December 8, 2007

CPA Marketing: Selling Your Public Accounting Service to More Business Clients

CPA marketing is literally the easiest advertising and marketing process out there. Perhaps, there are more business clients today who need proper accounting and auditing for their firms than the number of available CPAs (Certified Public Accountants). However, CPA marketing needs to first address the needs of the business clients and then inform them that you provide the service they seek.CPA marketing is easy, but it doesn't come without effort on your part. More and more businesses today look for accountants who can take charge of all of the financial management aspects of the business, including bookkeeping, tax returns preparation, and investment and expansion advice.Effective CPA marketing is possible only with presenting your accounting firm as a holistic solution for all of the financial management needs of the business.Another option for CPA marketing is going niche. That is specializing in any one area and become the authority in that area. This is the most practiced CPA marketing tactic, especially in the markets that are dominated by large accounting firms.The first step in CPA marketing is to clearly tell your prospective clients about the ways in which they will benefit. Tell them in a clear fashion about the steps you would take to enhance their business activity. Your marketing material must clearly talk about your competencies and the benefits of using you as their accountant.An important point is never to assume that your prospective customers know everything about what a CPA does. Explain to them clearly that you will take actions A, B, and C for results X, Y, and Z.Always make sure you have an extensive list of prospects, before you set out on CPA marketing. A list of 100 prospects is just fine, although more can give better results. One of the first steps in CPA marketing is that you should never forget to make a list of prospective business partners, even if you are leading a one person accounting firm.CPA marketing is an ongoing process. Ensure that all of your existing clients and prospective customers receive the newsletters that you publish once every three months. Your newsletter must talk about the ways in which your accounting firm is already helping businesses do better.Advertising for CPA marketing is also an efficient method, especially if you make your ad visible in publications that your clients and prospects read. Run the ads on a consistent basis, at a higher frequency than your newsletter publishing. Once a month is fine, but the advertisement must talk about at least one area in which your customers would benefit by using your accounting service. A plain listing of your business name with contact information is not enough.Direct networking with prospective clients through networking events and business conferences also is an excellent method of CPA marketing. This could probably be the most efficient method of CPA marketing.Another option is that you can try is to identify the business publications where you can publish an article, in your name, and with your logo. If you do this on a consistent basis, businesses will start to notice you. When you pitch your service to them on a later date, they are more likely to accept your offer.Today you can't ignore the power of internet. Make a simple website to advertise your product and get a page at MySpace.com.Use all of the different tools available to you in the most creative way, and make your CPA marketing stand out from the crowd.
Article Source: ArticlesMaker.com
About the Author: CPA Marketing

Bookkeeper

The Bookkeeper at a business firm is responsible for keeping accurate, up-to-date business records for proper cash flow management, balance sheet preparation, and developing expansion and investment plans. A bookkeeper also assists in filing tax returns with updated tax records.Accurate bookkeeping is a legal requirement and should be kept well within the standards that are set by local and federal tax agencies. Businesses may also be asked to present the accounts and records to the authorities. Irregularities can lead to severe punishments such as hefty penalties and even imprisonment of the business owner.A bookkeeper accurately records all of the financial transactions. It is the responsibility of bookkeeper to note all monetary transactions that are received and paid out. The records also include outstanding balances that the company owes to other parties and others who owe to the business.Computer systems have made the job of bookkeeping a lot easier. However, a bookkeeper with in-depth knowledge of accounting is still required to manage bookkeeping tasks at any business. Bookkeeping requires a lot of time and attention to detail in order to keep the records straight and up-to-date. The latest trend in bookkeeping is online bookkeeping, where companies with branches in different countries can manage accounts from one single location. Thus, the learning skills and capabilities of a bookkeeper are put to the test today more than any other time in history.Business bookkeeping takes a lot of time and cannot be done in a hurry. If it is, there will be confusion and might even lead to legal action taken by tax authorities. Keeping company records well maintained not only helps you make accurate investment and expansion decisions in a timely manner, but also helps you stay clear of any legal difficulties.At small businesses, bookkeepers also double as company accountants. Perhaps bookkeepers have the biggest responsibilities in the company as business planning, payroll management, and tax return preparations are dependent on accurate bookkeeping.A bookkeeper needs to be a team player. This is because all monetary transactions, inward or outward, need to be accurately recorded and well audited. Many people in the organization, especially the ones who handle smaller amounts of money, do not feel the need to report all transactions that pass through them. This adds to the workload of the bookkeeper. However, today this is not much of a problem with ERP systems that accurately records all transactions and makes them available to bookkeeper’s computer for prompt action.Bookkeepers often do not have the qualifications or certifications of accountants, but the responsibility is not any less. Bookkeepers also work for only one business at a time. Business owners pick bookkeepers who have passed a degree or certificate course in accounting, finance, record keeping, or business management. Proficiency at accounting software is a must for all modern day bookkeepers.Bookkeepers that have a great deal of experience can market themselves as accountants or managers. For that, they also need to supplement their profession with certificate courses, seminar attendance, and on-job training.Bookkeepers have many lucrative career options today. All types of businesses require bookkeepers who are experienced in their specific business functions.
Article Source: ArticlesMaker.com
About the Author: Bookkeeper

