Tax Strategies & Preparation Articles

Last week we suggested you purchase a last-minute gift for yourself: the Universal Practice Builder program.  For those of you too busy to take advantage of that offer, we extend it through today, reminding tax professionals that anything purchased for the betterment of your business will be tax deductible this year, as long as you enroll by December 31^st.

Marketing on Steroids

We understand that tax professionals are generally not marketing gurus.  Why would you be?  Your job is to stay current in tax code and help clients reduce their liability as much as possible.  But if you don’t market your services, you’re not likely to have a very solid client base, nor will you have the work required to make enough money to sustain your practice year-round.

The Universal Practice Builder (UPB) program will equip you with all the marketing tools necessary to build a thriving tax practice.  In fact, following the completion of this course you can become the premier tax practice in your area.

To share this priceless information we developed the Universal Practice Builder Program, otherwise known as Marketing on Steroids.  Here’s just a sampling of what you will gain from enrolling in this phenomenal program:

• A guarantee of $30,000 in new annualized billings in only 12 months
• The skills to become a Profit Expert for each of your clients
• 12 marketing strategies that you can implement immediately
• A process which can produce 15 to 25 qualified leads per month
• 3 months of coaching via telephone and Internet
• Training on a computerized database tracking program
• A presentation DVD to show potential clients
• Training to use QuickBooks to attract more clients
• Access to a plan proven to help retain clients

And if you enroll by the end of today, your fee will be tax deductible!

Attend a Special UPB Workshop

Not only that, but if you choose, you can also attend our special Universal Practice Builder Workshop in Salt Lake City, January 2009.  There you can listen to the experts and ask questions that will enable them to personalize the training for you and your business.

Here’s what other attendees have said about the workshop:

Very impressed. I thought the seminar was very well done and the people from UAC seem to really care about your future success. I really enjoyed it! Once I got here I realized how worthwhile it was. If you’re not a marketing guru then I highly recommend it. - David A.

Great ideas. Everyone works hard for good results. Great marketing & sales team. I wished I had these people on my team! Although I have an MBA, everything taught is right on target & very well presented. Thank you very much. - C.O. Davis

Words simply cannot express how much I learned and how much I enjoyed the UPB workshop. I left SLC yesterday feeling an amazing empowerment, knowing that the process of building my accounting practice has only just begun and that the sky is the limit. With the excellent guidance, advice, and education I received this past weekend, I now feel ready to take on the task of building the best accounting practice that I possibly can (and as quickly as I can, too!). Meeting the other participants was also an inspiration. Thanks for an amazing experience and event that was definitely, without a doubt, the best use of my weekend. - Jessica R.S.

Truly appreciated attending. It was immensely informative and first-class all the way! Thank you to all of the staff and thank you Allen!!! - Mary P.

Enroll Now!

When you enroll today, not only do you take advantage of another tax deduction for your business, but you also will receive our free gift, QuickBooks Made Profitable.  This simple program will teach you how to develop a QuickBooks expertise that will enable you to increase your service offerings, attract new clients, and grow your business even more!  Doing so will make your practice more valuable to current and prospective clients.  There’s no time like the present, or December 31^st, to take advantage of last-minute tax savings.  Enroll in the Universal Practice Builder program today!

You know the feeling.  You’re sitting at home on Christmas Eve, ready to enjoy the holiday, when you remember that you’ve forgotten a very important present for a very important person.  It’s too late to order over the internet, and you can’t procrastinate any longer, so you brave the winter weather and join the throngs of other shoppers who have also been a tad forgetful.

Our intention here isn’t to guilt you into driving to the mall today.  In fact, we hope you’ll stay right where you are, comfortably reading this article.  We also hope that you’ll think of that one person for which you haven’t yet purchased a present.  That one person who deserves a gift so grand it will make 2009 more enjoyable, more exciting, and more lucrative than ever!  Who are we talking about?  You, of course!

The Gift of Profitability

It would be silly of us to ask if you would like your business to become more profitable.  Of course you would!  What business owners wouldn’t want to grow their practices using proven marketing techniques designed to help them secure high-quality clients?  Crazy ones!  You, on the other hand, are only crazy about your business, intent on seeing it become as successful as possible.  That’s why you need to give yourself the gift of profitability this year.

