with the passage of time the book-keepers and finance managers realized that these methods were way too far behind. Hence, businesses started adopting the new techniques for recording their business transactions.

With the use of these bookkeeping methods dealing with complicated figures, data accuracy and speedy data entry all became attainable at the same time. Where traditional techniques involves hiring of qualified clerks, accounting software is very cost effective as any person with basic training could fit in the shoes of a clerk.

Moreover, these methods made accounting very systematic, which almost erased the chances of errors and fraud. Considering all these advantages, not only the big enterprises but many small businesses also got attracted towards accounting software and other customized accounting packages.

Companies, having difficulty to retain information for future references found it very easy to store large amounts of accounting data with the bookkeeping software. The financial statements were prepared with very little human effort, yet with higher accuracy. Analysing and comparing cash flows of the company for various years became easy, which showed a positive effect on a company's efficiency.

As recording business transactions became easy and less time consuming, small companies could focus on other matters of business, such as providing better quality control or customer services. Such improvements in businesses played a vital role and helped small businesses with their expansion.

Besides all these advantages, companies also have an option to create customized accounting software. The tailored software differs according to the needs of each business which helps every company achieve its specific goals.

Many entrepreneurs owning smaller businesses believe that this bookkeeping software is mainly for wide spread businesses. However, this is a misconception as it is equally useful for small scale businesses. Although planning and budgeting of small business might not be as complicated as bigger companies, yet using modern methods of recording, such as invoice creators and other techniques are very beneficial.

Hence, if you want your small business to flourish and soar to heights of success, then one of the changes that your company needs to adopt is to use modern accounting software.


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How To Read An Income Statement - Part 1

Are you ready for it? Let's go for it.

How do you know if your business is profitable? Just making sales, sales, sales is not enough to have a profitable business. Focusing on making high sales volumes is GOOD BUT NOT ENOUGH if you want to have a profitable business. And whenever your business will be assessed by a banker, a venture capital company or a business angel, the first question they will ask is whether your business is profitable. And often times, even though you are giving your soul at making your business work and put tremendous efforts into it, you are in fact just wind blowing and yet you don't even know if you are heading in the right direction or not. Does your business really make money?

Well I am going reveal a proven 3 steps process that will help you to understand how to read an income statement. I guarantee that after this, you will be able to know and understand how to look at your business from a financial perspective and tell whether you are on the right track. So in order to find out whether your business is heading in the right direction and if not only you are currently making money in your business but also if you will make even more money in your business.

Step 1: Take your income statement and look at the first line. That's right, you are looking at the sales figures or turnover. These are the raw figures if you like. This figure tells you how many of the products you sold and if you are doing well in your business from a sales perspective. You might have a good sales team, you could have had a successful launch of a new product, you might have raised your prices, you have gained more customers. How sales figures are calculated is pretty simple:

Sales = Number of Products sold x Price Of The Product

Well, that means therefore that this line will depend how well you manage to sell your products or services (meaning are you good at converting your prospects or do you have repeated customers) AND/OR how well priced your product is (meaning you managed to find the right pricing for the product or the service you are offering).

Now calculate the sales growth year by year. How much in terms of % did your sales growth: did it growth by 5%, 10%, 120%? Calculate what the growth has been at least in the last 3 years.

Step 2: Assess how strong the growth is.

Is it one digit growth: from +1% to +9%?. Then you can say it is AVERAGE

Let's say your sales figure has grown by 1% every year. Well this is okay but not fantastic and not very impressive. Well it's better than having sales going down of course but again, in terms of qualifying the growth, this would mean your business is stagnating.

Is it double digit growth: from 10% to 90%? Then you can say it is STRONG

Once your business has reached that point, then you can be proud of yourself. This is when it starts to become serious and your challenge is going to be how to maintain it.

Is it triple digit growth: from 100% upwards? Then you can say it is EXPONENTIAL

When you have that type of growth it generally means one thing: your business is either in an exceptional growth phase, it will be most of the times at the early beginning when you are building your customer base and you're making it happen.

Here is an example:

Sales Year 1: 100K

Sales Year 2: 120K

Sales Year 3: 200K

So to calculate the growth between Year 1 and Year 2, you will do (Year 2 -Year 1) / Year 1 = (120-100)/100 = 0.2=20% growth => STRONG GROWTH

Between Year 2 and Year 3, you will do (Year 3 -Year 2) / Year 2 = (200-120)/120 = 0.667=66.7% growth => STRONG GROWTH

This company has been in a tremendous growth in the last 3 years. Does it make sense? This is valid for a business of any size whether you want to understand a small business income statement or a large business income statement.

Step 3: Look for a trend

Look at the growth rate in the last 3 years and look for a trend. If the trend goes up, you have a positive trend. If the trend goes down, you have a negative trend.