How to deal with credit card offers

How to deal with credit card offersIf youíre a person who carries a balance, credit card offer might be the least thing on your mind right now. Credit card offer, no matter how enticing and convenient it might seem, may be the most expensive loans made by banks, department stores, and gasoline companies for you.Sometimes, no matter how hard you try not to give in to the temptation the credit card offers, material cravings can sometimes be more powerful than the will of the mind. No matter how hard you try to resist the convenience and leisure the credit cards offer, you cannot help but to indulge. And the moment the credit card issuer offers you a card you can hardly wait for t to be approved and to use it to pay for items and services you fancy.To avoid going beyond your credit limit, by now, you should know when to resist and indulge into the convenience the credit cards offer. Knowing how much the service provider or the store merchant collects from what you owe to your card issuer, you shouldnít allow yourself spend what you donít think you cannot pay. Or, by now, you should learn how to pay off what you owe each month, as long as you pay a minimum amount each time because this is what you get from what the credit card offers: interest on the balance you owe at the end of each period if do not pay the full balance every time your bill arrives.If you are having problems saying ìnoî to credit card offers, the most effective way to prevent yourself in engaging into another compromise is a little bit of truth serumóhow much credit card issuers get from the transaction you engage with them. Although credit card offers the almost priceless campaign ultimate convenience, think about this: the people who offer credit cards generate high profits from the people they have issued the card. Basically, reciprocal to what the credit card offers, is the high rate of interest. The convenience credit card offers sometimes no longer mounts up to the interest on credit cards alone but also from the bulk of accounts the bank profits for every credit card issued.There are also those companies that charge an annual fee as part the credit card offer. But most of these companies sometimes charge late fees, over-the-limit fees, and other ìmiscellaneousî charges that the credit card holder often mistook as part of the service charge. Now, knowing how much you really ìcontributeî to the companiesí profit every time you pay what the merchant charges or every time you pay the fees to service providersówould you still be blinded with what the credit card offers?What you can doWanting to breakaway from the habitual indulgence to credit card offer? Here are some tips that can help you veer away from the constant misleading promises and overwhelming credit card offer. Before you give in to what a certain credit card offers, think first whatís the purpose of filling out an application for a credit card and why do you need it and how sure are you that you can comply with the conditions of having another card. If ever your needs really demand for a credit card, then you must look for the most suitable type that will work best for your specific situation. Sometimes it is not enough to shop around for credit cards based of what they offer. More often than not, it pays to understand the terms of what the credit card offers before you getting the card. You must also take time to review the disclosures of terms and fees might appear on credit card offers you receive.If you are really a person who cannot say ìnoî to numerous credit card offers, you must learn to pay bills punctually so the interest and charges are as low as possible. It also pays to read monthly statements while keeping the copies of sales receipts so you would compare the charges.Indeed, having a credit card has become ingrained in the consumerís psyche. Thatís why it is imperative that people understand clearly the responsibilities of being a credit card holder and not juts base their assumptions on what the credit card offers.
Article Source: ArticlesMaker.com

Fashionably Pregnant

Pregnancy can be one of the most exciting moments of a woman's life as she anticipates the coming of the bundle of joy silently having a slumber in her womb. While being pregnant would mean losing your 36-24-36 figure that you have been working hard to maintain at, it doesn't mean that you still can't look fashionably chic and stylish. Having a bulging stomach should not stop you from still showing off your curves. In fact, many even find fashionable pregnant women to be very sexy looking.When you are pregnant, comfort should always be on top of the list when it comes to the outfits that you will be wearing. You are carrying some extra load so it is important that you are comfortable to move around. It is advisable for you to remain wearing your normal clothes for the time being when you can still fit in them. Your tummy actually wouldn't start to grow bigger in size until the second trimester. Sure, the idea of being able to purchase new clothes for your pregnancy seems exciting but then buying at the early stages would just result in these clothes to be too small for you to wear when your stomach begins to grow big. If you do decide to purchase new clothes, it is suggested that you buy a size or two larger to give allowance and you should only buy a few. Reserve your purchases for the second and third trimester of your pregnancy.Even if you are pregnant, you are not restricted to the clothes that you could wear. Of course, try to avoid too tight fitting clothes that may cause some discomfort. Try showing some skin and maybe even some cleavage (your breasts get larger when you're pregnant). A short skirt can flatter the look of a pregnant woman. Try snug fitting blouses and dresses for a change from the loose fit maternity blouses of previous years.You may be changing the size of your clothes but your sense of style should remain. Always have your signature look even if you have a bulging stomach. A pregnant woman should just have these basics: a dress, stretch and loose pants and comfortable tops. You don't have to be scared of losing your fashion sense when you get pregnant for you can definitely find a lot of stylish preggy clothes. Stay beautiful even if you are pregnant.
Article Source: ArticlesMaker.com
About the Author: James Brown writes about Maternity Fashions promotion code, Happy Mothers discounts and Mimi Maternity discount codes

