Profile of a Founder: Lil Roberts of xendoo
We believe business owners should have time to do what they love, build their business – not do bookkeeping.
Importance of LIVE events & What’s the Future of Ecommerce | Lil Roberts | Ep. 173
The new buying habits are post-pandemic! What to expect? xendoo CEO and Founder Lil Roberts is back to share with us the new buying habits post-pandemic and how eCommerce fits into retail’s post-pandemic future. “We believe business owners should have time to do what they love, build their business – not do bookkeeping.”
Online Bookkeeping Provider xendoo Now Helping Small Businesses in 46 States, 12 Countries
One of Broward County’s biggest startup success stories continues to grow at a rapid pace. Fort Lauderdale-based xendoo has developed a SaaS bookkeeping platform targeted at small businesses. The startup reported a two-year revenue growth of 777% from 2018 through 2019.
Tips to Increase Retail Sales for Your Small Business
This past year has been incredibly hard on retailers, especially small businesses. Retail sales plunged more than 20% between February and April last year, but with pandemic restrictions easing, the industry is starting to recover. As folks are venturing out more, it’s the perfect time to refresh yourself and your sales associates on tips to help increase retail sales and work towards building your business back up! Make your customers feel safe Many people are finding it tough to return to their pre-pandemic selves quickly and are still moving with caution. Help them feel at ease by reminding them they are safe in your shop. Take note of what protocols major retailers are following. For example, hand sanitizer can be available at the entry and the register. Use signage to share your mask policy, cleaning protocol, and any policies on the dressing room or how to use ‘tester’ products. The safer customers feel, the more likely they are to purchase, which will help increase your retail sales. Curbside pickup and local delivery Many stores began offering curbside pickup and local delivery in 2020, and most customers have become accustomed to these services. Keep in mind that today’s customers value convenience, so continue to offer these alternative methods moving forward. Train your staff While refreshing your team on cross- and up-selling, ensure they are up to speed on the basics, too. For example, do they need a reminder on any specials or promotions you offer? Ensure they are experts on your store’s products and are as informed as possible on your customer service expectations. Please encourage them to think ahead about how they might answer specific questions customers might ask, including all frequently asked questions. If your staff can put your customers at ease, they are more likely to purchase from you than your competitors. The savviest sales associates know how to cross-sell and up-sell. When a customer is interested in one particular item, the savvy salesperson suggests a corresponding item to go along with it. “If you like that, you will love this, too!” Up-selling suggests a more expensive alternative to the item the customer is already interested in buying. “Oh, that one you have is great, but have you seen this (more expensive) version?” If your customer leaves with an item they will enjoy more and feel like they got a great deal, they are more likely to be a repeat customer, which can further help increase retail sales. Merchandising Make the way you merchandise or display your products a priority. Keep your displays fresh and regularly move merchandise around the store, creating a sense of newness and having your regular customers look at products they may have otherwise passed. Feature new and seasonal products near the entrance. Keep everything clean and organized, and ensure it’s easy to navigate the store. Keep popular and inexpensive items near the registers to encourage impulse purchases during check-out. It would be best to keep up on your inventory accounting to ensure that those displays have enough product. Make it personal 80% of companies are more likely to purchase from a company that offers them a personal experience. So, how might your store offer a personal touch? Branded items are a great way to connect with your customers creatively – ensure your logo or taglines are on bags, receipts, and automated email receipts. Consider slipping an extra treat into shopping bags, too. Perhaps a small button or magnet with your logo and website. And the best way to get personal is to connect with your customers. Make it a priority to chat, remember their names, and take note of the types of products that interest them. Loyalty programs Customers love loyalty programs! Many small businesses still enjoy using classic “buy 10, get 1 free” style punch cards, but there are great digital-focused loyalty programs, too. Options like Loopy Loyalty and Smile.io encourage customers to shop with you again and engage with your brand. And get creative! These programs offer ways to customize the program to match your branding and speak to your customers. As you build your loyalty program, ensure you aren’t creating an unattainable goal. Earning $5 for every $25 you spend feels much more exciting than earning $1 for every $50, right!? Make time to analyze Small retail store owners are notoriously stretched for time, but it’s essential to set aside time to review