In our last example, we had Year 2: +20% and Year 3: +66.7%. That's right. This is a very strong growth.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Now it's your turn. Get hold of your large or small business income statement and calculate the growth as we did in Step 2 and look for the trend as explained in Step 3. Got it?

Perfect, you have reached the first milestone which has shown you how to read an income statement and now you know and you can demonstrate to anyone whether your business is thriving and to which extent.

Business Finances Made Easy's mission is to help business owners getting an accurate understanding of their business finances. This will allow them to be able to discuss their business finances at any time with confidence and will help them to get additional funding on demand.

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Pittsburgh Accounting - How To Find The Best Accounting Firm In Pittsburgh For Your Small Business

If you are looking for the best accounting firm in Pittsburgh for your small business, here are five definitive facts about the city and five sure-fire ways to find the accounting firm there that best meets your small business needs.

Pittsburgh -- The Most Livable City In The U.S. Pittsburgh is Pennsylvania's second largest city, population 311,647. The seven county area surrounding the city boasts a population of 2,354,957. Allegheny County, which includes Pittsburgh, is by far the biggest and most prosperous. In these seven counties, there are over 1,000 accounting firms, 40% of which are in Pittsburgh. Over half of them cater to small businesses.

In 2005 and again in 2009, The Economist ranked Pittsburgh the top most livable city in the United States. In 2007, Pittsburgh claimed the number one spot in Places Rated Almanac. In 2010, both Forbes Magazine and Yahoo! had Pittsburgh at the top of their lists. Entrepreneur Magazine ranked Pittsburgh as one of the best for entrepreneurs.

Pittsburgh --The City Of Bridges. Pittsburgh is the world record holder for bridges with 446 of them contained entirely within the city limits. These bridges cross the Allegheny River from the northeast and the Monongahela River from the southeast to form the Ohio River and the Downtown area of the city known as the Golden Triangle. They link the city to the four areas surrounding it, namely the North Side/North Hills, the South Side/South Hills, the East End and the West End. Four interstates (I-376, I-79, I-279 and I-579), known to Pittsburghers as the Parkway East, the Parkway West, the Parkway North and Crosstown and two major expressways (Route 28 and Route 22) connect 237 boroughs and 202 townships with each other and with Downtown Pittsburgh.

Most of the larger accounting firms serving Pittsburgh's major corporations are in Downtown Pittsburgh. However, virtually all of the accounting firms serving the city's ever-growing small business population are located in the areas north, south, east and west of the city. These firms serve small businesses in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County and also offer their services to the other six counties that make up the Greater Pittsburgh Area. The small business accounting firms in these areas have deep-seated ties to the community, the people and the businesses residing there.

Pittsburgh -- A City Transformed. Thirty years ago, Pittsburgh was a dirty, smoky steel town, known as the Steel City, because of its predominance as a mighty steel-making hub. When that industry collapsed and Pittsburgh lost its manufacturing base, its blue-collar workers and corporate giants like Westinghouse, Gulf Oil, Koppers and Rockwell International, the city faced its first economic crisis in more than a century. To its credit, though, the city transformed like none other in the country and emerged twenty years later as a thriving white-collar metropolis.

Today, Pittsburgh is still a steel city. US Steel, the 10th largest steel company in the world, is headquartered there. Allegheny Technologies, a world-class steel maker, has eight manufacturing plants in the region. The city still employs 7,000 steel workers and another 12,000 in the primary metals sector. Though the area lost 100,000 manufacturing jobs in the last 30 years, that sector is still one of the biggest contributors to the region's economy. What changed is how diversified that sector is now. Cutting-edge companies in life sciences, robotics, information technology and research have joined ranks with eight Fortune 500 companies. Health care, education, research, financial services and entertainment/tourism are the newly emerging industries that are driving revenue and employment for the region.

One of the fastest-growing fields supporting the city's transformation to a white-collar economy is accounting. This is especially true as the city continues to move away from industry to service and technology. Many of the newly emerging companies across all sectors of the local economy are small businesses. Though there are already over 400 accounting firms in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County alone servicing those businesses, that number increases dramatically as you move into the other seven counties surrounding the city.

Pittsburgh -- A City Of Growth. The local economy mirrors the nation's economy as it continues to battle the recession. However, the region has fared better than most places in the country and is poised for substantive growth in 2011. Economists from the city's largest financial institutions predict that the Greater Pittsburgh Area will add 13,000 new jobs this year. Unemployment is expected to drop below eight percent as larger corporations begin to hire and newly established businesses begin to grow. Additional hiring will also be evident as new companies locate there.

