Small Business Specialty Products Can Unlock the Door To Better Efficiency & Effectiveness

Lots of things make a small business unique. One of the best things is the
lack of committees that are required to make decisions about tools that can
support and assist the enterprise. A corollary to this statement is that often
the specific knowledge needed to make the decision is outside the company. That
is absolutely okay. At no time should any size organization feel that the only
right answers are within the enterprise. It is often called the fear of “not
invented here” syndrome, or NIH. Where good ideas come from is less important
than recognizing good ideas and acting upon them.

We all know that size is not always a fair measure of the effectiveness and
capabilities of your small business. This includes how you explore the usability
and usefulness of technology-based tools to support what you do and how you
do it. The big tools are easy to identify and classify between hardware, software
and services. Start with a computer and its accessories, add a few basic software
applications for document creation and number analysis. Then, add a few communications
devices like a wireless router, Internet access and even a cell phone. It is
most likely that you have already made the decisions of what you are using within
these categories — PC vs. Mac, Verizon vs. ATT, Yahoo! vs. Google, etc.

This article will introduce a few tools that may not yet have crossed your
radar screen. The diversity of these products reflects the many differences
of what each of us may need. Some of these applications and services make our
work more efficient; others are designed to specifically support what can help
clients with their activities. In all cases, whether any of these tools can
help you will be determined by your independent analysis. Most of the products
have a free demo period so you can try before you buy.

Most successful entrepreneurs don’t just take risks; they seize the
opportunities to make things more efficient and do things more effectively.
As you review these products, make sure you remain focused on your basic competencies
and what you need to enhance them. If you primarily provide IT consulting, implementing
tax-related applications may not be a value-add for your clients. The key is
to acquire and build where you can and want to grow. Yes, sometimes thinking
outside the box works very well. It is up to you to determine the balance between
staying where you are and bringing in the new. Making the choice to be in any
business, big or small, delivers you options about making more choices.

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Zip Notes
www.zipnotes.com

My handwriting has to be large to be read, even by me. Thus, the standard sticky
note often provides too small a space for the note I want to attach to pages.
One option is to go to the office store and buy three or four different size
sticky notes and keep them all handy. However, along comes Zip Notes with the
idea that a sticky note can be small, medium or large without having to buy
multiple sizes at the store. You choose the length. It is the same concept as
determining how much plastic wrap or aluminum foil is needed. Pull out the size
needed, tear it off, and stick it on the page or desk accessory. It’s
such a simple concept and tool; I wish I had thought of it.

Why is it a good idea? You buy a roll of sticky notes and
use what is needed, and the size can accommodate each individual need.

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IDFreeze Identity Protection from Trusted ID
www.trustedid.com

Too many people are getting their identity stolen. The cost of losing your identity
is high — in time, dollars, aggravation, stress, and very often the collapse
of your personal or business credit. The bad guys never care who they hurt,
and their next victim is already in the pipeline. One of the ways to protect
yourself, your family and your business is with IDFreeze.

The key is to prevent any-one from using your Social Security number for a
credit application or from making purchases using your personal information.
It’s easy for any-one to get your name and home or business address. Specific
numbers for Social Security need to be protected. Certainly, you should NEVER
give the full number over any telephone or e-mail solicitation. The IDFreeze
program detects any use of your Social Security number or even the attempted
sale of your account numbers.

This company offers 24/7 on-call protection to answer identity theft questions
and, if you become a victim of identity theft, provides resources to help you
restore your identity. They support this with a $1,000,000 service warranty.
For $8.25 per month per individual and $15.83 per month per family, the value
of this service is to save the pain and aggravation of having to reclaim your
identity.

Why is it a good idea? Bulletproof vests help save people’s
lives. Social Security numbers, once stolen, can disrupt one’s life to
the point that it will be like getting shot and being very hurt. Protection
is unfortunately needed.

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FileTaxes.com from Greatland
www.filetaxes.com

Filing tax forms can be a real pain. The old way of using paper and envelopes
and the U.S. Post Office is available, but it is becoming more ex-pensive, based
on postage, paper and ink supplies … not to mention your time to do the
printing and mailing. FileTaxes.com is a 1099, W-2, 941 and 944 online electronic
filing and recipient mailing service.

It is a web-based service that provides the ability to do all components of
filing of forms to the IRS and SSA, print all extra copies needed, and deliver
receipts and confirmations to all parties. The cost is $4 to $5 per form. Importing
directly from QuickBooks is an option.

Why is it a good idea? It’s one more way to reduce
paper and deliver more effective services to clients.

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Bill.com
www.bill.com

Bill.com is a web-based SaaS application that automates the business tasks
surrounding bills being paid. This is an accounts payable system on steroids.
Managing the paper — receiving the bill, processing it, getting the bill
paid, and then doing the analysis for what has been paid — is a process
every company must do. Typically, for a small business, this is one of the least
managed areas within the organization.

Accountants often provide bookkeeping support for small businesses. Helping
sort out the details surrounding accounts pay-able can be very helpful, especially
because the work can be done online from any computer with Internet access.
There is time to be saved and accuracy to be gained. Moreover, the data can
be summarized and linked to the company’s accounting system.

Why is it a good idea? Implementing business tools that help
clients organize and manage their finances is always appreciated.