what sales tactics are working and what aren’t. Look at the numbers and strategically think about what might have led to increases or dips in sales on any given day. This is where having professionals like the team at xendoo manage your retail bookkeeping can go a long way. You can quickly review the numbers through accurate and timely reports and determine the most effective sales strategies. It’s an exciting time for retailers to have a fresh start! Seize the opportunity to train your staff on new sales tactics, refresh your inventory offerings and displays, and get creative with new ways for your customers to engage with your brand. By outsourcing your bookkeeping and accounting to the team at xendoo, you’ll save time and money, and you’ll finally have the data you need to be more strategic about increasing retail sales and remaining profitable. [av_sidebar widget_area=’Blog Post Disclaimer’ av_uid=’av-om2w’]
How to Setup Your Online Store to Integrate Accounting Software
You’ve set up your online store set, and orders are starting to come in. But in your rush to pack, ship, and sell, there’s a good chance you haven’t made time to integrate accounting software with your eCommerce software. By downloading a third-party app plug-in, you are just a few clicks away from saving time and money by automatically sharing data between your accounting and eCommerce programs. It sounds like a lot of work, but it’s simple! Most popular online accounting software options like QuickBooks, Xero, and FreshBooks all have a menu where you can search for compatible app plug-ins. And most popular eCommerce programs like Shopify, Squarespace, and WooCommerce have a corresponding app available from a third-party software developer. So you can easily install an app to sync the two programs! What to Look for E-Commerce Accounting Software As soon as you begin spending or making money, it’s time to set up your eCommerce bookkeeping and start accounting. There are many affordable online eCommerce accounting software options available. Programs such as QuickBooks Online or Xero store a business’s financial data in the cloud and are always connected to the internet. In addition, they automatically receive and update your data by connecting to your bank accounts. Sounds easy, but not all accounting programs are the same, and there is a lot to choose from. When deciding which program is best for you, you’ll want to consider the following: Compatibility – Does the program work with all of the devices you plan to use? How many users can be simultaneously logged in? Can your international team members log in, too? Cost – Many options have a free plan, but the pricing goes up as your business scales and grows. Support – What are the customer service options? Does the program offer expert bookkeepers and accountants you can hire to take on the work when you are ready to delegate? Can they help you file your taxes? Additional Services – All of the programs offer basic bookkeeping and financial reporting, but what kind of extra offerings does the software have? Some eCommerce trends include hefty employee management solutions to help with payroll, time tracking, and benefits, while others may offer project management tools. Some offer payment processing through third-party partnerships. Integrate accounting software with your eCommerce program – Make sure the two programs sync so you can limit the amount of data entry you are doing. Ideally, you will be able to eliminate manual data entry of sales, invoices, customers, products, and more. Most popular eCommerce software options, such as Squarespace and Shopify, integrate easily with third-party app plug-ins compatible with accounting programs like QuickBooks and Xero. Once synced, your inventory, orders, customers, and shipping can be automatically updated and will stay accurate. And getting started is easy! Most of these integrations only require a quick authorization and a few clicks to import your eCommerce data into your accounting program. Below is a list of some popular eCommerce platforms that offer integrations with popular online accounting software programs. Keep in mind that this list isn’t exhaustive, but these are the most popular eCommerce platforms that easily integrate with accounting software like Xero and QuickBooks Online. Squarespace WooCommerce BigCommerce Shopify Square Integrating your accounting software with your eCommerce platform can help save you time and money. You’ll be able to get an instant view of your financials, allowing you to plan your sales strategy more effectively. As your eCommerce business grows and you decide to sync your eCommerce software with your accounting software, there are many aspects of eCommerce and accounting that you will want to keep in mind for this integration. For example: Inventory Management – You will want to be able to connect multiple sales channels such as your brick & mortar’s Point of Sale, your Online Store, and your Pop-up location to ensure stock levels always stay up-to-date. Choosing the correct payment gateway – Does the available option match your needs? Will international business be supported? Tax settings – How does the software help you with your sales tax reporting? What role does it play in monitoring important tax deadlines? Why You Should Outsource Your E-Commerce Bookkeeping and Accounting As your eCommerce business grows, you will want to outsource your bookkeeping and accounting to professionals. Even though app integrations with the best accounting software for small businesses are great, many automatic tools such as your monthly reconciliation can be inaccurate. Even a minor error in your bookkeeping can have a ripple effect and lead to everything from your financial reports being inaccurate to your marketing budget and your tax payments. It’s best to have an experienced set of eyes on it! These professionals can even find tax breaks you were missing and help you save even more money! Spend more time growing your business and less time crunching the numbers by working with the team at xendoo. [av_sidebar widget_area=’Blog Post Disclaimer’ av_uid=’av-om2w’]
