4 Healthy Accounting Tips for Your Medical Practice

4 Healthy Accounting Tips for Your Medical Practice

As a physician, the main focus in your practice is on providing high-quality patient care. However, it still makes sense to pay careful attention to your medical practice’s accounting. While you are a doctor, you are also a business owner who strives to operate a profitable practice. Making sure that your practice is successful and highly profitable requires you to keep accurate financial records so that you can see areas where your practice might need tightening. It is also critical for ensuring that you remain compliant with the relevant state and federal tax laws. Here are four accounting tips from TMD Accounting to help you keep your medical practice financially healthy.

 

  1. Be Careful When Choosing Your Accounting Software.

Many doctors are unsure which accounting software they should use for their medical malpractices. You might think that all accounting software is basically the same and to simply choose the cheapest software you can find. Some doctors rely on spreadsheets, believing they are cheaper and easier to use.

However, trying to keep track of everything on spreadsheets can mean that you are expending too much labor costs and effort, and it can also result in simple inputting errors. Spreadsheets can also make it difficult for you to review your financial information and make fully informed forecasts about your practice’s future.

Choosing the cheapest accounting software off the shelf might also not be the best idea. You need to find software that is relevant to medical practices. When you choose the right accounting software, it can reduce your need to expend added effort, provide you with a better insight into your practice’s profitability, make the tax season easier, and allow you to share information with your accountant via the cloud.

The best way to find the right software for your medical practice is to talk to your accountant and ask for suggestions. At TMD Accounting, we work with many different types of accounting software every day, and we can provide some suggestions about which one will work best for your business.

 

  1. Choose the Right Accounting Method for Your Medical Practice.

As a medical practice, you can choose from one of two types of accounting methods for your business, including cash basis accounting or cash accrual accounting. In most cases, your practice manager, administrator, or accounting firm will pick the type of accounting that will work best for your medical practice.

No matter which type of accounting method your practice uses, it is critical that your manager has a deep level of understanding of how the chosen method works and the applicable financial terminology used while performing day-to-day operations.

 

Cash Basis Accounting Method for Medical Practices

If your medical practice uses the cash basis accounting method, you will account for expenses at the time that they are paid. Account receivables will be counted when you receive payments. Most physician-owned medical practices prefer the cash basis accounting method.

If you are using this method, you will receive your payment on a predetermined schedule after all of your practice’s expenses have been paid. It is important for your manager to also think about larger expenses, including your malpractice insurance. Since these types of expenses are normally paid each quarter, it is important for your manager not to distribute money that should be earmarked for these quarterly expenses.

 

Accrual Accounting Method for Medical Practices

If your practice uses the accrual accounting method, expenses will be accounted for as soon as you receive the bills instead of when they are paid. You will also account for your receivables at the time you send a bill to a patient instead of when you actually receive the payment.

Under this accounting method, your income will have already been accounted for at the time your patients pay their bills. Most medical practices do not use the accrual method because of its difficulty. However, the accrual method of accounting might provide a more accurate picture of the health of your practice at any point in time.

 

  1. Schedule Profit and Loss Statements

One accounting tip that medical malpractices can borrow from how big businesses conduct accounting is to produce profit and loss statements on a quarterly basis. Depending on your medical practice’s size, your profit and loss statement can be fairly simple or quite complex.

Producing profit and loss statements can be an effective way for you to quickly check the overall financial health of your medical practice. Profit and loss statements help by validating your practice’s daily records, identifying discrepancies, and providing insight into your practice’s patient flow and where you might want to invest money in your business.

While profit and loss statements can be invaluable, most medical practices do not use them because of having fairly simple business models. However, producing profit and loss statements each quarter can provide you with important insight and can be a powerful tool to use for your practice.

 

  1. Choose the Right Accountant for My Small Business

Many doctors who have their own medical practices are very busy and find accounting to be overwhelming and confusing. If your practice is very busy, your office manager might also have his or her hands full and feel overwhelmed by the practice’s accounting needs. Hiring the right accountant can help to simplify your practice’s accounting and ensure that you understand exactly where your practice is at financially and areas in which improvements can be made.

At TMD Accounting, we offer experienced small business accounting services for medical practices. When you work with us, you can focus on delivering the best level of care to your patients while we handle your accounting. Our accounting services are comprehensive and scalable, and we can customize your services to meet the particular needs of your medical practice. Some of the types of services we offer include accounting and bookkeeping for medical practices, tax preparation, medical practice controller services, and more. To learn more about how we can help with your accounting needs, contact us today to schedule a consultation at 1-856-228-2205.

What are the Major Roles of Accountants for Law Firms?

What are the Major Roles of Accountants for Law Firms?

Accounting can be intimidating even for the most seasoned attorneys. Law school might teach about torts and statutes, but there are no classes for accounting or bookkeeping. Whether you have a small firm or large corporation, accounting is vital to keep your books compliant with ethical rules and prevent you from leaving money on the table.

 

What Can an Accountant Do?

Accountants play a vital role in almost every business. Law firms are no exception. Many lawyers don’t want to handle monetary transactions or keep up with their financial records. For that reason, they often hire someone to manage those accounts. While you could hire a part-time bookkeeper, law firms should look for an experienced and trusted accountant to address these financial matters.

