Three Tips to Boost Your Business

Most entrepreneurs feel overwhelmed by what they have to do and the little amount of time they have
to do it in. 

There are three strategies you can use – simple things you can do each week, in less than an hour, that will help you become a better, stronger business leader.

Call a Client

E-mail is a great vehicle for communication, however, there is real value in picking up the phone.  In less than 15 minutes, every week, you can call a client.

Read Trade Publications

Every business market has trade publications or a website that covers your market; most big markets have more than one.  Devote 20 minutes a week to read through it and find out what the key players in your trade are up to.

Close your door

One of the few things every entrepreneur agrees on is that the demands of leading a business can be stressful.  While there is value in having a literal open door policy at work, try closing it for 15 minutes a week. 

A successful entrepreneur must be a finisher.  To get things done requires focus.  Unplug for a while – turn off the phone and stay away from e-mail and you’ll regain focus and clarity.

To read the entire article, please visit www.inc.com. 

Reporting Phishing and Online IRS Scams

Protect yourself – don’t fall prey to IRS scams.  Note that the IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by any of the following methods: e-mail, text messages and social media channels.

They will not issue requests for PIN numbers, passwords or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts via any of the above methods.

Phishing is a scam typically carried out through unsolicited e-mail and/or websites that pose as legitimate sites and lure unsuspecting victims to provide personal and financial information.

What should you do if you have received an unsolicited e-mail claiming to be from the IRS?  Report it via e-mail to phishing@irs.gov.  If you've experienced any monetary losses due to an IRS-related incident, please report it to the Treasury Inspector General Administration (TIGTA) and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) through their Complaint Assistant to make the information available to investigators.

To read the entire article and for more tips and helpful links, please visit www.irs.gov.

Attention Small Businesses: Here’s what to Watch in 2015

With the New Year in full swing, small business owners are focused on implementing their strategic plans for this year.  


An important component of those plans should include monitoring potential regulatory changes and understanding how they may impact the small business landscape.


“Staying up-to-date with the ever-changing regulatory environment can be the difference between your business maintaining compliance and potentially facing steep IRS penalties,” said Martin Mucci, president and CEO of Paychex.  “Paychex keeps a close eye on regulatory issues to help business owners plan for changes that may be required in the New Year.”


Paychex has compiled its annual list of the top 10 regulatory issues that small business owners need to be aware of in 2015:

Tax Extenders and Tax Reform

The Affordable Care Act

Taxation of Online Sales

Immigration Reform

Overtime Regulations

Employment-Related Legislation

Privacy

Retirement

FUTA Credit Reduction

Banking Developments

For more expansive information on these items and to read the entire article, please visit www.cpapracticeadvisor.com.