Tag Archive for: online bookkeeping

Smiling young Asian business owner working on computer and drinking coffee during the holidays

Year-End Bookkeeping and Accounting Checklist for Small Business Owners

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The end of the year is a hectic time for small business owners. Between catching your breath after tax season and managing holiday sales, year-end bookkeeping and accounting tasks understandably fall to the bottom of the to-do list. 

Xendoo is here to help you avoid the year-end scramble. Check out our year-end bookkeeping checklist to organize your finances and successfully wrap up the year. 

1. Get Your Books Caught Up

The first step is to make sure that your books are up-to-date. You can do this by: 

  • Accounting for all bills and invoices, even if they haven’t been paid yet. 
  • Reviewing bank and credit card statements to confirm that they match. 
  • Recording any expenses that you paid for with personal funds. 

Accurate records ensure reliable financial statements. If your books are behind a few months, or even years, you are not alone—25% of business owners are behind on their books. 

Xendoo’s online bookkeepers provide catch up bookkeeping services, so you can focus on the future. 

2. Collect the Necessary Forms

Once January arrives, your accountant will request certain forms to close your books and file your small business taxes. Be sure to collect them as soon as possible to ensure a smooth start to the new year. 

Here are common forms and their deadlines. 

Form W-2

Business owners use form W-2 to report salary information for their employees. It also helps businesses report the taxes they withhold from paychecks. Employees need this information to file their personal tax returns. 

Business owners are responsible for sending this form to the IRS. Employers must provide the form to their employees no later than January 31st so that employees have enough time to file their taxes.

Form W-9

If you worked with an independent contractor or vendor and paid them $600 or more, you will report those payments to the IRS using Form 1099-NEC. 

The information you need to complete this form is on Form W-9, which you can collect from your contractors.

If any W-9s are missing, reach out to your independent contractors and have them complete the form before the end of the year.

Schedule K-1

CPAs provide the Schedule K-1 or Form 1065. The Schedule K-1 must be sent to shareholders and partners by March 15th. 

S-Corporation shareholders and partnership members use it to report their share of the business’s profits and losses. They’ll also include the form with your personal tax return.

Form 1099-K

The 1099-K tracks the payments received through third-party payment networks, like eBay, Stripe, Shopify, PayPal, and others. You should receive one 1099-K from each of the Online Payment Networks you use by January 31st. You are required to complete each one. 

Your gross receipts must be at least as high as the amount that you report on your 1009-K.

The 1099-K shows gross sales, which is the amount before fees are deducted. What appears in your bank account is the Net Amount, the amount after fees are deducted from the Gross Amount. The sales from each vendor must be reported as the Gross Amount, which is what appears on the 1099-K.

If you use freelancer platforms like Upwork or Fiverr to hire independent contractors, they may also send 1099-Ks to your freelancers instead of 1099-NECs. Since they are considered Online Payment Networks, these platforms typically send 1099-Ks to freelancers that make over $20,000 a year and have at least 200 transactions. 

However, if you paid freelancers more than $600 outside of their platforms, then you will need to send out a 1099-NEC. 

Click here to download our Tax Documentation Checklist.

3. Follow Up on Past-Due Invoices

Review past-due invoices to see what you are owed. If there are any outstanding payments, reach out to your customers before the end of the year to successfully close your books. 

4. Account for Inventory

If your business stores inventory, perform an end-of-year inventory count to make sure your totals match your Balance Sheet and your books. This review will provide insight into waste and loss management, as well as reduce inaccuracies in inventory counts and receivings.

Consider utilizing inventory management software to streamline inventory creation and order fulfillment.   

5. Review Your Financial Statements

Once you or your bookkeeper completes your bookkeeping, review your financial statements to confirm your numbers are correct.

You can also take that time to review how your business grew over the course of the year. Was there a steady increase in profits? Can you identify connections between your costs and sales? The financial statements provide visibility to confirm that you are on track to meet your goals, make projections, and prepare for the future.

Click here to learn more about the key financial statements. 

6. Reach Out for Help

Everyone deserves a supportive team of people who care. If you feel overwhelmed with year-end bookkeeping, reach out to an online bookkeeping service. 