Legal accounting includes recording and analyzing the financial transactions of the law firm in an accurate manner. These professional accountants can help in other ways as well. They can act as an advisor and interpreter. An accountant needs to have strong attributes like attention to detail, an understanding of business ethics, and excellent monetary skills. These professionals can help finish audits, ready tax returns, and investigate fraud. A legal accountant has many different roles in a law firm.

Legal accounting contributes to the success of the practice. All financial statements need to be accurate, up-to-date, and complete. Your law firm can meet all of those obligations to your clients, partners, and the state bar with a clear financial picture. With all that in mind, here are some of the major roles that accountants can play in your law firm.

 

Provides Professional Financial Advice

If you are searching for financial advice, a trusted accountant can help with future plans. Accountants track your expenditure and revenue trends. In addition to that, they can help your law firm make important decisions, such as taking out a loan. If there are irregularities or discrepancies in your financial records, an accountant will straighten out those problems.

 

Helps With Taxes

No one wants to deal with filing taxes, especially busy attorneys. Hiring a professional accountant can help this stressful process become a little easier for your firm. Everyone knows that tax preparation can be a headache, especially if records are not appropriately managed. As a result, your practice might face penalties from the state and federal tax departments. With an accountant, you can ensure that all tax returns are filed and completed accurately and timely. You will not have to worry about missing out on deductions or paying extra penalties.

 

Deals With Outside Parties

Law firms have to deal with outside parties on a day-to-day basis. An accountant will act as a firm representative while speaking to tax authorities or loan officers. By allowing the accountant to handle these tasks, law firm members can focus on those other duties within the practice. Plus, an accountant can smoothly move these financial issues through the appropriate processes without any snags.

 

Handles the Law Firm’s Payroll Process

When you have employees, they will expect to be paid promptly. Payroll is a critical process for any business, especially legal practices. With an accountant, you can have a professional manage these processes to pay all your employees correctly and on time. An accountant can also take care of other payroll aspects of your law firm’s business.

 

Chooses the Right Financial Tools

There are so many choices on the market for accounting tools. It can be challenging to choose the best accounting software option for your law firm. An accountant will help with these decisions. Your accountant understands the needs of your law firm, and they are better equipped with financial knowledge. With that guidance, the accountant can help you find the best software for the practice.

 

Accounting Practices for Your Law Firm

Need to find a great accountant for your law firm? Before you begin the search, you must understand some basic accounting practices. With this basic knowledge, you can keep an eye on your financial records and understand the processes in your practice. There are plenty of functions that an accountant will handle on a day-to-day basis, including reconciliation and reports, accounts payable, invoice accounting, and financial compliance.

 

Why You Need a Professional Accountant

You can streamline your books and not worry about those financial inaccuracies when you work with an accountant. Hiring a professional accountant just makes sense for your law firm. As an attorney, there is enough on your plate. You don’t want to add the title of accountant or bookkeeper to your list of responsibilities. Outsourcing these duties helps your law firm focus on growing your practice and assisting the local community.

As you can tell, a professional accountant goes beyond just checking your books. These professionals will ensure that your paperwork and finances are ready for tax season. They can advise you during the process for a bank loan, and accountants are a great option to help with office tasks, such as payroll and revenue tracking. When you need help with those financial records in your law firm, make sure to hire a trusted and experienced accountant for your practice.

 

Let Us Help With Your Legal Accounting

You want to find the right accountant for your legal practice. Thomas M. Ditullio has nearly 40 years of experience offering small business accounting services. He has built a solid reputation throughout Gloucester County, providing services for businesses and individuals. At TMD Accounting, you can access a wide range of services, including financial management, tax services, and payroll. If you would like to schedule a consultation, please give us a call at 1-856-228-2205.

Bookkeeping in the Medical Office: How to Help Profitability

Bookkeeping in the Medical Office: How to Help Profitability

As a doctor or other medical professional, you mainly focus on patient care. However, your medical practice is still a business, and you want it to be profitable. You can have a thriving practice with a solid business plan and the right bookkeeping system. Before you can do that, you need to keep your financial records in order. Here are a few ways that bookkeeping can help boost the profitability of your medical practice.

 

Bookkeeping Tips for Your Medical Office

You want to ensure that all of your books are up-to-date and accurate in your practice. If you are a solo practitioner, that can be stressful. There are a few ways to manage your books. First, you need to choose your accounting method. There are two types of accounting practices in the medical industry: accrual or cash basis accounting.

For the medical industry, accrual accounting is the most common form of bookkeeping. With this method, you count for all the expenses when you receive a bill. Along with that, you will note any receivables from your patients at the moment of billing. While using accrual accounting is common, it is not always the best practice.

Some medical practices use cash basis accounting. The method is similar to accrual accounting, but billables and receivables are logged when paid, not received. Many physicians and medical professionals prefer this type of accounting. With that, medical practices will have the most up-to-date view of their finances. There is a drawback. Cash basis accounting cannot help practices prepare for large quarterly expenses, such as malpractice insurance. If you are not careful, big expenses can sneak up in your practice.

 

Managing Your Practice’s Health

When you accurately manage your books, you can keep an eye on the health of your medical practice. If you want to know the pulse of your business, make sure to create a schedule for profit and loss statements. When you create these statements, you have an overview of your losses and gains. You can eliminate any discrepancies and decide where to invest your money with that information. While these statements are not required to operate a medical practice, they will provide you with some insights into your finances. That information can help you to improve your business.