Visiting A Jewelry Retailer Is Always Fun

People go to a jewelry retailer because they maintain inventories of outstanding jewels, watches and fashion accessories that can be worn on the face, hands and other areas of the body. These items come from craftsmen all over the world and it is always fun to visit a jewelry retailer because new things arrive every week.The trinkets and charms that the jewelry retailer offers always contain unique shapes and colors. These fashion accents might contain new shades in the various gemstones that were recently polished to a glowing finish by someone half the way around the world. The jewelry retailer makes it his business to know all about the stones that he buys because he wants his customers to have the best.Some people visit a jewelry retailer and buy rings for special occasions. Some couples shop together for their wedding bands, but it is not uncommon for a man to wander in and inquire about a diamond solitaire that they want to purchase for their future wife. Diamonds are but one gemstone that a jewelry retailer will have in stock and they entice people to look longingly at before they decide to buy them.The bracelets that a jewelry retailer maintains might be crafted in 14K gold or sterling silver. From these bracelets many charms will hang and dangle whenever the bracelet is placed on the wrist. There are many fashionable bracelet choices at a jewelry retailer, and trying many of them on during a visit is part of the fun that people have going there.People will often visit a jewelry retailer so that theey can gaze at the differences in the metals that are used to craft jewelry. Some of the metals, like titanium, seem to last forever and people will generally talk with the jeweler to craft a specific design in this metal. Sterling silver is a low cost precious metal that is exquisitely durable, shiny and people take great delight in viewing all jewelry pieces that are made with this metal.Some people might think that visiting a jewelry retailer in a flea market environment is great fun. These jewelry retailers specialize in all styles of overstock jewelry creations that are taken from purchases that are made in bulk quantities. The retailer knows that they can turn a quick profit if they buy large quantities of any type of merchandise and customers seem to like silver jewerly moree when they see tons of it laying on velvet on the counter. Glancing through the numerous rows of jewelry selections will turn a trip to the flea market into an afternoon of sheer fun and excitement.
Article Source: ArticlesMaker.com
About the Author: James Brown writes about FractionPrice online coupons, ICE.com promo code and Lane Bryant Catalog coupon codes

Online Shopping Deals

There are many ways to find online shopping deals if the shopper knows what to look for. Online shoppers have probably become totally familiar with the way online websites operate and know very well how to apply discounts when using the shopping cart. Some of the deals that people seek are those discounts offered in the check-out phase of an online shopping trip.The discount deals that people use in the shopping cart areas of an online business are found outside the retail site. Most of the discounts are found in places that offer a variety of coupons and dollars off incentives if the customer complies with the rules of the offer. Some people only have to purchase a certain dollar amount of store merchandise to take advantage of an online shopping deal that awards free shipping.The online shopping deals allow people to save money several ways during the check-out process. The discount code is all that an online shopper needs to save money on things that any wise shopper would have purchased anyway. People think that the prices on the products are fantastic and they really get impressed by the quality of the merchandise when they find out that they can buy it for less with the online shopping deals that they found.An attentive shopper online can find many deals just by visiting sites and checking out the discounted merchandise. Some families might have thought that they would never find furniture through the internet that was low priced and priced to ship at prices so low that some online shoppers wonder how the retailer can afford to do it. The thrills of online shopping continue when they realize how many items can be shipped for that one low price.Retailers know that online shoppers are hesitant about asking for discounts on items that are damaged in some way. The online retailer might break the tension by offering online shopping deals that are icebreakers. The retailer might get creative and offer shoppers the power of axing prices through continual discounts that multiply over several days of shopping on their retail website.Customers are very receptive to online shopping deals such as this because they can plan their buying strategies to come out way ahead on higher priced items that they buy on the third or fourth day of the icebreaker sales. They know they got fantastic prices at the start of the sale and as each day comes these savvy shoppers are looking through the inventories and figuring out what deal for the day that they will purchase to keep that icebreaker sales reduction in motion.
Article Source: ArticlesMaker.com
About the Author: James Brown writes about Cooking.com online coupons, Kitchen Collection discount codes and Chef's Corner discount codes

Making Hotel Reservations Online Offers Convenience

You better think again if you think that making a hotel reservation nowadays is that tedious. In this modern day and age, you don't necessarily have to call the hotel to make a reservation or consult with hotel personnel as to their room rates and available dates. It's good that you wouldn't have to be put on hold as you wait for someone on the other end of the hotel to reply to your inquiries. Travelers and vacationers now have the advantage of processing their travel arrangements and accommodation through the internet.It is that simple. Most if not all major hotels (even the less popular ones) have their very own website and online reservation system that provides all the necessary information concerning your reservation right in front of you which you could practically do in the comfort of your home. All the necessary options available for you will be displayed, from a calendar to help you check if there is room availability to a price chart that will help you check the varying rates depending on the date or season of travel. With all these information at hand, you can definitely make well-informed decisions and are confident that you have made a good choice. The process doesn't take long and so you get as well to save time.Also, the internet enables you to compare various hotel rates all with just the click of a mouse button. All you would have to do would either be to seek the help of travel sites who conduct the price comparison for you or you could take the time to visit each prospective hotel's website to conveniently and quickly check on their room rates, services, amenities, etc. You cut the process of having to contact each hotel prospect. You avoid being placed on hold, of having to deal with some pressure from the hotel staff with regards to making a reservation as well as wasting conversation time with a hotel receptionist only to find out at the end of the conversation that the date or the room you want is no longer available.To be able to make your reservation, only a few details are necessary like the inclusive dates, the type of room and some personal information. Also, some hotels offer package deals that include transportation and vacation activities apart from the accommodation. Making your hotel reservations online is less the hassle, saves you time and saves you money with the many perks and discounts available only online.
Article Source: ArticlesMaker.com
About the Author: James Brown writes about Expedia.co.uk coupon codes, Lufthansa UK discount codes and British Airways promotion code

