Tag Archive for: online accountant

A phone with Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle.

Tax-Reporting Change for Venmo, Cash App, and Others

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New Year, New Tax Requirements

Do you use apps like Zelle, Venmo, and Cash App to accept payments from customers? How are you reporting those earnings? In the past, although all business owners were required to report their earnings on their Federal Tax Returns, only those who received payments of $20,000 or more through payment apps also reported their earnings using Form 1099-K. Recently, that rule was changed and will affect a larger pool of business owners going forward.

Will this new rule apply to your business? Keep reading to find out! In this post, we will discuss the new requirement, and how Xendoo can help you stay on top of your tax compliance in this evolving landscape. 

Tax Reporting for Payments of $600 or More

Previously, the reporting threshold was much higher – $20,000 in gross payments, with at least 200 transactions in the current year. The update set a new minimum requirement for filing a Form 1099-K by third party payment apps: business owners who collect payments of $600 or more will now receive Form 1099-K from the payment apps they use, in order to disclose their mobile app earnings to the IRS. 

The new requirement went into effect on January 1, 2022, and will apply to 2022 taxes, which will be filed in 2023. 

Note: This requirement only applies to business-related transactions, not personal transactions. For example, reimbursements from roommates for their share of the rent and monetary gifts from loved ones would not qualify. The selling of personal items at a loss is also excluded, such as a bed purchased for $300 and sold for $100. 

The best accounting practice is to keep personal and business finances under separate accounts, in order to save time and avoid confusion while filing taxes. Consider creating distinct profiles for your business under the payment apps you use.

Do Payment App Users Have to Pay More Taxes?

Now that the reporting amount requirement has been lowered to $600, it is likely that you (and many other business owners) will receive Form 1099-K from the payment apps you use, to file with your Federal Tax Return in the 2023 tax season.

The good news is that this does not mean that business owners now owe additional taxes. The use of Form 1099-K is only a reporting method and an update to the threshold in existing tax laws. 

Adding yet another item to the tax season to-do list may feel overwhelming, but you do not have to handle it all on your own. Below, we will discuss how online bookkeeping and accounting services can help your business remain tax compliant!   

Tax Compliance Done for You 

Business owners deserve expert support as tax compliance rules change. In order to remain tax-ready throughout the year and maximize your return, consider partnering with an online accountant at Xendoo! They will provide: 

  • Online Bookkeeping: Tax savings begin with consistent bookkeeping, which provides the financial visibility needed to make informed, data-driven decisions, now and during tax season. 
  • Small Business Tax Services: Your online CPA will keep track of the changing small business tax regulations on your behalf, so you can focus on what you love – growing your business! They are available when you need them, all year long.    
  • Catch Up Bookkeeping: Are you behind on your bookkeeping? You are not alone! 25% of business owners are behind on their books. Whether you are behind a few months or years, Xendoo can bring your bookkeeping up-to-date, complete with a year-end financial package to prepare your business for tax season. 

Our services are designed to save small business owners time, stress, and money, so they can enjoy financial peace of mind, even when tax requirements change. Are we a fit for your business? Let’s chat! Click here to schedule your free consultation.

2 business owners looking at a calculator, discussing financial performance

4 Ways Small Business Owners Can Stay Tax Compliant

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The Details Matter 

A crucial component of being a small business owner is meeting certain tax requirements in order to remain compliant in the eyes of the IRS. It can feel overwhelming to keep track of every rule and deadline, especially while juggling countless other business responsibilities day in and day out. 

That is why the Xendoo team has created this guide to help business owners stay on top of their tax requirements, remain compliant throughout the year, and effortlessly maximize their return! 

Keep Your Bookkeeping Up-to-Date

Up-to-date and accurate bookkeeping saves business owners time, stress, and money during tax season. 

By keeping your books up-to-date, you can be confident that you are reporting your income and expenses correctly, paying the proper amount in taxes, and paying your estimated taxes in a timely manner, which produces a stress-free tax season. Instead of playing phone tag with your finance professional over missing documents, you can work with an online accountant who will determine the tax deductions you qualify for and file your taxes on your behalf, so you can get back to what you love – growing your business! 