Now that you know the basics of medical practice accounting, here are a few ways to improve your medical practice’s profitability.

 

Review Your Fee Structure

You want to take time to review your fee structure. Make sure that you are charging your patients the correct amount. It might be appropriate to bulk bill your patients in some situations, but you need to have strict criteria and policies for this type of billing. Reviewing your fees can ensure that your practice maintains a higher level of profitability.

 

Control Your Costs

Your medical practice is like any other business. When you manage your costs, you can improve your profitability ratios. Make sure to look at those areas of high expenses, such as rent and wages. While managing wages for a highly trained staff is difficult, you can find ways to reduce rental costs. In some cases, sublet those empty rooms to other practitioners. Not only can you mitigate rental fees, but you will provide better medical options for your patients.

 

Maintain an Efficient Patient Management System

Matching supply and demand can be a complicated process for your medical practice. You could be the best doctor in the area, but you will not earn income without any demand. For that reason, you need to find the right balance between these two factors. You will want to review your system for patient management. Take a look at your booking system. It might not be efficient at creating appointments. Untrained staff members can also lead to ineffective patient management. For example, they might not know which questions to ask to schedule appointments correctly. Along those same lines, you want to make sure you have medical assistants and nurses to help with patients.

 

Hire Professional Accounting or Bookkeeping Help

If you are extremely busy, you will want to have someone look at your books. Your primary focus should be on the patients. However, if you don’t spend time on your finances, your practice might not increase its profitability. You will want to work with a professional accountant or bookkeeper. These experts can give you the right advice about your business. Don’t forget that professional accounting services can save you time and money. Plus, you won’t have to deal with the headaches of straightening out your books.

When you have the best medical accounting management for your books, it can help to keep track of those day-to-day transactions. Along with that, the information becomes more valuable as you gain insights into your business. Once you have a clearer picture of your financial health, you can make those decisions that boost profitability.

It never hurts to speak with a professional who can help you take full control of your medical practice. When you partner with a professional accountant or bookkeeper, you will have more time to focus on patient care rather than struggling with the confusing business side of your practice.

Yes, your medical practice can be profitable, but you need the right system and a solid business plan in place. With some accounting and bookkeeping help, you can achieve those goals.

 

Let Us Help With Those Next Steps

Whether you are starting your own medical practice or need help with an established one, don’t forget about your bookkeeping. There are several areas where you can cut costs to boost profitability throughout your practice. Removing any inefficiencies can turn your medical practice into a successful business.

If you need small business accounting services, make sure to schedule a consultation with TMD Accounting. Thomas M. Ditullio Accounting has over 40 years of experience, and we can help with various services, including payroll, tax services, and financial management. Schedule an appointment by calling 856-228-2205.

How to Do Accounting for Your Construction Business in New Jersey

Construction accounting is very different from those other types of businesses. You must keep track of the accounts receivable, accounts payable, and payroll transactions. Along with that, construction companies need to monitor job costs, change orders, retention, customer deposits, and progress billing. All of these components can make construction accounting a challenging task. Here are a few tips that you need to know about construction accounting.

 

Record All Financial Transactions

The double-entry methods are the best techniques for recording financial transactions in the construction industry. With this, there must be two entries on the ledger for every single transaction. Some companies track these transactions with the help of accounting software or an outsourced bookkeeper.

 

Keep a General Ledger and Chart of Accounts

A chart of accounts lists all of your general ledger accounts to categorize those transactions. You have the names and a brief description of every account in the list.

Some of these account types could include:

  • Current assets
  • Current liabilities
  • Equity
  • Cost of goods sold
  • Indirect expenses
  • Administrative expenses

 

Know the Common Cost Types of Construction Accounting

There are several types of cost types associated with construction accounting.

They include the following:

  • Job costing: Construction accounting keeps track of the costs of the job. You need to know the project costs as they relate to specific jobs. All of the expenses must be tracked throughout the project’s life. The actual costs and projected estimates are compared during several points of the project. With that information, you can see whether the project is on or over budget. Job costs affect the income of the construction company. In some situations, companies can receive financial incentives for delivering a job under the projected budget.
  • Work in progress: Any active or under contract job is known as a work in progress. Construction companies need to track these jobs since it can help to indicate the income and cash flow. Some companies use this cost type to determine the current project’s progress, recognize any revenue, and list other costs coming from the job.
  • Cost of goods sold: These costs refer to the expenses incurred for those projects in progress. These costs include labor, equipment rentals, material, and other costs tied directly to the project.

 

Recognize Your Revenue

In the construction industry, there are several ways to recognize revenue. Those methods can change depending on the type and duration of a project. For example, some companies recognize their revenue through cash or accrual accounting. Income and costs are recognized when cash changes hands with cash basis accounting. With that, the payables are not recognized until the bill is paid, and there is no record of the payment until the money is in the company’s account. This type of reporting allows the construction company to represent its cash flow. Unfortunately, it does not accurately recognize all costs and revenue.

Accrual accounting is much more accurate. The income and costs are recognized when received from the vendor, and the client is billed. Many companies use accrual accounting over the cash accounting method.

 

Completed Contract vs. Percent Completed Income Recognition

You can track income in two ways: completed contract or percent completed. With percent completed, the revenue is recognized on the percentage of costs for the project. When revenue comes in from the project, it is tracked. A completed contract only records revenue once the project is considered completed. Many companies track their revenue with the percent completed method for better accuracy.

