A while back I wrote a blog post on finding a great accountant for your small business. Recently, I decided to take my own advice. I have used the same accounting service for almost a decade, and have always had a great relationship with them.
However, I found that as my small business focus shifted away from a “bricks and mortar” city environment to an online environment mixed with country living, I needed an accountant with different specialties and skills.
Where to Find a Good Small Business Accountant
I’m of the generation who “Googles” everything first. It hardly ever occurs to me to peel open a phone book if online access is just a few clicks away. Digging around on Google, I found several “accountant search” sites, and entered my request on several. Most sites asked for the following information:
- number and types of businesses I owned (sole proprietor, S-corp, etc.)
- number of employees and contractors I employed
- average revenue numbers
- accounting specialties being sought (home business, agricultural, government contracting, etc.)
I was surprised and pleased to receive both an email and a phone call from a representative at GoodAccountants.com. Shahana Faridi, my representative, asked several questions and said she would get back to me within a week with one or more suitable accountants. In fact, she got back to me within a couple of days, and set up an appointment for me with some local accountants.
I had thought she was setting up a phone appointment, and marked it as such in my calendar. Boy was I surprised when Denise and Janni showed up in person! The interview went well, and I will soon be finalizing my agreements for them to handle my small business accounting needs in the coming year.
Is It Time To Reconsider Your Accountant?
The difference between a suitable accountant for your small business and an unsuitable one can be vast. It can be the difference between paying in a huge chunk in taxes every year versus paying a much smaller sum. It can be the difference between sleeping well at night knowing your accountants will back you up with the IRS should the need ever arise, and sweating at night wondering if the other shoe is going to drop soon.
For me, an accountant suitable for my various small business enterprises means someone who knows about home business, the livestock business, the publishing business, and S-corporations as well as C-corporations. I asked a number of probing questions, all of which Denise and Janni answered to my extreme satisfaction. It was a good time to change accounting services, and I am looking forward to my new relationship with Denise and Janni.
What about you? Have your small business accounting needs changed in the recent past, and is it time to re-evaluate your accounting relationship?
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Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/denniswong/ / CC BY 2.0
Tags: good small business accountant, goodaccountants.com
Posted by Stephanie Valentine on May 15, 2009 in
Employment and Jobs,
Small Business Management 
When we visited Cancun, Mexico this past winter for our annual 5-week R&R trip, we were amazed at how many storefronts and clubs were completely empty. Senor Frogs had virtually no business, and the shopping centers for tourists were so empty that they echoed. It was like walking through a very luxurious ghost town. Some stores in our local town back here in Colorado are starting to look the same way, but not all businesses.
There are three kinds of businesses that seem to thrive during any recession: discount stores, maintenance shops, and stores that recycle goods.
Discount Stores
Of course, Wal-mart is coming up roses with its low-price guarantee. The giant retailer increased its annual stock dividends by 15% in March, while other retailers are closing their doors. But other kinds of discount stores are also doing very well.
For instance, beauty schools all around the country are seeing a surge in business. People want to look good, even as the economy comes crashing down around them. At just $5-$7 per haircut and $35 for a hair color (versus $25 for a cut and $75 for a color at a regular salon), beauty schools are attracting customers like crazy. Discount stores empower consumers to stretch their hard-earned dollars, and are earning profits on their sheer volume of business.
Maintenance Shops
Drive past any new car dealer and you’ll see a shiny ghost town. No one wants to buy a gas-guzzling new car in this economy. Instead, people are doing their own oil changes and trying to make their older cars last longer. Car service centers are experiencing a surge in business, with people bring their cars in for more complicated maintenance issues. Experts predict that service centers will see even more business if the price of gas stays low, as many people plan to take road trips this summer as an inexpensive way to get away. Those road trippers will want their cars tuned up before hitting the road. Other maintenance-type businesses growing include all kinds of repair shops, from shoe repair to computer repair.
Recycled Goods
When it comes to saving money, consumers are thinking thrift shops, eBay, pawn shops, and auctions. Second-hand stuff has never been more valuable, and people are flocking to second-hand venues to both buy and sell. While major retailers like Macy’s are laying off thousands of employees, some thrift store chains are doubling the size of their staff. Experts are also predicting an increase in swap meets, better business on eBay and other auction sites, and a rosy future for pawn shops. Investing in recycling used goods is about to be very big business.
Does this give you some ideas for your small business?
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Photo credit: the current bane of my existence
Tags: businesses that thrive in a recession, discount stores, maintenance shops, recycled goods
Posted by Stephanie Valentine on May 11, 2009 in
Employment and Jobs 
If you’ve been laid off or you have had to close your business, and you’re sitting at home waiting for the “interview call” that never comes, I’ve got a better suggestion for you. Go in for some continuing education - get an internship.
An Internship? Yes, Really.
Yeah, I know, the word “intern” conjures up some wet-behind-the-ears kid who just graduated college and needs some life experience. Well, in today’s economy, internships are not just for the young anymore. They are for the young-at-heart, as well.
For the most part, internships are unpaid or offer a very, very low wage, which can sound depressing when the bills are mounting up. However, you might think about it this way: you normally have to pay for college, but you don’t have to pay for an internships. It’s a free education. You can learn new skills, maybe bridge your technology gap, for free. Not bad. In this economy, anything free is good.
New York City In the Lead for Internships
New York City is leading the charge with internships, especially for those laid off from the financial sector. Two programs in NYC, Fastrac and JumpStart NYC, are both targeting the unemployed in the financial sector by either offering free training or helping them start new businesses. JumpStart NYC puts interns through a boot camp, and then gives graduates a 10-week unpaid internship with a startup company. Nothing like doing “senior year” all over again, right?
