Article

November 26, 2012 

Few colleges make it a curricular priority to actually include the review and test preparation process needed to pass examination and obtain licensure as a CPA.

November 26, 2012 

Firms who recently saw a loss of clients are now looking to shore up and consider building again, not only building bigger firms, but building more successful ones.

November 18, 2012 

Thomson Reuters – Accounting CS800-968-8900www.cs.thomson.com From the Nov. 2012 review of client write-up systems. Best Fit: Professional accounting firms seeking write-up and full trial balance functionality as part of a broader integrated professional suite of programs for tax, client accounting, document management and other services. Strengths: Thorough integration with other CS Professional Suite programs Client-side...…

November 14, 2012 

8095 Not too many years ago, accounting professionals had a reputation for being stodgy, stubborn and even curmudgeons, especially when it came to technology. Most of the professionals I meet today, agree that that reputation was usually appropriate, but was driven out of the conservative and skeptical nature that drives them to provide valuable service...…

November 14, 2012 

Just in case you don’t already have enough to do, I have a suggestion for your next billable service that may provide a nearly endless amount of billable work for you and your firm. If you haven’t heard by now, the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Security Standards Council has developed a rigorous set of “data...…

November 12, 2012 

5839 characters 800-424-2938 www.BNAsoftware.com BNA Software offers multiple options for sales and use tax compliance, with both CD-based and web-based programs that offer forms preparation or rate lookup. The vendor’s primary products for sales and use tax are the BNA Sales & Use Tax Rates and BNA Sales & Use Tax Forms, which work separately...…

November 9, 2012 

8839 With information technology our primary focus, there is no way I can claim to be an expert at marketing for accounting firms. However, during the normal course of consulting with firms, we allocate a portion of our interview time in every firm to explore how information technology decisions can impact that firm’s marketing efforts,...…

November 8, 2012 

Almost every firm that I work with has a succession issue in the near term. Baby boomers are retiring at an accelerating rate and firms are coping (or not) with the transition issues surrounding those exits.

November 6, 2012 

11,956 characters Many accounting firms have begun to use paperless document management systems to streamline their office, and many are now realizing that there is a big opportunity in helping clients benefit from these systems. If your clients are ready to tackle the paperless document management problem, here is a quick listing of several products...…

November 6, 2012 

3934 www.1040.com Drake’s Preparer Websites at 1040.com are one of the many applications and services included with a subscription to its value-priced tax compliance software. The complete online presence is hosted at Drake’s website, 1040.com, or at a custom Internet address (for a nominal domain registration fee). There is no charge for this do-it-yourself service,...…

November 1, 2012 

RedGear Technologies — TaxWorks Tax Planner800-230-2322www.taxworks.com From the October 2012 review of professional tax planning systems. Best Fit: Small tax-focused practices using TaxWorks who want an integrated tax estimation and scenario testing tool that can help clients prepare for potential liability changes. Strengths:• User friendly interface• Adjustable inflation projections• Affordable price-point• Direct integration with TaxWorks...…

Isaac M. O'Bannon

October 30, 2012 

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.

Isaac M. O'Bannon