Isaac M. O'Bannon is the managing editor and digital content manager for CPA Practice Advisor (www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com), drawing on two decades of experience covering the areas of professional accounting, taxation, business productivity and consumer technologies.
Prior to CPA Practice Advisor, O'Bannon was a consultant at firms in San Francisco, Denver and Tulsa, serving clients that included Logitech, Polycom, Hilti, Microsoft, the Stanford Research Institute, the University of Oklahoma's College of Engineering and other technology leaders. He is a U.S. Navy veteran.
Email: isaac.obannon - @ - cpapracticeadvisor.com
September 5, 2014
From DOS and Windows 3.1, from the end of service bureaus and the emergence of the internet, and now into the full-blown SaaS and Mobile Revolution, CPA Practice Advisor celebrates 20 years serving tax and accounting professionals. Here’s a look back at where we were and how we’ve grown alongside the technology changes in the…
September 5, 2014
The dilemma regarding Internet usage by employees during work hours has long been one of discussion by business owners, human resources professionals, IT professionals and staff. During the late 1990s, the concern was largely that of distrust over the new technology and countless dramatized stories about employers using their computers to access pornography, gambling and…
September 5, 2014
There are as many tips for building a successful practice as there are successful firms, but what they all share are strategies that have led to successful partnerships with outside technology and service providers. In the 21st Century, these technologies and services are more than simple tools or aides, they are integral components of business...…
September 5, 2014
877-Net-Suite www.netsuite.com NetSuite was one of the first online accounting systems for small and mid-sized business, debuting in 1998, and since then evolving into a comprehensive enterprise management system. The core components of NetSuite include fully integrated accounting, CRP, ERP and ecommerce capabilities, with strong modules for sales, finance, shipping, logistics and fulfillment. The NetSuite...…
September 5, 2014
866-936-5377 www.LessAccounting.com For Some Clients, Less is More Effective In the last few years, a new market has been taking shape for web-based small business accounting systems that are geared toward users with simpler business needs. The programs, often centered on invoice tracking and management, take direct aim at the traditional do-everything bookkeeping systems as...…
September 5, 2014
800-286-6800 www.quickbooksonline.com Best Fit: Small businesses with only a few employees, primarily service-based or those with simple product/inventory needs. Strengths: Friendly user interface & intuitive navigation Integrated live bank account data Audit trail Built-in payroll option No contracts Includes accountant log-in Runs on Mac or PC with any browser Potential Limitations: Limited inventory functions...…
September 5, 2014
800-621-6501 www.cabinetng.com 2011 Overall Rating 4.75 Best Firm Fit: CNG will fit in many different types of businesses, including, but not limited to, accounting and tax firms, as well as many of their clients. CNG is priced on a per-user model that allows organizations to increase or decrease the number of licensed users to...…
September 5, 2014
Biz Automation 888-249-1670 www.bizautomation.com From the June 2011 Review of SaaS Accounting Systems for Small Business BizAutomation is a comprehensive business management suite comprised of fully featured multi-business accounting, sales, distribution and inventory modules. It was designed and built to be an online system and offers strong ecommerce and partner management portals. Multi-layer project...…
September 5, 2014
888-228-8300 www.acumatica.com ERP & CRM for Growing Businesses Some businesses have greater needs than most off-the-shelf software can solve, regardless of their exact size or classification as a small or mid-sized business. The cloud-based solutions from Acumatica offer these enterprises sophisticated core financial, distribution and customer management capabilities. The product features a combined ERP and...…
September 5, 2014
Intacct Corporation — Intacct Online 877-968-0600 www.intacct.com Best Fit: Entities that have outgrown off-the-shelf programs, require greater integration, subscription-revenue accounting. Ideal for service-based businesses, hospitality industry and technology providers. Also ideal for accounting practices that want to run the system in-house and offer access to clients through portals as a solution provider. Strengths: Exceptional...…
September 5, 2014
Public accountants wear many hats, ranging from tax professional for individuals and business or nonprofit entities, to bookkeeper, payroll service provider, strategic business consultant and financial advisor, virtual CFO, and even the sleuth role of an auditor. At the same time, you’re a small business owner and employer, too, which means you face many of...…
September 5, 2014
We live in a mobile and always-on world, and where the smartphone by itself was once lauded (or blamed) for our incredible connectivity, that honor now belongs to the app. An abbreviation for the word application that was used almost only by developers and computer techs just a couple of years ago, the term is...…
