Bookkeeper's Blog
Expensify App for QuickBooks - Check it out it is free
by Sandra Emanuel on 10/10/11
Expensify
Expense Report App for QuickBooks
Import
expenses straight from your credit card, get eReceipts for most purchases so
you can throw your paper receipts away, reimburse reports up to $10,000 using
direct deposit entirely online and seamlessly integrate with QuickBooks!
This app works with: QuickBooks for
Windows and QuickBooks Online
Expensify syncs with your QuickBooks company to
automate your expense reporting process. From the time a purchase is made with
cash or on a credit card to when it's logged to ledger, we create one seamless
link for all of the information to flow through:
Sync your
QuickBooks company to import your expense categories and lists of customers,
classes and jobs.
Create rules
and automatic categorization options around your synced data to make sure that
expenses coming your way meet your requirements.
Receive
expense reports through email and reimburse them online through direct deposit
to a checking account.
Move the
report over to QuickBooks with the click of a button - all of the expenses will
be placed in their proper categories automatically!
Don't worry,
we also take care of the people submitting their expenses to you. We'll pull in
expenses AND receipts right from their card and have (FREE!) mobile apps for
the iPhone/iPad, BlackBerry, Android and WebOS (Palm) phones to capture any
cash expenses that fall through. With your rules and auto-categorization in
place, all that's left for them to do is pick and choose which expenses they
want to be reimbursed for!
Pricing
Good for 2
user(s). It's free to create and submit reports for an unlimited number of
users. It's free to approve and reimburse reports from up to 2 submitters/month
and only $5/month for each additional submitter thereafter.
Is Your Business Prepared for the Possible Closure of the Postal Service?
by Sandra Emanuel on 09/14/11
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Is Your Business Prepared for the
Possible Closure of the Postal Service?
By Sandra Emanuel
With the growing uncertainty of the continued function of
our United States Postal Service, it has me thinking about how many small
businesses out there have taken the time to prepare their businesses for a
potential shut down or even modified delivery schedule of our mail system.
I do have a handful of small business clients currently
using various electronic billing and payment services, but I have found most
small businesses are just not willing to take the time to investigate and set
up these services. In the past I have
always brought up these options to my clients for discussion however, never
really “pushed” hard on these services,
until now that is.
In this day and age,
most of us use our email to communicate efficiently with our customers and
clients; however, there are still a few of us out there who are not comfortable
with interacting electronically. Does
this sound familiar? If so, here are a few things for you to consider.
·
How would
change this affect your revenue stream?
·
How would
you invoice or receive payments from your customers?
·
How would
you pay your bills?
I tend to lean towards the other end of the spectrum; if I
can invoice and receive payments electronically I am happy to do so and
actually prefer it that way. However, I still have a few clients of my own that
insist on sending checks via mail, and cringe every time I have to drive to the
bank to make a deposit.
Hopefully, you are now considering what you would need to do
in order to implement some online business solutions that would work for you, so
what is your next step.
Call your bank,
many banks offer online bill payment services and solutions some of which, may
even integrate into your current accounting and bookkeeping software. You may
want to consider setting up your business up to begin paying your vendors
online and even encourage your customers to do the same.
Third Party Solutions,
there are many companies out there who offer online business billing
solutions. For instance, Intuit offers a
variety of such solutions for their highly popular QuickBooks accounting
software package. These solutions are specifically designed to integrate
seamlessly into their QuickBooks software. Additionally, they also offer web
based solutions (some even work as standalone solutions) through their Intuit
Payment Network, as well, as mobile payment options for receiving payment on
the go via your mobile phone.
Accountant or
Financial Advisor, call and speak to your CPA, bookkeeper or financial
advisor. Most likely they may have either already implemented such solutions
for themselves, or for other clients, or may also have suggestions or options
for you to consider. Some may even be able to assist you with the
implementation of the online solutions you choose.
Being prepared now for a possible closure or change in
delivery schedule by the postal service, will not only keep you from scrambling
later, but may also help you avoid any potential future disruption in your
business.
Sandra Emanuel, is a Certified
Bookkeeper and Advanced QuickBooks ProAdvisor , owner of Books With Integrity.
Books With Integrity specializes in assisting small businesses with their
bookkeeping needs. You may contact
Sandra at Sandra@bookswithintegrity.net or by visiting her
website at www.bookswithintegrity.net
New IRS Mileage Rates
by Sandra Emanuel on 06/27/11
The IRS has increased the optional standard mileage rates for the final six months of 2011 due to the sharp rise in gasoline prices. The rate will increase to 55.5¢ per mile (previously 51¢ cents per mile) for all business miles driven between July 1 and Dec. 31, 2011. The new six-month rate for computing deductible medical or moving expenses will be 23.5¢ per mile, up from 19¢ for the first half of 2011. The rate for providing services for charitable organizations is set by statute, not the IRS, and remains at 14¢ per mile [IR 2011-69; Ann. 2011-40, 2011-29 IRB].
An employer that requires employees to supply their own autos may reimburse them at a rate that doesn't exceed 55.5¢ per mile for employment-connected business mileage in the second half of 2011, and the reimbursement will be treated as a tax-free accountable plan reimbursement. The employee must substantiate the time, place, business purpose, and mileage of each trip. Additionally, an employee's personal use of lower-priced company autos during the second half of 2011 may be valued at 55.5¢ per mile if the conditions specified in Reg. §1.61-21(e)(1) are met.
Employers paying a mileage allowance in excess of the standard rate must report the excess on Form W-2.
Taxpayers always have the option of calculating the actual costs of using their vehicle, rather than using the standard mileage rates.
The IRS generally only revises the standard mileage rates once a year (in the fall).