Choosing the Right Accounting System for Your Shopify Business
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in October 2017 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Whether you’re brand new to online retail and trying to decide how to set up your eCommerce business, or you’ve been around a while and simply reached the point where your DIY accounting solution just isn’t cutting it anymore, xendoo’s innovative suite of business offerings can help you. xendoo can get your small business accounting running like a well-oiled machine so you can focus on what’s important – growing your business. To be competitive in the new economy, cloud-based accounting is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity. Here are some of the best accounting systems for Shopify that can help get your business on track. QuickBooks Online QuickBooks Online is the cloud-based version of the popular and versatile QuickBooks business accounting software. Quickbooks Online accounting system for Shopify allows you to access your account information from any web browser, and the API creates a seamless interface that links directly to xendoo’s platform. That means you can easily organize and sync all of your critical financial data with no tedious manual data entry. Additionally, Quickbooks Online for Shopify allows you to easily create and send invoices, receive payments, pay bills, and manage payroll. Track income and expenses Capture and organize receipts according to your chart of accounts Download and organize bank account and credit card transactions Print checks Create and send invoices, as well as receive payments Print financial reports Tax organization Xero for E-commerce QuickBooks is a popular accounting system for Shopify, but it may not be the best choice for everyone. Xero is another cloud-based accounting solution that will appeal to a lot of Shopify store owners. Xero is fast, simple, and powerful. It can sync with hundreds of third-party applications for point-of-sale, inventory, and much more. It also offers a mobile app for convenience and allows customers to create an unlimited number of users. From within the Xero accounting software for Shopify, you can manage your accounts payable, accounts receivable, budget, and category or division tracking. Customizable dashboard Create invoices and quotes and receive payments Track inventory Bill payment Expense management and project management Create and print financial reports Bank account reconciliation Highly scalable for small or growing businesses A2X for Shopify A popular middleware, or “connector,” application that links your Shopify store with your cloud-based accounting system is A2X for Shopify. It automatically posts your Shopify sales and fees directly into QuickBooks or Xero, saving you hours of tedious work each week. That also means no more stressing over why transactions don’t match your bank deposits because A2X eliminates data entry mistakes. Automatically post store data into QuickBooks or Xero Automatically reconcile bank statements Automatically make adjustments for fees and refunds Create and print summarized statements TaxJar for Shopify A major time vampire for business owners who sell on Shopify is state sales tax compliance in the wake of Wayfair, Inc. v. South Dakota (2018), which requires online sellers to comply with sales tax requirements in each state where they do business. TaxJar accounting system for Shopify will streamline your sales tax compliance process by showing you where you should be collecting sales tax according to economic nexus laws and generating return-ready reports. It can even auto-file your returns for you if you want. Calculate sales tax based on each state’s nexus Daily updates allow for timely return filing AutoFile option for automated return filing Display fines and penalties for delinquent filing Compare actual collections to what should have been collected Shopify Apps In addition to your accounting software, Shopify offers over 1,000 plug-in applications from their app store to help you with managing inventory, shipping, reporting, and much more. However, we suggest that you fully explore the capabilities of QuickBooks, Xero, A2X, and TaxJar before making any decisions about additional applications. A lot of functionality might be duplicated, and you certainly don’t want to pay for the same thing twice. In addition to tons of helpful plug-ins, Shopify also features a profit margin calculator. Just plug in your cost of the item and a markup percentage, and Shopify will calculate the sale price, your gross profit in dollars, and your gross margin. Outsourcing Your Bookkeeping and