UAC’s Universal Practice Builder program is targeted for those business owners who want to hone their marketing practices and see genuine profitability as a result.  You realize that you only have so much time, and any time you spend marketing must be effective.  The strategies and techniques you use must bring new clients through your door.  Otherwise you’re wasting valuable time you could instead use to bill clients for performing your valuable services.

The Universal Practice Builder course will train you in 12 promotional techniques that will appeal to your target market!  Not only that, but this training will enable you to produce 15 to 25 qualified leads per month.  In no time at all, you’ll either need to hire employees to help with the work load, or you’ll have to turn potential clients away!  With such an incredible demand for your services, you can charge even more money and maintain a client roster full of high-end clients.

You’ll also learn valuable presentation skills you can use in client-generating seminars that will demonstrate your expertise while creating even more interest in your practice.  Imagine becoming the premier tax preparer in your area!  It can be done if you purchase this one present for yourself today.

Enroll now and you could also attend a live Universal Practice Builder workshop in Salt Lake City this January.  There you can learn from the masters who will provide individual direction in how you can cater this program to your personal situation and personality.

One Astounding Guarantee and Our Free Gift for Enrolling

We guarantee that when you correctly apply the principles learned through the Universal Practice Builder program, you will earn an additional $30,000 in annualized billings in just 12 months!  That’s 17 times the cost for this course.  Talk about a healthy ROI!  This isn’t just a present-it’s a serious increase in your salary.

Also, when you enroll today, we’ll add QuickBooks Made Profitable, a program designed to show you how to use your QuickBooks expertise to bring in even more clients.  Not only will you learn how to better market your skills, but you’ll increase your service offerings in order to attract more clients that can keep you busy year-round and not just during tax season.

Testimonials of Others Who Treated Themselves to a More Profitable Practice

The following individuals are enjoying all the benefits this program offers.  But don’t just take our word for it; read what they have to say:

Excellent company. The people really care about their students. I really feel they want to see their students succeed. It is a pleasure to do business with UAC. This was an excellent workshop. There was a lot of quality material presented by some excellent and sometimes even funny instructors. I walked in with no plans and walked out with a special plan of action to help market and grow my practice to the next level. -  Pete M.

I was very impressed and thankful I decided to attend. Lots of great information to take and implement in my practice. Watching the DVD’s was wonderful but attending the seminar was phenomenal. - Diane H.

Universal Accounting is dedicated to my success and is evident by their dedication to teaching me the tools I must have to develop my business. The staff made sure when I left the seminar that I was prepared and comfortable with moving ahead with business development. - Gary R.F.

UAC is the premier trainer of the accountants of the future. They truly understand how to differentiate their clients from the average accountants. To be honest, I don’t want anyone in my area to know about UAC. I think the information provided will truly separate my services from 95% of my competition. - Magnus E.

2009 is around the corner.  Don’t you want it to be your most profitable year yet?  When you enroll in the Universal Practice Builder program, you are taking all the steps necessary to grow your practice to become the premier tax firm in your area.  Get yourself the gift that will keep on giving you and your family a more profitable future.

Happy Holidays, from Universal!

Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right. - Oprah Winfrey

With the New Year just a couple weeks away, many are preparing to jump-start their businesses with new approaches and strategies.  Last week we introduced the following five tips to help you prepare for a more productive and profitable New Year:

1.    Revamp workplace

2.    Clean up computer files

3.    Revisit damaged relationships

4.    Create a financial forecast

5.    Implement new techniques and services

This week we’ll complete this series by covering the final five tips on preparing your tax practice for a New Year of business:

6. Consider final tax benefits

You’re a tax professional; this one should be a no-brainer.  In fact, you’ve probably already given your clients this tip.  Take advantage of holiday sales to purchase items your business will need next year. They’re deductible and you should easily be able to stock up on furniture, supplies, and other equipment you use in your business.

7. Contact clients

Some businesses send holiday cards or even give gifts.  Whatever you do, it’s important that you remind clients of your services before the New Year begins.  You may also want to take the opportunity to share with them your valuable, year-round tax planning services which can help them lower their tax liability and ultimately save them money.