Pay Self-Employment Tax

In typical payroll situations, self-employment taxes are split between the employee and employer, each paying 7.65%. Self-employed individuals pay both halves: 12.4% for Social Security and 2.9% for Medicare – 15.3% all together, which applies to business profit. For example, if your business is an LLC, and made $100,000 in profit, you will pay $15,300 in self-employment taxes. Self-employment income is reported on the Schedule C that accompanies Form 1040. As a rule of thumb, self-employment taxes are required if you made $400 or more in net earnings from self-employment. 

While self-employment taxes cannot be waived, there is a way to decrease them. 

Self-employment tax payments can be decreased by electing to be taxed as an S-Corporation. S-Corporation owners pay themselves in two different ways: salary and distributions. While the salary is subject to self-employment taxes, the distributions are exempt, which allows S-Corps to avoid double taxation. 

It is always best to speak to a small business tax accountant. They will get to know your business, and determine if S-Corp Election is right for you. 

A banner advertising Xendoo's small business tax services. A young accountant smiles, with buttons for business & personal tax returns, tax consultations and preparations, and best-in-class support appearing next to her.

Pay Quarterly Estimated Taxes 

Because self-employed individuals do not have taxes withheld from their paychecks like W-2 employees, they pay quarterly estimated taxes in order to cover Social Security, Medicare, and income tax. Those that expect to owe $1,000 or more in income tax are required to make quarterly estimated tax payments, and will file using Form 1040-ES.

To ensure that your estimated tax payments are made on time, mark your calendar with the upcoming deadlines: 

  • January 18, 2022 (the final installment for 2021)
  • April 18, 2022
  • June 15, 2022
  • September 15, 2022 
  • December 15, 2022 

Now comes the fun part: calculation! By dividing last year’s tax liability by 4, you can determine what you will owe each quarter for this year. 

For example, if you paid $10,000 in taxes last year, you will owe $2,500 in quarterly estimated taxes this year ($10,000/4 quarters = $2,500).

If your income fluctuates, consider calculating your payments based on your quarterly earnings instead. You can also take advantage of Xendoo’s small business tax services. Our expert online CPAs are available all year long, so you can make informed decisions each quarter, and maximize your return when tax season arrives! 

To learn more about calculating your quarterly estimated tax payments, click here. 

Separate Personal and Business Bank Accounts

One of the most straightforward ways to remain tax compliant is to separate personal and business bank accounts. 

Using a business bank account and credit card ensures financial accuracy, which is crucial to tax compliance. Instead of sorting through personal and business expenses while bookkeeping, you will be certain you are only recording relevant expenses, and your books will reflect your true financial position. 

If you utilize personal assets for your business, like a home office or vehicle, keep detailed records of when and how they are used in order to support the deductions you claim. When tax season arrives, you will have the financial clarity needed to accurately report your financials to the IRS. 

Expert Tax Support, All Year Long 

You do not have to lose sleep over tax compliance. Xendoo is here to help! We provide online bookkeeping services, as well as catch up bookkeeping, so you can focus on growing your business. Enjoy peace of mind knowing your financials are always up-to-date, and that your business is always tax-ready.

Let’s chat! We would love to get to know your business. Click here to schedule your free consultation.

Young cafe owners sitting at table, working on their catch up bookkeeping

The Top 5 Benefits of Catch Up Bookkeeping

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Whether they coach chess players or sell organic puppy food online, every small business owner shares a common driving force: a passion for growing their business. Increasing sales and gaining new customers is one part of the equation. Consistent bookkeeping provides the financial insight needed to strategize for long-term success. With so many obligations resting on the business owner’s shoulders, it can feel like there are not enough hours in the day to accomplish every task, and eventually the books may fall behind. 

Even if the books are only behind a few weeks, up-to-date records are crucial for the financial well-being of every business. Catch up bookkeeping accelerates business growth by increasing financial visibility, which enables business owners to make decisions based on accurate information and remain tax-compliant throughout the year! In this blog post, we are exploring the top 5 benefits of catch up bookkeeping!   

Reliability in Your Opening Balance

The Opening Balance is the amount of money in your bank account at the beginning of a new financial period, such as the start of the month. Be aware that your bank account does not necessarily reflect the exact amount of cash that is available to spend. For example, if your Opening Balance states that you have $50,000, but $20,000 worth of checks have not cleared yet, the actual balance is $30,000. The best practice is to consult your updated accounting software or financial statements, which provide insight into your true financial position.

The financial statements report revenue, expenses, and profitability, all of which contribute to the Opening Balance. They also guide decision-making and reveal opportunities for business growth. The more up-to-date your books are, the more reliable your financial statements (and Opening Balance) will be! 

