November 2011 - CPA Practice Advisor

Skip to main content

In this issue

istock_000006265327large_10442573

Tax Planning

The Artistic Side of Tax Compliance: Planning

Are you or your clients suffering from "intaxication?" Understanding the tax code is hard and the penalties can be severe. But a good tax professional can help prepare and even reduce your taxes, if you consult with them before the end of the year.

buildingwebsite_10443507

Valuable Lessons Learned From Building a New Website

I know what you’re thinking … this is going to be another article about how to build a website. While I could have given you a Website 101 primer, I think our time is better spent telling you what I learned when I recently built a website for a client. In full disclosure, 1) the […]

blackbaud_fundware_10442489

Blackbaud, Inc. — Fundware

800-443-9441 www.blackbaud.com 2011 Overall Rating 4.5 Best Fit Fundware is best suited for mid-sized to large nonprofit organizations that have qualified staff available to set up and maintain the program for optimal functionality. Strengths Available in two editions for increased scalability Excellent reporting options High level of customization Solid Project/Grant tracking Strong track record […]

pip_111_iconis_headshot_10416891

Firm Management

A New Perspective on Client Service:

How optimism and remote technologies paved the way to one firm's success. The accounting profession has often been stereotyped as curmudgeonly, grumpy, stodgy, and fiscally dour, and, well … there were probably good reasons for those descriptions at one time.

2012awesomeaward_10417125

Small Business

Awesome Add-ons for 2012

The Sleeter Group awards the Awesome Add-Ons each year to products that aid small businesses and their accounting firms by providing enhanced capabilities that integrate with small business accounting systems.

2000_12_1numbertwelve_web_10442657

Nonprofit

12 Products That Can Help Your Nonprofit Clients

As with most organizations, nonprofits vary in size and scope, and their software needs vary, as well. As an accounting professional, you know that the software needs of the local animal shelter will vary widely than the needs of the United Way. While this may be a drastic comparison, it really highlights the wide range of organizations served by nonprofit software vendors.

blackbaud_financialedge_10442566

Blackbaud, Inc. — The Financial Edge

800-443-9441 www.blackbaud.com 2011 Overall Rating 5 Best Fit The Financial Edge is well-suited for mid-sized to large nonprofit organizations and government entities that require both top-notch reporting capability along with excellent donor and grant management. Strengths Excellent customization capability Easy integration with dozens of add-on modules Unlimited customized dashboards Solid grant tracking Easy integration […]

sage_10442541

Sage Peachtree Premium Accounting for Nonprofits 2012

877-495-9904 www.peachtree.com 2011 Overall Rating 4.5 Best Fit Sage Peachtree would work well with smaller nonprofit organizations that place affordability equal to functionality, and it is optimally designed for the one- to 10-person organization. Strengths Easy to install & easy to navigate Good nonprofit reporting capability and advanced Business Intelligence for custom reporting and […]

sagenorthamerica_10442539

Sage North America — Sage Fund Accounting

800-811-0961 www.sagefundaccounting.com 2011 Overall Rating 5 Best Fit Sage Fund Accounting (formerly Sage MIP Fund Accounting) is optimally designed for mid-sized nonprofit organizations and government entities that require flexibility as well as detailed budgeting and grants management capabilities. Strengths Extensive list of modules Contains fundraising & grant management add-on options Excellent budgeting capability Available […]

accufund_10442546

AccuFund, Inc. – AccuFund Accounting Suite for Non-Profits

877-872-2228 www.accufund.com 2011 Overall Rating 4.75 Best Fit AccuFund is an ideal fit for mid-sized nonprofits and government entities that desire a modular design and consistency throughout the program. Strengths Two versions available Excellent budgeting & grant management capability Easy system navigation User-defined dashboards Solid, customizable reporting options Available as a desktop or SaaS […]