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the city's largest employer, is currently in a hiring mode. Retail giants like Dick's Sporting Goods and General Nutrition Center (GNC) are growing. Google now operates a 40,000 square foot office in Pittsburgh and recently announced plans for expansion. Marcellus Shale natural gas will be a major contributor to the local economy. The Cultural Arts, including film production, continues to blossom and dozens of new information technology firms are emerging to support the growing research activity at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie-Mellon University.

Most of the new companies being created in the area are small businesses supporting these major industries. As the area grows, these businesses will grow as well and their need for more specialized accounting services will become increasingly evident. Presently, accountant firms in the Pittsburgh area offer 18 different types of accounting to small businesses, income tax accounting and project accounting to name a few.

Pittsburgh -- The City Of Champions. Pittsburgh is home to three major league franchises -- the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Two of those teams have graced the city with championships, the Steelers winning six Super Bowl titles and the Penguins winning three Stanley Cups. Thanks to the ingenious idea of a beloved Pittsburgh sportscaster and his Terrible Towel, the Steelers have given Pittsburgh fans reason to proclaim their hometown pride by simply waving their Terrible Towel. This marketing icon singlehandedly created Steeler Nation, a brotherhood of loyal fans across the country that has quietly and selflessly raised millions of dollars for a local charity in Pittsburgh.

This hometown pride, this brotherhood, this spirit of generosity is championed in almost every neighborhood and community in the Greater Pittsburgh area. Pittsburghers are proud, industrious, friendly and generous people. Many of them have lived in their hometown for years and have established hundreds of small businesses to support their families, their communities and the city they call home. Accounting firms throughout the area have their roots in these same neighborhoods and have managed to successfully guide and support these businesses and the local communities and organizations they serve. Because of their efforts, these small businesses continue to prosper.

With a good working knowledge of the city, its economy and its people, you can easily find the accounting firm in Pittsburgh that best meets your small business needs. Here are five sure-fire ways to help you do that.

Pay close attention to your location and the location of the accounting firm with whom you choose to work. Pittsburgh is a large metropolitan city with over 400 neighborhoods and communities as diverse as the people living there. These neighborhoods and communities are what make Pittsburgh unique and it is important that you find an accounting firm who knows these places and the businesses that reside there. Pittsburgh is also a city, like many other big cities in the country, plagued with traffic jams, construction delays and bad weather. These conditions cause havoc on the roads in and out of the city at any time in the course of a regular business day. Don't waste time driving all the way across town to meet with your accountant. Besides, if your accounting firm is close to you, they should be willing to come to your place of business.

Focus your attention on only those firms in Pittsburgh specializing in small business accounting. Small business accounting firms keep track of salaries and wages, deductions for federal, state and local taxes and Social Security, utility costs, maintenance, depreciation, amortization, interest and rent. They also prepare your tax returns and administer payroll, health insurance and 401K retirement programs. These are the responsibilities you will want your accounting firm to handle for you. If they can also provide sales, marketing and financial services to meet the ever-growing needs of your small business, so much the better.

Think about the things you know you want to receive from your accounting firm on a regular basis. Do you want them to reconcile your business checking account each month so that you know how your business is doing and you can manage your cash more effectively? Do you want an income statement itemizing your revenue and expenses every month or every quarter so that you can determine how effectively your business is performing? Do you want to receive a balance sheet giving you a snapshot of the financial condition of your business at any specific point in time so that you have the proper financial reporting to give to banks, investors and vendors who are considering how much credit to give you? Any accounting firm in Pittsburgh that professes to be a small business accounting firm should be able to provide you with all of these things as a matter of course, including as many consultations as you might need to run your business effectively and efficiently.

Get answers to all of your questions before you commit to any one accounting firm. Here are questions you might consider asking:

• Where exactly is your accounting firm located in Pittsburgh?
• What accounting services do you provide for small business owners? Can you take care of me and my accounting needs?
• What ties do you have to the community? Have you ever been recognized by your Chamber of Commerce or the Small Business Administration for outstanding service to a small business owner?
• What kind of monthly/quarterly/yearly reports can I expect to receive from you? How will these reports help me to better manage my business? Will I be able to understand them without your help?
• How and in what format will you want to receive information from me? How often will you want that information?
• When I have a question or concern, how best can I communicate with you? How quickly will you respond?
• How can you help me to grow my business?

Begin your search with Google, not the Yellow Pages. Start by searching for "Pittsburgh Accountants" or "Pittsburgh Accounting Firms." Narrow your search, if necessary, by location and type of accounting services provided; for example, search for "Accounting Firms In Kennedy Township" or "Small Business Accounting In Pittsburgh."

Realize early on that accounting is the foundation upon which your success, in large part, will be determined. And remember, for the small business owner, it is all about saving time and saving money. Using these five sure-fire ways to find the best accounting firm in Pittsburgh for your small business will save you both and your company's success depends on it.


