Personal Financial Planning
Investment advisory services can be a dynamic and lucrative addition to a practice, but this niche often is challenging to launch and maintain. Here's an abbreviated list of companies that work with CPAs breaking into the investment strategy business.
Software
One of the most powerful tools on your computer is the spreadsheet application. This tutorial reveals some of the lesser-known functions and shortcuts that are available in Excel. Applying these tools will make your work faster and easier.
Tax
The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 changed many gift tax filing rules. Taxpayers who follow the new rules carefully will curtail the IRS's ability to challenge valuations of gifted property.
Auditing
The cash flow statement can provide a wealth of information for the auditor, but few know how to use it to its full advantage. By applying some simple but powerful ratios, auditors can get a clearer picture of their clients' financial situations. Case study: Running a casino is not a game.
The Online Accountant
There has been a lot of talk about what CPA WebTrust is going to do. But the first company to earn the seal doesn't have to wonder anymore.
Marketing / Practice Management
Find out what it takes to market to a special industry before you start. Having a great deal of knowledge and experience in a niche is helpful, but being an industry champion, the one person everyone goes to for help and information, really brings in the business.
Technology / Business & Industry
To say that intranets are Web sites with limited access is to miss the point. They are a way, not a thing. Whether you're a technology expert or a novice, you need to learn to think differently about your company's operations to create a useful intranet.
The Small Practitioner
Staffing is one of the most difficult issues for CPA firms. Three local practitioners describe their efforts to take on the challenge of finding and retaining good people.