intuit_10442493

Intuit Inc – QuickBooks Premier Nonprofit Edition

866-379-6636 www.quickbooks.com 2011 Overall Rating 4.5 Best Fit QuickBooks Premier Nonprofit 2011 is best suited for smaller nonprofits that are looking to get organized quickly and inexpensively. Strengths Easy installation & system navigation Numerous tutorials & training videos available Good reporting Affordability Solid budget tracking At-a-glance snapshot of customer activity Potential Limitations Easy to […]

fundez_10442568

FUND E-Z Development Corporation — FUND E-Z Fund Accounting

877-696-0900 www.fundez.com 2011 Overall Rating 4.5 Best Fit FUND E-Z is an excellent fit for small to mid-sized nonprofit organizations that need an easily navigated fund accounting product that is available in Basic and Pro editions. Strengths Scalable, with two editions available Outstanding Fundraising module Easy system navigation Solid reporting capability Excellent budget functionality […]

serenic_10442483

Serenic Software — Serenic Navigator

877-737-3642 www.serenic.com 2011 Overall Rating 5 Best Fit Serenic Navigator is a powerful system optimally designed for larger nonprofit organizations that need a fully integrated financial solution that provides solid performance and system reliability. Smaller users may wish to utilize the SaaS version, Navigator Online, which was designed for small to mid-sized users. Strengths […]

cougarmountain_10442487

Cougar Mountain Software — DENALI FUND+Accounting

800-388-3038 www.cougarmtn.com 2011 Overall Rating 4.75 Best Fit DENALI is flexible and easily accessible, making it a perfect choice for small to mid-sized nonprofit organizations that desire a scalable and user-friendly product. Strengths Modular design ensures system flexibility Intuitive user interface make system navigation easy Financial & Sales Dashboards Excellent reporting customization options Integration […]

etek_10442504

eTEK International Inc. — eTEK Fundamentals

800-888-6894 www.etek.net 2011 Overall Rating 4.5 Best Fit eTEK Fundamentals is a brand new product optimally designed for small to mid-sized nonprofit organizations, offering a high level of security with its SaaS version. Strengths Built on Microsoft Office platform for easy system navigation Excellent fund raising module available Easy report customization Solid import/export capability […]

aqubanclogo5a_10416317

Aqubanc, LLC – Cheque 21

800-350-4720 www.aqubanc.com Cheque 21 System, from Aqubanc LLC is a donation processing software product designed for larger nonprofit organizations, and is designed to speed up donation/gift acceptance for more immediate donor acknowledgement. Cheque 21 works with many popular nonprofit software products including Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge and eCRM, Amergent, Talisma, PledgeMaker, Donor Perfect and Sage. Ideal […]

cyma_10442476

CYMA Systems Inc. — CYMA Not-For Profit Fund Accounting Software

800-292-296 www.cyma.com 2011 Overall Rating 4.75 Best Fit CYMA would fit well in small to mid-sized nonprofit organizations that require flexibility, scalability, and customization capabilities not often found in basic, off-the-shelf products. Strengths Excellent report customization Solid grant tracking Easy system navigation Solid import/export capability 3 separate data-entry modes Potential Limitations No fundraising module […]

sagegreenonwhite_10416278

Sage Non-Profit and Hosted Solutions for Sage Accountants Network Members

The Sage Accountants Network has a wide range of products, which gives it more breadth than almost any other competing program. While some competing programs have strong solutions for a small business, and others cater to large, global organizations, the Sage Accountants Network allows accounting professionals to access discounted software for small, midsized and […]

skills_image_10442653

Technology

New Skills Required for Taking Your Firm Digital

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly things change in my office. And as you know, it requires a steady vigilance to stay in front of change. I spend a great deal of time evaluating the efficiency of my staff and the consistency of strategies implemented across my firm. Both of these areas must […]

internetsearch_10442597

Back to the Basics: Internet Searching 101

How good are you at searching for things online? Do you generally find what you need quickly, or does it sometimes take what seems like an eternity to finally realize success? Even worse, do you occasionally give up? If you’re not in the first group above, you have something in common with today’s college students. […]