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Going Self Employed? 3 Reasons an Accountant Is a Great Investment

If there was ever a great investment when you first go self-employed it's hiring an accountant. Newcastle self-employed workers can get so much out of hiring an accountant that it should be one of the first things that they do when setting up a business.

Although it can sometimes be seen as an added expense to hire an accountant, Newcastle self-employed workers can benefit in so many ways from the decision. Here are a few of the main ways an accountant can help.

1) Simplify the Set Up

Setting up as a self-employed worker can involve a lot of complications, especially for anyone who has not done it before, and this is often the first time that the newly self-employed consider hiring an accountant. Newcastle sole traders would do well to get some help with getting the business off the ground, working out the financial requirements and understanding the basic principles of bookkeeping, and an accountant will do just that.

2) More Time to Focus on the Job

By hiring an accountant, Newcastle self-employed workers can spend less time worrying about their accounts and more time focusing on their work. Long hours are commonplace when starting up as a self-employed person, and bringing in new business can be a challenge. An accountant will take away the burden of ensuring that all the financial matters are taken care of so you can focus 100% on finding new business and bringing in more customers.

3) Tax Advice

When it comes to filing a tax return, a lot of self-employed workers will find it much easier to hire an accountant. Newcastle businesses will benefit not only from the time saved in having to file the return, but an accountant will also be able to reduce the amount of tax paid to the legal minimum required, which is often enough by itself to justify hiring one.

An accountant can also provide self-employed workers with a sense of security in knowing that they are not doing anything wrong which could see them get in trouble with the tax authorities at a later date.

Conclusion

Make an Excellent Investment by Hiring an Accountant

When it comes to hiring an accountant, Newcastle self-employed workers can take advantage of the numerous benefits they provide. Businesses of any size can benefit from a skilled accountant, but if you are starting out on your own then make things easier by hiring an accountant and taking advantage of all the benefits they provide.

My name is Rob Hurren and I inv

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The Underground Economy - Much More Than You Ever Thought - Accounting Topic

Last year, our think tank was having a discussion about the underground economy. And when I speak about the underground economy I'm talking about all the transactions which occur in cash, and are not necessarily reported as income by the individuals, or small businesses that transact them. In the underground economy we could also consider other sinister activities such as Mafia, illegal drug sales, and the payments to illegal-alien labor.

Now then, today I don't wish to speak to the issues of illegal activity, but rather to legal transactions that take place, where later those individuals do not declare those events or transactions on their taxes. In other words the transactions in cash go completely unaccounted for. You see, in my professional opinion, after watching years and years of this go on, it seems to me some underground cash flow is not all that bad. Because that money circulates in the economy, rather than sitting in someone's bank account.

Yes, it's true that when people don't pay their taxes, it's unfair to everyone else. However if an individual does not involve themselves in a cash transaction, but rather that money sits in a bank, and does not get spent within the timeframe that the money circulated due to the underground economy then that money didn't transfer hands, and therefore didn't do anybody any good. The reality is that even the cash that is transferred in the underground economy, eventually gets re-accounted for when it is spent at a business which does account for the transaction.

Now then, this debate is highly charged, especially when the economy is tough, and various jurisdictions want their tax revenue. Still, so you can understand the argument and debate, there's a very good book that I'd like to recommend to you, and this is a book that I own personally. The name of the book is;

"Off the Books - The Rise of the Underground Economy" by Philip Mattera, St. Martin Press, New York, NY, (1985), 160 pages, ISBN: 0-312-58206-4.

Although this book was written in 1985, and even though most of the transactions now are not in cash rather electronic, many of the same rules apply. And most of the same arguments should also be considered. This book is extremely well footnoted and the author makes an incredible number of great points. Indeed I hope you will please consider this issue, and if the topic is brought up, you might also recommend this book. Think on it.


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Balance Sheet Accounting - Discover Your Financial Situation

If you have been concerned about the financial stability of your business, then you are a lot like many other business owners at the moment. The truth of the matter is that in today's world, you really need to make sure that you are in a financially stable position, especially if you are interested in allowing your company to grow. This means that in order to get the most out of your business and make moves that will not put your company under, but will instead help it to increase in value, you are going to want an accountant on your side to help you with your balance sheet accounting. This can be a tough decision to make, but there are some factors you will want to consider when looking for the best accountant.

The best specialist for balance sheet accounting is going to be one who understands your needs as a company. There is no such thing as a method that works for all businesses. Instead, you have to look at these things as being relative. Each company in a different industry will have different risks, different budgets, and different expectations. This means that you will need an accountant who is willing to look out for you. You can tell if you have this kind of accountant when you go to the website and find that the accountant has a good track record with a number of different clients.