For women, there is a program called Women on the Web, or wowOwow.com. This program, started by Joni Evans, targets women over 40 who have been laid off, or whose spouses have been laid off. The program has so far offered 30 women “crash course in editing and Web technology skills.”
Age is a Good Thing for Internships
If you think that internship might be the right move for you, don’t worry if you aren’t a spring chicken. These days, companies look favorably upon “mature” interns. Your work experience will be valued, and most corporate HR departments consider older interns far more reliable and responsible.
Before you take an internship position, be clear about what you want to get out of the position. Know that the internship will likely not turn into a paid position, but you will learn some valuable new skills. Be sure to set a timeframe for your internship, with 3 months being a typical average. Finally, pick an internship where you can learn skills that suit your personality and interests. Most of all, enjoy!
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Photo credit: Store Closed
Tags: business closed, internships for older people, laid off
Turn Your Small Business Model Inside-Out
Times of economic turmoil offer small business owners some of the best opportunities to see their businesses in a different light. Economic upheaval gives us an excuse (as if we need one) to examine our business model and, if need be, turn it completely upside down.
One enterprising small business owner, dentist Thomas P. Roemer, has done just that. While most dentists work out of traditional offices, Dr. Roemer works out of a building at the world’s largest truck stop in Walcott, Iowa. Roemer used to have a practice in the nearby town of Davenport, but recently decided to open up an office at the truck stop. Why? Because he has always gotten consistent business from long-haul truck drivers who were in pain and in need of immediate help. That gave Roemer an idea.
Go Where the Patients Are
While many doctors and dentists see their businesses shrinking as people try to save money by skipping regular checkups and dental cleanings, people in pain need immediate help. The truckers who call on Roemer need help now, and the truck stop gets 35,000 visitors per week. As Roemer puts it, “You have people walking in holding their jaws in pain. Treatment is not optional — they need to see a dentist, and they need to see me now.” Thus Roemer gets a steady stream of business from people who cannot opt for a cheaper solution because their pain is overwhelming.
Instead of attempting to bring patients into his practice consistently by scheduling regular checkups (a technique that doesn’t work well when people are reluctant to spend money), Roemer brought his practice to patients who are begging for help, no questions asked.
Can You Emulate Dr. Roemer?
Does this give you some ideas for your business? Does this spark ideas on how you might turn your business model inside out? Here are some questions you might ask yourself about your business and your customers:
- How can you go to where your customers are instead of trying to bring them to you?
- What are your customers willing to spend money on, no questions asked?
- When are your customers willing to spend money, no questions asked?
- Where are your customers when they might need your services?
- In what circumstances might your customers be more willing to hear what you have to say?
Can you pull a Dr. Roemer turnaround on your small business model?
Photo credit: Tooth-Brush
Tags: business model, Dr. Roemer, small business, small business in recession
Posted by Stephanie on Mar 12, 2009 in
Employment and Jobs 
What To Do If You Get Axed
Pink slips are becoming an epidemic and a lot of people are feeling quite depressed about it. Surprisingly, though, a high percentage of people are feeling quite freed by the sensation of not having to get up early in the morning. Some are wondering what to do with their slack time until a new opportunity opens up. And all kinds of creative options are popping up. If you’ve been laid off, here are some things you can think about doing in your slack time.
1. Be Like the CSS Guy
The Wall Street Journal just published an article about Justin Rockwell, a web developer who got laid off last fall. He didn’t know what to do with himself or necessarily how to get a job, but he did find himself spending a lot of time on Twitter. He decided to put his skills and his Twitter network to work for him. He began searching tweets for people posting about problems with cascading style sheets (css), an aspect of web development, and offering his services to those people. He offered several payment options, ranging from $35 (which gets your problem fixed within 3 days) to $135 (which gets you two hours of his time). He’s not making a full-time living on Twitter yet but he is catching the attention of quite a few people. And, he earned $1400 in February from Twitter referrals.
Does that spark any creative ideas of how you can leverage your skills on Twitter?
2. Turn Your Online Presence Into You Online Resume and Job Application
So maybe your blog and Facebook account have thus far been a mish-mash of business tips, personal details, pictures of your cat, and any other random thoughts that come to mind. Well, it’s time to shape up and start cleaning house. According to well-known blogger Robert Scoble, if you want to attract a new job you need to focus all of your online resources in the same direction. His advice? If you want to drive a cab then start posting pictures of cabs, offering tips for cab drivers, and following current cabbies in social networking sites. He has a lot more details, too. Check ‘em out here.
What kind of job do you want next and what can you do to focus your online presence toward that aim?
3. Seth Says, “Become an Expert and Get a Following”
We all do what Seth Godin says, right? Well, maybe not everything but the guy does have quite a lot going on in that shiny head of his so he’s worth listening to. His advice for the recently pink-slipped? Make use of your slack time. You’ve got the time so use it wisely. Learn something you’ve always wanted to learn, like a foreign language or how to program your own webpage. On the practical side, he suggests, among other things, building a tribe of followers for your favorite non-profit organization and turning your experience into a case study for your industry or niche. Sounds like a pretty good marketing tool to help you get your next job. Oh, and while you’re at it, get a following and build an online reputation. He suggests doing random acts of kindness, like hooking up people who need each other for no personal gain or giving away information really need. Very much along the lines of “give to get,” which actually works. Read more about what Seth says …
What are you going to do with your slack time?
Photo Credit: Used to kill
Tags: blog, online presence, seth godin, social media, the css guy
