The Chartered Exam Initiative

Accounting may not be as glamorous now compared to pre-computer years, but it still has its moments. For self-employed accountants, they know that most anything could be put in the books, as long as the government regulations will allow.

For instance, cigars. Even the most expensive cigars can be tax-deductible. It’s only a matter of spending a little more and putting a ring with your name on it. In that way, it now becomes and advertising expense. This logic can be carried on with other such materials, including office supplies, school supplies, and so on. For large expensive items, these could be put in the books as expense accounts. For instance, a computer does not have to be an office equipment which would be depreciated over three or five years. Put it up as part of a project cost, as a one-time expense account. Because it is a project cost, you would have to have separate books for the project. In addition, the project would have it’s own revenue. The computer is already deducted as a one-time cost, and no need to depreciate over it’s lifespan.

This is not a matter of fixing the books. This is a matter of following accepted accounting practice. The only other rule is to treat the same items the same way, even for different years. If you are to change your accounting practice, just make sure that you don’t do that every year.
One other way to save, and turn it around as a benefit, is the use of tax saver private health insurance. This is just signing up for health insurance and adding it into the books as a company expense. This can be a perk or benefit, but what it does is it increases your expenses and lowers your taxable revenue.

There is no need to be creative about accounting. The rules are there to be followed. It would be a matter of interpretation, and how you interpret the rules. Bottom line is that your employees would benefit, and your company would have a better bottom line.

When you start to see varicose veins forming on your lower leg, you might just want to scrape them all out. If the problem worsens, then it becomes more difficult to remove. The good thing is that there are a lot of options available if you want to treat the problem. This article will discuss some of the possible solutions to treat this problem and the estimated overall cost.

1. Vein stripping. This procedure is only applicable for extreme situations. During this procedure, small cuts are made on the area where the actual veins are to be removed. You will be induced to sleep throughout the procedure so you won’t feel the pain at all. This is one of the most expensive options for varicose vein treatment. It ranges from $1,500-$,3000 depending on the gravity of the problem. It takes 1 to 4 weeks for you to recover after the surgery.

2. Laser surgery. This is one of the most popular options available today. Light energy from the laser is applied directly into the varicose veins. This will help lighten the affected areas until the veins start to fade away. In this treatment, no cutting or injection is required. However, this can only be used for simpler cases. The cost is from $600-$3,000 depending on the scope of the affected area.

3. Sclerotherapy. This is one of the newest technologies used in varicose vein treatment. With this procedure, chemicals are injected into the affected area until the veins start to clear out. The blocked veins will now start to move normally. The entire process would take a few sessions before completion. For sclerotherapy, the amount ranges from $100-$200 per session. The frequency depends on the problem. The best part about this process is that there is no recovery period required. It is as if you have just gone for an injection and you’re done. You can check out the best sclerotherapy clinic here if you want to know more about it.

Free Treatment

The treatments presented are for those who suffer from grave varicose vein issues. However, you can find a way to avoid going for this treatment. The first option is for you to change your lifestyle at the slightest sight of the problem. When you start feeling leg pain, cramping, muscle pain, and veins start to appear, then you have to find a way to deal with the problem.

If your job requires you to stand for a long time, then try to move from one place to another every 20 minutes. You may also sit for a minute before standing again. You may also apply lotions and creams on the surface of the skin, although this won’t necessarily treat the problem. You also have to avoid wearing high heeled shoes. There is really no such thing as a free treatment, but you can find a way to prevent the problem from getting worse.

If you are interested to find out the best sclerotherapy in Los Angeles, you can visit here and check out other information about varicose vein treatment.

It’s no secret that even though business is getting better, everyone’s still feeling the effects of the recent economic crash. Across the USA and parts of the EU, people are still struggling through trying times and a lack of jobs. But it’s not all bad; there has been growth in various sectors of the business industry. While they aren’t traditionally considered big business; their rise is something to look out for in the future. So, before you start freaking out about the end of the economic world, look at these different sectors that show the most promise.

Home and Family Care

Over the next few years, a large amount of the senior population will inevitably retire. Health care for the aged has been seen as the next best place to find a job. This is convenient for pre-med nurses and other care giving professionals, as job security will be better. Psychiatrists and social workers will also see that same security bloom in their field. There’s a grim truth behind this growth; more kids are being adopted and sent into foster care and the need for rehab staff will boom in a few years.

Support Services

Since there are more foreign nationals coming into the country, certain support service jobs will also see the same growth as home and family care. You will definitely see things like translation services in San Diego among other and similar interpretation jobs see slow growth. After all, the need to understand each other is integral when it comes to business.