8. Go green

More and more professionals are looking for ways to lessen the impact of their businesses on the environment.  Consider incorporating a few environmentally conscious techniques that will ultimately save you money in the long run: recycle, look at alternative energy sources, cut back on energy consumption and waste, and consider purchasing a hybrid vehicle.  Some of these practices are accompanied with valuable tax breaks.  That, and it will just make you feel good.

9. Eliminate clutter

No one likes to start the New Year with a messy office.  Give your office a good cleaning before 2009 so that you’re not dreading the paperwork stacked on your desk.  Along with revamping your office, creating a clean and functional workspace will make you more productive.  Not to mention, you may enjoy your work more.

10. Create your New Year business strategy

Every business should evaluate their standing and, based on scrutiny of past performance, create a strategy that will enable their practices to be more productive in the New Year.  As you assess your business’s performance, consider ways you might improve your marketing strategies, networking approaches, and work processes.  From there you can develop a list of resolutions that will make your business more profitable.

Choose the Programs that Will Best Suit Your New Year Needs

Universal Accounting Center has a host of programs designed to help professionals like you enhance their service offerings and grow their practices.  Learn more about these programs by purchasing our special DVD set which includes the following:

Introduction to the Professional Bookkeeper Program

Learn how becoming a Professional Bookkeeper will enable you to enhance your service offerings and remain busy year-round and not just during tax season.

Yes Sample Marketing CD

Learn how to introduce your services to a potential client. Use this to role playing, watch with a prospective client or pass it out.

Start Today and Have Your Own Bookkeeping Service

Learn how to make over $80,000 per year working from home while getting more clients than you can handle. Know how to charge your client so you can afford to take that next vacation while they get such a great deal they will be telling all their friends about you.

The Art and Science of Getting Clients

Learn how to get more clients by using our proven methods.

After watching these videos you’ll have the information you need to select the programs that will benefit your practice and enable you to experience the profitability and growth you desire.  2009 is your year!  Realize your New Year resolutions this time around.  Order this special video library today!

We will open the book.  Its pages are blank.  We are going to put words on them ourselves.  The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day. - Edith Lovejoy Pierce

The New Year is a perfect time to enjoy a fresh start for your practice.  As 2008 winds down, you should take some time to reflect, and consider ways to improve your business practices in 2009.  In this two-part series we examine 10 ways to prepare for the New Year and enjoy more productivity and profitability as a result.  This week we cover the first five tips:

1. Revamp workplace

No, you don’t have to redecorate your office.  But we do suggest at least rearranging the furniture.  Giving a workplace a fresh new feel will often inspire better performance.  This is the perfect time to consider a new coat of paint, or if necessary, a new office chair or filing cabinet.  Reflect on items you need to best do your job, and then take advantage of holiday sales to purchase those items your office needs most.

2. Clean up computer files

While we often take the time to clean our workspace in order to present a professional image to clients and other visitors, how often do we clean up our computer files?  Although business associates may not be privy to how messy our virtual desktops may be, it does impact our ability to work efficiently and maintain valuable client records.  Schedule a couple hours during which you can reorder your computer files and back up pertinent information.

3. Revisit damaged relationships

No one performs better while holding a grudge.  Whether they be personal or professional, the holidays present a perfect time to repair damaged relationships.  Take the time to apologize for any real or perceived offenses for which you may be responsible.  You’ll find the holidays are much more enjoyable when you’ve taken the time to iron out misunderstandings with friends, family, and business associates.

4. Create a financial forecast

You’ll have a good idea of what to focus on when you create a financial forecast for the upcoming year.  Especially considering the current economic crisis, your business will do better when you can estimate your income and prepare for any contingencies.  Prepare a budget and consider and implement strategies that will increase your income.

5. Implement new techniques and services

In this day and age, industries change and advance quite rapidly.  Now is a good time to research industry trends and determine how you might alter your business practices in order to keep up with the competition, or better yet, gain that competitive advantage.