Gift Ideas For A Child's Birthday

People should not forget the true meaning of gift giving. It is the thought that really matters and not the value of the present. But in a consumer driven world, people are always trying to upstage each other's gifts. Plus all the hype and the advertisement of so many toys in the market are getting people overwhelmed of what to give.Gift giving should be given some thought and with a bit of imagination, great gift ideas will truly be appreciated. Learn to strike a balance between giving the toy that the child may want and the toy that the child actually needs.The value of the present should not be measured based on the number of gifts. Most of the time, it is a better idea to invest in one expensive gift rather than on many gifts that do not exhibit any value at all. Investing in toys that would last longer would be ideal but then if your child will want a particular toy that is in fad, you can at least buy him or her even just a small version of that toy.Try to find out what sort of interests the child has and from there you could work up ideas on what to give. For instance, if the child enjoys playing with dolls and figures choose toys that could accessorize her dolls like doll clothes, etc.For great gift ideas for a child whether it is your own or someone else's, go to a large toy store and ask for the toys suited for the child's age bracket. You will find a lot of toy ideas from the latest movie toys, to the classic lego, etc. For highly creative kids, you can go for creative gift sets that allow them to get their hands involved like a bead and necklace set for the little girls or a craft set for the boys.A great gift idea for little growing girls would be a bracelet to which you could add charms. You can always give additional charms every time there is a special occasion. Children love and enjoy computer related games but if you find these items to be a bit pricey and beyond your budget perhaps you can stick to outdoor games instead.DVD movies and cartoons seem simple gift ideas but children love and enjoy watching their favorite film over and over again.Wrapping your gift is as important as the content inside. Spend some time in wrapping it up perfectly in the same manner that you spent time looking for the gift.
Article Source: ArticlesMaker.com
About the Author: James Brown writes about American Blooms discount codes, JustFlowers.com coupon code and MarthaStewartFlowers.com deals

Top Career Tips for Young CPAs

CPA or Certified Public Accountant is the statutory title that is given to qualified accountants in the US, who have passed out the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and have also met the additional state experience and education requirements for certification as a CPA. Only the licensed CPAs in most of the states in the US can provide to the public attestation opinions on the financial statements. The general public know CPAs as excellent finance and business consultants and tax expertise and for keeping the books of small organizations. Corporations that are into finance function employ CPAs as Finance Managers or Chief Financial Officers or they are even employed as CEOs, depending on their knowledge of the business and practice. Several men and women who complete accounting programs benefit from the excellent training. They have strong communication and interpersonal skills and technical-knowledge and prior to graduation they build on practical experience as well. But it takes more this to create a successful career. Some of the career tips for young CPAs are listed below:1. You need to have belief in yourself because if you exude confidence, your colleagues and clients will pick you for that level of competency showcased. Believe in yourself and never think that you cannot have the career you imagine. 2. You should always be willing to try out new things and be ready to face failure as well. Accountants who have been successful in their careers have recognized that there is more to get ahead than simply getting the work done. Do not hesitate in trying out new things because if you keep thinking about failure, then you can never achieve anything in life. Best learning experiences often follow failure. 3. It always helps to set a goal and then work towards it. Try and create a personal strategic plan and identify your professional and personal goals. You also need to think realistically about your weaknesses and strengths and allocate your energy and time towards the execution of plans. 4. Find a good mentor for yourself because like a good coach, he will listen to you and watch you in action and then there can be some reflection on what can bring some improvement. Best mentors are people who need to under stand where you are heading and to know what all it takes to reach your goals. 5. You should take control of your schedule because your life can go haywire due to the tight deadlines, demanding clients and long hours. According to successful CPAs, balance is very necessary. You need to decide on priorities and establish a schedule to meet your needs. 6. Always be prepared. Learn about your clients, ask questions and participate in conferences. As a CPA advances towards senior management, he or she learns that advance planning is important to help the job done smoothly.7. Listen to your contacts, colleagues and clients and try to observe effective communication. Work on the different presentation styles and watch how people react to each.You need to know the art applicable and like a successful chef you need to combine every ingredient to create a masterpiece.
Article Source: ArticlesMaker.com
About the Author: Former IRS Agent offers California Estate Planning. CPA Firm Murrary and Young offers expert accounting consultation to those in and around the California Area. Visit http://www.april15.com