 

Construction Accounting Common Reports

If you want to know the financial health of your construction business, you should know these common reports.

 

Accounts Receivable Aging

Within your accounts receivable (AR), you can track all of those outstanding payments that have been billed but not paid. The accounts receivable aging report shows which companies need to pay their bills by indicating the age of the invoices. With that, you can know which accounts are heading to collections by splitting them into categories for 30, 60, and 90 days past due. You will have healthier accounts receivable reports when there is a shorter time between billing and collection. Keep in mind that the construction industry has some of the longest payment delays out of any sector.

Accounts Receivable Aging

Accounts Payable Aging

On the other side is the accounts payable aging report. This report keeps track of the money you owe to other contractors or vendors. Like the accounts receivable, this report shows when those invoices were created. You can prioritize vendor payments with these accounts payable aging reports.

 

Profit and Loss/Income Statements

As you may have guessed, a profit and loss report shows the amount of expenses and income accrued during a specific period. You can also view the net loss and profit for any period of time.

 

Balance Sheet

This report shows your liabilities, assets, and equity holdings in the company. You can use these numbers to determine your financial position to lend or borrow money.

 

Job Cost Report

During a specific project period, you can get a breakdown of the costs. These reports are helpful to show the progress of the project and inform the customer of billing amounts.

 

Job Profitability Report

You need a job profitability report to analyze the difference between the actual and estimated costs. These reports show you whether the project is profiting or losing money in the process.

These tips are some of the basics of construction accounting. It can be complicated for anyone to figure out, especially if you don’t have experience with accounting or bookkeeping. These duties should be left in the hands of a professional. For that reason, there are small business accounting services for the task. These accountants understand your company’s needs, and they can help you reduce the headaches associated with managing your finances.

 

Finding an Accountant for My Small Business

At TMD Accounting, our company has over 40 years of experience. We will help you manage your finances with various services, including payroll help, financial management, and tax assistance. Schedule a consultation by calling 1-856-228-2205.

Smart Accounting Practices for Independent Contractors In New Jersey

Under the law, an independent contractor is classified as a business. As a result, you are responsible for paying taxes and maintaining those financial records. You might have become an independent contractor to get away from those mundane tasks, but it is vital to keep up with accounting and bookkeeping for your business. Here are a few ways to track your finances as an independent contractor.

 

Differences Between an Independent Contractor and an Employee

Those who work for a company are classified as employees. The business will withhold and report a portion of the individual’s wages to the IRS. Unemployment, Social Security, Medicare, and tax liabilities are all deducted from those paychecks. All taxable income is listed on a W-2 form and filed with the IRS.

If you are an independent contractor, you are not an employee of a business. You get paid for projects, file taxes by yourself, and work when you want to work. In this role, you have more freedom than a regular employee. However, with the title comes plenty of responsibilities.

With that freedom, you are responsible for paying your own health insurance, unemployment taxes, and payroll taxes. For that reason, you need to keep accurate bookkeeping records of your finances. Any mistakes can lead to tax penalties and other problems down the road. While being an independent contractor has many benefits, all business responsibilities are in your own hands.

As an independent contractor, you are responsible for tax payments and other financial matters. While it might sound intimidating, there are a few steps that you can take to make it a less challenging process. Don’t think that this is an impossible task. You can use these smart accounting practices to keep accurate records and manage your finances as an independent contractor.

 

Becoming Financially Savvy With Your Accounting

There are many reasons why an individual chooses to become an independent contractor. Some people don’t like the 9 to 5 grind, while others want more freedom with their days. No matter the reasons, everyone wants to be successful in their careers. While it takes many skills to run your own business, you must pay attention to your finances.

Tax time can be challenging for anyone. If you don’t have the proper records and statements, it can become a headache. Use these smart accounting skills to get a better hold of your financial health. Not only will it help with your tax liabilities, but you can make better-informed decisions for your business.

Becoming Financially Savvy

Become Your Own Business

Make sure to request your own EIN or Employer ID Number from the IRS. With that, you will be classified as your own business rather than a “contractor for hire.” Becoming your own business provides you with the opportunity to receive tax breaks.

 

Separate Personal and Business Expenses

Along with an EIN, you should think about opening a separate bank account for your business. This process is a smart accounting move because it helps to separate finances. Along with that, if you happen to be audited, it can make the process a bit easier for you. A separate business account gives you the records to show that expenses are tied to your business. With one single account, you might have to justify whether the expenses were personal or business-related.

 

Track All of Your Expenses

Whether your business is large or small, you must record all of your expenses. With that information, you can take advantage of tax deductions. However, you need to back up your records with invoices and receipts. You always want to be prepared in case of an audit.

 

Always Pay Your Estimated Taxes

Those accurate financial records are the best ways to track your tax liability. If you fail to file your expenses and profits, you could be audited by the IRS. Unfortunately, all of your wages will be heavily scrutinized as an independent contractor. For that reason, you want to have accurate records of your estimated tax payments so that you are not hit with a large tax liability.