Return next week for our final installment in this series when we share the final five of 10 New Year preparation tips:

6.    Consider final tax benefits

7.    Contact clients

8.    Go green

9.    Eliminate clutter

10. Create a business strategy for the New Year

QuickBooks Made Profitable

Consider enhancing your service offerings by using your QuickBooks expertise to generate more clients.  In QuickBooks Made Profitable (QBMP), UAC trains you how to build a wider client base by offering QuickBooks setup, help and consultation services.  Not only that, but you can offer free QuickBooks seminars in order to attract clients who might also find your tax services beneficial.  The QBMP will teach you the following:

• Getting Started Basics
• Setting up a Company
• Working with Lists
• Setting up Inventory
• Selling your Product Invoicing for Services
• Processing Payments
• Working with Bank Accounts
• Entering/ Paying Bills
• Using Other QuickBooks Accounts
• Creating Reports, Creating Graphs
• Tracking and Paying Sales Tax
• Payroll interfaces with QuickBooks
• Estimating
• Time Tracking
• Job Costing

For a minimal initial investment, you can grow your business and bottom line in the New Year.  Be ready for 2009.  Order QuickBooks Made Profitable today!

5 Questions to Ask Yourself

Don’t tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results. - George S. Patton

There’s nothing more demoralizing than a leader who can’t clearly articulate why we’re doing what we’re doing. - James Kouzes and Barry Posner

Leadership involves finding a parade and getting in front of it. - John Naisbitt

Small business owners are, by default, managers.  And if they have employees, they better be good leaders as well.  Leaders, by definition, are able to steer an organization and its resources to success.  Are you a good leader?  Ask yourself the following five questions to determine whether or not your business has a good leader at its helm:

1. Is your business headed in the right direction?

The best sign that you are a good leader is when your business is headed in the right direction, headed being the operative word.  While your business may not have yet achieved perfection, it’s important that it be improving by the month.  If not, you should reevaluate your current financial situation and see where you must shift your attention in order to see more profitability and growth.

2. Do you regularly research industry trends?

It’s important that you know what’s happening in your industry.  If you become too busy to follow current tax trends and keep up with the every-changing tax law, you’ll not only be ill-informed, but you’re most likely to be out of work very soon.  Small businesses that have a lead on the competition are generally run by individuals who know where their industry is headed and have incorporated those trends that will help them remain on top.

3. Are you enthusiastic, sharing your vision with clients and employees?

Employees are inspired by leaders with a clear vision.  Do you have a vision?  If not, you must create one, and soon.  If so, you must practice sharing it with employees and clients.  Your ability to transmit your enthusiasm to those with whom you associate will do wonders for your business.  Enthusiasm is contagious, and the sooner it starts catching at you business, the better.

4. Do you communicate clearly and succinctly?

Your ability to communicate well will often evidence itself in your employees’ actions.  If they are following your directions and fulfilling your requests without incident, chances are you’re communicating clearly, in a manner that is well understood by those who work for you.  If not, chances are you’re not being as straightforward and clear and you might like.  Good leaders are also good communicators who can articulate their messages without extreme effort.

5. Are your employees proactive and independent?

Good leaders hire and train employees that don’t require much oversight.  Not only that, if you lead by example you’ll find that your staff desires to work independently, fulfilling their job requirements in such a way that your vision will be quickly realized.  If you find yourself continually micromanaging your employees, you need to change your approach.  Perhaps they need more training or encouragement to magnify their responsibilities.

Good Leaders Provide Employees with Valuable Training

If you would like to improve your leadership skills, consider offering group training to your employees.  You can learn from UAC’s example while offering your employees something that will impact your business in a positive and profitable way.  We offer valuable business management training, which helps your employees develop a strong company culture that’s committed to its own financial success.  Or consider accounting, bookkeeping and tax staff training which enables each employee to become a Profit Expert within your organization.  Either would jumpstart your business for the New Year.  To learn more, visit Universal Accounting Center today!

We know that right now you’re probably thinking about what you’re going to do for Thanksgiving.  Will you be eating with the in-laws?  Maybe you’ll be inviting friends over for a feast at your house?  Or perhaps you’ll buck tradition and order pizza?  Regardless of how you choose to spend this holiday, we’d like you to think ahead to the next one.

Things may be a little tight this Christmas.  The kids might be asking for a Wii, your parents may want a Caribbean cruise, and you may just want a little peace and quiet.  While all those things are great items for a Christmas wish list, we’d like you to consider giving yourself the gift of a more lucrative future.