CPA Review Classes

CPAs are like trusted business advisors and professionals who enable the organizations and individuals to achieve their financial and business goals. In the present versatile and dynamic world of finance, the work of CPAs is more than just counting money. In the state of California, they meet the requirements of the California State law and are issued a license for practicing public accounting by the California Board of Accountancy and similarly in other states. They are more than just people who take care of your yearly taxes. CPAs can give you advice on a long list of other services as well. This may include advice on finance, accounting, retirement, tax planning and estate. They are an important part of the professional team of a business owner, along with the lawyer and banker. Certified Public Accountants need to pass the Uniform CPA exam under the supervision of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. They should also posses the state requirements for getting a license. A CPA is a professional and qualified person to provide public attestation, along with auditing opinions on statements that are distributed publicly. There are many states that forbid those without a CPA license to label themselves as public accountants. While the common public recognizes the CPAs for their outstanding knowledge of taxes and for doing the paper work for small companies, a CPA is educated exclusively for the attestation task that has been mentioned earlier. They are also educated for giving out all-purpose business information that enables them to function competitively in the private sector. There is rigorous training and education involved in becoming a CPA. They need to educate themselves with the tax structure and economics of the country and for this they need special coaching classes. These coaching classes are known as CPA Review Classes. It makes the CPAs understand the nitty-gritty and relevant details of accounting, tax and business.These review classes train them to understand the clauses and complexities that are involved in certain business conditions, along with the business laws and tax structure laid down by the budget issued by the government. The CPAs are taught in these special reviews classes about advisory skills and inter personal relations and the methods of increasing the profits of clients and minimizing their losses. They are taught the filing requirements of tax documentation and paper work at these review classes. Almost every state in the US has review classes. These classes are affiliated to all the prestigious universities. Organizations and individuals who deal in accounts and finance also conduct several independent review classes. Different sources are available from where you can avail of the study and reference material. The most popular source of getting the material is the Internet. Due to the advancement in technology and services related to the Internet, CPA review classes are even conducted online. There are very few careers that require an individual to be as multi faceted as a CPA. Although many claim that they excel at calculations, but there are more than just financial skills that a CPA can bring to the conference table. They compile financial statements and perform audits, prepare tax returns and also work along with the clients in understanding the goals and helping them solve problems and steering them towards a success.
Article Source: ArticlesMaker.com
About the Author: Former IRS Agent offers California Estate Planning. CPA Firm Murrary and Young offers expert accounting consultation to those in and around the California Area. Visit http://www.april15.com

Filing and Reporting Your Small Business Taxes with the Help of A CPA

Preparing your taxes can be very stressful. It is always advisable to take some professional help. In the United States, all the business establishments, small or large are liable to file and pay taxes.Small business owners can either file their taxes on their own or they can hire the help of a professional. Professional help in filing tax is best sought from a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Every small business has a manageable targeted business return but, some business owners prefer working with a professional such as a certified public accountant (CPA). A CPA is familiar with the federal, state small business tax returns and is also experienced in keeping all financial records in order. By maintaining records in order, you can claim additional tax deductions or tax credits.Small business owners can prepare their own tax returns, but the process is long and difficult. And to learn about this difficult process, some owners take a tax course or they purchase a tax software program. These tax courses offer valuable information and helpful tips to those who pay small business taxes. These courses are generally available at any local college for a nominal fee.Owning a business and managing it requires lot of hard work and hence, some business owners are unable to find free time to take such preparation courses. Such business owners opt for a tax software program. These programs can be easily purchased from any retail store or they can be paid for and downloaded from the internet. Those owning the software should only opt for premium software versions because they are usually only tax software that supply forms required for paying taxes.Before filing tax returns, small business owners should know about the tax deductions for which they are eligible. Some business owners dont know that they qualify for multiple tax deductions. Office supplies and equipment required to operate a business establishment is tax deductible. If a small business owner donates some of his office supplies or old equipment, then he is liable to get charitable deduction. Many small business owners make the mistake of just disposing their old equipment because they do not realize that they are eligible for tax deductions by donating the old equipment, to purchase new equipment.Business owners start preparing their own tax returns and then realize that is more difficult than they presumed. When they realize this, they appoint a CPA for assistance. A Certified Public Accountant goes through a methodical process to obtain his license. For obtaining a license of CPA, it requires serious study and the licensing test is very tough. If you have an uncommon or complex financial situation, then you should use the services of a qualified CPA to handle the taxes. In fact, you should use a CPA for the whole year, as they not only prepare taxes, but also help you in saving taxes as much as possible.Hiring a CPA is generally very expensive as they charge around $200 to $300, but the savings achieved is very beneficial to the business.
Article Source: ArticlesMaker.com
About the Author: Former IRS Agent offers California Estate Planning. CPA Firm Murrary and Young offers expert accounting consultation to those in and around the California Area. Visit http://www.april15.com