Construction Services

While construction hasn’t been at its height for a while, everything involving construction, like wood product manufacturing and cement production, are growing. You see, construction as a whole has seen a steady resurgence in need. However, this sector is also the slowest to grow; only showing off a 3.9% increase in annual job growth.

Jobs are still a little scarce around these parts, but it doesn’t mean there isn’t anything on the horizon. While these entries seem like menial labor, it would be a bad idea not to keep an eye. If not, you can always look to the overseas market; they’re experiencing a massive boom as of late.

For business establishments and houses, keeping bathrooms clean and looking great is of utmost importance. It’s one of the first things that people look at or inspect whenever they come over, and being caught with chipped and faded tiles is quite embarrassing. However, everyone knows that tiles can be very expensive, especially if you’re looking at imported clay ones from Europe. These are colorful baked tiles which hold vibrant colors and patterns are often used as décor inside the home or bathroom wall.

From a business owner or an accountant’s point of view, replacing bathroom tiles is expensive because of the high labor costs involved. The truth of the matter is that the labor for installing the tiles cost twice or three times as much as the tiles themselves. You can save a lot of money if you can replace the bathroom tiles by yourself (or with your spouse or best buddy) on a weekend when the shop is closed. You can do this in phases: removing the old tiles, preparing the walls and floors, and lastly installing the new tiles and finishing.

There will also be some cost involved for the tools that you will use during the project. However, if you already have tools in your shed, this will mean even more savings. You will basically just be spending for cement, tiles and grout and your bathroom tiles will be good as new.

First off, you can pick out inexpensive yet high quality tiles from ABL Tile Centre. They also have other bathroom fixtures and décor in case you have a bit of extra cash and want to add a bit more flair to your current bathroom setting. You can add inexpensive shelves or racks which you can also install on your own with just a screwdriver or some posts.

After removing the tiles you will need to clean up the walls and floors to make way for the new ones. This means eliminating pieces of cement and glue from the old ones. To apply the new tiles you will need to apply special cement at the back and glue them onto the walls and floors. It may take a few hours for these to dry out. The final step will be applying the grout to seal in the tiles.

Businesses keep track of their cash flow to make sure that everything is in budget. They monitor the money that goes in and out of the company to determine if they are earning or losing. Supplies are some of the expenses of a company. Building supplies such as those used for the maintenance and cleaning of the building are some of these things. There are also the office supplies like pen, paper and printer ink. The company’s accountant or accounting department is responsible for keeping track of the expenses on these supplies.

When supplies are purchased but not yet used, they are usually categorized as “Supplies on Hand”. When they are used, that’s the time that they are moved to “Supplies Expense”. Here are the basic steps on how the adjustment of entries on supplies is done.

1. Get the total amount of your supplies on hand. Once your entry has been adjusted, the total amount should be equivalent to this one.
2. The next step is to determine the amount that needs to be adjusted for the items used. To do this, subtract the current amount of the supplies on hand from its starting balance. For instance, if the starting balance is $800 and the amount of current supplies on hand is $500, this means that the amount of supplies used is equal to $300.
3. The account for supplies expense must be debited for $300 and the same amount should be credited to the supplies account.
4. Double check the balance and add the entry to your ledger. Don’t forget to add the date on your printed copy for reference. Moreover, all necessary files and documents must also be attached so you can easily verify them in case of an audit.

While the inventory of supplies still require manual work, since items must be checked and counted one by one, there are various programs used by accountants to make accounting work faster, easier and more accurate. This is vital for businesses to make sure that they don’t overspend. Spending over their budget could result to financial problems on the company and may also lead to bankruptcy.

As accountants, we tend to tell people that one of the best ways to cut their tax bills down is by giving to charity.  It not only helps their pockets, it helps a good cause too. Under Australian law, if a business gives more than $2 to charity, as long as it is an approved one, that money is tax deductible.  There are no claim limits and the only thing that isn’t allowed is to use charitable donations to create what is effectively a tax loss.

Quite a few businesses donate to charity, such as this one, towards the end of the financial year as a way of cutting down on excess earnings. This not only reduces their tax liability, it also generates a little of that much needed goodwill.

Not all businesses and, I hasten to add, not all accountants are aware of the rules and the benefits that surround charitable donations. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the Australian Taxation Office Rules so you do not end up with egg on your face and out of pocket:

• Anything above $2 is tax deductible unless you receive something in return.  A ticket, a pen, even a box of chocolates, all will end up in your tax claim being denied.
• All official receipts must be kept for each and every donation – this way you get to claim back the right amount
• Make sure any charity you donate to is properly registered with the Taxation Office otherwise your donations are not tax deductible.

