April 18th is just around the corner...have you filed your tax return?

Most small business owners understand that they need to keep their financial records in order.  But, they mistakenly start out using the services of a bookkeeper or an accountant in an effort to keep costs low. However, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) may be more in line with what your business may need.  

Don't let the size or maturity level of your business prevent you from getting the right help that you need.  In fact, we have seen many small businesses suffer for not utilizing a CPA when they should have. 

If you need some convincing, here are four major reasons why you should seriously consider partnering with a CPA who understands small businesses:

Every year small businesses become victims of employee theft. This is particularly true in small business environments where a single employee manages all the finances. Often, there are no “checks and balances” in place to verify the accuracy of certain transactions performed by such employees. It is important to protect your assets of your small business, your biggest asset being your cash. Here are some simple steps you can take to accomplish this task:

 If you are of the many taxpayers who owe taxes year after year and never really understand why, this article will help to uncover some potential reasons why, as well as help you to avoid this problem going forward.

Once an individual makes the decision to start a business,  usually the next decision that has to be made is determing the type of business they will have.  There are many options available,   This is a common question among new start-ups, as well as those already operating their business, and unfortunately there is no “one-size fits all” answer to it. This is why we always seek to gain an in-depth knowledge of your business and personal objectives for starting and operating your business in order to provide the most appropriate answer for your unique situation.

Am I able to write off my donation?

This is a common question that generally is not asked until it's too late.  Many dollars have been lost because the necessary financial records required to qualify for such tax saving actions were not maintained and/or proper documentation was not provided at the time of donation.  To help you avoid losing out on these tax benefits, we have outlined some tips to help you capitalize on such a common, but often misunderstood tax shelter that makes a difference come tax time.

Selecting the right tax professional can be just as important as choosing the right person to marry.  Okay, maybe not as serious as marriage, but it is pretty important.  Think about it.  Since more than likely, you are not an expert in tax,  you have to find a professional you feel comfortable with and whom you can trust to prepare your return accurately and give you insight where needed.  When you do not ask the right questions upfront, you usually find out that your tax preparer really was not the expert you thought he or she was, when it's too late.  This post provides insight on what  you should consider when choosing a tax professional this tax season.