Also important when it comes to balance sheet accounting are goals that you have in mind. You may find that once you sit down with your consultant that your goals are not reasonable anymore. This could be because the move you have been considering is too risky for the financial state you are in. It's also possible that you may not have the funds available or the credit available to make this move a possibility. These are things that you can find out after sitting down and talking with your accountant.

Balance sheet accounting can seem like the beginning of the end for many business owners, though it is important to remember that in today's world the last thing you want to do is take big chances without seeing the facts that are in front of you. You want to make sure that you have the money and leverage necessary in order to reach your long term goals. You will also want to make sure that your accountant gives you advice and helps to guide you toward these goals.

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Why Bookkeeping Is Essential for Better Small Business Decisions

Maintaining accurate, up to date financial records is often a chore for small business owners. The reason it's a chore is because they are usually totally submerged in the day to day concerns of running the business and good bookkeeping is not seen as a top priority. The owner is too busy working 'in' their business instead of 'on' it. As a result, the really important parts of business often get left for 'later', and it is these things that can truly make the difference between good and great businesses.

By taking the time to attend to business building functions like planning, marketing and finances, a business owner greatly increases the chance of success. These tasks are not always seen as important on a daily basis as talking with customers, ordering stock, receiving deliveries, directing/organizing/managing staff, paying suppliers and so on. However, their impact on the profitability and long term viability of any business is significant. These are the things that take consistent time and effort to realize the true benefits. And bookkeeping is one of those things. Without up to date and accurate financial records, no business owners can truly make informed decisions about their business.

A specific example may be when looking to hire new staff. Can the business afford it? If so, how much can it afford to pay? What will be the payoff in hiring a new staff member? How will it affect the bottom line? These are all important considerations. However, answers to these questions can only be made if the books are current. That means, going ahead and hiring a new staff member without looking at these numbers, could be a poor decision that will impact the business greatly. Put simply, good bookkeeping affords the business owner the ability to make good decisions.

Another area where good bookkeeping is vital is managing cash flow. Cash flow is the life blood of small business and if the cash isn't flowing, the growth and survival of the business can be limited. Often, a business owner will know that something isn't adding up, but without accurate financial reports, it will be hard to know what is wrong and what area of the business needs to be fixed.

Good financial management is not a luxury, it is a necessity. And this starts with good bookkeeping. Small business owner must invest the time and effort to work 'on' their bookkeeping system to make sure it is setup to run efficiently and consistently. This may require outsourcing the work or doing it internally. Either way, once this function is setup and running smoothly, the owner can enjoy regular financial reports to keep which will lead to better business decisions.
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The Best Way To Save Your Business From Liquidation

It is seen that a business venture gets liquidated for the reason of misunderstanding between two or more than two partners and are sharing their capital investment, profits and losses from there in. Misunderstandings may occur due to several reasons. The primary reason being a deliberate attempt by one of the partners to snatch out a major share of profit, illegally and not following the terms and conditions of the partnership deed.

However, a business might also get liquidated for the reason of the partners falling into a debt trap. The situation starts with the owners taking loans from various sources and finally fails to repay the loan due to bankruptcy or for any other reason. In situations like that, the parties who had given the loan might file a case against the business house and it might be liquidated as well. Not only have that, but the partners can also go to jail or have to pay a huge amount of compensation for avoiding prisoned as such. If you are one such person who is facing such kind of precarious situation and want to get out of such peril then it is time for you to get some of the advice.

There are several organizations and companies, which offer the service of providing with the debt advice and you can contact these companies for solving your problem. The companies have their very own team of experienced solicitors who would take all the hassles of dealing with the case and they would be indulged in fighting the case for you against the other party, who had officially filed the case against you. These solicitors have immense experience in this field, which they have possibly collected from years of practice in this field and it is their robust experience and expert business debt advice that can possibly save you from such peril.

However, one thing that you have to keep in your mind while going for such an organization which would provide you with excellent advice is that whether the company can guarantee you of winning the case or not. In other words, you have to look for such a debt advice giving company, which offers the best service and has immense experience and popularity in this field. Another thing that you have to keep in mind is the price that you have to pay for hiring the service of the company. I would suggest that if you get a good business debt advice providing company then do not care about the money too much since your prime aim at that moment should be to get the best that can save you from the great peril of going to jail, sooner or later.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Piter_Smith

What to Expect When Moving Abroad for Work

With the economy still lukewarm at home, intrepid types are looking further afield for their paydays. Emerging economies like China, Russia, India and Brazil are running white hot and the demand for skills and experience is creating jobs for Americans abroad.

If you've got what it takes, the adventure of living and working abroad can be yours. Finding the job and sorting out the visa is not as difficult as it used to be. International recruitment companies are scouring the globe for the best and the brightest, and visa application services take all the stress out of getting work permits.

Living and working abroad is the ultimate way to experience another culture. International experience looks great on a resume, but more importantly working abroad offers a fresh start; a way out of the professional or personal rut you may be in.