Whether you prepare taxes on the side or run a tax practice year-round, you can benefit from adding complementary services to your menu.  What client wouldn’t be interested in taking their finances to a practice that could perform all their accounting and tax needs?  You can gain that accounting expertise in less than 60 hours, all spent on your own time and at your own pace, when you enroll in Universal Accounting Center’s (UAC) Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Program.

Accounting Expertise

The PB course will supply all the know-how and confidence necessary for you to start and manage the books of current and prospective clients.  You will learn the day-to-day accounting functions required by small businesses, something not offered by most university degree programs.  You will gain a competitive edge that you will use with effective marketing strategies UAC will also provide.

The course consists of the following four modules:

Module 1-Accounting Made Easy. You will master the tools, procedures, and underlying principles that make up the bookkeeping processes of all businesses.  You will also understand the core building blocks of accounting and bookkeeping.

Module 2-Practical Small Business Applications. You will apply your understanding of the core accounting principles to specific industries.  You will learn to set up books from scratch, do payroll like a seasoned pro, and much more.

Module 3-Advancing your “Account-Ability.” You will learn sure ways to set up complete bookkeeping systems and manage the books for a variety of more sophisticated industries.

Module 4-Building a Successful Accounting Service. You will learn the steps to finding paying clients.  Upon completion of this module you will be able to start and grow an accounting practice following a proven program tested and perfected since 1979.

Upon successful completion of the course you can earn valuable professional certification, demonstrating your expertise.

In addition to all this, the PB program comes with the following iron-glad guarantee:

“If, after completing the course, you feel the course didn’t live up to your expectation, simply return the materials to Universal, for a 100% refund of any monies paid.”

QuickBooks Services

Adding accounting services to your menu would definitely expand your current offering and enhance your overall appeal.  When you add QuickBooks services to your menu, you become a full-service financial provider that also offers QB setup, help, and consultation services.

Consider this, Intuit charges $75 an incident and $349-$600 per year for QuickBooks support.  That’s too pricey for most small business owners, 85% of which currently use QuickBooks software; you could offer QuickBooks support for a more reasonable fee and draw in more clients in need of a little QuickBooks help. Becoming a Quickbooks Specialist will enable you to bring in more business, increase your income, and make your job easier.

This program comes complete with eight sessions that will train you in the following:

Sessions 1-3. The fundamentals of daily bookkeeping tasks, enabling you to gain a better understanding of the tasks that a bookkeeper performs. You will learn the key indicators of a company’s financial health, how to calculate them, and what they mean to your company. You will learn to interpret financial data in order to turn it into actionable business wisdom.

Sessions 4-6.  The must-know principles of marking down assets and how to depreciate them for the largest tax advantage in as little time as the law allows. You will learn methods of depreciating fixed assets and how to calculate allowance for bad debts. You’ll learn the benefits of each business structure and which form will legally allow you to pay the least taxes possible.

Session 7. The technique that will enable you to navigate the debit/credit maze and learn to use the accountant’s troubleshooting tool. You’ll be introduced to preparing financial statements and will be taught how to interpret them into practical steps you can take to increase profitability.

Session 8. Gross profit-what is it and what does it mean to the financial condition of your company? You will learn how the income accounts connect into the balance sheet.

These two programs will enable you to expand your business in 2009!  By enrolling in these courses today, you invest in the financial future of yourself and your family.  While most Christmas presents can wear out or break altogether, this gift of valuable career training will be a holiday investment you will never regret.

Enroll today and get your Christmas present early this year!

While it may sound counterintuitive to increase your service offerings during economic turmoil, in the long run, it can be the one thing that will ensure survival for your tax practice.

The longer the recession runs, the more competitive the market will become.  A prospective client will have less money to spend, and he’ll be looking for a financial provider that can give him more bang for his buck.

Consider the accountant who has access to much of the same information you do.  If that accountant offered tax preparation services in addition to accounting services, might you lose a client to a financial provider who is not only more convenient, but perhaps more cost efficient?

You gain a competitive advantage by becoming a one-stop financial shop for prospective clients.

Accounting Services

Thumb through your local phone book to see how many small businesses exist in your area.  Consider that all these businesses are required, by law, to keep an accounting record.  Most small business owners don’t have the expertise necessary to effectively manage their own books.  If you could perform those accounting services while increasing their profitability and decreasing their spending, your fee would be worth its weight in gold.  And you would have a competitive advantage.

