November 2, 2021
What if we told you that you could invest in a small business and not pay taxes on the gains? Well, your dream can be a reality, provided you make some key moves before you write that first check. Investing in a qualified small business not only offers great growth opportunities for local startups, but […]
October 20, 2021
If your LLC adopted cloud-based solutions in an effort to digitize the business over the course of the past year or two, a change in scenery might be easier than you think. Moving an LLC to another state can be accomplished by simply filing a few forms. That said, there are a few potential pitfalls […]
October 19, 2021
While your products or services are the backbone of your business, you’ll struggle to succeed without a solid financial understanding and processes. But that doesn’t mean you’re doomed if you didn’t go to school for accounting or pursue an MBA. You simply need to build out the right combination of business financial services. That means […]
October 15, 2021
Running a medical practice can be demanding, pulling in every direction at once. From managing patient care and follow-ups to the back office and financial side of things, healthcare goes far beyond caring for the patients. We support medical practice managers in streamlining and automating their back-office processes, running everything through Xero as the central […]
October 11, 2021
Why is it so important to get Form 8879 back to your tax preparer? If you have used a CPA firm or other tax preparer to file your taxes in the past decade, you’ve been required to complete a form authorizing the preparer to electronically submit your return on your behalf. Failing to submit that […]
October 6, 2021
Mergers and acquisitions have many moving parts. As a business owner, you not only have the responsibility to look out for your company’s best interests, but also the employees, business goals, reputation, and financials. Below are our top six items to consider for successful mergers and acquisitions. 1. Ensure you have the right advisor(s) on […]
October 4, 2021
Your PPP loan was forgiven—what a relief! But now what? If you were one of the millions of business owners who secured a PPP loan to keep your business up and running through the pandemic, you may have ended up with a successful year in spite of it all. Below are a few steps to […]
September 29, 2021
Are the books in your medical practice looking a bit under the weather? Keeping up with accounting can be a struggle for many clinics, particularly when it comes to a single practice with multiple locations. Adopting cloud-based accounting apps can get your books back on the road to recovery. Whether you’re just opening your doors […]
September 28, 2021
Whether you have a side-hustle that’s starting to bring in significant income or are launching a brand new venture, you may be feeling concerned about the mounting costs of operating a business. Fortunately, we have good news for you and your bank account: these costs are actually tax deductions that will reduce your overall taxable […]
September 16, 2021
The average taxpayer goes searching for a CPA at tax time and often realizes that there are benefits to hiring a CPA firm throughout the year. CPAs provide valuable time and money-saving services to individuals and business owners. Whether you’re looking to save on your taxes, better understand your investments, plan for retirement, create an […]
September 14, 2021
Digitizing your business serves to reduce risk, save valuable time, and enable you to meet your customers where they are while staying competitive in your niche. Digitization should be a top priority of any business owner, but like many changes that appear daunting, successful digitization projects often fall behind. Choosing the right software and properly […]
September 9, 2021
One of the programs the government put into place to aid businesses through the pandemic is the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC), which has seen multiple amendments over time. The ERTC provides a refundable tax credit on qualified wages, including certain health insurance costs to small businesses who have seen a decline in gross receipts […]
September 8, 2021
Once you’ve perfected your recipes, one of the best (and most commonly overlooked) projects you can take on to set up your craft brewery for success is to automate your accounting processes. Running a brewery with cloud accounting will enable you to focus on what you do best—keep customers coming back for more. Below are […]
August 31, 2021
E-commerce businesses have exploded in popularity, and the industry offers ample room for growth in nearly innumerable product lines. Getting your accounting processes set up properly from the beginning of an e-commerce business is vital for long-term success, and it’s a task to tackle even before you make your first sale. Consider the following to […]
August 27, 2021
You’ve heard the expression, “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” What happens when what you love to do becomes your work? Many people have seen their side-hustles grow into a serious income stream. But what about those hobbies or activities that don’t bring in the big bucks? In […]
August 18, 2021
It’s not uncommon for companies to outsource essential business functions, including IT, bookkeeping, marketing, and human resources. In the course of our work with small and medium-sized businesses, we often encounter those who could use the expertise of a CFO but lack the resources to bring one on as a full-time employee. Many business owners […]
August 11, 2021