It almost goes without saying, but working abroad comes with it challenges. What would an adventure be without some challenges, right? There are some pitfalls to working and living abroad, but if you know what to expect, you can be sure that your transition into your new life will be a smooth one.

Things here will never work the way they do back home: Back home you can open a bank account in a few minutes at a suburban mall, but overseas it could take days. Queuing for almost everything is to be expected, and deadlines and the rules of the road are given as much thought as a serving suggestion on a cereal box. If you constantly compare your new hometown to your old hometown, you're going to drive yourself crazy. Just accept that you alone can't change things. It's like fighting the tide, so why bother. Embrace your new life abroad and all its quirks. To help manage your expectations it helps to research the in and outs of your new life abroad. The most honest firsthand accounts of what to expect can be found on expatriate online forums. Ask questions and get and all of the information that you can from the expats who have gone before you.

They won't speak English - no matter how much you yell: Americans and other native English-speakers like Australians, Canadians and the British have been stereotyped abroad as arrogant yellers, and with good reason. No matter how much you raise your voice, a non-English speaker is not suddenly going to find their English tongue. And why should they? This is their country. You should be making an effort to speak to them in their language. Even if your job abroad is conducted in English, you're going to have to deal with the locals eventually. Take an elementary language course before you leave home. It will give you a working knowledge of the local lingo. When you arrive, follow up the basics with an immersion language course. Practice with your new colleagues every chance you get. You'll be surprised how quickly you pick up the language when you have to. Now, even if many of the locals do speak English, don't ever assume that they do so on first introduction. Endear yourself by greeting locals in their own language and politely asking if they can help you in English.

You will suffer a bout of culture fatigue at least once: No matter how much you research a new culture in advance, nothing can quite prepare you for the sensory overload that comes with actually encountering it firsthand. At first it's a feast of new sights, sounds and experiences! And then the indigestion sets in. Suddenly, like a bolt out of the blue, everything you love about this new culture you start to loathe. You feel over stimulated and plain worn out. This new adventure of yours starts to feel anything but. Now before you quit your brand new job in a torrent of tears and catch the first flight home, know that this feeling will pass.

It usually strikes about two weeks into a new job abroad. Stressors like a new job routine, an exotic diet and acclimating to the weather make you venerable to culture fatigue. To ward it off you need to create cultural pit stops in your life. These are spaces and activities you can escape to when you need to regroup. Put down that nasi goreng and pick up a Big Mac. Hide out in a Starbucks for an afternoon or stay in bed for the weekend and curl up with a 24-hour movie channel. Give yourself permission to take breaks from the culture you're living in. It's very important that you maintain friendships with other local expats. The expat community in any foreign city is a close knit one and they take care of their own, so lean on them when culture fatigue creeps up on you.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ripley_Daniels

Getting Set Up For Extended Technology - Time on the Road

It used to be that people got to work from an office space, whether they liked it or not. But these days, it is possible to turn just about anything into the office, even if it doesn't actually happen to be an official workspace. Those who are freelancing do it with cafes, studio apartments, and street corners. Telecommuters do it with their home offices or their headquarters away from official headquarters. And travelers who are on business turn everything from hotel rooms to conference centers into the place to be for those who need to get things done. It's a great approach to productivity, and one that is far easier to accomplish considering the fact that the plethora of devices designed to keep people in contact these days makes it a breeze to work from anywhere.

The only trouble is that forgetting a key component can lead to some seriously bad time on the road. Anyone who has ever forgotten a Fujitsu laptop cable in a different hotel room or left it plugged in at home while packing up the machine understands the exquisite pain of assuming that everything is under control when it really isn't. After all, without a Fujitsu laptop cable, it is just not going to be possible to charge the laptop. And when the laptop isn't charged, it ceases to make life on the road pleasant. Essentially, all that stands between a successful business trip and a true nightmare is having a fully functional Fujitsu laptop cable to keep the machine in question going when it needs to be.

That's why those who spend a lot of time out on the road for work or pleasure need to understand the importance of having a gear bag for those nights away from home. And for those who have a Fujitsu laptop, cable spares are an absolute must, along with potentially a different battery and an adaptor that turns a three-prong device into a two-prong device. These tiny details are what can really keep an evening from going downhill, and picking up a spare Fujitsu laptop cable online doesn't cost nearly as much as it does walking into the local office supply store, so definitely begin the search there.

It's also worth considering, for those business-minded individuals who also care about the planet as a whole, how helpful it is to go for a used Fujitsu laptop cable when building up that important gear bag. This way, something is being appropriated and given a longer shelf life, and that is not just nice on one's wallet, but it's also a welcome shift for the world at large, too. And for anyone who is going to be spending countless hours in transit and need to stay connected and engaged as far as technology is concerned, being certain that there is a Fujitsu laptop cable backup option around so that workflow is not disrupted is certainly a smart, smart move to make.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_Lasky

Tips on Moving to Another Country for Work

In the wake of improvements in communications, the world has become a smaller place. If you are sitting in the middle of New York City, you can as easily talk to someone in the busy city of Tokyo as if he is your next door neighbor.

