“Five Reasons Entrepreneurs Need an Accountant” plus 1 more

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Five Reasons Entrepreneurs Need an Accountant Posted: 29 Mar 2012 04:00 AM PDT Entrepreneurs often get so focused on their area of expertise when they jump into a new business venture that they don't typically give enough thought to the accounting aspects of the venture. For many business owners, the reason they fail is because they run into financial difficulties because of lack of planning and lack of proper accounting practices. Hiring a small business accountant from the day your doors open should be considered a priority and a necessity, not a luxury for business owners. If you're looking for a business that can survive and thrive for the long-run, having an idea of the financial health of your business needs to be priority one. Here are five reasons to hire an accountant and what they can do for your business: Establishing Proper Accounting Practices. The most important reason to hire an accountant is that they will help you implement proper accounting practices from day one. An accountant can help you track income and expenses, help you see what's making money and what's losing money, and they can offer information on course corrections. Your accountant will also make certain all of your financial records are in compliance with state, federal and local regulatory agencies. Keeps Your Books Straight. In the course of running the day to day operations of a business, the entrepreneur simply doesn't have the time to undertake the responsibility of implementing a sound accounting system. Your accountant will make certain you have fiscally sound spending habits for your business and that you're not misusing or co-mingling any of your business and personal funds. Keeps You Tax Compliant.  Paying taxes is a necessary evil of any business endeavor and a good accountant will make certain you're abiding by tax filing deadlines and that you're undertaking proper accounting of income and expenses so you're not paying too little in taxes or too much. Filing tax returns, both quarterly and annually will also become the responsibility of your accountant. Frees Up Your Time to Work on Your Business. Freeing up your time and energy to allow you to focus on growing your business is another major benefit of having an accountant on your business team. Business Forecasting. Your accountant can also work with you on forecasting trends for your business based on the historical numbers of your business. He or she can then work with you to develop a spending plan that keeps your business operating in the black. If you're looking to run your business as a money making endeavor for the long run – as opposed to operating it as a hobby  – having an accounting and fiscal plan in place from the first day you write a check or receive money for your goods and services only makes sound fiscal sense. About the Author Deirdre Morhet, MBA, is the founder and principal of BASC Expertise, a small business accounting firm in Phoenix, Arizona that specializes in business consulting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and small business accounting.

The Penny-Pinching Perks of Growing Rosemary Posted: 29 Mar 2012 03:55 AM PDT As is the case with many herbs, growing rosemary is a good idea. It's a fresh, earthy and hearty herb that stands up well to cooler temperatures. It's also extremely flexible around the house. In fact, there are almost as many ways to enjoy rosemary as there are uses for lavender. If growing yours from scratch doesn't appeal to you, small pots of rosemary can be purchased affordably in the garden sections of most box stores. From there, they'll take off on their own outside, or you can keep them in a large interior pot. Here are some of the many ways that growing rosemary can help you out. Food Nothing perks up homemade food like the use of fresh herbs. One way I like to indulge my love of international cuisines and still stay on budget is with the occasional homemade batch of focaccia bread. Because I'm growing rosemary in my back yard, I'm able to indulge in the inclusion of this freshly-chopped herb into my bread mix. There are other ways to jazz up affordable homemade recipes with rosemary, including money-saving side dishes such as oven-roasted rosemary potatoes, and rosemary-roasted chicken. Hair Tonic If you enjoy experimenting with homemade beauty products as a way to stay spiffy without overspending, then you may want to try out this rosemary hair tonic from the folks at Natural News. Many people believe this herb helps with dandruff and gives hair a glossy shine, which are two additional ways that growing rosemary can be financially beneficial. Infused Olive Oil Looking for an elegant hostess gift that doesn't cost a mint? Try a homemade rosemary-infused olive oil in an attractive glass bottle. The recipient will be able to use it in pasta dishes and to brush over the tops of home-baked goods prior to putting them in the oven. It also looks great on the counter while it's being used up. Gift Wrap Another benefit of growing rosemary is that the cut branches make fabulous additions to the top of a hand-wrapped gift. Using it in this way is one of my favorite green gift wrapping ideas, and gives the recipient a little extra something to use in the kitchen after they receive it. Potted Holiday Tree For small apartment dwellers and cooking enthusiasts, this is one of the more elegant holiday ideas I've ever encountered. Provided they are well decorated, that is. If you don't feel like pruning one yourself, they are available at various grocery stores throughout the holiday season and cost significantly less than a poinsettia. They also last much longer and are more stable during temperature transitions. DIY Massage Oil If you don't have time for a spa getaway but still feel the need to unwind, consider incorporating at-home massage treatments using your own table and homemade spa products. One of the hot new trends these days is to use rosemary massage oil in conjunction with specific treatments. If you can infuse your own, you'll be saving that much more of your hard-earned money.

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