Have you ever sat back to realize you just spent an absurd amount of time performing a mundane task, responding to emails, or sitting in yet another meeting that could have been an email? Increasing productivity as a business owner gives you the time to do what it takes to make the business a success. […]
August 5, 2021
There’s no doubt that the United States economy is still in a recovery phase. The first and second quarters of the year have shown significant economic growth—leading economic indicators are back to their pre-COVID levels. Americans are heading back into the workforce and spending the cash they saved last year. In our second quarter of […]
July 30, 2021
Business owners are constantly tracking financial metrics of key performance indicators (KPIs), financial statements, and bank statements. While these financial metrics are key to monitor on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly basis, non-financial metrics are just as important to track. Oftentimes these KPIs can be incredibly insightful to the financial team, CFO, investors, and […]
July 26, 2021
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) provided many tax provisions intended to help small businesses make it through the pandemic. A couple of key small business tax deductions are still opportunities this year, and planning now could save you time and money next tax season. If you took advantage of tax […]
July 19, 2021
In the early stages, new businesses have a lot of moving parts. Proper handling of the financials is crucial for every type of business; for some, keeping up with the day-to-day of bookkeeping, bill pay, payroll, and cash flow can be overwhelming, especially when business is expanding. But how do you know who to hire? […]
July 9, 2021
If you’re looking for ways to maximize the tax benefits of charitable giving, donor-advised funds might be a great option. Donor-advised funds are accounts that are maintained and operated by a section 501(c)(3) organization. Donors can give money or assets (stocks, bonds, real estate) to a nonprofit sponsor to then be disbursed to various charitable […]
July 6, 2021
As an entrepreneur, it’s essential to know the ins and outs of your business and to be the expert on your product or service. But when you break it all down, do you really understand the business side of things? If you don’t understand the basics of your reports and what the numbers are really […]
June 30, 2021
During the pandemic, many businesses struggled to retain employees due to a temporary slow-down in business and the government-mandated closures. The government has provided three rounds of stimulus aimed at helping individuals and businesses get through the pandemic, including pandemic tax credits for employers that have been able to retain their employees. The Employee Retention […]
June 28, 2021
2020 threw a curveball to many small businesses and their employees, but it wasn’t all bad. Those businesses that rolled with the punches and were open to change saw some great opportunities once they were up and running for remote work. Many companies that had previously shied away from offering flexible work arrangements ended up […]
June 24, 2021
As we enter the post-pandemic period, the financial world is experiencing pent-up demand from small businesses that are itching to expand. Banks and credit unions are seeing an increase from small business owners looking to take out loans for business expansion while interest rates are historically low. This is a great indicator of economic growth […]
June 22, 2021
Our recent blog addressed many of the tax issues inherent in renting your vacation home on Airbnb, VRBO, or another platform. Which form to file (Schedule C or Schedule E) with your tax return is a classic area of confusion for owners of short-term rentals, and the answer is often unclear for Airbnb hosts and […]
June 17, 2021
The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan that passed earlier this year expanded the Child Tax Credit, an initiative aimed at putting money in the pockets of families. If you have children, expect to see a letter in your mailbox from the IRS soon regarding the schedule for advance payments of the Child Tax Credit. Here […]
June 16, 2021
Renting your property as a short-term vacation home can be a great way to generate additional income, enabling you to own multiple homes or run a year-round business. Although platforms like Airbnb and VRBO have made the process of promoting your rental and collecting payment easier than it used to be, it’s important to remember […]
June 14, 2021
Once you’ve got a business idea and are energized to hit the ground running, there are some important early steps that you shouldn’t skip. Entrepreneurship is a mix of intelligence, tenacity, hard work, and dedication—and then there’s that need to know how to start a business. If you’re ready to take your passion and turn […]
June 9, 2021
Since the pandemic, vacation rental homes have gained a significant share of the market demand. Vacation rental homes give travelers the convenience and comfort of home-like accommodations, as well as a sense of the local culture. Many investors have seized the opportunity to expand and diversify their assets. Platforms like Airbnb and VRBO have made […]
June 3, 2021
We’re halfway through 2021! June is a great time to take a look at your company’s budget and forecast for the remainder of the year. Evaluating the budget and company goals now will make a big difference in your year-end close process. Here are a few things to consider when doing a budget checkup midway […]
May 27, 2021