UAC’s Professional Bookkeeper Program is designed to teach you how to start a business’s books from scratch.  Whether you’re an experienced accountant or a beginner, this course will enhance your knowledge and confidence in order to add accounting services to your menu.  You can earn valuable certification demonstrating that you have the expertise required to manage a business’s financials.  Add to that the training you will receive on marketing your new skill set and you have a program that’s practically risk-free!

Here are what just a handful of graduates have said about the Professional Bookkeeper Program:

This is the best investment for the money and for my future.- B. Davies

We would like to thank you for the opportunities you uncovered for us through your excellent accounting course. - S. & C. Scharp & S. Young

Having been a CPA in ‘Big 8 Firms’ and a top level executive in bluechip companies I especially appreciate your ability to simplify the subject. You definitely are providing a greatly needed service to people who are interested in being independent. - D. Bird, CPA

Watch video testimonials here!

QuickBooks Services

By why stop with accounting services?  Increase your business’s appeal by offering QuickBook services as well.  UAC’s Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide (PBG) to QuickBooks will help you master this accounting software, and once you do, you can offer QuickBooks setup, help and consultation services, charging $45 to $75 per hour.

More than 85% of small businesses use QuickBooks to manage their accounting.  That’s a large percentage of your target market!  And once you’ve helped a company set up its initial QuickBooks system, who do you think they’ll turn to for help? You, of course! After all, you’ll have the training and expertise they’ll need whenever they run into a problem.  And it won’t be long before they realize that it will save them more time and money to let you manage all their accounting and tax needs.

Take advantage of this package deal and enroll in UAC’s Professional Bookkeeper Program and its complementary course the Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide to QuickBooks.  Not only will diversifying your services enable you to wait out the recession, but it will enable you to grow your business and gain a competitive advantage.  Order now!

Many small business owners have made a conscious effort to “go green” by lessening the impact of their businesses on the environment.  Whether big or small, any business can take steps to protect the environment and make their facilities healthier for employees and patrons.  Not only that, but there are considerable tax benefits to be had by the owner of an environmentally conscious business.  Here are 8 things to consider in making your business greener:

1. Review ISO 14001

The International Organization for Standardization has developed a set of environmental management standards called the ISO 14001. It specifies the standards small to large businesses can follow in becoming more environmentally sound.  Including specifications on things such as information security, education and transportation, the ISO 14001 is a great place to start in building your environmental awareness.

2. Recycle

This is an easy step any business can take.  In creating a company recycling policy you can make a big difference in the amount of waste your business expends.  Fortunately, most recyclables can be found in any business:

o   Newspapers

o   Unbroken glass bottles

o   Aluminum cans

o   Some plastics

o   Empty metal cans

o   Mixed paper

3. Look at alternate energy sources

This can be a large investment; but it has big payoffs in the long run.  Whether you are building new facilities for your business or you are considering remodeling current facilities, you should evaluate alternate energy sources that could lessen your impact on the environment.  Solar panels, ground-source heating, wind and waterpower are all options worth considering.

4.  Cut down on energy consumption

Business.gov has many recommendations on making your business more environmentally conscious.  One suggestion they offer is to apply energy-saving tips regarding the use of office equipment.  You can purchase Energy Star qualified products which are more efficient than those available through standard retail.

You can also cut back on energy consumption by using a laptop rather than a desktop computer.  Also consider unplugging office equipment when not in use.  Regardless of what you may have heard, these machines still draw power even when they are off.  Consider using power strips that can be turned off, preventing any phantom energy drains.

5. Consider a hybrid vehicle for your business

If you drive a vehicle for your business you should consider purchasing a hybrid.  Not only could you benefit from potential tax benefits, but you’ll save a tremendous amount in gas.

6. When possible, cut back on your trash

Often we throw away more than is necessary.  Take a look at common items in your trash.  Is there anything you could reuse or repurpose in order to cut back on waste?

7. Rub shoulders with other green businesses

When you interact with other green business owners you will get ideas that you may have been unaware of previously.  You’ll also appreciate the ability one business has to make a difference in preserving our resources.