Estimated Taxes

Plan for the Future

As a business owner, make sure to plan for the future. Even if your business is flourishing right now, things can change instantly. You should have a plan in place for times when business is slow. Think about what you would do to cover those financial humps. From getting sick to natural disasters, anything can impact your work and the demand for your services. Enjoy your current success, but always plan for the unexpected. With that, consider a few financial plans that can help during those tough times. If you are worried about your financial health, small business accounting services can provide some guidance to ease the stress of uncertainty with your work.

 

Learn About Tax Benefits

Take some time to learn about the advantages of business ownership and tax planning. You might be able to use some tax-saving benefits, such as retirement savings, family planning, and medical expenses.

 

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask for Help

If you are an independent contractor, you already know the benefits of outsourcing some parts of your business. When you focus on your projects, it can become a burden to record your own finances and handle those tasks for tax season.

When you work with a professional bookkeeper and accountant, you can eliminate some of that stress. In addition to that, you can stay on track financially and make better decisions for your business. Well-organized books even place you in a better position if you need to apply for a business loan.

 

Choose an Accountant Who Understands Independent Contractors

Need an accountant for my small business? Make sure to reach out to TMD Accounting. For over 40 years, small businesses and individuals have trusted Thomas M. Ditullio Accounting. Mr. Ditullio and his staff provide only the highest quality accounting services to the residents and businesses in the Gloucester County area. We understand that an independent contractor has specialized tax and financial needs. For that reason, you can count on us to get the job done for you. Schedule a consultation by calling 1-856-228-2205.

Accounting and Bookkeeping Best Practices for Law Firms in New Jersey

As an attorney, you are already well-versed in the law. However, if you own a law firm, you also need to consider accounting and bookkeeping responsibilities. Proper bookkeeping allows you to monitor the success of your law firm and make the best-informed decisions for the future. You are already juggling plenty of responsibility for your law firm, but you still need to keep up on those books. When you fall behind, it can be a mess to untangle. Let’s look at the best law firm accounting and bookkeeping practices in New Jersey.

 

The Difference Between Law Firm Accounting and Bookkeeping

You might think that accounting and bookkeeping are the same, but they occur at different stages. Bookkeeping is the first step to help you track your cash. You can record every financial transaction, run payroll for your employees, and create invoices with bookkeeping. It is important to be diligent and accurate when recording this information.

On the other hand, accounting is a bit more subjective. You can use accounting practices to uncover business trends, plan for your taxes, and forecast your financial future. Accounting can also help capture those expenditures that were not recorded initially. Plus, accounting is a way to prepare financial statements and other reports.

Without the proper bookkeeping, you cannot get an accurate accounting outlook. You might want to hire someone to handle this task. Many small business accounting services are ready to help with those bookkeeping and accounting duties.

Now that you know the difference between accounting and bookkeeping, here are some tips for implementing these practices at your New Jersey law firm.

 

Keep a Chart of Accounts

There is one way to keep accurate records, and that is by maintaining a chart of accounts. This process provides you with the framework to organize your data into categories, such as expenses, revenues, client expenses, and trust accounts. Think of these charts as an index of your firm’s financial accounts.

Typically, the chart of accounts includes five categories: revenue, owner’s equity, assets, liabilities, and expenses. The chart of accounts helps ensure that your financial information is recorded correctly.

Chart of Accounts

Make Sure To Separate Personal and Business Expenses

Always keep those business and personal expenses separate to avoid any financial headaches. Intermingling your finances is not only frowned upon by the IRS, but it can make it impossible for you to claim expenses at tax time. Along with that, you will have a hard time tracking the financial health of your business when you don’t separate those expenses. Always keep separate accounts for business and personal finances. If you spot a mistake, like depositing a personal check in your law firm’s account, make sure to correct it in your books.

 

Don’t Lose Track of Business Expenses

Unfortunately, many attorneys often lose track of their expenses. It is always a good idea to record those expenses daily. There is less chance to misplace or lose an invoice or receipt with that schedule. Don’t forget to go into detail about the expenses. For example, if you had a meal with a client, write down all of the pertinent information, such as the client’s name and reason for the meeting. If you happen to be audited, you can easily prove that the expenses were related to your business.

 

Ask for Professional Help

Many people believe that they can handle the tasks of bookkeeping and accounting. However, it can be so easy to fall behind on tracking expenses and other financial information. Running a law firm is challenging, especially if you have a small firm. You can take some of the responsibilities off your shoulders by hiring a professional bookkeeper or accountant for these duties. With a little experienced help, you can ensure that nothing falls through the cracks.

 

Never Procrastinate

If you wait until tax time to track your finances, you will run into many problems. Track these finances on a weekly schedule. Put it on your calendar and stick to the schedule. It is vital to keep on top of those expenses and other financial matters. When you let these bookkeeping duties slip, you will have to spend hours at tax time trying to reconcile your books. When that happens, there is an increased chance of making a mistake.

 

Double Check Your Entries

It can be easy to make a simple mistake in your books. However, one small mistake can cause pandemonium for your records. Take your time when making entries. You always want to double-check your information to ensure that everything is accurate.

Double Check Your Entries

Always Track Transactions

Get an accurate picture of your law firm’s current financial standing with proper bookkeeping. Any missing transactions can create inaccuracies that lead to financial problems. Losing track of those critical transactions often cause issues with your taxes. You can avoid these problems by hiring an accountant or bookkeeper. If you want to track transactions by yourself, use accounting software to help automate the process.

