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How to Minimize Turnover in Your Accounting Department
The demand for qualified accounting and finance personnel has grown, as business owners struggle to manage unpredictable cash flows, increased costs, and new government policies and financial aid packages. Plus, the potential job market for these professionals has expanded, thanks to technological changes that now allow them to transcend geographic boundaries and work from virtually…
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Best Practices When Forecasting Cash Flow
Cash flow is a top concern for most businesses today. Cash flow forecasts can help you predict potential shortfalls and proactively address working capital gaps. They can also help avoid late payments, identify late-paying customers and find alternative sources of funding when cash is tight. To keep your company’s cash flow positive, consider applying these…
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Avoiding Conflicts of Interest With Auditors
A conflict of interest could impair your auditor’s objectivity and integrity and potentially compromise you company’s financial statements. That’s why it’s important to identify and manage potential conflicts of interest. What is a conflict of interest? According to the America Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), “A conflict of interest may occur if a member…
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3 Steps to “Stress Test” Your Business
During the COVID-19 crisis, you can’t afford to lose sight of other ongoing risk factors, such as cyberthreats, fraud, emerging competition and natural disasters. A so-called “stress test” can help reveal blind spots that threaten to disrupt your business. A comprehensive stress test requires the following three steps. 1. Identify the risks your business faces…
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Understanding the Passive Activity Loss Rules
Are you wondering if the passive activity loss rules affect business ventures you’re engaged in — or might engage in? If the ventures are passive activities, the passive activity loss rules prevent you from deducting expenses that are generated by them in excess of their income. You can’t deduct the excess expenses (losses) against earned…
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The 2021 “Social Security Wage Base” is Increasing
If your small business is planning for payroll next year, be aware that the “Social Security wage base” is increasing. The Social Security Administration recently announced that the maximum earnings subject to Social Security tax will increase from $137,700 in 2020 to $142,800 in 2021. For 2021, the FICA tax rate for both employers and…
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Reviewing Your Disaster Plan in a Tumultuous Year
It’s been a year like no other. The sudden impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in March forced every business owner — ready or not — to execute his or her disaster response plan. So, how did yours do? Although it may still be a little early to do a complete assessment of what went right…
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Inventory Management is Especially Important This Year
As year-end draws near, many businesses will be not only be generating their fourth quarter financial statements, but also looking back on the entire year’s financials. And what a year it’s been. The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic fallout have likely affected your sales and expenses, and you’ve probably noticed the impact on both. However,…
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Avoiding Conflicts of Interest With Auditors
A conflict of interest could impair your auditor’s objectivity and integrity and potentially compromise you company’s financial statements. That’s why it’s important to identify and manage potential conflicts of interest. What is a conflict of interest? According to the America Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), “A conflict of interest may occur if a member…
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Weighing the Risks vs. Rewards of a Mezzanine Loan
To say that most small to midsize businesses have at least considered taking out a loan this year would probably be an understatement. The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has lowered many companies’ revenue but may have also opened opportunities for others to expand or pivot into more profitable areas. If your company needs…