8. Research government grants

The government offers grants to assist businesses in their efforts to go green.  The Sustainable Development Fund, the Energy Savings Trust, and the Environment Action Fund are just three examples of such grants that can help fund company efforts to make their businesses more environmentally sound.

As a business owner you have many things to worry about, and you may have been avoiding these environmental issues because you don’t think you have the time or money to make a difference.  The truth is taking baby steps over a long period of time can make a substantial difference.  While you don’t have to incorporate all eight tips at once, picking one or two is a great start.  It can also help your employees and your customers better appreciate your efforts to preserve our resources.  And who wouldn’t want to do business with someone like that?

Introduction to the Professional Bookkeeper Program

If you interested in increasing your marketability as well as your environmental consciousness, you should consider The Professional Bookkeeper (PB) Program as an option for increasing your services as well as your bottom line.  This course will teach you everything you need to know about accounting, and more specifically, small-business accounting, because most organizations have less than 500 employees.  Most accounting professionals have been trained in corporate accounting which doesn’t address the unique needs of these small businesses.

Not only that, but in taking this course you could also receive professional certification, evidencing to current and prospective employees your newly acquired expertise and skills.  And if you approach your employer, you may find that they are more than willing to pay your tuition.  To learn more, watch our video “Introduction to the Professional Bookkeeper Program.”  Order the video today or watch it online for free.

References

“Energy Saving Tips: Office Equipment.” Business.gov

International Organization for Standardization - Details the environmental management standards.

Sustainable Build - Descriptions and links about government grants for businesses looking to go green.

The United Health Care recently published a document entitled “Encourage a Healthy Work Force” in order to help entrepreneurs reduce stress and encourage a healthier work environment for their employees.  They offer the following five tips in helping professionals relieve stress:

1. Get a good night’s sleep.

You’ll find yourself more frazzled if you’re running on little sleep.  The amount of sleep needed varies by individual.  Some can function well on 5 to 6 hours of sleep while others need 10 to 11.  Get to know what your body needs and then ensure you get a good night’s rest before each work day.

2. Eat a balanced diet.

Food fuels your body and your mind.  If you’re not putting good stuff in the tank you’ll find yourself lacking energy and drive to adequately perform your job.  When you eat foods rich in vitamins and nutrients you will find that you are able get more accomplished in less time.

3. Indulge in exercise.

Not only does exercise increase your energy levels, but it helps your body release stress and ensures a more restful sleep every night.  It also has incredible health benefits and makes you feel better.

4. Don’t procrastinate.

Procrastination causes of a lot of stress.  When you’re able to complete tasks and assignments in a timely manner, you save yourself a lot of grief and anxiety later.

5. Stay organized and prioritize.

Working in a chaotic, unorganized environment will cause stress.  Not only that, but it also forces you to spend more time looking for files or other records than it would take in a clean and organized office.  Purge your office of unnecessary paperwork and create a system for filing away everything else.  This will enable you to better prioritize your work day, filling it with more profitable tasks.

Once you’re able to establish a healthier work environment for yourself, you can take measures to promote a healthier work environment for your staff.  The United Health Care recommends the following.

1. Lead by example. Once you incorporate the above five tips, you are well on your way to setting a good example for your employees.
2. Use assessments. Your employee can better track their own health when they have assessments against which they can measure their progress. BMI, weight, blood chemistry and bloods pressure are all assessments you can use.
3. Provide training and development. When you make health a priority in the workplace your employees generally respond well.  Take the time to provide training and development opportunities for your staff.
4. Foster a healthy work environment. The UHC recommends providing health care, flex time, no-smoking policies, and maternity/paternity leave in efforts to foster a healthier work environment.
5. Create physical activity/community incentives.  Some companies include an onsite gym for their employees.  While that’s probably not realistic for most small businesses, you can promote a health program that rewards participants.  Encourage involvement in community races, group exercise programs, or weight loss groups.

When you ensure a healthier work environment, you will enjoy a healthier staff and, consequently, a more productive team.

A Software Program that Relieves Stress

In addition to the above suggestions, UAC encourages small business owners to use a software program that will enable you to do more work in less time.  Not only will QuickBooks expertise eliminate some of your stress, but it will also help you to work more efficiently and become even more valuable to your clientele.