abcs_10442651

Technology

The ABCs of Capturing Best Practices

We’ve all seen the statistics that point to the incredible brain drain that will occur in the accounting profession over the next decade, and most firms have experienced the loss of a key person that left the firm, taking with them key knowledge or experience that the firm wishes they would have captured. Without a […]

blumer_jason_column_teaching_2_10415833

How Creative Service Begets Proper Pricing

Last month, we dove into Daniel Pink’s book, “A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future.” We learned how six new senses he identified in his book are changing how the Western world does their work. As a refresher, these six new senses are Design, Story, Symphony, Empathy, Play and Meaning. Employing our […]

randyjohnston2010_10415737

Advisory

Accountant Programs That Can Help You Plan

Now that extensions are behind us, and we are helping clients with tax planning, some of you are beginning to look ahead to the coming year and your own personal and business plans. Although a single article won’t necessarily help you build an entire business plan, a few ideas that are incorporated and well executed could make a world of difference for your firm and your clients.

intuit_10442581

Intuit Lacerte Tax Planner

800-765-7777 www.lacertesoftware.com 2011 Overall Rating 4.5 Best Fit Lacerte Tax Planner can be used as a stand-alone program, but it’s best suited for firms using the Lacerte tax preparation system, providing simple data transfer and a familiar interface. Strengths Familiar tabbed interface & navigation Full integration with Lacerte 1040 Integration with Document Management System […]

thomsonreuters_10442587

Thomson Reuters – Planner CS

800-968-8900 www.cs.thomsonreuters.com 2011 Overall Rating 4.75 Best Fit With tight integration among the tax preparation, research, document management, portals and other solutions from Thomson Reuters, Planner CS is best suited to users of the vendor’s CS Professional Suite, but can also be valuable as a stand-alone system. Strengths Includes tax code for federal & […]

bna_10442586

BNA Software – BNA Income Tax Planner

800-424-2938 www.bnasoftware.com 2011 Overall Rating 5 Best Fit Practices offering individual income tax planning services to clients with varying needs, up to and including high net worth individuals with significantly complex income channels and assets. Strengths Intuitive interface & navigation Comprehensive tax calculations & analyses Up to 20 side-by-side comparisons Excellent reporting & graphical […]

cch_10442578

CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business — ProSystem fx Planning

800-739-9998 www.cchgroup.com 2011 Overall Rating 4.25 Best Fit Full-service accounting professionals using the integrated ProSystem fx Suite to serve broad client bases. Strengths Excellent integration with ProSystem fx Tax & Engagement Up to 30 side-by-side cases Ease-of-use Potential Limitations Plans limited to four years of projections Aside from exporting into other […]

RedGear

RedGear Technologies — TaxWorks Tax Planner

800-230-2322 www.taxworks.com 2011 Overall Rating 4 Best Fit Firms using TaxWorks who want to expand into tax planning as a client service offering, or want a simple add-on tool for performing quick projections. Strengths Easy to use Adjustable inflation projection Inexpensive Integration with TaxWorks Potential Limitations Generally basic planning capabilities Limited report customization […]

drake_logotransparent_10415061

Tax Planner Included with All-Inclusive Drake Tax Suite

800-230-2322 www.DrakeSoftware.com While most other tax software developers offer tax planning for an additional annual fee, Drake Software has gone with an all-inclusive approach to its entire professional tax compliance suite. The suite provides 1040, 1040NR, 1041, 1065, 1120, 1120S, 706, 709, 990 and 990PF preparation, support for all states with income taxes, and unlimited […]

01cpapa1111_rc_10442467

Small Business

The Art of the Quick Change: From Filing Cabinets to the Cloud

Like many others, before launching her own practice — Lime & Company — Andrea Abel worked for other firms. During this time, she enhanced her practitioner skills while also gaining valuable insight into what it takes to run a successful business.