Accounting Even though these accounting systems for Shopify can make life much simpler for sellers than even just a few years ago, it can still sometimes feel overwhelming. If you begin to feel like you might be in over your head, you should consider outsourcing your accounting and bookkeeping to a small business accounting firm like xendoo. There are a lot of good reasons to outsource your accounting for your Shopify eCommerce business, and it’s more affordable than you might think. xendoo’s accounting team works with small business owners just like you to provide expertise and insight into the accounting needs of e-commerce businesses. xendoo can take care of everything from weekly bookkeeping to filing business taxes for you, and our flat monthly fee is less than half of what you’d probably pay an accountant. xendoo’s mission is to give you the peace of mind of knowing it’s being done right, and free your time to focus on what’s important – growing your business. Sign up for a free trial today. [av_sidebar widget_area=’Blog Post Disclaimer’ av_uid=’av-om2w’]
The Best Online Accounting Software for Small Businesses
A skilled accountant will keep you tax compliant and ensure that you’re always in-the-know and focused on the big picture when it comes to your financials. Yes, you could try to do it all yourself, but do you have the time or expertise? (Or the interest!?) And cost can definitely feel like a huge barrier here – it can be hard for a small business to afford to hire an accountant. Additionally, if you wait until tax time to get it together, it can end up giving you a real headache – hiring an accountant at the last minute with books full of errors could cost you more than you set aside in the first place. Thankfully in 2021, there are many affordable online accounting software options available for small businesses. What does online accounting software do? Online accounting software stores a business’s financial data in the cloud, and is often used to perform business transactions such as invoicing clients and cutting checks. Most modern accounting software platforms, such as Quickbooks Online or Xero, are always connected to the internet, and they automatically receive and update your data by connecting to your bank accounts. With these platforms, you have access to your books from any internet-capable device, like your laptop or smartphone. Most of these programs automatically enter, store, and analyze data for you which is especially useful for saving time on tasks like bank reconciliation. Not all accounting programs were made equally, though! Different kinds of accounting software programs are made for different businesses. Some come with tons of features and are good for larger teams or international markets, like Xero, while others focused on small businesses with a sole bookkeeper, like Quickbooks. The best online accounting software for a small business offers useful tools like invoicing, bill payment, payroll, and financial reporting. Many even offer tools for project management and time tracking. xendoo can take much of the daily bookkeeping work off your plate—we utilize Quickbooks and Xero accounting software, so you have ownership of your financial records while benefiting from the xendoo online bookkeeping and accounting team. Why your small business needs accounting software Your small business can benefit from online accounting software if you’re just plain bad at math, unorganized, or find it hard to conceptualize finances and consistently track incoming cash. Having a clear set of invoice and payment records is one of the most important things a small business can do to set itself up for success. Online accounting software provides tracking and up-to-date visibility to the financial health of your business, so you can make smart decisions and be tax-ready all year long. And the most common reason of all for why your small business needs accounting software is that you are too busy focusing on the ins and outs of running your business to take on all of the bookkeeping, accounting, and taxes on your own! Our picks for the best online accounting software for small business: Xero Xero prides itself on providing fast, simple, powerful accounting software that all of your users can access at the same time, regardless of their different locations or operating systems. Xero offers a variety of user-friendly features to help you run your business, such as paying bills, claiming expenses, and accepting payments. The Xero model of using a single unified ledger is particularly helpful for businesses that have team members working internationally or even in different time zones – everyone can work in the same books at the same time. And it’s a good choice for businesses that are growing or that change frequently – Xero is known for having a large amount of secure connections with financial institutions around the world and integrates with more than 500 third-party apps, plug-ins, and products so you can craft a solution that meets your ever-changing needs. Choosing Xero for your accounting software needs is a great choice, but keep in mind that you will still need to manage the software on your own, perform your own data entry and bookkeeping, and will likely still need to hire an external CPA for tax filing. If you don’t have any bookkeeping experience there’s always a chance you will use the tools