The Benefits of Membership to a State CPA Association

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is a designation offered to qualified accountants, who have passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination in the United States and have the required state education and experience. The CPA license protects the public from inefficient individuals performing substandard accounting work.New York State passed the first Accountancy Law in 1896, in order to test the qualifications of public accountants. It led to the issuance of a state license to allow people to practice as certified public accountants. Accounting then emerged as a profession with licensing requirements, code of professional ethics and certain standards of the profession. Later, other states also followed this lead and eventually fifty-four states and jurisdictions enacted the public accounting legislation. The Board of Accountancy of each jurisdiction bears the responsibility for licensing candidates, as well as for compliance with the state accountancy laws. Several states do not allow the use of the designation Certified Public Accountant or Public Accountant by a person who is not certified as a CPA or PA in a particular state. Consequently, in many cases, the use of the CPA designation is not permitted out-of-the-state, until you get a license or certificate from the state. A CPA can also choose to become a member of the local state association or society. Benefits of the membership to a state CPA:Members of a state CPA enjoy a number of benefits ranging from major discounts on seminars that qualify them for continuing education credits, to protecting the profession as well as public interest by tracking and lobbying legislative issues that affect local state tax and other financial issues. Besides these, members of the state CPA also get dental, medical, disability and life insurance products along with the defined advantages and contribution retirement plans. They enjoy three weeks paid leave and ten holidays annually and 3 weeks sick leave, in the first year. In addition, they are also granted flexible working hours, comp time, tuition reimbursement as well as longevity pay. As a member of an IT Section, working for CPA also enjoys an array of benefits. They are as follows: . It offers its members with an opportunity to participate in the AICPA annual Top Techs Initiative. The members of the IT Section are also allowed to vote for the annual Top Technologies list.. It grants the access to communities, where you can exchange your knowledge with other experts of CPA business technology. . It allows the members to communicate on critical regulatory issues affecting your practice.. It provides an opportunity to its members to be a part of the practical business implications initiated by new technological advancements. . It allows access to the Info Tech Update that is an exclusive bi-monthly newsletter that covers the latest technological developments and necessary practice-related information. . Members of the IT Section of CPA can also avail of a bi-monthly news- magazine, the only CPA focussed technology magazine. It helps assist the public accountants to select their own software solutions and advice their clients on accounting and business management software decisions. . It also gives deep discounts on selected AICPA Web-casts, conferences like the annual AICPA Tech conference and publications. . Members can also get the IT E-News, which is an exclusive monthly email publication. It contains the latest news and resources for practicing CPA-technologies and tools.
Article Source: ArticlesMaker.com
About the Author: Former IRS Agent offers California Estate Planning. CPA Firm Murrary and Young offers expert accounting consultation to those in and around the California Area. Visit http://www.april15.com

CPA Retirement Plans

Retirement plans are one of the most valuable benefits that an employer can offer to attract and retain highly qualified employees. CPAs offer a wide variety of retirement plans that are designed specially to suit the needs of businesses and individuals. These retirement plans take a number of factors into consideration. Retirement planning is considered to be a smart move that is also proactive. It needs to be done irrespective of the age of a person or even business. Basically, there are three types of retirement plans that CPAs offer:. Corporate Retirement Plans. Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). Self-employed Retirement PlansThere are four types of Corporate Retirement Plans: . Simple IRA Plans- It is like an investing tool that can be an individual retirement annuity or individual retirement account. IRAs are of several types like a traditional IRA, Simple Ira, Roth IRAs or SEP IRAs. Simple IRAs are retirement plans that are established by employers. Even individual contributions by the participants are made to Simple and SEP IRAs. The maximum salary reduction contribution in simple IRA plans allowed for any employee is 10,000 dollars. The employees who are more than 50 years old can make a catch up contribution of 2000 dollars.. Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) - Simplified Employee Pension is a type of plan that can be established by employers and it can also include self-employed individuals. This plan can provide an important source of income at retirement, by allowing the employers to set aside some money in retirement accounts for themselves and employees. Simplified Employee Pension has a maximum contribution of 42,000 dollars or 25% from all participant compensation. . Qualified Plans- Qualified plans are established by employers for the provision of retirement benefits for their employees and the beneficiaries. This plan is not like Simple and SEP IRAs, as it is not IRA based or it is not even subject to the same rules that concern distributions and contributions. This plan is in accordance with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code and due to which, it becomes eligible to receive certain tax benefits. It should be for the exclusive benefit of the beneficiaries and employees. It can be a defined-benefit plan or even a defined-contribution plan. It allows the employers to deduct tax for contribution to the plan. This money purchase and profit sharing plan is based on the current compensation and the maximum contribution that can be made is 42,000 dollars. . Individual 401 (K) Plan- It is like a salary deferral plan, with contribution from the employees as well as the employer. Individual 401 (K) retirement plan is only applicable for a sole owner of a company and the spouse. Individual retirement accounts: Roth IRA and traditional IRA are two types of Individual Retirement Accounts. Roth IRA is not tax deductible and the income that comes is not taxable too, when withdrawn post-retirement. It is a better option when an individual is young or if he believes that he will be in a higher tax bracket after retirement. It is preferable to choose traditional IRA, if the person is in a high tax bracket in the years of contribution. Self-employed Retirement Plans:This plan has the same rules as the Corporate Retirement Plans, but there is just one major difference. For partnerships or for those who are self-employed and have an SEP or Qualified Plan, the deductible contribution of the owner is on 1040 and not on Schedule C or partnership Tax Return.
Article Source: ArticlesMaker.com
About the Author: Former IRS Agent offers California Estate Planning. CPA Firm Murrary and Young offers expert accounting consultation to those in and around the California Area. Visit http://www.april15.com