Xendoo’s bookkeeping and accounting team provides monthly bookkeeping and accurate financial reports. We’ll give you financial visibility throughout the year and deliver insights to make strategic business decisions. 

Ring In Success

Juggling the holidays with running a business can be hectic. Although this year-end bookkeeping and accounting checklist can help you prepare for tax time, you don’t have to do it alone. Xendoo has a range of plans with flat monthly fees. You can get certified, professional online bookkeeping, accounting, tax, or CFO services to help you manage your finances and grow your business. 

Schedule a call with one of our online accountants to get started.

 

 

 

A man in an oxford shirt looks at his bookkeeping on his laptop

How to Outsource Bookkeeping – A Guide

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Since starting your business, you’ve likely filled multiple roles–from product and customer service to bookkeeping and sales–at some point. However, as your business has grown, you may have felt like you don’t want to spend your time doing some of those tasks. 

For instance, you’ve probably asked yourself: Should I outsource bookkeeping?

Whether or not to outsource is a common question many small business owners face. Tasks like bookkeeping are ideal to hire outside help. Others like sales may be better to manage in-house. There are a few ways that you can hire a bookkeeper. Primarily, businesses choose virtual bookkeepers or local bookkeepers.

In this guide, we’ll dive into everything related to outsourced bookkeeping from what it costs to how to outsource it. You can click to go to a particular section below or scroll down to start from the top. 

When should I outsource my bookkeeping?

If your business is new and you don’t have significant revenue or budget to hire outside help, you’ll probably try DIY bookkeeping first.

However, most businesses prefer to outsource their bookkeeping, especially as they grow. These are some of the top signs that it is time to outsource your bookkeeping:

  • You’re spending several hours each week doing accounting and bookkeeping tasks yourself.
  • You plan to get funding through investors or business loans and need accurate financial statements.
  • Your books are behind, and you need to catch up.
  • You’re spending a lot of money hiring full-time, in-house bookkeepers or a local bookkeeper.
  • You aren’t sure about your current cash flow or financial health.
  • Tax season is coming up, and you don’t feel prepared to file your taxes.
  • You simply have no desire to learn bookkeeping or to do it yourself.

Why should I outsource my bookkeeping?

At first, you might be hesitant to trust an outside bookkeeper with your financial data. There are so many benefits to outsourcing your bookkeeping, as long as you choose a trustworthy CPA or bookkeeper. The top benefits of outsourcing your bookkeeping include:

Up-to-date books and more time for business

Small business owners are notorious for spending a large amount of time on administrative work, like employee scheduling, preparing payroll, and bookkeeping. It is estimated that small business owners spend 120 working days per year on administrative tasks like bookkeeping. Still, nearly 25% of businesses are behind on their books. 

Hiring a bookkeeper allows you to free up more time. With the time saved, you can focus on the tasks that excite you most as a business owner. Although bookkeeping it’s extremely important to the health and success of a business, it is not necessarily a task that most entrepreneurs enjoy doing.

Cost-effective bookkeeping

If you’ve attempted to do small business bookkeeping on your own, you already know that it can take a lot of time and money. Even if you utilize programs like Quickbooks or Xero, you can’t automate all your bookkeeping needs.

If you’ve hired an hourly bookkeeper or accountant, the cost per hour adds up fast. Xendoo offers pricing plans with a flat-rate monthly fee, so you can easily budget for your bookkeeping each month.

Business loan and funding preparation

As your business grows, your bookkeeping and accounting needs grow too. If you want to take out a loan or open a line of credit, your lender will want accurate financial statements. It can take hours to do this on your own, and it might not be accurate.

Bookkeepers have experience doing this for multiple clients, so they can put financial statements together quickly in a way that’s presentable for your potential lender.

Experienced bookkeepers can also help you by:

  • Advising you on tax savings. You’ll have a better idea of what you can deduct and how to reduce your taxes.
  • Providing answers to your financial questions. Bookkeepers can help you learn about financial reports, cash flow, depreciation, and more.
  • Identifying opportunities to improve profitability. They’ll have a clear picture of where you improve your business finances.
  • Keeping you tax-compliant and secure. Bookkeepers are familiar with tax laws and other legal considerations, so you won’t miss deadlines or have noncompliance penalties.

