The tools that we use to run our businesses and organize our lives are supposed to make thing easier. We choose them because we identify a need — a pain point — and are looking for a solution. In my experiences working with small business, bookkeeping is a common area where most folks are looking for some help.
In my review of bookkeeping and tax prep service Outright back in April, I highlighted not only its ease of use, but also its ability to play nicely and communicate with other apps. As a bookkeeping app is just a part of the chain of tracking income and expenses, these connections to your existing data are critical and keep data entry times to an absolute minimum.
I’m thrilled to hear that the Outright folks are extending this reach, with two major additions to the list of apps that Outright is compatible with being released today. Both should really help the typical small business keep finances and expenses in check.
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I’ve written in the past about the handy features of bookkeeping and tax preparation service Outright. Its easy-to-use interface and integration with other apps make it almost a no-brainer for small business that aren’t satisfied with their existing accounting process.
As we’re at the midyear point, now is a good time to evaluate how prepared you are for tax preparation, rather than wait for year end. To sweeten the deal a bit, the folks at Outright have partnered with Network Solutions to offer a free domain name and business profile page for one year to new signups. The promotion runs through until the end of July.
If you don’t already have a web presence, this might be a great way to get yourself online, and to get the bookkeeping and tax preparation benefits of Outright. Just register as normal with Outright and they’ll send you the details on how to get your domain name. It is estimated that 50 percent to 60 percent of small businesses do not yet have an online presence; offers like this can give people the ability to take the plunge and move their business to the web.
What I really like about this offer is that it is very much in the spirit of the Small Business Web movement that I think is tremendously important for the long-term success of web services. While not an integration move, it shows how service providers can work together to bring a real benefit to their small business users. I’ve watched these interactions and relationships develop online and am thrilled to see real benefits coming out of these partnerships.
Is your business online? Could you use a free domain name?
Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) and bookkeepers can develop full-time web working careers by using their knowledge to provide the help many people need with their finances. The tools available now mean that it’s possible to do this kind of work remotely. Is bookkeeping or accounting a possible career for you?
Types of Accounting & Bookkeeping Careers
People in this career can handle payroll and business operations, manage personal finances and balance books. Careers in accounting and finance can vary as illustrated by the following examples. Read the rest of this entry »
As we approach April 15th and tax time, it is normal for us to think about how we maintain our books and evaluate if our current process is working for us.
While there’s no shortage of accounting programs available, with varying levels of complexity and pricing, it can be difficult for a small shop to find the right solution. Focusing on ease of use and integration with other web apps, Outright is a great choice for web workers.
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Not understanding bookkeeping, taxes and other administrative tasks can be very off-putting for people thinking about starting their own business. But in reality, these tasks are not that hard to do if you’re organized and get a little professional help.
Now, I’m not a CPA, and the closest I’ve come to taking accounting is being a professor’s assistant in an online graduate program course. However, I must do something right as I’ve been on my own for over four years and my business tax payments remain on target. So here I’m going to share what I do, as it might work for you or give you ideas on how you can keep on top of your business finances.
I keep it simple by having just two tools in my accounting toolbox: QuickBooks and Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS). Substitute QuickBooks with your favorite accounting application to make this process work for you. I tend to pick up new software fast, but not so with QuickBooks. Regardless, it takes care of all of my invoicing, expensing and tax needs. But we won’t go into that. My way is just one way; check the comments on this post to see a bunch of great ways to handle your taxes.
There are two things you need to do:
Many web workers have a need to track expenses – either for client or employer reimbursement, or just to get their taxes right. And most of us have developed some solution for that – sticky notes, spreadsheets, notebooks, and so on.
Of course, like just about everything else, you can also track your expenses online. The latest service in this field is expens’d, a simple and free web application. The folks behind expens’d say they were trying to avoid simplicity, and they succeeded: you get instant signup and your own subdomain for free (additional users move you into paid plans), and a way to track name, note, date, and amount for expenses. You can also tag expenses (though I don’t see any tag search yet) and create reports, which can be sent by email to anyone – perhaps the best feature here.
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The tools that we use to run our businesses and organize our lives are supposed to make thing easier. We choose them because we identify a need — a pain point — and are looking for a solution. In my experiences working with small business, bookkeeping is a common area where most folks are looking for some help.
Web Work 101: How To Escape The Cubicle