Try to make your donations directly to the charity. Using a third party, i.e. a collector at the door or in the street does not guarantee that money is going to the charity a certain amount is taken out for advertising or commissions and, as such, you can’t get a receipt and you can’t claim it all as tax deductible.

For businesses, if you have any doubts, contact your accountants, the tax office or ask to see the registration certificate of the charity BEFORE you make your donation.  Newly registered accountants will need to make sure they are up to date with all the rules and regulations surrounding charitable donations, especially as it is a practice that is becoming more and more common.

It is definitely tempting to splurge especially during summer season. It is the perfect time for traveling to different places or buying something new. Kids are on a class break and the entire family can have a get together moment any time. Thus, during this season, it might be very easy for you to take out your credit card and do whatever you want. However, if you want to avoid facing troubles later on, you have to make sure that you still manage your finances well. Here are some tips to avoid facing credit card debts this summer.

1. Don’t travel to places that were not in your original plan for vacation. This will just incur some more unnecessary expenses. It is not bad to go on a vacation, but you need to stick with the places you have originally planned to go to as you have already computed your total expenses for that trip. If you wish to go to another place, plan another trip for that when you already have enough money to afford it.

2. Be careful when going on a shopping spree. Though there are a lot of beautiful items to buy on summer and there are lots of stores on sale, the truth is that these prices are actually higher than usual. During off season, you can get these items at a much lower price. Thus, you need to know exactly what you want to buy so you can buy them ahead of time.

3. Don’t spoil your kids. When they don’t have classes and they spend more time at home, you will most likely see them asking money from your more often. Therefore, you have to make sure that you don’t give them what they want right away. It would be best if you enroll them in summer classes or other meaningful activities so they can take their minds off purchasing items they don’t need.

There are a lot of tempting expenses this summer. Thus, you need to be very careful. Otherwise, you might face credit cards issues and you will surely regret it. For more information about companies that offer credit cards; go here.

Whether you are using a mobile phone or a phone for your home or office, there are things you can do to keep your bill at a minimum. This does not necessarily mean having to aggressively reduce your use of the telephone. It’s not a matter of being overly stingy. You just have to know how to efficiently make use of your subscription.

Consider the following tips:

Choose a plan that suits your needs. You need to carefully evaluate your phone needs. If you have a business, you need to find out if you can avail of better rates by choosing a particular subscription. Some phone companies offer free or cheaper rates for calls in the same network. There are also those that offer “unlimited” packages that provide free services for specific types of calls or over a certain period of time.

Optimize your phone use. It is also important to examine your phone usage pattern. You may want to make calls during off-peak hours or at certain times of the day when the rates are lower. If you are using a smartphone under a plan, stay within the maximum allowable usage as much as you can. You can install apps that can remind you of the total hours or minutes you have used so you won’t go beyond your limit. PC World has a number of other phone bill reducing tips you should also consider.

Trim your subscription. Inquire about the possibility of removing unnecessary features or services in the phone subscription you have. Some companies can customize your subscription. For example, provides of mobile telecommunications services may remove the GPS tracking, roadside assistance, voice mail, or diversion services to lower rates.

Get the right phone system for your needs. For your business phone, you may want to get a phone system that enhances efficiency and cost-effectiveness. You can browse over the different phone systems offered at Business Phone Systems Direct, for instance, to find a system that can lower your communication costs. For example, VoIP phones are a great choice if the parties you are regularly calling are also using VoIP or are mostly relying on web-based communication systems.

Pay your bills on time or earlier. Some companies may charge for delayed payments or offer discounts for early payments. Avail of the discount privilege or avoid incurring penalties by making sure that you promptly pay your bill.

Maximize your data service. Manage your data connection well by being mindful of your downloads, video watching, and other Internet related activities. You can also install Opera Mini on your smartphone or tablet to minimize data use. Opera Mini compresses the images you access as you browse the web. As such, you can lower data connection charges without reducing your Internet browsing.

I have offered these cost-saving pointers to a number of companies I have worked with and they agree that these ideas make sense. It certainly is possible to lower your phone bill with the right technology, phone subscription, and mindful phone usage.

SIP trunking is now becoming popular in many businesses. A lot of business owners find this a lot better compared with traditional phone companies. SIP trunking is a flexible solution to communication issues. It is considered cheaper and of greater quality. It allows phone calls to be redirected from cables on a desk straight to your computer. Thus, despite simultaneous calls being made, the telephone bills to be paid are still low.

High Savings

Based on the results gathered from various companies that have tried SIP trunking, they have saved over 60% compared with their previous telephone bills. They have also spent less for installing the equipment needed to convert to SIP trunking. As the months went by, the amount of savings accumulates and it means a lot to business owners.