Universal Accounting Center’s Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide (PBG) to QuickBooks is a self-paced program that enables you to complete the parts that interest you and skip over the parts that don’t. Even if you have used the program for years, the PBG teaches you shortcuts and methods you may not have known. You will be impressed by the simple flow and completeness of this program.

Take action now to relief some of your tax season stress later.  Order UAC’s Professional Bookkeeper’s Guide to QuickBooks today!

References

United Health Care.  “Encourage a Healthy Work Force.”  Entrepreneur.com   30 September 2008

Countless individuals have successfully started their own businesses.  Countless individuals have tried and failed.  And even more have done both.  From those who have experienced both the ups and downs and are still around to tell about it, we offer the following advice:

“For us, our most important stakeholder is not our stockholders, it is our customers.  We’re in business to serve the needs and desires of our core customer base.”  John Mackey

“There are a lot of good new ideas out there.  What differentiates companies and makes them great is the execution.”  — Anonymous

“The biggest obstacle to wealth is fear.  People are afraid to think big, but if you think small, you’ll only achieve small things.”  T. Harv Eker

“A brand for a company is like a reputation for a person.  You earn reputation by trying to do hard things well.”  — Jeff Bezos.

“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”  — Steve Jobs

“Next to doing the right thing, the most important thing is to let people know you are doing the right thing.” - John D. Rockefeller

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” - Walt Disney

What advice will you contribute after successfully starting your own accounting and tax practice?  If you’ve been thinking about taking that leap to entrepreneurialism, now is the time.  A brighter future awaits you.  Universal Accounting Center (UAC) will help you find that future.

A Ready-Made Business

You already have skills in tax preparation.  You are good with numbers and would enjoy managing a business’s financials.  All you need now to become a full-service financial provider are two things: small-business accounting skills and the ability to market those skills.  Once you have both you can start your practice.

The Professional Bookkeeper Program

There are countless small businesses that need a Profit Expert, an accountant who understands their unique needs and can help them make informed business decisions.  A Profit Expert knows how to watch key indicators and use that information to increase a business’s profitability.  A Profit Expert does more than just manage a small business’s books; a Profit Expert plays an integral role in enhancing a small business’s standing and longevity.

Only one program will enable you to become both a small-business accountant and a profit expert.   The Professional Bookkeeper Program is designed to help you take advantage of a key target market: small business owners.  While you may believe that big money is with big businesses, they represent less than 15% of accounting opportunities.  The remaining 85% resides with the small business sector.

Adding accounting services to your menu will enable you to remain busy year-round and not just during tax season.  The quality of your services will also ensure your ability to retain clients.  But in order for your business to succeed you must first secure those clients.

The Universal Practice Builder Program

For over 25 years Universal Accounting Center has trained financial professionals like you in small-business accounting.  In all our years working with accountants, bookkeepers and tax preparers we’ve come to understand that most don’t know how to promote their services to this valuable niche market.  We do!

Not only do we know how to market those services, but we know which strategies and approaches will grow your business to the point where you will become so busy you may have to turn some prospective clients away - that or consider increasing your staff in order to increase your capacity (and your bottom line!).

To share this priceless information we developed the Universal Practice Builder Program.  Here’s just a sampling of what you will gain from enrolling in this phenomenal program:

• A guarantee of $30,000 in new annualized billings in only 12 months
• The skills to become a Profit Expert for each of your clients
• 12 marketing strategies that you can implement immediately
• A process which can produce 15 to 25 qualified leads per month
• 3 months of coaching via telephone and Internet
• Training on a computerized database tracking program
• A presentation DVD to show potential clients
• Training to use QuickBooks to attract more clients
• Access to a plan proven to help retain clients

These two programs will enable you to start your business venture with confidence and ease.  For a minimal initial investment you can become a successful entrepreneur.  Not to mention both programs carry our iron-glad guarantee: if, after completing the programs and applying their principles you feel they did not live up to your expectations, you can return all materials for a 100% refund of all monies paid.  That makes these two programs practically risk-free.

It’s time you invested in your financial future. Take the first step to realizing your dream of becoming a successful entrepreneur.  Enroll today!