 

Don’t Mix Up Owner’s Draws and Pay

When you take money out of your business account for personal use, that is known as a draw. An owner’s pay is paying a salary for yourself from the business. These transactions are often confused with one another, leading to inaccuracies in the books. Whether you are paying or drawing, make a record in your accounts to ensure there are no tax mistakes.

As you can tell, there are plenty of things to consider if you want accurate financial records for your law firm. In most situations, you want to find an experienced accountant who can handle these records for precise bookkeeping.

 

Find the Right Accountant for My Small Business

Accounting and bookkeeping can be challenging to maintain, especially when operating a busy law firm. If you want professional assistance, make sure to speak to TMD Accounting. With over 40 years of experience, our Thomas M. Ditullio Accounting team provides financial management, tax assistance, and payroll services to businesses and individuals throughout the Gloucester County area. You can schedule a consultation by calling 1-856-228-2205.

Restaurant Bookkeeping 101: A Guide to Accounting Basics

Even the most experienced restaurants have trouble trying to decipher the language of bookkeeping. It can be intimidating with its moving pieces and complex practices. With tight profit margins, you never want to let your bookkeeping go by the wayside. If you don’t watch those financials, it could be too late to fix problems or straighten out your records. If you need help with your restaurant bookkeeping, take note of these accounting basics.

 

Good Accounting Starts With You

As a business owner, you need to handle your finances. Whether you outsource your accounting or manage finances by yourself, staying on top of those day-to-day chores is vital. With well-managed bookkeeping, you can stay ahead of those other restaurants and turn a profit with your business.

There are several ways to manage your bookkeeping. Whether you use small business accounting services or monitor them by yourself, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

 

Use POS To Record Daily Sales

The first basic step of bookkeeping is to record your sales. You can find many types of accounting software for your restaurant. These systems record the daily sales for each day. You can see when the cash and credit card sales hit your bank account with this information. Remember that it can be a few days before those credit card sales reach your bank. Once you analyze the timing of those funds, you can set up your bookkeeping system to mirror that schedule.

After you have the daily sales, set up a sales report. A daily sales summary is automatically built into many POS systems. However, you can always customize the report to meet your specific bookkeeping goals.

 

Handle Accounts Payable

Setting up your accounts payable is another vital task. You always want to pay those vendors on time so that they continue to supply your restaurant with food and other goods. Enter all of the invoices throughout the week and pay them on time. After entering the bills into the system, some software programs will automatically schedule payments for your vendors.

Setting Up Accounts Payable

Set Up Payroll

A successful restaurant needs great employees, and if you want to keep those employees, you need to pay them. Payroll can be a complicated process for anyone. You also have to think about taxes and other financial considerations. If you happen to file payroll taxes late, you could end up with high interest or penalties. There is a lot of liability on the line when you decide to handle payroll for yourself. You might want to outsource this task to an experienced accounting service that understands the needs of small businesses. With that, you can ensure a consistent and reliable flow of paychecks for your employees.

 

Reconciliation

Reconciliation might be the most crucial step in bookkeeping. You must reconcile credit cards,

lines of credit, loans, bank accounts, and payroll liabilities. All of those accounts with a beginning and ending balance should be reconciled. This step provides you with the most accurate look at your financial records.

 

Financial Reporting

If you don’t have a financial report for your restaurant, you cannot get a complete picture of your financial health. Within your financial report, you will be able to monitor your profit margins. Look at those costs of goods sold versus the sales ratios. Labor ratios are another critical factor to watch. You want to keep the cost of food, labor, and beverage around 60 percent of your total sales.

 

Calculate Your Costs

Calculate Your Costs

Good bookkeeping tracks your profits and expenses. Some of these costs for your restaurants can include:

 

  • Cost of Goods Sold

Any product you use to create your meals, drinks, or other specialties is known as the cost of goods sold. In other words, these items are the ingredients used to round out your menu. In many cases, restaurants want to keep the cost of food around 33 percent of their sales. Beverages are another expense that can be tracked with the costs of goods sold.

  • Cost of Labor

Labor expenses can be high for many businesses. Tracking these costs can be challenging. Many of these employees work for tips or have various pay scales. Not only do you have to pay for the wait staff, but you must also figure out those costs for the hosts, kitchen staff, valets, cleaners, and other personnel. Don’t forget about paying unemployment taxes. Whether you have seasonal or full-time employees, you need to figure out your labor costs to determine how they affect your bottom line.

  • Cost of Equipment and Occupancy

Infrastructure costs are another concern for restaurants. Many businesses don’t own their restaurant equipment. For that reason, they need to track those costs. Mortgage, rent, and property taxes are also part of these costs. You might even want to add utilities, insurance, maintenance costs, and signage to your list of expenses.

  • Cost of Administration and Marketing

You might have a great business, but no one will know without the right marketing. Billboards, newspaper ads, and even social media advertising can all add up. You might need to offer coupons and promotions to keep those customers coming through the door. Don’t forget to include these expenses in your overall costs of operating a restaurant.

 

Think About Outsourcing Your Restaurant Bookkeeping

You need to leverage your strengths and outsource those weaknesses in the restaurant business. In many situations, outsourcing bookkeeping duties is a wise choice. It might be tempting to take on the role of bookkeeper, but there is too much on the line with those responsibilities. Hiring someone can help you focus on growing your business. There are many steps to managing restaurant bookkeeping. While you may want to manage those books by yourself, it might be time to talk to a professional.