Another reason why these costs are very low is that international calls or long distance calls are being converted to local calls. Every employee may also have his or her own dedicated line. Thus, there is no need to pay for several separate lines, and at the same time enjoy the same features.

No More Missed Calls

Another issue faced by companies when it comes to communication is missed call. There are a lot of important telephone calls that are unanswered and they can mean losses for the business. With SIP trunking, this can be easily solved. The phone calls may be connected to the mobile phone of the employees. Therefore, they can answer the calls even when they are out of station. When offices are closed for holidays, the same thing applies. Therefore, customers are never lost. Extension transfer may also be possible.

More Options

Aside from regular calls, SIP trunking also allows other types of calls and communication services at affordable costs. This includes instant messaging, video conferencing, address book synchronizing, and conference calls. There are other services that may also be requested when necessary.

In short, you need to give to shift to SIP trunking now. Once you start reaping the benefits, you will definitely be grateful of your decision. For more ideas about sip trunking, visit here.

There are a lot of reasons for the government to build an actual toilet rather than portable toilets. After all, these toilets will last longer. However, the truth is that portable toilets may also be the more cost efficient counterpart especially for government that cannot really afford to construct toilets around the city. This article will prove that portable and rental toilets are much better in terms of overall cost.

1. These portable toilets may be transferred everywhere. This means that if the government needs these toilets in one area, then the toilets can simply be moved. It is also perfect for citywide activities that are only temporary. This includes city fair, government parties, concerts and the like. Once these activities are over, the toilets may be relocated. If an actual toilet is built for temporary activities, it will just be a waste of government resources.

2. Portable toilets are very cheap. There are even some toilets that can be rented for some time and eventually it can be owned. There are different payment schemes available and the government may choose which one is perfect for their budget.

3. Portable toilets are low maintenance. There are even some companies that offer maintenance services along with the payment for the rental. When the government spends money to construct an actual toilet, it is so difficult to maintain. If it runs out of order, it becomes government liability.

4. If portable toilets are no longer needed, the government can just cancel their agreement with a particular company. There is no pressure to continue renting them when it is no longer deemed necessary. This spells lots of savings. For actual toilets, when they are not deemed necessary anymore, the government has to spend money in demolishing them. This is added expenses.

With these reasons, governments should seriously consider renting portable toilets over actual toilets. If the cost will be computed, the government will spend less for portable toilets at the end of the day. If you wish to compare prices when you rent porta potties, you can check this out.

There are many different kinds of accounting, and most people aren’t aware that there are sub specializations in accounting. Much like doctors, there are general practitioners of accountancy and there are those who specialize in some areas. Construction accounting is one aspect that is rapidly growing because of the increasing number of small and medium sized construction firms.

No, it doesn’t always have to be mega-scale constructions. The smaller ones are those contracted within neighborhoods to renovate homes or build small projects such as gyms or outdoor playgrounds. It takes accountants a while to explain to them that they have different options or methods on how to get their books balanced and their taxes computed. Many of them fail to realize that there are some items that can be deducted. Outsourcing laborers and construction equipment such as boom lifts for rent that they have used during the project can be written up as labor or project costs. These temporary equipment which include rent scissor lifts, can save you money when it comes time to pay your taxes.

Accounting Methods

There are several accounting methods that can be employed. Accrual accounting, for example, allows the construction firm to select different methods depending on the term of the projects that they have accepted. As you may very well know, some construction projects takes several calendar years to complete. Let’s take a quick look at a few of them.

Cash or Accrual Accounting

Cash accounting is a simple method of accounting for money when you are paid and accounting for expenses when you make a payment for something. There is no effort exerted here to balance the income to the amount of expense. This is why large corporations with receivables larger than $5 million normally do not use the cash method. Accrual accounting, on the other hand, provides a clearer picture of where the company stands, financially.

Your Method of Choice

The IRS has given the suggestion of using a three-step method when deciding on what kind of construction accounting type to use. The methods will help manage the company’s finances easier. The first thing to do is classify the projects depending on the length of time involved. Short term projects, for example, can be ones that were started this fiscal year or are projected to be finished by the end of the year. When it comes to long term contracts, some sub classifying is required. It should be sorted out to be either home construction – which has a limit of four units or four houses; or, the general construction type. Finally, you should also give a clear classification of what your company size is.

For example, your earnings have been under $10 million for the last three years or so, that would you put you under the small contractor category.

Large Contractors

For large contractors, and we are talking about large scale construction projects here, it is advised that they use the percentage of completion method or the PCM. This type of accounting method pertains only to the income as the costs and expenses which have been explained above, will fall under the accrual accounting methods.