incorrectly. Additionally, Xero might not be the best choice for you if phone support is important to you as they only offer customer support over email, or through their online resources. Wave Wave offers online financial software designed with entrepreneurs in mind. Sole proprietors love the price tag – they offer accounting software, invoicing, and receipt scanning for free. Keep in mind these are the tools – you will still need to understand how to manage it all on your own. Without any background or experience, there is always a chance you will use the tools incorrectly. Additionally, under separate paid plans, Wave offers bookkeeping services, payroll services, and online payment processing. It is an excellent choice for very small businesses but isn’t suitable for larger businesses. Unlike most other online accounting software options, Wave doesn’t offer robust mobile apps or additional useful tools like project management and time tracking. It’s the best free option for basic accounting software but lacks additional features that growing businesses need. Wave is owned by the tax preparation company H&R Block. QuickBooks QuickBooks Online is one of the most popular accounting software options for small and mid sized businesses. QuickBooks was originally released in 1983 and is owned by Intuit, who also makes financial programs TurboTax and Mint. QuickBooks Online is their online accounting software and offers all the robust features you would expect from financial software – accepting business payments, managing and paying bills, payroll options, customer support, and more – all for a set monthly fee. For additional fees, QuickBooks Online can connect you with recommended bookkeepers and advisors. QuickBooks Online is one of the most trusted online accounting software options out there, but keep in mind that you still need to know what you are doing – QuickBooks
Pass-Through Deductions: What It Is and Who Qualifies
One of the best small business-friendly aspects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) is the 20% deduction you can take on your income tax if your business is a pass-through entity. Here’s what you need to know about it. What Is the Deduction The TCJA was passed in 2017 and first applied to 2018 tax returns. Provision 199A of that law states that you can deduct 20% of your “qualified business income” which was earned from a “qualified trade or business.” What Is a Pass-Through Entity Any business structure that allows you to receive income as an “owner’s draw” rather than as a regular employee is a pass-through business. The money is “passed through” from the company account to your personal account. You only pay income tax on it with your personal return; you don’t have to file a separate return for the business. Pass-through entities include: • Sole proprietorship • Partnership • LLC (limited liability corporation) • S-Corporation However, there are some restrictions. Taxable Income Restriction • Less than $157,500 (single, married filing separately, head of household) or $315,000 (married filing jointly): you qualify for the full 20% deduction. • $157,500 – $207,500 or $315,000 – $415,000, respectively: your deduction may be less. • More than $207,500 or $415,000, respectively: you are not eligible for the deduction. Specified Service or Trade Restrictions What your business does may disqualify it from the deduction. Here’s the list of excluded fields, as issued by the Treasury Department in August 2018: • Health • Law • Accounting • Actuarial science • Performing arts • Consulting • Athletics • Financial services • Brokerage services • Any business where the principal asset is the reputation or skill of one or more of the employees or owners • Any business that consists of investing and investment management, trading or dealing in securities, partnership interests or commodities But don’t give up if you see your business in one of these categories, because there are numerous exceptions. For example, in the Health category, healthcare providers who provide services directly to patients — such as doctors and dentists — are not eligible. On the other hand, health clubs, spas, medical research companies, and those who sell pharmaceuticals or medical devices may qualify for the deduction. In the case of businesses who both provide services and sell products, eligibility is determined by sales: • Less than $25 million in gross receipts and less than 10% of your business comes from disqualified services; or • More than $25 million in gross receipts and less than 5% of your business comes from disqualified services Employee and Property Restrictions There are two further conditions that could affect how much of a deduction you can take. They are: • Business that pay W-2 wages • Business that owns “qualified property” such as real estate or other tangible assets that can be depreciated If your business fits either of these descriptions, your deduction will be the lesser of: • 20% of qualified business income (or the “tentative deduction”); or • The greater of: o W-2 wages paid x 50%; or o W-2 wages paid x 25% + the unadjusted basis (cost) of your qualified property x 2.5% Still confused about the pass-through deduction? Your xendoo small business expert can clear things up, answer your questions, and help you get every tax break you deserve. [av_sidebar widget_area=’Blog Post Disclaimer’ av_uid=’av-om2w’]