How do you outsource bookkeeping?

There are two primary options to outsource bookkeeping–virtual bookkeepers or local bookkeepers.

Virtual bookkeepers

If you hire a bookkeeper online then that would be considered a virtual bookkeeper.  Xendoo, for example, is a virtual bookkeeping service. Our team of bookkeepers works with you virtually, no matter where you a located in the United States. 

However, there are some differences between Xendoo’s bookkeeping services and other virtual bookkeepers. For instance, you might hire a freelance virtual bookkeeper that performs the same tasks that a regular bookkeeper would–they just do them online. 

The drawback of hiring an individual freelance bookkeeper is that they tend to be more expensive. Like an in-person, local bookkeeper, freelancers usually charge an hourly rate vs a set monthly payment.

They also may not have as many resources as a bookkeeping firm or company. For instance, when you get a Xendoo plan you also get perks like access to accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero. 

Another advantage of virtual bookkeepers is that because they work online, they tend to be familiar with different eCommerce platforms, payment processors, and other online financial services. Therefore, they can help you integrate your business banking account, expenses, and other financial data into a secure accounting system. With that, you can view your financial health, prepare for taxes, or plan for your business future at any time. 

Local bookkeepers

If you hire a bookkeeper that has an office or business location near you, that would be considered a local bookkeeper. Local bookkeepers usually charge by the hour and it tends to be expensive.

For instance, it is not cost-effective if you need to book more than one or two hours a month. This might make sense if you are booking an hour for a bookkeeping consultation a month. However, in this case, you would still be responsible for doing your own books.

If a local bookkeeper is managing your books and you have a complex business with many employees and revenue streams, it’s probably going to take more than a few hours a month. Those hours can get expensive.

In most cases, you don’t need a local bookkeeper unless:

  • You want to meet with your bookkeeper in person on a regular basis.
  • You keep your financial information in physical records only. 

Whether or not you use a local bookkeeper is based on your preference. Today, most accounting and bookkeeping tasks are performed online anyway. Therefore, the majority of businesses prefer online bookkeeping, because it’s more accurate, cost-effective, and easier.

How much does outsourced bookkeeping cost?

The size of your business and the number of monthly expenses you incur play a large role in the pricing for outsourced bookkeeping services. To get a better idea of how much outsourced bookkeeping costs, let’s compare it with some other bookkeeper options.

In-house bookkeeper cost

An in-house bookkeeper is usually considered a full-time employee, which means they would get a salary and benefits package. According to Salary.com, the cost to hire a full-time entry-level bookkeeper is $45,446. That is just the base salary and doesn’t include benefits or bonuses.

Of course, the cost rises in cities that have a high cost of living. It also increases when hiring bookkeepers with more years of experience. For example, in San Francisco, the living wage is higher. The average annual salary for business and finance professionals is $84,198, according to MIT. 

Most small businesses don’t have enough bookkeeping needs to justify paying a bookkeeper year-round for their services. They may consider a freelance bookkeeper or an hourly bookkeeper, however, that might be just as costly.

Local or freelance bookkeeper cost

If you look at any freelance marketplace you’ll find that the cost for freelance bookkeepers ranges widely.

It’s not unusual for the hourly rate for freelance bookkeepers to range from $21 per hour to $60 per hour.  However, more experienced freelance bookkeepers will charge upwards of $75 or more per hour, especially if they are doing complex bookkeeping or accounting tasks.

If your business has a lot of bookkeeping needs, a local or freelance bookkeeper who charges by the hour usually is not cost-effective. When you only get an hour of their time, you probably won’t get all your bookkeeping questions or concerns answered.

Outsourced bookkeeper cost

Of all the bookkeeping options, outsourcing tends to be the most cost-effective for small businesses. This is because you’re not hiring a full-time staff member or being charged an hourly rate.

Outsourced bookkeeping services usually charge a set monthly fee. These are popular with small businesses because the bookkeeping services come in packages based on your needs. 

It’s easier to budget for a monthly cost that’s the same each month. Plus, it costs half of what you could end up paying for an hourly bookkeeper. That’s why Xendoo offers this pricing structure with a variety of package options to fit your specific company’s needs. 

How does outsourcing with Xendoo work?