You would also find that it has become easy for people to go from one place to another regardless of the time or distance. Local commutes are fast and easy. The idea of Phileas Fogg taking Eighty days to circumnavigate the world might be preposterous in Jules Verne's time but now it would just take a person a couple of days before they can circumnavigate the world in a mere commercial flight.

With all these changes, it makes us global citizens. Experts are needed all over the world and these very experts can be hired from everywhere. An agriculture consultant from the Philippines can easily be asked to move to Japan for a job. Significant parts of the population of shanghai are expatriates from other countries.

When a job calls, you answer, especially when you have to provide for your family. The painful part of it is when that call does come you might need to pick up everything you own and board a plane to this new country.

No matter who you are, you need to prepare for a big change like a move to another country. This is a serious decision that can change a great deal about your life. Don't you think it deserves a little bit of preparation?

One of the most important things to consider when moving to another country is the financial aspect of the move. Do you have enough money saved to pay for the tickets and pay for the place you are staying in? If you are leaving people behind that are important to you, you also need to take in consideration their welfare. Will they have enough cash to go about their day to day activities?

When you start working for your new employer overseas, you also need to send money to your family. You must do your homework as to what is the cheapest and fastest ways to send money. There are several ways you can send money. Few of the most common include PayPal, Federal Express and bank transfers. Some foreign banks open branches in different countries to allow their expatriate customer to deposit to their banks. Check out some local banks to see if they have available

Moving to another country involves logistic problems as well. After the terror threats in the early 2000's the world has drastically changed. Even though you can still pretty much go anywhere you want, you can't bring everything with you in the plane. In fact, even fluids in the airplane are limited to a small amount.

We can still bring over items that we feel are important but we have to find creative solutions. One of the easiest and more cost efficient ways would be to send our things via sea or air freight. It would take a few days or a few months o get there but you get it to your new home without breaking the law or paying too much.

Perhaps, the most important part of preparing for your move would be to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally. Leaving the comforts of your own home and everything you know is a big sacrifice so you should ask yourself if you are ready for this step. Say goodbye to those you need to say farewell to because it might be a long time before you get to see them again.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_F_Black

Tips For Choosing A Good Auto Transporter Company

Auto transport is the continuing deal with the world of business that carries a lot of demands by the customers for the transportation of their vehicles into different places. Auto transporter services today become very useful all around the world. Transporting vehicle from one place to another requires auto transporter that's why this kind of services considered as the most significant and necessary. There are many of competitions in the business that come up. While shipping a car it becomes more difficult in terms of choosing the exact services for your needs. It would be harder to choose a correct car mover if you have not enough knowledge of transportation.

If you are planning to go to a farther distance then you must have to communicate with an auto transporter company which is always open to help you in moving your vehicles safe and secure. Car moving transport needs some tips and techniques in transporting your vehicles from one place to another because there might be instances to have some obstacles to take place across car country transport. When you are choosing good services then you must have to consider certain tips.

You must have to look for a good and efficient car transport company. Choose the one who is competent and safe for auto transporter. To be able for you to transport your vehicle to another place safely, choose reliable auto transporter Company. There are lots of reasonable company that is available which offers a reasonable and beneficiary car shippers.

There is also important thing to remember in choosing a good services. You must have to look for the insurance and license of the transportation services. It has a good advantage specially the insurance that will protect you whatever may happen. It is also important to find their license; this one will prove you that the services you're dealing with are legal.

Another thing to consider is the price. You must have to inform the price and the charge of the services. Be sure that the costs are fixed and reasonable. There are many companies that offers different price rate, some offers a lower price to make the customers harder to choose for the good company but you better go for a company who offers the best services for a reasonable price which you can assure to have the best care and service.

Last and important thing is the good delivery. Vehicles scheduled for shipment could get a proper delivery. The company who transport your vehicle to your desired location must have a good delivery network that offers enough car shipment to meet your requirements in terms of cost and time.

Most of the companies provide the service of nationwide car transport. The auto shipping rates may differ depending on the distance. You have to be sure that there are no hidden or additional charges involve. You need to do a research before choosing an auto transporter company that gratifies your needs.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_McWhilly

Wheeled Laptop Cases - The International Business Traveller's Friend

It's been a little while since I did a lot of international travel for work but I still remember hauling my overnight case and laptop bag through the airport, in and out of taxis and on public transport. Many of my friends and family fly a lot on business and we've occasionally discussed one of the aspects of travel that annoys them most - poor luggage.

