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10 Ways To Find The Money Hiding In Your Paycheck
No matter how tight things are financially for you; no matter how bleak you think that 2005 might be, if you are earning a paycheck then there's extra money hiding in it. You just need to know where to look. Here are 10 ways to bring that money...
Are You Overpaying Taxes If You Use Tax Preparation Software?
For many business owners the answer to this quandary is tax preparation software. Fill out a fairly simple interview, click “print” and out comes a completed return that will pass muster with the IRS. The answer to all your problems…or is it? ...
Deadlines Approaching For Filing 1099s For Independent Contractors
While the middle of January may seem a bit early to begin thinking about taxes, 1099-MISC filing deadlines are looming for businesses. Generally speaking, IRS 1099-MISC is the form used to report miscellaneous income that you paid to persons...
Outsourcing and Your Business
Outsourcing and Your Business Outsourcing is an established way of doing business today, allowing companies to maximize their budgets and resources — and generate better products. Also referred to as subcontracting, outsourcing simply means...
Understanding Financial Statements When Approaching Lenders
“The bank is asking for our financial statements”, these are 8 words that often bring apprehension to many business owners. They are a young and maybe struggling company, they need bank financing to survive, and they haven’t got a clue what the...
 
Don't Wait for Tax Time to Look at the Bottom Line

A curious thing happens to entrepreneurs in the spring of every year. They wake up one day and realize they had better figure out how much money they made last year so they can pay their taxes. But wait, shouldn't a business owner already KNOW how much money he or she made last year, last quarter, or last month?

If you don't keep track of how much money you're making, you have no idea whether your business is successful or not. You can't tell how well your marketing is working. And I don't just mean you should know the amount of your total sales or gross revenue. You need to know what your net profit is. If you don't, there's no way you can know how to increase it.

If you want your business to be successful, you need to make a financial plan and check it against the facts on a monthly basis, then take immediate action to correct any problems. Here are the steps you should take:

Create a financial plan for your business. Estimate how much revenue you expect to bring in each month, and project what your expenses will be. If you need it, get help from business planning books, software, or an accountant.

Review the plan monthly. Even if business owners take the time to prepare a financial plan with profit and loss projections, they often let it sit in a drawer. It's not enough to have a plan -- you have to review it regularly.

Remember that lost profits can't be recovered. When entrepreneurs compare their projections to reality and find earnings too low or expenses too high, they often conclude, "I'll make it up later." The problem is that you really can't make it up later: every month profits are too low is a month that is gone forever.

Make adjustments right away. If revenues are lower than expected, increase efforts in sales and marketing or look for ways to increase your rates. If overhead costs are too high, find ways to cut back.


There are other businesses like yours around. What is their secret for operating profitably?

Think before you spend. When considering any new business expense, including marketing and sales activities, evaluate the increased earnings you expect to bring in against its cost before you proceed to make a purchase. You can often increase your profitability simply by delaying expenses to a later month, quarter, or year.

Don't be afraid to hire. Retailers and restaurateurs wouldn't consider operating without employees, but many service businesses limit themselves by being understaffed. Almost any business can benefit from hired (or contracted) help. Business owners can often better use their talents for generating revenue than for running errands and filing.

Pay yourself a regular salary. If you are incorporated, you may already be doing this. If not, allocate an amount to owner's compensation on a monthly basis. Each month that your business meets its profitability goal, pay yourself the full amount. When you miss your target, dock your "pay" and when you exceed it, pay yourself a "bonus." Writing yourself a monthly paycheck will give you a strong incentive to keep your business profitable.

Evaluate the success of your business based on profit, not revenue. It doesn't matter how many thousands of dollars you are bringing in each month if your expenses are almost as high, or higher. Many high-revenue businesses have gone under for this very reason -- don't be one of them.

About the Author

C.J. Hayden is the author of Get Clients NOW! Since 1992, C.J. has been teaching business owners and salespeople to make more money with less effort. She is a Master Certified Coach and leads workshops internationally. Read more of her articles or subscribe to her free newsletter at http://www.getclientsnow.com.

 

Internal Revenue Service
The US government agency responsible for tax collection and tax law enforcement. Includes income tax forms, instructions, and agency publications.
www.irs.gov
 
Tax Information for Individuals
Access to useful information, booklets and other tools from the Internal Revenue Service.
www.irs.gov
 
Tax Center - Yahoo! Finance - Tax forms, tips and calculators.
Yahoo! Finance: Tax - Find all the resources you need for tax season. Review recent tax law changes, estimate your taxes, find tax tips and expert answers ...
tax.yahoo.com
 
Taxes: Tax Planning, Tools and Advice - MSN Money
Microsoft's Tax Preparation site, in association with Tax Server.
moneycentral.msn.com
 
Tax - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Governments use different kinds of taxes and vary the tax rates: ... Taxes are most often levied as a percentage, called the tax rate, of a certain value, ...
en.wikipedia.org
 
H&R Block | Taxes, Online Tax Preparation, Tax Software, Filing ...
Offers online and in-person tax preparation and tax software, mortgages, brokerage and financial services, consumer tips and tax planning information.
www.hrblock.com
 
TaxCut Online | H&R Block | Online Taxes, File Taxes Online ...
File your Taxes online with TaxCut Online. Learn how to file taxes online here.
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Taxes & Estates, Tax and Estate Planning Advice - Forbes.com
Personal Finance - Get tax and estate planning advice and information from Forbes.com.
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Essential Links to Taxes
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Government > Taxes in the Yahoo! Directory
Yahoo! reviewed these sites and found them related to Government > Taxes.
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Taxes - Tax News for Home and Business from CNNMoney
The latest in tax law updates, news, forms & advice from CNNMoney.com. Includes a refund savings calculator, and interactive tax lessons.
money.cnn.com
 
The Tax Foundation - Educating Taxpayers Since 1937
Devoted to educating taxpayers about tax policy and the total tax burden borne by Americans at all levels of government.
www.taxfoundation.org
 
Welcome to the Vermont Department of Taxes
Welcome to the Vermont Department of Taxes... ... Changes to Property Tax Adjustments in 2007 - updated 10/18. - Tax Expenditures Transition Report on ...
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Franchise Tax Board Homepage
The department that collects state personal income taxes and bank and corporation taxes for the State of California. Access to forms and tax information.
www.ftb.ca.gov
 
HM Revenue & Customs: Home Page
News and information on tax and national insurance, including downloadable leaflets and forms and the latest news on filing tax returns on-line.
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State and Local Tax
Piper Resources; State Tax Rates and Structure ...Federation of Tax Administrators; State Payroll Taxes Information ...Symmetry Software ...
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Quicken.com
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Tax news and advice from Bankrate.com
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Online Tax Advice - Tax Preparation Help - Income Tax Tips
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