If your bookkeeping is behind, there will be little to no financial data for that time period, which means you will not know your true Opening Balance for today. For example, if your account was reconciled in January, but February was skipped, the Opening Balance would be incorrect for March. This could skew your numbers going forward, and costly choices could be made based on inaccurate data. This could also affect future bank account reconciliation, as well as the balances in your revenue, costs, and expenses. It is a vicious cycle.

Catch up bookkeeping corrects these issues and provides clarity and accuracy in your financials. Once your books are caught up, keeping them up-to-date becomes second nature.

Financial Accuracy Through Bank Account Reconciliation   

A bank account reconciliation is performed to confirm that your accounting records match the information in your bank account. It is an opportunity to identify and correct any bookkeeping errors before the financial statements are finalized, as well as detect and prevent fraudulent activity in your bank account. Bank account reconciliation also ensures that you are accurately reporting your income to the IRS. The best practice is to reconcile your bank account once a month. 

Proper bank account reconciliation can only be accomplished when the books are up-to-date. By getting your books caught up, you can ensure the reliability and accuracy of your financials each month. 

 

Cash Flow Management

Catch up bookkeeping can have a significant impact on cash flow. When your books are caught up, you can pinpoint how and when cash enters and leaves your business each month. This delivers a deeper understanding of your cash needs, so you can create a plan for cash flow management. 

For example, as your books are caught up, you may uncover past due invoices, or find that you are sending out vendor payments before you receive the cash needed to cover them. 

With this insight, you can monitor your Accounts Receivable to ensure you are paid in a timely manner going forward, and find solutions for the timing of your own payments. You can also forecast future cash needs to be confident you have what you need for continued operations.   

Click here to learn more about cash flow.  

Insight into Net Income

Keeping your books up-to-date plays a vital role in calculating your bottom line, or Net Income, which is the profit that remains after all costs and expenses are subtracted from revenue. In order to know your true Net Income, all business expenses must be accounted for through accurate and timely bookkeeping. This understanding of your Net Income provides the opportunity to increase your bottom line. 

Getting your books caught up is also essential when applying for loans. Creditors and investors examine Net Income when deciding to invest in a business, as it highlights the business’s ability to pay back loans efficiently. Catch up bookkeeping determines your bottom line, so you can understand and increase the profitability of your business, meet loan requirements, and secure funding for your next venture!     

Click here to learn more about Net Income.   

Tax Compliance

As tax season draws closer, a concern that many business owners have is under or over reporting their earnings, and missing out on deductions. They may also experience a back and forth with their Tax CPA over missing documents and gaps in their financials. Breathe a sigh of relief – catch up bookkeeping takes the headache out of tax season!

By getting (and keeping) your books caught up, you can identify the deductions you qualify for, maximize your tax return, and stay compliant all year long! 

Get Your Books Caught Up with Xendoo

Behind on your bookkeeping? You are not alone! 25% of business owners are behind on their books. Get a fresh start with catch up bookkeeping services from Xendoo, so you can take your time back and focus on the future of your business. 

Let’s chat! We would love to get to know you and your business. Click here to schedule a free consultation.

Diverse group of business owners in a C-corporation, reviewing documents together

How Do I Pay Myself and My Taxes as a C-corporation?

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When businesses are first created, every responsibility falls on the business owner. As they juggle increasing sales, customer service, marketing, and even bookkeeping and accounting, two questions come to mind – how do I pay myself? How do I pay my business’s taxes? 

Self-payment for small business owners is far from simple. There are certain requirements for the amount you pay yourself, and even how you receive payments. That is why the Xendoo team has created this guide to help you navigate self-payment and taxes as a C-corporation owner!

How to Pay Yourself as a C-corporation: Salary or Dividends  

The payment you receive depends on your role within the company. C-corporations are made up of the following roles:

Xendoo provides financial visibility to C-Corp owners through online bookkeeping, accounting, and tax services.

Directors, officers, and employees in a C-corporation take a salary, which is subject to payroll taxes. Shareholders can take a salary and dividends, which are allocations of stock from retained earnings, if the company chooses to distribute profits. Some shareholders opt not to take dividends, which will be discussed shortly. 

In smaller C-corporations, one person can act as the shareholder, director, officer, and employee. Shareholders can also be involved in the day-to-day operations of the company, and are referred to as shareholder-employees. 

