November 2012

Every year, tax and accounting professionals and their clients are faced with the often daunting task of year-end wage and information reporting.

Araize Inc. — FastFund Nonprofit Accounting800-745-4037www.araize.com From the Nov. 2012 Review of Nonprofit Accounting Systems. Best Fit: FastFund is well-suited for smaller nonprofits that are looking for an affordable product that offers flexibility and scalability. FastFund Nonprofit Accounting is designed by CPA’s and is well suited for small to mid-sized nonprofit organizations and is available […]

Serenic Software, Inc. – Serenic Navigator 877-737-3642 www.serenic.com From the Nov. 2012 Review of Nonprofit Accounting Systems. Best Fit – Serenic Navigator from Serenic Software is designed for mid to large sized nonprofit organizations, Non-Government Organizations (NGO’s) and government entities. Serenic offers an integrated financial system and the availability of Navigator Online, designed for smaller […]

Form Magic, Inc. – Tax-Mate 1099888-746-0440www.FormMagic.com From the Nov. 2012 Review of W-2 and 1099 Preparation programs. Best Fit: Accounting firms working with large clients that need various import and integration options Strengths Multiple options for importing and entering data Multi-client management tools Built-in diagnostic tools Potential Limitations No built-in invoicing option 2012 Tax-Mate 1099 […]

Sage North America — Sage 100 Fund Accounting800-811-0961 www.sagefundaccounting.com From the Nov. 2012 Review of Nonprofit Accounting Systems. Best Fit: Sage 100 Fund Accounting (formerly Sage MIP Fund Accounting) is well-suited for mid-sized nonprofit organizations and government entities that require extensive budgeting and grant management capability. Sage 100 Fund Accounting is a comprehensive financial software […]

AccountantsWorld – After-the-Fact Payroll866-999-1366×517www.AccountantsWorld.com From the Nov. 2012 Review of W-2 and 1099 Preparation programs. Best Fit: Accounting firms that need to manage year-end compliance and after-the-fact payroll for multiple clients. Strengths Web-based remote access Multi-client views and dashboards Integration with AccountantsWorld suite E-filing of federal and state forms Potential Limitations Doesn’t have built-in invoicing […]

Intuit Inc. — QuickBooks Premier Nonprofit Edition866-379-6636www.quickbooks.com From the Nov. 2012 Review of Nonprofit Accounting Systems. Best Fit: QuickBooks is ideally designed for the smaller nonprofit organization that is looking for a solid accounting nonprofit solution, good reporting capability with limited expense. QuickBooks Premier Nonprofit offers small nonprofits affordable access to the power of QuickBooks […]

Spokane Computer Inc – MAG-FILER800-565-6576www.spokanecomputer.com From the Nov. 2012 Review of 1099 and W-2 Preparation programs. Best Fit: Accounting firms managing year-end compliance for multiple clients. Strengths: Supports multiple import and export formats Offers service bureau option for entire reporting process Performs TIN Verification before submitting Potential Limitations: No built-in invoicing feature MAG-FILER allows users […]

CYMA Systems Inc. — CYMA Not-For Profit Fund Accounting Software800-292-2962 www.cyma.com From the Nov. 2012 Review of Nonprofit Accounting Systems. Best Fit: CYMA is a completely integrated modular financial management system designed for mid-sized nonprofits that require a scalable product that contains excellent customization capability. CYMA Not-For Profit Fund Accounting Software has offered mid-sized nonprofit […]

Tenenz – Laser Link – W2/1099 Review800-888-5803www.tenenz.com From the Nov. 2012 Review of W-2 and 1099 Preparation programs. Best Fit: Practices managing year-end compliance and reporting for multiple small business clients Strengths Easy interface and data entry Unlimited free e-filing Inexpensive Potential Limitations Limited import, export and integration capabilities No built-in invoicing feature Tenenz, provider […]

Cougar Mountain Software — Denali FUND + Accounting800-390-7073www.cougarmtn.com From the Nov. 2012 Review of Nonprofit Accounting Systems. Best Fit: Denali, from Cougar Mountain is a good fit for small to mid-sized nonprofit organizations that manage multiple funds and need solid, customizable software at an affordable price. Strengths Color coded modules make system navigation easy Excellent […]

IDMS, Inc. – Account Ability Tax Form Preparation888-IDMS-inc (436-7462)www.IDMSinc.com From the Nov. 2012 Review of W-2 and 1099 Preparation programs. Best Fit: Firms managing year-end compliance and ATF payroll for multiple mid- to large-sized businesses Strengths Complete print and mail services available Comprehensive reports Built-in document management feature Potential Limitations Built-in billing and invoicing features […]

Aplos Software — Aplos Fund Accounting888-274-1316www.aplossoftware.com From the Nov. 2012 Review of Nonprofit Accounting Systems. Best Fit: Aplos Fund Accounting’s ease of use, affordability, and convenience make it a good choice for small and start-up nonprofit organizations and churches. Aplos Software is designed for smaller nonprofit organizations and churches and is accessible via a cloud-based […]

EG Systems, Inc. – The W-2/1099 Filer800-264-3155www.W21099.com From the Nov. 2012 Review of W-2/1099 Preparation programs. Best Fit: Accounting practices managing year-end reporting for multiple clients. Strengths Comprehensive state, federal and local form support Batch filing and printing options Supports multiple data formats Remote and local backup options available Potential Limitations ATF Payroll offered as […]