If you choose to go the outsourced bookkeeping route, you’ll be paired with a dedicated bookkeeper. Plus, because we are a team of financial experts, you’ll also get access to a CPA and an accountant. 

Your expert bookkeeper will set up a digital accounting system for you if you don’t already have one. This means that we’ll take your sales and revenue data, expenses, payroll, etc, and put it all together in one financial dashboard. You’ll be able to access it anytime–desktop or mobile–and get monthly reporting with balance sheets and profit-loss statements. If you’d like to learn more, you can schedule a consultation with our team here.

 

Portrait of cheerful black business lady sitting at her desk with laptop, smiling at camera in office. running her small business

How Does Online Bookkeeping Work?

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Small business owners around the world are migrating to cloud-based bookkeeping software to keep their financial records and reports organized and accessible. Even with the help of bookkeeping software, it takes financial expertise to put the data into context and use it to make informed decisions. To save time, some choose to partner with an online bookkeeper. 

In this blog post, we will discuss how online bookkeeping works and how it is crucial to business growth!

Going Digital

Historically, small business owners would partner with a local accounting firm, hire an in-house bookkeeper, or do the bookkeeping themselves with a calculator, pencil, and paper. 

With online bookkeeping, an accountant works with the small business owner remotely by utilizing a cloud-based bookkeeping software such as Xero or QuickBooks Online, which connects with the business owner’s bank account. 

Income and expenses flow digitally from the bank account to the bookkeeping software, so every transaction can be accounted for and properly categorized. The bookkeeper will have view-only access to the business owner’s bank account, to reconcile business transactions during the monthly close process. If the bank does not allow view only access, the business owner provides a monthly bank statement to the bookkeeper so that the balances can be tied out and the financial statements can be finalized. 

Xendoo offers business owners 24/7 access to their financial statements and tax returns in their customer portal. They can schedule meetings with their online bookkeeper to discuss financial trends and new opportunities for growth at their convenience. 

How Do Online Bookkeepers Access Physical Documents? 

What if the business owner needs to account for physical documents, like receipts and invoices? Xero and QuickBooks Online offer mobile apps that have built-in receipt scanners, so business owners can link physical documents to their records without missing a beat.     

Other cloud-based services integrate with online bookkeeping software, enabling business owners to manage multiple areas of business all in one place. For example, Biller Genie automates the Accounts Receivable process, while Gusto offers payroll processing and support, and A2X consolidates sales data from multiple eCommerce sales channels into a user-friendly dashboard – all of which connect with Xero and QuickBooks Online. The business owner and their online bookkeeper can access all of this information from anywhere in the world, all in one place. 

Is Online Bookkeeping Legit? 

Yes! Every reputable online bookkeeping service consists of a team of real people who care about the financial success of small business owners, and are readily available to answer questions. Some business owners opt for US-based providers, while others use out-of-country bookkeepers. 

At Xendoo, each team member works under one roof in our Fort Lauderdale, Florida office. Customers can contact their expert bookkeeper by text, phone call, or email, all throughout the year. 

Why is Online Bookkeeping Important for Small Business Growth?

Weekly bookkeeping is crucial to business success, but is not always easy for small business owners to do on their own. An online bookkeeper takes that task off the business owner’s plate, providing 24/7 access to up-to-date financial information. A skilled accountant provides the guidance and insight needed to stay tax-compliant and make informed decisions, while maximizing tax savings. 

24/7 Financial Visibility

Accurate, up-to-date bookkeeping delivers the financial visibility that guides decision-making. By partnering with an online bookkeeper, business owners have 24/7 access to crucial financial data in their cloud-based bookkeeping software. This enables them to make data-backed decisions for growth, whether on the road or in the office. 

Tax-Ready Financials

With all the responsibilities that business owners have to juggle, bookkeeping may sometimes fall behind, leaving them scrambling once tax season arrives. Important deductions could be missed in the rush to meet the tax filing deadlines. By handing off the bookkeeping to the experts at Xendoo, business owners can enjoy tax-ready financials and maximize their return with minimal effort. 

Experts with Niche Experience 

Business owners need a financial partner who understands the complexities of their industry, to ensure that their financials are accurate, and meet the standards of their field. 