The trick is that while you need enough luggage space to hold you laptop, cables and accessories, documents, books and pens plus clothes and wash-bag for one or two nights, you save a huge amount of time if you only take hand-luggage.

One way to achieve this is with a purpose-built wheeled laptop case. There is an increasingly wide range of these trolley bags that make it easy to get around while maximising space for storage.

The key things to consider when looking at trolley cases are:

1. Is the case the right size for your laptop?

Your laptop is probably the most expensive thing you are carrying and the information it holds is the hardest thing to replace so it needs the right protection. You want a case designed specifically for your laptop size (the most common are 15.6" and 17" laptops) to ensure your computer is held snug and secure.

2. Do you want to take it as hand luggage or put it in the hold?

If your time is important, you want to get through the airport quickly on arrival and departure. The best way to do this is to travel only with hand luggage.

That presents the problem of size for your hand luggage. The standard allowance for many airlines is one piece of hand luggage up to a maximum size of 56 x 45 x 25cm. If you use one airline frequently it's best to check with them but there are resources on the web, such as this Airline Baggage Allowances page that lists the most common airline restrictions. Though the allowances may seem limiting, there are many bags that not only fit these limits but also provide substantial storage.

Be aware that if you only take hand luggage you need to limit the liquids you carry. Restrictions include no single liquid exceeding 100ml and all liquids must fit into a single, clear plastic bag of no more than one litre capacity.

3. How do you want to carry your baggage?

The more you stuff into a travel bag, the heavier it gets and the less comfortable it is to carry as a briefcase or shoulder bag. So if you are travelling further, it is worth considering other forms of luggage.

First there are the wheeled laptop cases, or trolleys. These offer wheels built into the bottom of the case and a telescopic handle for ease of use plus simple stowing. The wheels and handle add to the bag's weight though for the majority of the time you'll be pulling it along behind you.

The other option is a wheeled laptop backpack. This is similar to the trolley with wheels and a handle, but is better designed if you travel over rough terrain or up and down stairs. A backpack is more comfortable to carry on your back and good quality bags include waist and chest straps to spread the weight.

Using the right luggage for your trip can make the difference between arriving hot and harassed or calm and ready for business. You want to be focused on other things than your luggage - your upcoming presentation, how the meeting will go, whether you will win the deal - so make sure your luggage suits your needs and doesn't distract you.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_B_Morgan

Business Owner or Jack of All Trades - Master of None

How do you become a successful business owner? You must become the master of your craft. This means you learn to outsource the things that someone else can do better or faster than you so you can focus on what you enjoy doing. This just makes good business sense.

When evaluating a business you will want to review what services the business is offering. Is one person trying to be the receptionist, bookkeeper, cleaning person and deliver the services or products in person? Buyer beware. Experts specialize. Depending upon your budget you may want to work with a Jack of All Trades but more than likely you will want to work with the Master or Expert.

As a business owner, you must determine the products or services you will provide. Often people start chasing the latest trends before having mastered the services they are currently touting. Instead of become a master at specific things they are just learning the basics of several things and mastering none. Would you go to a gourmet coffee shop where the owner only knew how to make regular coffee and never mastered how to make a latte or frappaccino? No, you would not. You would be disappointed. Would you hire a web designer that only could provide you a basic template website? Would you hire a marketing professional or graphic designer who was using templates from a bargain online store? These people may fit your budget but will the results really be what you are looking for? What is your actual return on investment?

People want to work with experts. Experts are also able to command more money for their services. How do you become an expert? You must be willing to invest your time and money into learning every facet of that particular item. Many people are touting themselves as social media experts or guru's yet they have never invested in attending social media training nor do they invest their time in learning the latest. What he or she is relying upon is watching what others are doing and copying what is currently being done. Instead of being on the cutting edge he or she is following the pack. But, because he or she is not investing in training he or she is not able to learn the inside secrets to using social media until the secret is no longer a secret.

Again, experts specialize. As a business owner review your mission and vision statement. Do the products and services you offer honor your mission and vision statements? Have you gotten off track? Look at your website. Are you even offering the products and services that you state you offer or have you gone off chasing the next shiny object? Do not fall into this trap. You must take time to self reflect on where you are in your business, where you want to go and what honors your passion. It is ok to change direction but make sure you are doing it for the right reason.

When I started my business many people were only focused on offering social media training. Those business owners are now out of business. You must have products and services that will withstand time. It is ok to offer a few of the latest trends but you must have something to fall back on when that fad or trend passes. You must be the expert in your niche. Take time to become the expert. If you are not willing to invest in becoming the expert in your niche then it is time to admit that you are not passionate about what you are doing and you need to move on. Passion turns into profit. Experts specialize.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jaynine_Howard