Avalara – AvaTax 1099877-780-4848www.avalara.com From the Nov. 2012 Review of W-2/1099 Preparation programs. Best Fit: Accounting practices preparing and managing year-end compliance for multiple clients. Strengths Built-in error checking and TIN Validation Comprehensive mailing and filing service Good support of forms in the 1099 series Potential Limitations Does not offer W-2 preparation No built-in client […]

Advanced Micro Solutions – 1099-Etc800-536-1099www.1099-etc.com From the Nov. 2012 Review of W-2/1099 Preparation Programs. Best Fit: Firms managing after-the-fact payroll, as well as quarterly and year-end information reporting for multiple businesses. Strengths Imports from a variety of file formats Supports federal, state and local forms Comprehensive e-filing and mailing options Potential Limitations No time and […]

American Riviera Software Corp. – Magtax Professional805-504-1366www.Magtax.com From the Nov. 2012 Review of W-2/1099 Preparation Programs. Best Fit: Firms managing year-end compliance and electronic e-filing for multiple business clients. Strengths QuickBooks integration Import/Export capabilities that support various file formats Plain paper and pre-printed form printing Potential Limitations Does not offer after-the-fact payroll No built-in invoicing […]

Brian Looks at Two Apps for Microsoft Office and the CCH Mobile app.

PC Software Accounting, Inc. – Client Write-Up800-237-9234www.pcsai.com From the Nov. 2012 Review of Client Write-Up Systems. Best Fit: Professionals who want an installed, specialized write-up utility and who prefer a heads-down data entry approach. Also for firms using older systems looking for conversions into a new program. Strengths: Includes full GL, AP, AR and journals […]

Micronetics, Int’l. – Accounting Xpert Enterprise Edition561-995-1477www.axpert.com From the Nov. 2012 Review of Client Write-Up Systems. Best Fit: The system is best-suited to firms managing mid-sized and larger enterprises, particularly those with multiple locations. Strengths: Supports consolidated and multi-division entities Reporting across any time period/years Good reporting and financials customization, export options Strong support for […]

AccountantsWorld – Accounting Relief888-999-1366www.AccountantsWorld.com From the Nov. 2012 Review of Client Write-Up Systems. Best Fit: Professionals wanting to take both their firm and their clients to a cloud-based, always-accessible accounting system with which there is no need for data transfer, since both sides are always working with the same live data. Strengths Newly redesigned interfaces […]

AccuFund Inc. — AccuFund Accounting Suite for Nonprofits877-872-2228www.accufund.com From the November 2012 review of Non Proft Accounting Systems. Best Fit: AccuFund Accounting Suite for Nonprofits is well-suited for mid-sized nonprofit organizations and government entities that require solid accounting capability along with program flexibility. Strengths Extensive selection of modules available Affordably priced in comparison to comparable […]

Intuit, Inc. – QuickBooks Accountant 2013800-267-8379www.accountant.intuit.com From the Nov. 2012 Review of Client Write-Up Systems. Best Fit: Firms of most sizes with clients using QuickBooks and who provide general write-up and reconciliation, along with other professional services. Strengths: Newly streamlined navigation and interface New batch and pasting of thousands of transactions Reporting options include PDF, […]

CYMA Systems, Inc. – CYMA 13: Financial Management System800-292-2962www.cyma.com From the Nov. 2012 Review of Client Write-Up Systems. Best Fit: Professional firms offering write-up and reconciliation services to mid-sized and larger business clients, including consolidated entities and those with multiple locations or subsidiaries. The system can also be used in-house by such businesses. Strengths Extensive […]

I’ve spent the last 30 years running my accounting firm. During many of the early years, I worked as a technician, performing a lot of the day-to-day work myself. When I took over the position of Executive Editor for the CPA Practice Advisor and simultaneously launched the consulting arm of my firm, I knew I had to relinquish some control.

How the Cloud is Affecting Client Write-Up It would be hard to miss the major shift that small businesses have made toward cloud accounting over the past few years. Although there have been totally web-based accounting and business management systems since about 1998-1999, when NetSuite and Intacct debuted, these solutions were primarily focused on mid-sized […]

Nonprofit organizations, perhaps more than any other business structure, must keep a close rein on their finances, including revenue streams, such as donations or annual appeal funds.

As more and more firms assess whether the cloud is the right strategy for them, one of the first areas that is often looked at is backup.

Marketing requires planning. The jump-in-head-first approach rarely works because it does not make room for thoughtful up-front preparation. A little concentrated focus and adequate planning of any marketing initiative will save you the frustration associated with a poor response rate.

Andrew Poulos has never had a regular office job... Fortunately, technology and the rest of the professional world caught up with his

What does a property management company do when the technology they use to manage their property is causing them more headaches than it’s relieving? This is what Lynn Charles faced in 2008 as the general manager of 160-unit apartment property in Northeast Philadelphia.

Announcing the 2013 Sleeter "Awesome Applications" Awards.

Workflow remains one of the biggest incremental opportunities in most firms to improve realization. Using the right workflow tools can make a paperless implementation work so much better.

How many email addresses do you have or do you manage? You certainly have at least one for work, hopefully with your firm name as a part of the email address...