How Do I Pay My Taxes as a C-corporation?

C-corporations are considered separate legal entities from their owners. This means that the business is taxed at the corporate level, with dividends being taxed again at the shareholder level, resulting in double taxation. Smaller companies may choose to avoid dividend payments for this reason. 

C-corporations file their taxes using Form 1120, which reports the business’s income, losses, credits, and deductions. If shareholders take dividends, they use Form 1099-DIV to report the amount that was distributed to them. 

To ensure that your C-corporation taxes are filed correctly and on time, you can partner with an online CPA. They will help you to maximize your tax savings and enjoy peace of mind during the most stressful time of the year.

Are Salaries and Dividends Tax-Deductible?

Dividends are not tax-deductible expenses, but shareholder-employee salaries are – as long as they are reasonable. Some business owners may take high salaries in order to reduce the company’s taxable income. However, if the salary is too excessive, it could be reclassified as a dividend payment, taxed at the shareholder level. The company would then lose that excess salary as a deduction. On the other hand, if the salary is too low, it can be considered an attempt to avoid employment tax liability, which could draw scrutiny from the IRS. 

Every business is different, so the salaries that business owners take will vary. To get started, you can take a look at the factors the IRS uses to determine a reasonable salary for shareholder-employees in C-corporations: 

  • What comparable businesses pay for similar services. If an employee’s salary falls in line with what similar businesses pay for that position, the salary will be considered reasonable. 
  • Character and condition of the corporation. If the company is performing exceptionally well, an above-average salary can be considered reasonable. 
  • The role of the employee within the business. The IRS considers the hours the employee works, the duties they perform, and the contributions they make to the success of the business. If the employee receives a raise, they must also receive an increase in responsibility for their salary to be considered reasonable. 
  • Internal consistencies in establishing compensation levels. Inconsistencies in the compensation of other employees can suggest that the employee’s salary is unreasonable. 
  • Conflicts of interest in setting compensation levels. Conflicts of interest occur when there is a clash between personal interests and professional obligations. For example, if a shareholder attempted to disguise dividends as a deductible salary, the IRS would deem the salary unreasonable. 

You do not have to figure your salary out on your own. Discuss your options with an online C-corporation accountant at Xendoo today! 

Xendoo is Here for You

Every business owner deserves an accounting team that is dedicated to their financial success. Xendoo provides online bookkeeping and accounting services to C-corporation owners, so they can make the most informed decisions for their business!

We would love to get to know your business. Click here to schedule your free consultation. 

Want to learn more about the different business entity types? Click here.

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How Do I Pay Myself and My Taxes as a Partnership?

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Every partnership owner faces the unique challenges of self-payment, tax filing, and maximizing their tax savings. Although they would rather focus on growing their business, taxes and payroll often take up too much of their valuable time. 

If the self-payment struggle is all too familiar to you, Xendoo is here to help. We have created this guide to help you pay yourself and maximize your savings as a partnership owner!

How to Pay Yourself as a Partnership Owner: The Owner’s Draw or Guaranteed Payments 

Partnership owners pay themselves by taking an owner’s draw or a guaranteed payment, with profits distributed to each member based on the partnership agreement. Note that partnership owners are not permitted to take a salary, as the IRS states that you cannot be both a partner and an employee. 

The Owner’s Draw

An Owner’s Draw differs from a regular salary in that you can take money from the company’s earnings as needed, rather than on a scheduled basis. Depending on how well your business is performing, you can draw more or less, allowing for flexibility in your payments.

 

If your business is profitable, subtract liabilities (any debt your company owes) from assets (items of value the company owns). The remaining amount is referred to as ownership equity, which is what you will take your draw from. This amount is reflected on the Balance Sheet, under Owner’s Equity. Once you determine the amount you want to take, it can be transferred from your business bank account to your personal account.  

 

Because the Owner’s Draw is taken from ownership equity, it reduces the funds that can be used for operating or growing the business. Partnership members must balance how much they need to support themselves and what the business needs to thrive.

 

Guaranteed Payments

What if your business is in the early stages, and not producing profit yet? The solution lies in guaranteed payments. 

 

Guaranteed payments are a minimum amount that is guaranteed to be paid to a partner regardless of business profitability. The payments must be made even if the result is a loss for the business. They provide a consistent income to partners as the business grows and becomes profitable. Note that if the business is operating at a loss and providing guaranteed payments to partners, that loss must be funded through debt or investments (equity) to ensure that the necessary expenses of the business can be paid. 