 

Choose the Right Accountant for My Small Business

If you want an accurate overview of your restaurant’s profits and losses, consider hiring TMD Accounting for your business. With over 40 years of experience, Thomas M. Ditullio Accounting offers many services, including tax assistance, financial management, and payroll help. You can schedule a consultation by calling 1-856-228-2205.

How To Implement A Restaurant Accounting System

Many restaurant owners have a passion for food and devotion to the hospitality business. You might think that an exceptional chef and a customer-focused attitude are the only two ingredients for a successful business. However, setting up a restaurant accounting system is crucial for your business. With this system, you can monitor your profit margins while still analyzing those other key performance indicators.

 

What To Know About a Restaurant Accounting System

Your restaurant’s accounting system is vital whether you have a new business or need to implement a better financial strategy. These accounting systems not only track the financial transactions, but you can prepare reports, gather all the data for taxes, and summarize your financial information in an easy-to-understand format.

With that information, you can make the best decisions for your restaurant. These decisions can minimize costly expenses and boost your profit margin. You could decide not to use an accounting system, but you will be left with messy finances that must be unscrambled for tax time. An accounting system helps you track all the numbers for a clearer picture of your restaurant’s financial health.

 

Implementing a Restaurant Accounting System

There are several steps to setting up an accounting program. Make sure to follow these tips for a successful implementation of the system.

 

Hire an Experienced Accountant

Consider using small business accounting services for the first step of the implementation. You will need help to set up a restaurant accounting system. Keeping accurate financial records is important, especially when you need to make business decisions for your restaurant. Taxes are frustrating. These records can help to complete the tax filing process. A professional accountant understands all the tax implications that can affect your restaurant. Plus, an accountant can make a few suggestions to help select the right software for your business.

 

Select the Right Accounting Software

If you are searching for the best restaurant accounting software packages, there are several options. Make sure to choose one that you can use and understand. Once again, an accountant can help you with this step. You should choose one with solid financial analysis features and reporting options. All of the software should generate profit and loss statements for your business. Think about choosing a software system that tracks accounts receivable and payable, generates invoices, and manages employees’ schedules. Those robust options provide you with the best tools to oversee your business.

Selecting Accounting Software

Accounting for a restaurant can be complicated, especially when you need to track the different salaries, workers’ tips, and other sources of income. Before you choose accounting software for your restaurant, ask for advice from your accountant. These professionals will know what you need in a software system.

 

Choose Your Accounting Method

Before choosing your accounting software, decide whether you need a single-entry or double-entry option to manage your books. Since many restaurants have inventory, it is advisable to select software with double-entry bookkeeping.

Another crucial decision is whether to use accrual or cash accounting. Consult your small business accountant for this decision. You might want to select accrual accounting since it provides you with the most accurate financial picture by recording expenses and revenue. Most of those records are tracked in real-time as the transaction occurs in your restaurant.

 

Choose a POS System

No matter the size of your restaurant, choose the right point-of-sale (POS) system to manage cash and credit transactions, send receipts, track inventory, and report on other details. You can quickly implement a POS system that works with your accounting program for a hassle-free way to manage your business.

 

Tracking the Restaurant’s Flow of Funds

With a restaurant accounting system, you can keep track of specific accounts for your business.

These flow of funds include:

  • Payroll

Payroll can be challenging for even the most experienced restaurant owner to manage. Many of the workers have different rates of pay. You can outsource your payroll services or use payroll software to keep track of these expenses.

  • Inventory

All restaurants will have inventory on hand. Remember that there are two classes of inventory: supplies and food. If you have too much stock, it often ends up as waste. On the other hand, too little inventory can hurt your sales and drive away customers. Some accounting software can help you track your daily inventory so that you can find the middle ground between profit and loss.

  • Accounts Payable

As a restaurant owner, you rely on supplies to operate your business. If you don’t have a handle on your finances, then you might miss paying those invoices. Accounting software helps manage those bills and maintains a long-standing relationship with vendors and suppliers.

  • Cash Flow

You need to keep track of the amount of cash that goes into and out of your restaurant. Accounting software helps you create statements to track your cash flow on a daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis.

  • Sales

All restaurant owners need to track their sales. Accounting software helps you see how much money comes from beverages or food items. You can break down the sales from carry-out meals, eat-in meals, and even different menu options on these platforms.

  • Cost of Goods Sold

The cost of goods sold (COGS) can distinguish your food and supply costs from other expenses for your restaurant, such as rent or utilities. These accounts list your occupancy costs as expenses while the supplies and foods are identified as COGS.

 

As you can already tell, an accounting system is vital to help manage your business and keep it profitable for many years to come. Without the right software, you could lose track of your cash flow, miss out on invoices, and lose money on your inventory. Make sure to reach out to an experienced accountant who can help you find the best system for your restaurant.

 

An Accountant for My Small Business

With help from TMD Accounting, you can finally manage those financial records for your business. Thomas M. Ditullio Accounting has over 40 years of experience. His team provides a wide range of services in Gloucester County, such as financial management, payroll, and tax services. You can schedule a consultation by calling 1-856-228-2205.

