News

Managing Your Sales Leads

The measure of the successful pursuit of a lead is based on whether the lead, in time, turns into a sale. The key to this transition lies in both speed and perseverance. A systematic organization and management of these leads can also help secure their progress through the stages of prospect to hot lead to profitable sale. (more…)

New Business: IRS Announces Business Mileage Rate For 2012

The IRS recently announced that the mileage rate for business driving in 2012 will be 55.5ยข a mile. The rate can be used for cars, vans, pickups, and panel trucks. (more…)

W-2s Due to Employees

Title: W-2s Due to Employees Description: Employers must furnish employees with statement of compensation and amounts withheld during prior year (Form W-2). Statements of amounts withheld on certain gambling winnings must be furnished by payer to recipients (Form W-2G) Date: 2012-01-31

Tax Tip Tuesday! Are You An Active Participant?

Are you an active participant in your employer’s retirement plan?

A “yes” answer can affect your federal income tax deduction for contributions to your traditional IRA. (more…)

What’s New: Social Security Benefits Increase For 2012

For the first time since 2009, those receiving social security benefits will get an inflationary increase in their monthly benefit. Benefits paid in 2012 will increase by 3.6%. There had been no increase in the previous two years because inflation was too low. (more…)

Planning To Improve Your Profitability

We often say “what you measure you can manage” and “what gets managed gets done”. When it comes to achieving greater profitability, truer words cannot be found. The fourth way of growing a firm, which is improving the effectiveness of the things that you do, is a vital part of assisting you to better manage the results. (more…)

Answer Four Questions Before Refinancing A Mortgage

“Interest rates hit historic lows!” “Refinance Now!” “No-cost refinancing!” These advertisements urge consumers to capitalize on mortgage interest rates that have declined significantly over the past two decades. (more…)

Tax Tip Tuesday! What Is Income?

No matter what the weather report says, each new year brings a flurry of information returns. These forms report the income you received during the prior year, and the size of the paper blizzard is partly due to the definition of “gross income” in the federal tax code. (more…)

Keys To Getting A Small Business Loan

Before a start-up company can begin producing revenue, it often needs an infusion of cash that exceeds owner contributions. Even long-established firms sometimes must borrow to purchase inventory, buy real estate, expand operations, meet payroll, or keep the lights on. When business owners turn to banks and other financial institutions for help, some are offered loans; others walk away empty handed. (more…)

1099s Due to Contractors

Title: 1099s Due to Contractors Description: Form 1099-MISC is most commonly used by payers to report payments made in the course of a trade or business to others for services.

If you paid someone who is not your employee, such as a subcontractor or attorney $600 or more for services provided during the year, a Form 1099-MISC needs to be completed, and a copy of 1099-MISC must be provided to the independent contractor by January 31 of the year following payment. Date: 2012-01-31