In this issue
July 28, 2012
Building Your Firm’s Website is Easy with the Right Tools
Very few accountants have the technological skills and artistic gifts to create an effective website. Hexadecimal color codes, meta tags and HTML are like a foreign language in a profession with its own cryptic lingo that includes insubstance defeasance and alternative minimum tax.
July 27, 2012
UTC RETAIL Offers All-Inclusive Solution
UTC Retail Point-of-Salewww.UTCRetail.com Retailers face many challenges, particularly when it comes to finding a point-of-sale system that can meet all of their needs, from the necessary hardware, the software the point-of-sale uses to manage transactions and the services they need to keep running efficiently. While many vendors offer the hardware or the software, few offer...…
July 27, 2012
2012 Review of Thomson Reuters’ Web Builder CS, Powered by Emochila
Thomson Reuters — Web Builder CS, Powered by Emochila CS.ThomsonReuters.com/web-builder Best Fit: Tax and accounting firms that either want a customized design or want to build a site based on a template. Since the product is owned by Thomson Reuters and contains a template for a client login page to NetClient CS, as well as...…
July 27, 2012
2012 Review of CCH Site Builder
CCH, a Wolters Kluwer Business — CCH Site Builderwww.CCHwebsites.com Best Fit: Firms using the CCH ProSystem fx Suite and firms that want to add state-specific tax alerts or premium content (such as the CCH Tax Guide and toolkits) not offered by other vendors. Strengths Integration with ProSystem fx Portal, CCH File Share, GainsKeeper, and ProSystem...…
July 27, 2012
New Sage Exchange Features Offer More POS Options
Sage Exchange is designed to help small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) manage their entire payments ecosystem from a central location, including connecting payment devices to their accounting software.
July 27, 2012
2012 Review of GetNetSet Accounting Website Solutions
Websites designed for accounting firms.
July 27, 2012
How Glenn Hanner Became Top Dog in the Veterinary Accounting Niche
Niche marketing isn’t a new concept. It’s a sound and proven business model that’s been around for years, yet has only recently started to bubble up in the accounting profession.
July 27, 2012
2012 Review of Build Your Firm
Build Your Firm – Website Development & Internet MarketingWebsites.BuildYourFirm.com Best Fit: Build Your Firm is a good fit for firms that want to outsource both the design and written content in the process of building a completely customized website, especially those highlighting a particular specialization or industry niche. Strengths Recently increased number of e-mail...…
July 27, 2012
2012 Review of AFSB Accounting and Financial Site Builder
AFSB Accounting and Financial Site Builderwww.afsb.net Best Fit:Firms adding their own content to a template-based solution at a low cost. Strengths With a basic monthly subscription fee of $29.99 and a 20% discount if paid annually ($288/year, effectively $24/month), AFSB is the least expensive web builder among the products reviewed after the discount. Over 120...…
July 27, 2012
How to Find the Right Point-of-Sale System for Any Small Business
Like all technology, POS/Retail Systems change faster than many business owners are prepared for.
July 27, 2012
2012 Review of CPAsites.com
CPAsites, LLC — CPAsites.comwww.cpasites.com Best Fit:CPA firms that want a unique design or features that other template-based providers do not offer. CPAsites.com takes pride in being 100% CPA-owned and managed, which gives them the ability to relate to the online needs of CPA firms. Strengths CPAsites does not use pre-designed templates, so all websites are...…
July 27, 2012
2012 Review of AccountantsWorld Website Relief
AccountantsWorld — Website Reliefwww.AccountantsWorld.com Best Fit:Small accounting practices, particularly those using the AccountantsWorld Power Practice suite, who will benefit from integration with professional programs and client portals. Strengths There are hundreds of templates with an unlimited number of combinations to choose from. Free unlimited support and web-based seminars. Seamless integration with the AccountantsWorld online applications....…
July 27, 2012
Technology Versus Dirty Power
Digital devices have always had a love-hate relationship with the power needed to operate them. In addition to low battery life and power failures, there is the insidious “power spike” that seemingly can be caused by anything from a passing storm to a cat rubbing up against your leg.