 

Discuss your options with an online partnership accountant at Xendoo. They will provide the financial insight needed to make the most informed decision regarding self-payment in your partnership! 

How Do I Pay My Taxes as a Partnership Owner?

Partnerships file their taxes using Form 1065, which determines that each partner is reporting their income correctly. Each partner must complete an accompanying Schedule K-1, which breaks down their share of the profits and losses. They also report this information on their individual tax return (Form 1040), with a Schedule E attached. The owner’s draw is not subject to payroll taxes, but it is considered personal income and is taxed accordingly. If partnership members take the owner’s draw, they must pay estimated taxes, which helps decrease their tax bill. 

 

Guaranteed payments are tax-deductible to the partnership, and are treated as self-employment income for the partnership members. They are reported on the Schedule K-1, and noted as income on the Schedule E. If the partnership members choose to take guaranteed payments, they will pay both income tax and self-employment taxes as individuals. 

What are the Tax Advantages of Filing as a Partnership? 

No Double Taxation 

The partnership itself does not pay income taxes. Partnerships are considered “pass-through entities”, meaning that profits and losses “pass through” the business to the partners, with each paying a portion of the total income tax of the business’s earnings. In this situation, profits and losses are only taxed at the personal level, which allows partnerships to avoid double taxation. 

 

Even with a significant tax advantage, taxes can still be stressful. Talk to a small business CPA at Xendoo. We provide online accounting for partnerships, as well as online bookkeeping services so you can stay tax-ready all year long.

Xendoo is Here for You

You are not alone as you navigate self-payment, tax filing, and all the financial ins and outs of your partnership. Xendoo is here to help! Our online bookkeeping and accounting team provides partnership owners with the financial insight needed to make the most informed decision regarding self-payment and partnership taxes! 

 

Are we a fit for your partnership? Get started today with a free consultation.

 

Want to learn more about the different business entity types? Click here.  

White female business owner and black male business owner using a laptiop, looking happy about business performance

How Do I Pay Myself and My Taxes as an S-corporation?

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When businesses are born, business owners are likely not daydreaming about taxes and payroll. Yet, they still face the unique challenge of figuring out how to pay themselves, file their taxes, and maximize their tax savings.

As their business grows, many business owners opt for S-corporation Election due to the tax advantages it presents, but they must be mindful of how much they pay themselves, in order to remain compliant in the eyes of the IRS. Unless they moonlight as an experienced accountant, self-payment and tax filing can be confusing and stressful for small business owners – understandably so!

Like most things involving taxes, it gets complicated. That is why we have created this comprehensive guide to help business owners pay themselves and maximize their savings as an S-corporation!

 

How to Pay Yourself as an S-corporation: Salary and Distributions

Under other business structures, you simply take a share of company profit as your payment. In an S-corporation, you have the option to pay yourself in two ways: 

  • Salary, your wages or reasonable compensation. This is considered taxable income to the payee by the IRS.
  • Distributions, the earnings that are paid as distributions to you as the owner. These are not employee wages and are not taxed as self-employment income in an S-corporation.

For example, if your business produced $100,000 in profit, you could take a reasonable salary of $40,000, and the remaining $60,000 as a distribution. It may seem strange to receive payment in two different forms, but it comes with significant tax savings, which will be discussed shortly. 

How Much Do I Pay Myself as an S-corporation? 

The short answer is, it depends.

S-corporation shareholder-employees are required to receive a reasonable salary, which is generally defined as at least what other businesses would pay someone in that role for similar services. Every business is different, so the exact amount that business owners pay themselves will vary. 

To determine your reasonable salary, you can start with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which provides insight into compensation across different industries. This will give you an idea of what you should be paying yourself based on your field and the profit you produce. 

Some of the factors the IRS considers to determine a reasonable salary are:

  • Training and experience
  • Duties and responsibilities
  • Time and effort devoted to the business
  • Distribution history
  • Payments to non-shareholder employees
  • Timing and manner of paying bonuses to key people
  • What comparable businesses pay for similar services
  • Compensation agreements
  • Use of a formula to determine compensation

You must be careful to pay yourself a reasonable salary. Paying yourself a salary that is too low (or none at all) can draw scrutiny from the IRS, as it is considered an attempt to avoid paying self-employment taxes.