How CPAs Can Prove Invaluable For Small Businesses

More often than not, small businesses fail mainly due to lack of proper planning. CPAs are considered to be one of the most invaluable means of increasing the productivity of small businesses. Their expertise helps as business advice for small businesses, finding solutions to specific problems and also in developing industry expertise by assessing proper sources of information. It basically offers five services that help improve the chances for survival. It includes developing business plans and marketing plans, providing business consultation, implementing computer and management information systems, as well as planning business start-ups. These services require thorough knowledge of the business and the industries within which the operations take place. The increase in information resources offers better accessibility to a wide variety of industry expertise for CPAs and small businesses. CPAs help provide their clients with relevant advice, to help avoid problems and develop their own industry expertise by incorporating the resources of the information industry. Small businesses lack the knowledge of how to compete with their competitors. CPAs can help them understand the basic difference between merely competing and knowing how to compete effectively. Besides, they can also help them by providing the knowledge of the particular industry. There are a number of ways in which CPAs can be beneficial for small businesses. They are discussed as follows:To help understand the client industries: CPAs can help small business firms by providing them with services that enable clients to access, interpret and apply necessary information to the business. Living in the world of information technology, everyone has access to information bases via technological advances in the compilation, storage and retrieval of data. However, small firms are unable to distinguish need to know from good-to-know information. They require counseling on what information is essential for the running of their businesses and ways to make use of that information. CPAs can help provide them with relevant information, so that they can understand the industries of their clients and combine resources to enhance the productivity of small businesses. Press-clipping services: To assist with the latest developments in different industries, CPAs provide press-clipping services to small businesses. It monitors the general as well as business press across the country, clip pertinent articles and then sends them to you. It is available for a nominal fee. In case your contract with the service permits, you can also send copies to your business clients, performing an additional service and letting them know that you are familiar with their concerns. Besides this, there are many other services that offer clients with essential information and provide value added consulting. Instant information: By providing instant information to the business firms, CPAs can prove to be a great source of help for a number of small businesses. It has access to instant online information and can be accessed through the personal computer. It is supplied by information network services and is a great support for new value added consulting services. The network service providers offer reliable information, while the database publishers take responsibility for the integrity of their data.
Article Source: ArticlesMaker.com
About the Author: Former IRS Agent offers California Estate Planning. CPA Firm Murrary and Young offers expert accounting consultation to those in and around the California Area. Visit http://www.april15.com

CPA Continuing Education

The Certified Public Accountant is a designation offered to eligible accountants, who have passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination in the USA and possess the necessary state education and experience. The CPA license protects the public from inefficient individuals, who perform substandard accounting work. The first accountancy law was passed in 1896, by the state of New York, in order to test the qualifications of public accountants. Then accounting evolved as a profession and was tagged with licensing requirements, code of professional ethics and certain standards of profession.Later many states also followed this lead and eventually fifty-four states and jurisdictions enacted the public accounting legislation. The Board of Accountancy bears the responsibility for licensing candidates as well as for compliance with the state accountancy laws. Most of the U.S. state accountants without a CPA license are prohibited from providing opinions or suggestions on financial statements. As a result, in a number of cases, the CPA designation is not allowed to be used out-of-the-state until you get a license or a certificate from the state. To become a CPA in the United States, it is essential to take and pass the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants sets the test and is administered by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy. Individual State Boards of Accountancy identify the eligibility criteria for the Uniform CPA Exams. A U.S. Bachelors degree in accounting, along with an additional one year study is required to be eligible to take the CPA test. CPAs work in a range of areas of finance including the following:. Audit, assurance and information integrity.. Planning analyzing financial status.. Forensic accounting like detecting, preventing and investigating frauds related to finance.. Information technology.. Venture Capital.. Planning and tax preparation.. Corporate governance.Owing to the frequently changing nature of their profession, it is essential for CPAs to keep themselves abreast with the latest developments in the field. Even if the changes are in the form of new laws or old laws amended to reflect changes, pleading ignorance is not a way out for them. They need to be aware of a number of fields, as the profession deals with a range of tasks including taxation, finance, planning, business and advisory rules. In order to be successful as a CPA, it is necessary to opt for ongoing education.A number of educational as well as other institutions, including several non-profitable centers offer ongoing professional courses for CPAs. In most states, a professional CPA license holder is required to take specified professional education courses on an annual basis. It helps to retain the professional license. In order to pursue continuing education, a CPA is required to take time off from the busy schedule and be a part of professional courses. The continuing education programs can even take the form of official conferences and seminars that offer a number of credits to CPAs attending a certain number of hours. These conferences and seminars are headed by popular speakers, who share their experiences, skills and knowledge with the CPAs.
Article Source: ArticlesMaker.com
About the Author: Former IRS Agent offers California Estate Planning. CPA Firm Murrary and Young offers expert accounting consultation to those in and around the California Area. Visit http://www.april15.com

Why Hire A CPA (Certified Public Accountant)?