July 27, 2012
2012 Review of Intuit QuickBooks Point of Sale 2013
With the revamped point of sale product from QuickBooks, they have succeeded in expanding their market considerably.
July 27, 2012
It’s a Niche World
The niche business model is a hot topic these days, and for good reason. Firms that have adopted this model are enjoying standardized processes, higher revenues, and operating at peak efficiency.
July 27, 2012
The Dumbing Down of Search Engines
Google has long been the undisputed default search engine, far exceeding competitors like Yahoo!, Bing and an assortment of lesser known websites. But just as Google’s search functionality is mimicked or outright plagiarized (imitation being flattery, of sorts), the company faces challenges similar to those faced by Microsoft and giant corporations in other industries. That...…
July 27, 2012
2012 Review of Wasp Barcode – QuickStore POS Standard Edition
Wasp Barcode Technologies — QuickStore POS Standard Edition866-547-9277www.waspbrcode.com Best Fit: QuickStore is a scalable product that will work well with retailers of any size. Currently, QuickStore is not recommended for grocery stores or restaurant businesses. Strengths Product is extremely scalable and suitable, with 3 versions available Slight learning curve means quicker system setup and...…
July 27, 2012
Establishing Standards for the Paperless Office
A paperless accounting practice is in many regards very similar to one based on paper, although it will be much more efficient if good practices and standards are implemented during the transition to paperless. Many firms start the move to paperless by scanning documents and storing them on a hard drive in some sort of...…
July 27, 2012
Your Team Is An Idea Generation Machine
Tips on how to motivate your team to provide new ideas.
July 27, 2012
What Tax Outsourcing Looks Like Today
Note: Author Dave Wyle, CPA is the Foudner and CEO of SurePrep, LLC. Over the last decade, accounting firms ranging in size from small local firms to large international ones have embraced tax outsourcing as a way to improve efficiency, client service, and staff retention. This article will provide an overview of those benefits as...…
July 27, 2012
2012 Review of CAM Commerce Retail STAR Lite
CAM Commerce — Retail STAR Lite800-726-3282www.camcommerce.com Best Fit: Retail Star is best suited for larger retailers that have very specific needs. Retail Star contains excellent customization capability and retail-industry specific applications. For single location retailers, they may wish to try Retail Ice, a comparable version of the software available for use in one location. Strengths...…
July 27, 2012
2012 Technology Update – Technologies to Watch
Randy Johnston offers his annual Technology Update, pointing out the key trends and technologies that professionals should be aware of and prepared for.
July 27, 2012
Mobile Strategies: App, Mobile Website, or Both?
One of the major changes taking place in the mobile publishing arena is a move away from having true dedicated “apps” to accomplish tasks on the go.
July 27, 2012
2012 Review of Celerant Command Retail – Version 6.4
Celerant Technology Corp. — Celerant Command Retail – Version 6.4718-605-7733www.celerant.com Best Fit: Small, large, or somewhere in between, retailers will surely appreciate Command Center’s long list of product features, all designed to make running a retail establishment a lot easier. That long list of features makes Command Retail particularly well-suited for larger retailers, or...…
July 27, 2012
2012 Review of ECR Software Corp. Catapult 5.1.1
ECR Software Corp. — Catapult 5.1.1800-211-1172www.ecrs.com Best Fit: Catapult is truly designed for a specific part of the retail industry, and with touch screen technology standard on all of its systems, it truly works with high-volume specialty retailers of any size. Strengths Touch screen monitor is standard Product contains unlimited customization capability Little training necessary...…
July 27, 2012
2012 Review of CPASiteSolutions CompleteWebSuite
CPASiteSolutions — CompleteWebSuitewww.CPASiteSolutions.com Best Fit Firms that want a site from one the best template-based web builders along with comprehensive web marketing services, and firms that want to build a website quickly. CPASiteSolutions boasts that it only needs 15 minutes of a CPA’s time and that the dedicated webmaster often completes the site within 2...…
July 27, 2012
CPA Practice Advisor Goes Around the World
Readers submitted photo of themselves holding either the print or digital issue of the magazine from wherever they might travel.