The good news is that you do not have to figure it all out on your own! The Xendoo team is more than happy to help you determine your reasonable salary. Speak to one of our online accountants to learn more.

How Do I Pay My Taxes as an S-corporation?

The first step is to elect to be taxed as an S-corporation. To qualify for S-corporation status, your business must meet the following requirements:

 

  • Your business must be incorporated in the United States.
  • Your business may only have certain types of shareholders, including individuals, and certain trusts and estates. They may not be partnerships, corporations, or non-resident alien shareholders.
  • Your business cannot have more than 100 shareholders.
  • Your business can only have one class of stock.
  • Your business cannot be an ineligible corporation (i.e. certain financial institutions, insurance companies, and domestic international sales corporations).

If your business meets all of this criteria, you can move forward by filing Form 2553, and sending it to the IRS. If your company has multiple shareholders, each of them must sign and submit this form as well. Once approved by the IRS, you will file your S-corporation taxes using Form 1120S. 

To minimize error and maximize tax savings, partner with an online Tax CPA at Xendoo. We file your taxes for you so you can focus on growing your business. 

What are the Tax Advantages of Filing as an S-corporation? 

No Double Taxation 

C-corporations are taxed twice, with the business paying corporate income taxes, and shareholders paying taxes on their share of the income. On the other hand, S-corporations are not subject to corporate income tax. Instead, shareholders file a Schedule K-1 along with Form 1120S, which reports their share of the company’s profits or losses. This allows S-corporations to avoid double taxation.

 

No Self-Employment Taxes (on Distributions)

Another key advantage of S-corporations Election is that the distributions owners receive are not subject to self-employment taxes! 

Every small business must pay self-employment taxes to fund social security and medicare. If your business operates as an LLC, you are required to pay self-employment taxes on your entire share of the profit, regardless of how you use the money. On top of that, you will also be taxed at your personal income tax rate. As the owner of the S-corporation, you only pay self-employment taxes on your reasonable salary. The distributions you take are exempt from self-employment tax! 

To illustrate, let’s revisit the example from earlier:

 

Your business makes $100,000 in profit. 

As a single-member LLC, you will pay $15,300 in self-employment taxes.

If you file the S-corporation Election, you pay yourself a reasonable salary of $40,000. The remaining $60,000 is taken as a distribution from profit. You will pay $6,120 in self-employment taxes only on your salary. The remaining $60,000 is exempt, resulting in a tax savings of $9,180 compared to the LLC!

For quick reference, take a look at the chart below:

S-corporation Election is a simple, yet effective, way to maximize your tax savings. Are you ready to take the next step? Schedule a free consultation with a Xendoo accountant today! 

Xendoo is Here for You

You are not alone as you navigate the waters of self-payment and tax filing. Xendoo Online Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Tax is here to help! We move at the speed of business, so you can make informed decisions faster – like deciding if an S-corporation Election is right for your business!

Want to learn more about the different business entity types? Click here. 

Click here to access Form 2553.

Click here to access Form 1120S.

Click here to access the Schedule K-1.

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How To Find The Right Online Accountant For Your Business

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hiring a bookkeeper

Every small business owner should have access to an accountant. A small business accountant can provide guidance at every stage of your company’s development, and they can be invaluable when it comes to tax preparation, succession planning, and more. An online accountant can also deliver these services at a price that fits the limited budget of modern business owners. 

But finding the right accountant is about more than just cost. Today, we’ll go over the best features offered by online accountants for small business owners so that you can find the right fit for your company.

What to Look for in an Online Accountant

What should you expect when you’re searching for online accountants for small business needs? 

We’ve narrowed it down to these five essential features:

Industry Experience

Online accountants are not hard to find, but the key is to find an accountant whose skill set matches the needs of your business. 

What type of business do you run? Are you a service provider, a retailer, or exclusively eCommerce? Is your business structured as a partnership, an LLC, or an S Corp?

These questions will be critical in finding the right accountant. You’ll need to partner with an online accountant who has clear experience in preparing tax returns and financial documents for companies that have a similar profile to yours. 

Ideally, you’ll want an online accountant who has worked for companies of a similar size, revenue stream, and industry, too.

But don’t limit yourself to accountants that work with companies of your size. After all, most entrepreneurs entertain dreams of growing their businesses. This will also require the assistance of an accountant who has worked for companies that are larger than your own. 

