Other stuff

(cross-posted from my other blog, Nonprofit Update.)

I changed my e-fax provider today.

If you hadn’t thought about it before, or were unaware, you can buy an electronic fax service that puts faxes into your inbox via email.  You can dump your fax machine.

Each time I change providers, I find out that the services have gone up and the cost has gone down.

This time around I learned it is a common feature to be able to send a fax from your email software.  Just enter the recipient’s fax number plus an extension as if it were an email address, add attachments, and hit send.  Your fax is on its way.  Cool.  Oh, toll-free numbers are now available for no extra charge.

Price?

…

e-fax – Electronic facsimile services are really inexpensiveRead More »

While writing a post on my other blog, Outrun Change, about how much personal computers have changed in the last 30 years, I realized how many of the readers of my blogs are from outside the U.S.

On my two main blogs, Nonprofit Update and this one which Attestation Update, about 20% of the page views in the last 30 days have been from readers in other countries.

Welcome!

Not sure what that means for my writing, but I’ll keep that in mind.

Enjoy!

Bill Sheridan, at CPA Success, highlights CPA Jody Padar in his post The ladder of success is a myth. It’s a lattice.

Ms. Padar says of careers:

It’s not necessarily a straight ladder up.  There’s lots of different paths you can take to get to pretty cool places.

…

Think of your future as a career lattice, not a career ladderRead More »

I’ve changed the template for this blog. Went from ‘Fusion’ to ‘The journalist v1.9’.

This is in the ‘minimalist’ category. Doesn’t have a lot of pizzazz, but then I’m a CPA. We don’t usually do pizzazz. For a small touch of that, check out my other blogs.

If you aren’t familiar with blogging, WordPress provides free blogs and lets you use their software on another hosted site.

I have all my blogs hosted at WordPress.

The WordPress software is astoundingly easy to use. If you have working familiarity with Word or Excel, you can drive a blog easily.

If you’ve ever even though about blogging, give it a try!

(cross-post from my other blog, Nonprofit Update.)

The regulatory load to start a new business is huge.  You can not miss any of the requirements at risk of serious penalties.

I found a site that CPAs could refer clients so they can do some research on their own.  Or you can get the report to help your client.

License123 is a web service that might save you time researching the licensing and permits you need to start something new.

…

Find out what licenses you need to start a businessRead More »

Have a post at my other blog, Outrun Change, describing the power of data-mining.  Target is looking at their customer sales database to determine who is in the early stages of pregnancy so those mommies-to-be can start getting coupons for baby stuff.

See Predicting who is expecting by their shopping patterns in the second trimester – the power of data.

Might be a bit weird if you haven’t quite yet announced the good news to everyone.

On January 28, 2002 I hung out my shingle as a one-person CPA firm.  Ten years ago!

That was an exciting and thrilling step for me.  I’ve never had as much fun in my professional life as I have in the last decade.

My hope is that I’ve helped many organizations in the religious non-profit community improve their accounting and accountability.

I’m looking forward to many more years serving the non-profit community.  Looking forward to serving the CPA community as well.  Also looking forward to having even more fun – the next decade will be better than the last!

(Cross-post from my other blog, Nonprofit Update)

For quite a while now I’ve been fascinated by the rapid increase in oil production in the Bakken field in North Dakota. 

Have had a lot of posts on my blog Outrun Change.  Under 1% unemployment in one county. Production graphs that are going vertical.  More oil produced in ND than California. That kind of stuff.

This month my interest level took off like those oil production charts.

…

Why my interest in the Bakken oil field is increasingRead More »

(cross-post from my other blog, Nonprofit Update.)

The Wall Street Journal discusses ‘benefit corporations’ in their article, With New Law, Profits Take a Back Seat.

This is a traditional for-profit corporation modified to so the entity can have social or environment issues as a priority.  Profit or the interest of stockholders can take a back seat to those self-defined issues.

Why take the benefit corporation approach?

…

Benefit Corporations – new form of incorporating that allows goals other than profits to be priorityRead More »

Something else for you to keep an eye on – The California Board of Accountancy just announced a proposal to require all CPAs to submit fingerprints to the Department of Justice as a condition for renewing licenses.  Would apply for the next renewal after 6-30-14.

Hearing on the proposed rule will be on 1-27-12. Written comments must be submitted by 1-23-12. Send a letter if you have a comment.

…

Fingerprinting all California CPAs – proposal from CBARead More »

December issue of the Journal of Accountancy has 15 great tips for QuickBooks users.  Handy stuff to pass on to your clients. Several useful tips I’d not seen before.  See highlights and a link to the article in 15 Tips for QuickBooks at my other blog, Nonprofit Update.