As we head into summer, many small business owners are looking forward to making up for lost vacation time. Is your business set up to run efficiently while you’re away? Our cloud accounting division, GCT Technology & Accounting, can help you transition your books to the cloud and automate manual processes. Businesses on the cloud […]
May 20, 2021
Did the events of 2020 lead you to pursue self-employment? Many people who leave the corporate world also leave their retirement accounts behind, yet retirement age continues its steady approach. Did you know that there are still lucrative options to grow your retirement savings as a self-employed individual? With proper planning, these savings vehicles also […]
May 20, 2021
We love cloud-based accounting systems, but we also know that every industry and every individual business has different needs when it comes to back-office functions. Accounting apps are far from a one-size-fits-all approach. A clothing boutique will have very different needs than a brewery, for example. product-based businesses may require an inventory system, built-in marketing, […]
May 17, 2021
Restaurants, event venues, and other small businesses impacted by shutdowns have the opportunity to tap into some powerful pandemic relief programs offered by the federal government. The first quarter of 2021 saw lots of changes to COVID-related economic stimulus programs. Below are some of the most significant changes including additional relief designed to help support […]
May 12, 2021
Spring cleaning isn’t just to remove the clutter and accumulated dust from your house. Have you ever considered that your books might benefit from decluttering and a bit of reorganization and review? The end of tax season is a great time to tackle a spring cleaning of your books, particularly if preparing your taxes led […]
May 5, 2021
There are certain accounting functions that just about every business requires, such as payroll, expense tracking, bill pay, and document management. Some of these functions require daily attention, so why not simplify and automate the process? Doing so can save you valuable time and money, and also helps to reduce the mistakes that are inevitable […]
April 23, 2021
Growth, whether it be personal or professional, holds a lot of exciting possibilities. It can also be intimidating and downright painful at times. The fear of the unknown, drastic changes that will have to take place, and the steps outside of your comfort zone to grow your business often hold people and businesses back from […]
April 20, 2021
If the transition to remote work due to the pandemic led you to flee a high-tax state and relocate to a state with a lower cost of living, there is a good chance you incurred moving expenses. Whether you moved yourself, had a moving service, or incurred hefty realtor fees, moving expenses can really add […]
April 15, 2021
$600 doesn’t sound like much in the grand scheme of a year’s income. It could come from a few sales on Etsy, or maybe you rented your home out on Airbnb out for a couple of nights. From the perspective of the IRS, however, that $600+ represents taxable income that has historically gone unreported—and unsurprisingly, […]
April 13, 2021
We may be wrapping up the 2020 tax season, but in the blink of an eye January will be here. Will you be left scrambling to get your books together again? Too many business owners wait until the last minute to prepare for tax season, which means they inevitably miss out on many strategic tax […]
April 12, 2021
There’s no time like the present to be on the cloud—the Xero cloud, that is. With the shift to hybrid work environments, migrating to a cloud-based solution has become essential to making businesses run smoothly. Virtual collaborations ensure easy, secure data transfer, as well as the critical ability to run your business from anywhere. So […]
April 12, 2021
Gen X has seen a lot of economic swings: the tech bubble, the great recession, and now the global pandemic. Many are caring for their Boomer-generation parents while supporting their kids through college, which in many cases has spread their finances thin. How do you ensure financial stability in retirement while taking care of business […]
April 7, 2021
Contacting the IRS can seem like an overwhelming task. Likewise, many people feel panic when the IRS initiates contact with them directly. In order to help taxpayers identify legitimate IRS communication and help to fight against phishing attempts, the IRS uses specific channels for communication. You can contact IRS personnel in many different ways, including […]
March 29, 2021
2020 was the year for working remotely, and one of the more prominent questions in the 2020 tax season has to do with state income taxes. The question boils down to multiple states vying for your tax revenue relocation. Generally, you pay state income tax to the state in which you earned the income. For […]
March 15, 2021
The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 that President Biden signed into law on March 11, 2021, included a number of provisions aimed at assisting small businesses that have suffered due to the pandemic. Additional funding targets those businesses hit hardest, including entertainment venues, restaurants, and bars. Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) The […]
March 12, 2021
President Biden has signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 into law, aimed at assisting millions of Americans and business owners feeling the impact of COVID-19. Not only does the plan include the next round of stimulus payments that have been making headlines, but it also includes additional provisions to financially support […]