Accounting Systems
Multidimensional Tracking
When you hear “multidimensional tracking” you might think about complex databases and crunching numbers, or perhaps you are a little on the eccentric side and your mind wanders to the wormholes of the universe. Since our purpose is to explain how this tracking method can boost your accounting proficiency and provide you with more insight…
Read MoreThe Three Legs of an Entrepreneur’s Table: Choosing Legal and Accounting Services
While deliberating entity structure of a client to create a cannabis company with ideal legal protection and tax-advantaged status with Tyee Carr, the leader of the Business Advisory Services team at McDonald Jacobs, and a brilliant young attorney from a firm in Portland, OR, I reminisced on a discussion I had with my father. In…
Read MoreAccounting for prepaid expenses
Many businesses make prepayments for various reasons throughout the year. A common example is prepayments made for insurance. So how do you properly record them in your books? While many taxpayers may be using the cash method of accounting we recommend businesses us the accrual method for their books and managing their business. As the name…
Read MoreBank feeds are a time saving feature for entrepreneurs
For decades, bookkeeping has been a headache for entrepreneurs who have just started their own businesses. Bookkeeping has typically required a decent accounting background to fully understand accounting terms in order to correctly book business sales and expenses. Fortunately, the process has become easier for today’s entrepreneurs due to the bank feed features offered by most updated bookkeeping…
Read MoreCash is King; A King Needs Guards
I was recently dining with a group of Cannabis Business Entrepreneurs, and while leaving the restaurant, straight cash was falling from one of these Entrepreneur’s pockets. As I picked it up and handed it to them, my thoughts immediately jumped to cash controls. There are few businesses these days that maintain a giant balance of…
Read More3 Reasons to care about accounting in your business
All of my reasons boil down to supporting growth. Whether you’re a startup CEO bootstrapping your business into existence or a thriving business focused on continual growth, accounting is probably not the sexiest part of your strategy. If your business model is relatively simple and your primarily self funded, then all-star accounting shouldn’t be a priority.…
Read MoreProperly Documenting Vehicle Expenses
Many entrepreneurs are using vehicles in their businesses. The cost of vehicles are deductible if used in a business. The problem is making sure you have adequate documentation. An example of what can happen is found in a tax court case (TC-Memo 2014-76). In this case, the IRS went all out against a small business owner…
Read MoreInsufficient accounting costs your business $
A recent tax court case illustrates the cost of insufficient accounting for small businesses. In TC Memo 2014-76 the IRS assessed nearly $75K in back taxes and then attempted to charge another $56K in penalties for fraud to a small business with sales ranging $350K-$420K. Ultimately the tax court concluded that the business owned and…
Read MoreThe Importance of Documenting Employee Loans
Many entrepreneurs advance funds or make loans to employees. When the employee never pays the loan back, that can be frustrating. When the IRS then denies your business a loss deduction, that’s an avoidable tragedy. A recent court decision (TC Memo 2014-136) provides another example of good intention gone wrong for tax purposes with lending arrangements.…
Read MoreThe End of My “One Computer” Policy.
Who is still carrying a laptop around for work? The entrepreneurs I work with are constantly looking for ways to increase their productivity. Whether it’s to squeeze more profit making into the day or to find time to for friends and family. How we use tech can be a big differentiator that keeps us ahead of the…
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