 

How To Reduce Your Small Business Overhead Costs

How To Reduce Your Small Business Overhead Costs

In order to run your business, you will have to spend money to make money. If you do not keep these overhead costs in check, they can be major drains to your company’s bottom line. If your indirect costs are taking an increasingly larger amount from your revenue, you may need to reevaluate them and cut them where you can. Here are 12 ways you might be able to lower these costs so that you can improve your bottom line. 

1. Conduct a thorough review

If you have an accountant, ask for the most recent list of your business’s overhead costs. If you do not have an accountant, search using your company’s bookkeeping software to review the costs. Once you have the list, review everything and highlight items that:

  • Are unnecessary
  • Too costly
  • Inefficient

This can help you to identify where you need to make changes.

2. Don’t expect immediate and substantial cost savings

It is unlikely that eliminating a single line-item expense will solve your issue, especially if you have completed cost-savings exercises in the past. Making several small changes may result in more savings than you might realize, however.

3. Brainstorming

Your employees may offer excellent advice about where you might realize savings. If your company is moderately sized or large, you may want to incentivize making cost-saving suggestions by rewarding the suggestions that realize the greatest savings.

4. Reevaluate contracts with third parties

Review all of the third-party contracts that you have for leasing equipment and retaining services. You may be able to identify some older contracts that no longer meet your needs. Your business may have outgrown an existing contract, leaving you spending more to fill in the gaps in services yourself. This may lead to an increased contract price but a more substantial decrease in costs in your ledger’s other columns.

5. Clean your storage room

If you have outdated and non-working technology cluttering your storage room, clean it out and sell the equipment. You can also donate them to a school or a charity if they are still working. Make certain to ask for a receipt so that you can write off your donations on your taxes.

6. Look at your staff

You should also assess your staff and let go those who have been consistently underperforming. Underachieving employees drain your resources and the morale of your other employees, leading to less overall productivity. Make certain that your hiring and firing decisions are done in a legal manner so that you will not be sued.

7. Leverage your current base of clients to save on promotion costs

One of the best types of referral comes from your current clients. Enlist your happy customers to be the ambassadors of your brand while reducing your marketing and advertising budget. You can ask for testimonials and offer incentives for referrals.

8. Go paperless

By greatly reducing the paper that you use, you can save on storage space, paper, toner and ink and printers. Back up your important documents to a drive or the cloud and shred unnecessary files. When you have completed the transition from paper to electronic storage, sell your filing cabinets.

9. Use the right business credit cards

Most business owners have at least one credit card that they use for business expenses. Make certain that your card offers you the most benefits. If your employees use business credit cards, consider choosing business cards that allow you to control spending to certain categories and amounts on each card to save money.

10. Control purchasing

If you can, designate a person to be responsible for handling all of the purchasing. This person should be someone who is skilled at negotiating and who is able to ask for discounts. When this person has purchasing as his or her job, he or she should also look out for the best bargains.

11. Sublease space in your office

If you own your business’s space, you may have a group of rooms or floors that are unused. Sublease out this space to other businesses and subsidize your payments with the rents that you receive.

12. Determine how much space your business needs

Some businesses may find that they do not need their office space and are able to move to a telecommuting model. Others may find that relocating their offices to new locations may offer cost savings. Think about what your office is used for and why you have it. If you do need an office, think about downsizing or office rental agreements that let you have a professional space for a minimal cost.

Cutting overhead costs is an ongoing process offering results over time. It requires a careful evaluation to determine the greatest efficiencies. Keeping your overhead costs down should involve a structured method of review. Contact Tom DiTullio Accounting today for advice about how your business might improve its bottom line through cost savings.

Are You Considering Starting A New Business-

Are You Considering Starting A New Business?

Do you have a great new product or are you in the service industry looking to branch out on your own? Starting your own business can be an exciting but stressful time. You may be an expert in your respected field, but the business aspect of all this is overwhelming. Here at Thomas M DiTullio Accounting we understand and are here to help you on this journey.

Here are some helpful Tax Tips to get you started on the right foot . . .

  • You need to decide on your business structure. Will you be a Sole-Proprietor or an LLC? A Partnership perhaps, or a Corporation. There are tax advantages, and disadvantages, to each entity. Your choice of the formation of your company will determine which tax forms need be filed as well as the filing frequency.
  • Depending on your business structure, you will be required to file “Business Taxes”. The general types of these taxes are income tax, self-employment tax and employment tax.
  • You will need an EIN (Employer Identification Number) for your business to open your new business checking account. This will also be necessary should you have employees.
  • Your “Accounting Method” will determine which set of rules you will use to determine when, and how, to report income and expenses. The most common method is the “Cash Method”. Income and expenses are reported in the year you receive, or pay, them.
  • We can assist you in determining what is the best strategy to having a very long and profitable business.
  • Will you need payroll? Payroll can be confusing but, if done right, it should be simple. We will file your payroll taxes on a weekly or biweekly basis to make sure you don’t get behind. We can also file the Quarterly and Year End Federal and State payroll forms to keep you compliant, for example Form 941, 940, NJ927, WR-30.
  • Do you need to charge and remit sales tax? We will be able to first assist you in determining if you need to charge sales tax or not and, if so, we would be able to file State sales tax forms on your behalf, for example ST-50.

Our office can form all types of businesses. We are on your “Team”. We will work for you to make sure you and your new business are compliant with all Federal and State regulations.

Please contact Thomas M DiTullio accounting with any questions at all. We are here to help you.

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