Blog Archives
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Microsoft's Bing Accused of Copying Google Search Results
By Isaac M. O'Bannon, Editor - Wednesday February 2, 2011It seems that, after getting a few tips that suggested Bing was using their results, the search engine developers at Google ran a little "sting operation" on the Microsoft search engine. And it turns out that it's true and Microsoft isn't denying it. Basically, Bing watches "what people search for on Google, the sites they select from Google's results, then uses that information to provide Bing's own search listings. http://searchengineland.com/google-bing-is-cheating-copying-our-search-results-62914 -
2010 Year-in-Review Now Online
By Isaac M. O'Bannon, Editor - Thursday December 23, 2010We've just uploaded a year-in-review page at our website, providing quick links to all of our reviews, columns, special features, webcasts and other content from our print and online offerings during 2010. Whether you're looking for reviews of practice management programs for your firm, SMB accounting for your clients, or a particular column that appeared earlier in the year, the 2010 Year-in-Review makes it easy to get the information you're looking for. Happy Holidays from all of us at The CPA and NSA Technology Advisor, and may the coming year see great accomplishments and success in your professional and personal lives. -
Quirky Sales Tax Rules... Is Your Bagel Taxable? How About Your Belt Buckle?
By Isaac M. O'Bannon, Editor - Thursday December 16, 2010Earlier this week, the Tax and Accounting side of Thomson Reuters released their annual list of some of the most peculiar sales tax rules across the country. And with more than 8,000 sales taxing jurisdictions in the U.S., there's never a shortage of "things that make you go, huh?" For instance, among this year's list are bagels in New York. Forget everything you think you know about sales tax and nexus... because in the Empire State, taxability of bagels and some other prepared foods depends on where you eat it. Take-out? No sales tax. Eat in the bagel shop? Taxable. You can read more tales of strange sales taxes on our regular website at www.cpatechadvisor.com/go/3191, including peculiar sales tax holidays in Texas that exempt belts... -
Firms Should Make Client Service Their #1 Priority
By Scott Cytron, ABC; President, Cytron and Co. - Wednesday November 10, 2010I am back on my soapbox about client service - and I do not think this dead horse has been beaten nearly enough! Perhaps I feel the way I do because of my upbringing. My Dad was a manufacturer's rep who sold ladies all-weather coats to small Mom & Pop boutiques throughout Texas, Oklahoma and Eastern New Mexico. OK - he was a salesman, but he put two kids through college and never really had to borrow much more money than the original mortgage on the house. Quite a success story - but the one thing that stuck with me while he was working (he's now retired and 85 years old) was that he treated each and every customer with huge respect, but more than that, he made each one feel as if he or she were his ONLY customer. Quite a feat. Unlike... -
iPhone App for Tracking Charitable Donations
By Isaac M. O'Bannon, Editor - Tuesday November 9, 2010There are hundreds of thousands of iPhone apps on the market, including many for financial management. But the new iDonatedIt app (www.iDonatedIt.com) was created by CPAs to help their clients, or anybody else, keep track of non-cash charitable deductions. Created by BMG CPAs (www.bmgcpas.com), a Lincoln, Nebraska-based practice, the iDonatedIt app includes calculation and reporting features that are designed to help taxpayers determine the appropriate real value of donated items so that they can get the proper deduction for those donations. Whether dropping off a bag of clothes at the Salvation Army or giving furniture items to a charity sale, the iDonatedIt app makes it easy to keep good records of the donation, including the item... -
How to Make QuickBooks Better? Add-Ons!
By Isaac M. O'Bannon, Editor - Monday November 8, 2010LAS VEGAS – The winners of this year’s Awesome QuickBooks Add-Ons were announced today at the 2010 Accounting Solutions Conference, recognizing technologies that can be added to, or used alongside, QuickBooks to provide additional features and capabilities for the millions of small and mid-sized companies that rely on the world’s leading business accounting system. The awards are presented annually by The Sleeter Group, the nation’s largest network of small business technology consultants. Recipients of the sixth annual Awesome QuickBooks Add-Ons honor are: SmartVault Corporation (www.smartvault.com) for its SmartVault V3 online document management solution; V-Technologies (www.vtechnologies.com) for... -
Sage Searches for "Funniest Accountant" in the South
By Isaac M. O'Bannon, Editor - Thursday November 4, 2010Did you hear about the CPA who went into comedy? It's no joke... the next great stand-up comedian just might be a professional accountant. Sage Accountants Network is serving as the evening sponsor of Accountants One’s 6th Annual Search for the South’s Funniest Accountant, which culminates tonight at 8 p.m. at the CW Midtown’s Center Stage. This year’s event promises plenty of surprises, as nine of the South’s funniest financial professionals battle it out on stage for the title of “the South’s Funniest Accountant.” Proceeds from tonight’s event benefit Junior Achievement of Georgia (www.georgia.ja.org), which partners with businesses and educators to bring the real world to students. “Sage... -
Running Win XP? Beware "Free Public Wi-Fi."
By Dave McClure, Contributing Writer/Columnist - Tuesday October 12, 2010I've written so often about the dangers of Wi-Fi I'm starting to bore even myself. But the fact remains that any accountant who uses public Wi-Fi sources in airports, hotels, coffee shops or other venues should be tarred and feathered, if not de-certified. If that seems harsh, take a gander at this information from National Public Radio in its report on "Free Public Wi-Fi." Author Travis Larchuck chronicles the story of wireless security consultant Joshua Wright, who discovered a curious phenomenon in an airport one day. When he fired up his laptop and went searching for a Wi-Fi connection, an option popped up for "Free Public Wi-Fi." Only it turns out, this is not an Internet connection. Exploiting a fault in the Windows XP... -
Forensic Accountant Makes List of "Most Fun Jobs"
By Isaac M. O'Bannon, Editor - Monday October 11, 2010What do graphic designers, public relations professionals and forensic accountants have in common? They all made the top of a list of fun jobs, as compiled by Yahoo's Education Staff. Although the heyday of crime-based television shows may be a couple of years behind us, many still find the role of a sleuth to be one of intrigue and excitement. Well, perhaps less excitement in the case of forensic accountants, but they do often work wil legal professionals when sniffing out potential theft, fraud, embezzlement and other evil deeds (Madoff ring a bell?). So, if you love working with numbers, have an analytical mind and wanna help catch some bad guys, maybe a gumshoe accounting role is perfect for you. And, you "don't need no stinking... -
More Ways to Retain Clients: Cross-Sell Firm Services
By Scott Cytron, ABC; President, Cytron and Co. - Wednesday October 6, 2010Several months ago, I got several comments after I posted a blog entry on how to retain clients. When I talk with accounting firms across the country, client retention definitely remains THE hottest topic out there. I know everyone would agree it's far easier to keep a client than try to get a new one. One of the easiest, yet often overlooked ways to retain clients, is to cross-sell the firm's services. Many firms miss this - some by accident and some by ignorance. If a firm is small, then this is a no-brainer, but most accountants in medium and larger firms have tunnel vision when it comes to cross-selling clients. It's sort of like walking into a department store. The really good salespeople will try to cross-sell products from...