A CPA or a certified public accountant can be one of the most important human resource assets of any organization, but many organizations do not realize their importance or have incorrect or partial knowledge about how to reap benefits from hiring a CPA. Before discussing why an organization should hire a CPA, let us know more about the responsibilities of a CPA. A CPA is a professional who may work individually or act on the part of an accounting-firm. He or she monitors and keeps track of the financial records of an organization or an individual. Every year numerous businessmen question the need to engage a CPA for account purposes, when all a CPA seems responsible for is filing statutory paperwork for the government and delivering a profit and loss statement. Many businesses are unorganized or are headed by individuals who are too busy to organize their finances. A CPA looks after the financial statements and records of the client. They are trained and experienced and that makes them the perfect choice to trust all your accounts with. To become a CPA, one has to meet the requirements laid down by American Institute of Certified Public Accountant (AICPA). There are some states that strictly require a CPA to have a minimum experience level, before starting off to practice. However, not all states lay down the same rules. A CPA need not be hired all year round and typically in an organization where there is an accounts department already existent, a CPA is hired for a short time only to prepare professionally the tax returns. However, some businessmen do keep a regular CPA to ensure that their finances are in order. Taxes are the specialty of a CPA. In fact most of them are hired to take care of all applied taxes. CPAs are experts in filing multiple federal as well as state tax returns and they also know how to accurately organize all the receipts and other document verifications required for tax deductions.While hiring a CPA, some businessmen or organizations look out for CPAs who are located in the same area of the business, so that in the event of some unexpected problem cropping up, he can be contacted immediately. Some businessmen however, prefer to hire a CPA who has a successful track record, even if he is located across the nation.The above mentioned reasons are good enough to hire a CPA, but if there is still doubt, there are other good reasons as well. Most organizations seek help from a CPA to preserve their financial records safely and to file tax returns for them. A CPA can supervise budgeting processes, setting up of financial systems, including making quick books, training staff and giving money saving ideas etc, along with being a sounding board that gives sound advice.Organizations never seem to exploit a CPAs skill properly. With the type of command the CPAs have over the financial domain, the organizations can benefit a lot from their expertise. Time is precious and instead of spending hours on reviewing and sorting your finances only to find out that you have erred, it would be much better and easier to just pick up the phone or log on to the Internet and fix an appointment with a trained and experienced CPA.
Article Source: ArticlesMaker.com
About the Author: Former IRS Agent offers California Estate Planning. CPA Firm Murrary and Young offers expert accounting consultation to those in and around the California Area. Visit http://www.april15.com

Why Hire A CPA (Certified Public Accountant)?

A CPA or a certified public accountant can be one of the most important human resource assets of any organization, but many organizations do not realize their importance or have incorrect or partial knowledge about how to reap benefits from hiring a CPA. Before discussing why an organization should hire a CPA, let us know more about the responsibilities of a CPA. A CPA is a professional who may work individually or act on the part of an accounting-firm. He or she monitors and keeps track of the financial records of an organization or an individual. Every year numerous businessmen question the need to engage a CPA for account purposes, when all a CPA seems responsible for is filing statutory paperwork for the government and delivering a profit and loss statement. Many businesses are unorganized or are headed by individuals who are too busy to organize their finances. A CPA looks after the financial statements and records of the client. They are trained and experienced and that makes them the perfect choice to trust all your accounts with. To become a CPA, one has to meet the requirements laid down by American Institute of Certified Public Accountant (AICPA). There are some states that strictly require a CPA to have a minimum experience level, before starting off to practice. However, not all states lay down the same rules. A CPA need not be hired all year round and typically in an organization where there is an accounts department already existent, a CPA is hired for a short time only to prepare professionally the tax returns. However, some businessmen do keep a regular CPA to ensure that their finances are in order. Taxes are the specialty of a CPA. In fact most of them are hired to take care of all applied taxes. CPAs are experts in filing multiple federal as well as state tax returns and they also know how to accurately organize all the receipts and other document verifications required for tax deductions.While hiring a CPA, some businessmen or organizations look out for CPAs who are located in the same area of the business, so that in the event of some unexpected problem cropping up, he can be contacted immediately. Some businessmen however, prefer to hire a CPA who has a successful track record, even if he is located across the nation.The above mentioned reasons are good enough to hire a CPA, but if there is still doubt, there are other good reasons as well. Most organizations seek help from a CPA to preserve their financial records safely and to file tax returns for them. A CPA can supervise budgeting processes, setting up of financial systems, including making quick books, training staff and giving money saving ideas etc, along with being a sounding board that gives sound advice.Organizations never seem to exploit a CPAs skill properly. With the type of command the CPAs have over the financial domain, the organizations can benefit a lot from their expertise. Time is precious and instead of spending hours on reviewing and sorting your finances only to find out that you have erred, it would be much better and easier to just pick up the phone or log on to the Internet and fix an appointment with a trained and experienced CPA.
Article Source: ArticlesMaker.com
About the Author: Former IRS Agent offers California Estate Planning. CPA Firm Murrary and Young offers expert accounting consultation to those in and around the California Area. Visit http://www.april15.com