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SpeedTax MANAGER from SpeedTax
www.speedtax.com

Sales tax is one of those terrible necessities of business that has no reward
for doing it accurately but lots of pain and penalties when the sales tax is
processed incorrectly. Speed-Tax MANAGER is another web-based SaaS product that
offers support to tax and accounting professionals and their clients through
a sophisticated web interface. The key is to provide all of the resources needed
to support sales tax compliance.

For sales tax to be computed accurately, it is a requirement to maintain knowledge
about every taxing jurisdiction through-out the United States. Currently, there
are more than 13,000 such taxing jurisdictions, which may appear to be too many.
With a web-based application, the tax rates of the thousands of taxing authorities
is maintained in one place by one group. In addition, any regulatory reporting
required by individual locations is properly handled. This can further be complicated
by nexus rules that assert that any business done in a state can subject that
company to sales tax regulations. This is not an easy application to maintain.
In addition, computing even local sales tax can be a significant expenditure
of people time to get the job done right.

Why is it a good idea? Small businesses need help with sales
tax compliance, as it is pure overhead. Programs like SpeedTax help avoid the
risks surrounding the failure of a sales tax audit.

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Government Resources
www.SSA.gov & www.SBA.gov

The government is here and wants to help is one of the axioms that is often
joked about. Indeed there are many things that the government does not do well.
On the other hand, the websites for the Small Business Administration (SBA)
and Social Security Administration (SSA) have lots of lists and tools that the
small business can utilize for learning, planning, leading and more. Starting
at the home page, there are extensive links and search capabilities to locate
the information being sought. The content covers a range of data to assist start-ups
with compliance for various regulatory requirements (health, Patriot Act, tax,
et al) to ideas for green initiatives.

You’ll find videos, audio podcasts, lists of local resources and a large
set of tools. Companies can subscribe to e-mail updates, monthly chat rooms
and find a variety of useful information, from how to find a loan to how to
apply for Social Security payments online. This part of government is working
to deliver help and assistance in a good way.

Why is it a good idea? These sites provide a lot of useful
content in the form of specific answers as well as good planning ideas for any
small business.

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Most Valuable Accountant Program from ADP
www.smallbusiness.adp.com/accountants/pdf/MVAProgram.pdf

ADP is the granddaddy of all service bureau operations dating back to the
days before personal computing (that has to be old). ADP’s MVA program
is a set of products, tools and resources designed specifically for the accountant
and their small business clients.

Through this program, you can gain access to a wide range of applications
that can assist in the work that you do for your clients. This includes numerous
business support services such as payroll processing, tax and compliance programs,
worker’s compensation programs, and employee management from the hiring
to retirement to benefits program management. ADP also provides services for
records retention management, tax compliance and research. These services can
only be obtained through the accountant. Thus, your client cannot contact ADP
and cut out the accountant.

Why is it a good idea? Using a service bureau means that
you do not have any program installation and program maintenance to perform.
You can be assured that all new regulations are implemented timely and well
tested before you have to put them into use.

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Client Appointment Manager from Atlas Business Solutions

www.abs-usa.com

The first question to ask is, “Do you keep a schedule at all?”
Follow that with, “Do you need something more detailed than can be found
in Outlook?” If the answer is ‘Yes’ to both questions, then
consider how Client Appointment Manager can work for you. The web-based SaaS
product provides a fully customizable appointment management system. This is
much more than a calendar. The application has a direct link to e-mail so that
you can set an appointment and then send confirming mail and messages. After
setting your schedule, the system provides multiple ways to view the calendar
online, convert it to a spreadsheet or Word document, or send it to your PDA
or smartphone.

A single-user license is $295; multi-user licenses start at $395 for a two-user
license, and the cost per additional user is $100! You can try it before you
buy.

Why is it a good idea? When you’re busy, you need a good
process that can keep you on target for meetings and in synch with your associates
and clients.

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NETBOOKS
www.NetBooks.com

Small businesses have many of the same needs of larger concerns, but often
have one person wear-ing the many hats of bookkeeping, marketing, sales, finance,
etc. NetBooks was specifically designed for these “true small businesses,”
the five million owner-operated, self-funded companies in the United States,
giving the entrepreneurs a more consolidated management system for running their
businesses.

Offered as a software-as-a-service (web-based) system, NetBooks is a total
business management and accounting program, providing bookkeeping, sales management,
customer and vendor relationship management, inventory and production, shipping
and financial reporting functions. Also, the hyper-secure web-based system offers
users the ability to access company information and perform work from anywhere.
The program was developed by one of the initial developers of QuickBooks, and
supports both PCs and Macs.

Why is it a good idea? It provides true small businesses
with a viable web-based accounting and business management product that allows
them to manage their business from anywhere at anytime.

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D&B Quickbooks Integration
https://tradexchange.dnb.com/trade

Cashflow is always one of the key concerns for small businesses, and the leading
negative contributor to poor cashflow is a growing base of late pay receivables.
Well, what if placing a little sticker on your invoices could get those bills
paid in half the time? Believe it or not, it can — if the sticker tells
the recipient that you report to Dunn & Bradstreet (D&B). D&B, is
one of the leading business information providers, and its reporting is often
considered in business negotiations, much as credit scores are.

D&B also gives users of this system a free payment performance analysis,
and free credit reports each month.

Why is it a good idea? By using D&B’s Trade Exchange
system, which integrates with QuickBooks, small businesses share their A/R data
with D&B. The stickers on the invoices let business customers know that
their payment behavior is being monitored by D&B and that their credit worthiness
could be affected by their payment histories.