The Accounting Store is proud to bring you a new seminar full of tax strategies to help your business save money. Book a seat on one of these two upcoming dates: February 16th or 28th. Be sure to indicate which date you want to attend in the comments section. Cost is $20 – all proceeds will be donated to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. You can register by filling out this short form online or calling us at 604-420-4949.
read moreAs a small-business owner, even the tiniest of decisions can have a big effect on your business. That’s probably the reason that most business owners try to base their decisions on the facts… and the facts alone. But sometimes, the facts just aren’t enough to make an informed decision. Sometimes, what you really need is wisdom. Now, wisdom doesn’t always come easy, that’s for sure. And ironically, you can’t have wisdom until you first have those facts – that data that defines a specific activity in raw...
read moreMaking your company a great place to work is a key component of attracting the right kind of employee. Unfortunately, this often translates into “perks” and when the economy tanks, those perks are the first thing to go. But that doesn’t have to be the case. There are several ways to offer employees something extra without stepping outside your company’s tight budget. Throw A Party Employees love feeling appreciated, so throwing a regular gala to congratulate employees on a job well done or celebrate all the birthdays in...
read moreOne of the primary goals of small business owners is growth – we all dream of seeing our small venture evolve into a formidable enterprise that transcends time and even our own mortality. But to have that kind of growth, you’ll need more people and as many small business owners have discovered, managing others is not as simple as they thought. In fact, many business owners turned new managers find that managing others is a whole new ballgame… one that the existing business owners’ rulebook does not always address. Now,...
read moreWe’ve all heard the benefits of goal-setting in our personal lives. Having a few well-planned goals helps us achieve all those things on our never-ending to-do list. It’s how we formulate a strategy to pay off debt, buy a new house or lose those last stubborn twenty pounds that just won’t go away. In short, setting goals helps us become better people. So, given all the benefits, why wouldn’t we use this same strategy in our business as well? Yet, according to the Staples National Small Business Survey in 2010, we...
read moreFor many small businesses, financial analysis is limited to the Profit & Loss Statement (also know as the Income Statement) which compares the revenue and expenses over a specific period of time. If the P&L shows a profit, then the business owner celebrates and all is good in the world. But o positive bottom line on your P&L doesn’t necessarily mean positive cash flow and it certainly isn’t enough to fully understand your company’s performance. In his book, In The Black, author Allen Bostrom notes that...
read moreSometimes, the best way to determine your next step is to take a quick look back and see how you’re doing so far. This kind of evaluation is a crucial aspect of growing your business and will reveal the areas that are running smoothly as well as those that need work. So, how should you grade your business? Start with an overall assessment. If you were to give an honest grade, how do you see your business ranking in the areas of Marketing, Production and Accounting? Would you say you have excellent systems in place, that your overall...
read moreIf you’ve got a multi-billion dollar company, a few late-paying clients probably aren’t your biggest concern. But for small businesses, a few late-paying clients can literally tank your company’s cash flow… and that’s a problem that small businesses have consistently struggled to overcome. Enter EchoSign, recently purchased by Adobe. EchoSign is a major player in electronic signatures, something many small businesses haven’t paid much attention to in the past. But combining this service with Adobe’s...
read moreWhen it comes to smart tax planning, dividend income is definitely the way to go. Not only do you add to your financial pie but the offsetting tax credits make this type of income even more attractive. The dividend tax credit is Canada’s way of dealing with the double taxation of dividends. After all, the Corporation paid taxes on the money when they reported it as income and then the shareholder – that’s you – pays taxes again when the dividend is distributed. To offset that double taxation, the dividends are...
read moreIn the world of small business, it’s not unusual to find business owners who double as the receptionist, the IT guy and even the person responsible for making coffee. And when it comes to making your small business run, sometimes you “gotta do what you gotta’ do”. But just as it’s important to have a talent for multi-tasking, it’s equally as important that you know when to call in some help. Because contrary to popular opinion, you can’t do everything and at some point, having your hands in everything...
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