The good news is that Xendoo offers specialized experience in niches such as eCommerce bookkeeping and franchise bookkeeping! By working with an online bookkeeping service, business owners can make informed decisions based on the advice of industry experts. 

Your Online Bookkeeping Team 

Xendoo is an online bookkeeping, accounting, and tax solution, powered by a team of real bookkeepers, accountants, and CPAs. By partnering with Xendoo, business owners can receive insightful advice from a financial expert, and put their time and energy toward growing their business, and enjoy financial peace of mind! 

Give us a call today, or click here to schedule a free consultation.

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.

A young black woman works on a laptop to prepare her small business for the new year

How to Prepare Your Small Business for the New Year

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Business Resolutions Start Now

The end of the year is a bustling time for small business owners. Between skyrocketing holiday sales, extended hours, and juggling multiple duties, it can be difficult to find a moment to stop and think about preparing for 2022. 

Where do you start? What metrics can be used to predict and measure success? What steps can be taken to effectively prepare your business for the new year? 

Planning for the new year may seem overwhelming. Xendoo can give you your time back. In this blog post, we will help you strategically chart your path for success, so you can be ready for a new year of growth!

Review Financial Performance

To prepare for the future, take a look at the past year. Analyze your business’s performance from the previous year by reviewing your key financial statements.

  • The Balance Sheet summarizes a business’s assets, liabilities, and equity at a specific point in time. This statement provides insight into cash, inventory levels, Accounts Payable (money owed to others) and Receivable (money owed to the business owner), credit card and bank balances, and the equity in the company.
  • The Profit & Loss Statement outlines the revenue and expenses a business incurred during a specific period, which provides insight into the business’s profitability. It can be used to track and strategically plan for financial trends, such as seasons of high and low demand.  
  • The Cash Flow Statement provides visibility into when cash flows into and out of a business, and how cash balances have changed over a specific time period. It can also be used to project and prepare for the cash needs of the business.

These financial statements illustrate how your business performed throughout the year and reveal hidden opportunities for growth. The best practice is reviewing the financial reports on a monthly basis, as they gauge your business’s financial health and provide insights to timely decision making. 

Click here for more details on the financial statements. 

Forecast Cash Flow and Create a Budget

Cash flow represents the money that flows into and out of your business over time, and is crucial for ongoing business success. For more information on cash flow, click here. 

Like the financial statements, look at the past to plan for the future. Your cash flow history can be used to create a cash flow forecast, understand and predict upcoming cash needs, and create a budget for the new year. 

Healthy cash flow ensures that you will have the cash you need, when needed.

Understanding your cash needs and budgeting accordingly enables you to meet your financial goals and obligations, and continue to grow your business. 

Prepare for Tax Season Now

The earlier tax preparation starts, the greater the savings will be when tax season arrives. Start by taking a look at your financial statements and tax bills from previous years, which will provide an idea of what will be owed this year. From there, you can start setting aside money to reduce tax season surprises.

Up-to-date bookkeeping allows for tax-readiness throughout the year. Having income and expenses organized will save time and prevent confusion and stress when tax season arrives. 

Lastly, consider partnering with an online accounting service. Get access to an expert team that provides all-in-one bookkeeping, tax preparation, filing, and consulting, so you can make informed business decisions and maximize your savings all year long!

Outsource Your Bookkeeping 

Small business owners cover multiple responsibilities, one of the most stressful and time-consuming of which is bookkeeping. If you would like to take back 4 to 6 hours a month to focus on growing your business, now is the time to outsource your bookkeeping!

An online bookkeeper takes bookkeeping off your plate, so you can spend your time actively working on your business. They also provide monthly financial statements, delivering financial visibility and the actionable insight needed for long-term business growth. 

Online bookkeepers also provide catch up bookkeeping services to get previous years’ books in order. Whether you are behind a few months or years, Xendoo will bring your financials up to date so you can strategically plan for the future.

Spend the New Year with Xendoo

It is time to crush your business resolutions! Xendoo has your back with online bookkeeping, accounting, and tax services. Allow us handle the hassles while you focus on what you love to do: growing your business, all year round!

We would love to get to know you and your business. Schedule a call with one of our online accountants to get started.

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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.  

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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.