Finding an accountant who has experience in working with companies your size and larger can set you on a positive trajectory, knowing that your accounting help will scale with your business.

Access to Tools

The right accountant for small business owners might also need to have some experience in cloud-based systems, especially if your business relies on such software as part of your regular operations.

Before committing to an accountant, make sure to go over these requirements, and ask about their prior experience. This will ensure that you hire an accountant whose experience matches the evolving needs of your company.

Dedicated Support

Some business owners might feel nervous that hiring online accountants for small business needs will deprive them of the personal touch of a regular employee. This concern is perfectly understandable, but the right accounting firm can offer dedicated support in the way that you choose. 

You need an online accounting service that relies on the latest and best accounting software. You want a provider who can minimize accounting errors and ensure a greater level of accuracy. This is especially important during tax season, where errors can lead to an audit and potentially result in penalties and fines. 

Online software also means that you’ll be able to access your company’s financial information anytime, anywhere

Xendoo provides a number of ways to keep clients connected to the process. Our online bookkeeping features include regular monthly reports that will keep you up to date on your cash flow and other financial data. 

All of our dedicated professionals are available on your terms, whether that be through email, text message, or a phone call. We’ll work with you to communicate when you want and how you want, so you never feel out of touch with your online CPA.

Streamlined Processes

Modern business owners face a variety of financial needs, including:

  • Bookkeeping
  • Payroll
  • Tax planning
  • Tax preparation
  • Budgeting and planning
  • Personal tax preparation and filing

Partnering with online accountants for small business needs such as these can ensure that important processes are completed on time and with total accuracy.

Some business owners find that this is a welcome change from trying to juggle their own books. If you find yourself falling behind, some accounting firms offer catch-up accounting services, which can help you bring your books up to date. 

Xendoo, for instance, offers catch-up services to clients who have fallen months or even years behind.

By reconciling your books regularly, your small business accountant can ensure that you always have a clear picture of the financial health of your company. 

Understanding your cash flow can be invaluable when it comes to long-range planning, and it can also save you the hassle and expense of penalties from filing a late tax return.

Streamlining your financial processes can even be helpful for obtaining future business loans. Usually, lenders will expect to see a report of your company’s financial status. By having recent reports relating to your income and expenses, you’ll be able to gain access to the funds you need to grow your business.

Strong Reviews

Once you locate a few online accountants for small business owners, you’ll want to narrow down the field a bit further. What are other customers saying about this accounting service? 

While every accounting firm will boast of its strengths, the real evidence of its success is found in the testimony of its clients!

Typically, you won’t have to look far to find online reviews for an accounting firm, though the best online accountants will feature customer reviews and testimonials directly on their websites. 

These reviews provide several relevant clues about the nature of the firm. First, it communicates that other business owners have benefited from the services of an online accountant. Second, skimming through these reviews may help you locate companies that operate within your industry, which helps you to know whether an accounting firm “gets” the unique needs and challenges you face.

You might also check to see whether an accounting firm has received any third-party awards or certifications. Xendoo, for instance, is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and currently holds an “A” rating, the highest rating available.

Transparent Pricing

Finally, you want to find an accountant that offers transparent pricing. How much does an accountant cost? An accountant for small business owners will usually charge around $40 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, though it’s not uncommon to find accountants that charge significantly more. 

An online accountant costs less than an in-person service, though you’ll want to make sure you find an accounting firm that offers transparent pricing. 

By “transparent,” we mean that there should be no hidden fees. You don’t want to find yourself “stuck” with an online accountant who later demands additional money for their services. It’s vital that you know what to expect and how much you’ll be charged for financial services.

At Xendoo, we offer several clear plans designed to fit the needs of your business. Our most popular plan will cost only $395 per month. 

Many business owners find that partnering with online accountants for small business services can save a significant amount of money that would otherwise be spent on a full-time employee.

Xendoo: Find an Online Accountant for Small Business

Where can you find an online accountant that ticks all these boxes? Xendoo strives for excellence in all these categories, thanks to our dedicated team of professionals.  

At Xendoo, we provide a variety of accounting and bookkeeping solutions that can be tailored to the needs of your business. 

Our friendly team of experts can straighten out your books, help you prepare for tax season, or provide the data you need for long-term success. 

Want to learn more? Take us for a test drive by signing up for our free trial, and see how Xendoo can bring your business even further into the future.