What types of assets need to be depreciated

You've heard a lot about asset depreciation, but you don't know which of your many different types of assets need to be depreciation. Certain assets have to be depreciated, while others can't be.
Assets that can be depreciated
Continue reading "What types of assets need to be depreciated"What is sum of the years digits depreciation

Sum of the year's digits depreciation is a method of calculating the depreciation of an asset over the years. Sum of the year's digits falls under the category of accelerated depreciation methods, as opposed to straight-line depreciation.
Accelerated depreciation methods are considered to be more conservative calculations of depreciation and also more accurate methods of depreciation calculation. Accelerated depreciation calculation methods assume and rest on the idea that an asset will lose value more quickly at the beginning of its useful life as opposed to losing value at a steady rate throughout its depreciable life. Another method of calculating depreciation that falls under accelerated depreciation is double-declining balance depreciation, or just plain declining balance depreciation.
Continue reading "What is sum of the years digits depreciation"What is lower of cost or market

Lower of cost or market is a particular method of calculating the value of a specific item, or a method of valuation.
This valuation method determines the inventory value of an item by doing the following: first of all, you have to calculate the market value of the item as of that inventory date. Second, you have to compare the actual cost of the item with the market value that you have just calculated. The lower number is used as the inventory value of the item-the lower of cost or market [value].
Continue reading "What is lower of cost or market"What are the methods of calculating depreciation

There are several different methods of calculating depreciation; these methods fall into two general categories, known as straight-line depreciation and accelerated depreciation.
Depreciation is an idea used in finance, economics, and accounting. Depreciation stems from the fact that all assets that have a measurable life-something like a car, machinery, and so on (as opposed to land)-will continue to lose value as time goes on.
Continue reading "What are the methods of calculating depreciation"What to look for in a merchant account provider

You have at this point gotten your company up and running. It is going great, but it could be better. You are losing business because you do not take credit cards. Now you need to look for a merchant account provider. However, which one, there are so many?
A merchant account will allow your company to accept credit cards. In this current day and age, plastic is all the more popular. There colored cards, cards with picture, cards with art, cards with family, even see through cards. They are all plastic and almost all of us use them. With the pluses and minuses, it is faster, easier and subsequently safer.
Continue reading "What to look for in a merchant account provider"What things make you more likely to be audited by the IRS?

The Top 10 things you can do to prevent being audited by the IRS
What percentage of money owed is typically recovered by a collection agency?

What percentage of money owed is typically recovered by a collection agency? The percentage of debt recovered is determined by how old the debt is, the percentage of commission, and the percentage recovered.
Most debts less than 3 months old recover about three-quarters of the amount owed. As the length of time increases the amount recovered decreases. At six months the average drops to close to half and by 1 year only about one third of the debt will be recovered. These numbers reflect the need to start your collection proceedings as soon as possible after the loan becomes delinquent.
Continue reading "What percentage of money owed is typically recovered by a collection agency?"What is lean accounting and how can you make it work for your company?

No matter what you call it, lean accounting is a philosophy that has been around for a long time. It is focusing on the customer and eliminating waste,
Creating goals for your company to comply with in changing from the traditional types of standard types of accounting to the lean more efficient accounting plan is important. Here are some suggestions you can follow to implement changes.
Continue reading "What is lean accounting and how can you make it work for your company?"What do bookkeepers do and are they worth it?

Bookkeepers used to keep ledger books for businesses thus their name. Of course with the invention of computers and programs like QuickBooks very few people keep literal books in a ledger anymore although it is a great way to learn bookkeeping for children. So why not just use QuickBooks and do your own accounting? This is a matter of how much you value your time and what other things especially money making things you could be doing if you hire a bookkeeper to do it for you. What is a few hours walk on the beach worth to you? or if you are a workaholic, how much more business could you pull in if you were freed up of the record keeping aspect of your business? If you can pull in double the amount it costs to hire someone to do the record keeping aspect then you have paid for them and made your business more successful.
What's the difference between common and preferred stock?

Many people do not know the difference between common and preferred stock, however, the differences are significant, so it is important to know them.
What are the differences between common and preferred stock?
First let's take a look at who usually gets what.
What is Paypal's Fee Structure

Paypal is growing in use and popularity, and thus the question must be asked: What is Paypal's fee structure?
Before that question is answered let's take a look at some of the basics of Paypal:
Continue reading "What is Paypal's Fee Structure"What criteria do credit companies use to rate credit worthiness?

Knowing your credit score is important, as it is what determines if you can get loans, and the much needed funding to run your business. Your credit worthiness is what determines your score. So, if your score needs improving, or you want to have an idea of how credit worth you are, you need to know what criteria credit companies use to rate credit worthiness.
What criteria do credit companies use to rate credit worthiness?
The answer to this question is simply that there are a number items, or in other words, financial information, that is used to rate credit worthiness. And it will vary from credit company to credit company, however, there are a few that each company uses. The following are a few of the most widely used types of information used to rate credit worthiness:
What are generally accepted accounting principles?

What are generally accepted accounting principles?
By definition generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, are the accounting rules used to prepare financial statements for publicly traded companies. However, many private companies use these as well. The Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, are a set of specific accounting rules used to standardize the reporting of financial statements in the United States. This standardization can be very valuable to you as an investor, and helps put each publicly traded company on equal footing when it comes to financial reporting, thus differences are clear and easy to see and understand. Understanding GAAP can help you make better investing decisions.
It is important to note that the generally accepted accounting principles for the US as a whole are often different than those of local or state governments. Generally accepted accounting principles for local and state governments are usually under a different set of assumptions, principles, and constraints, which are determined by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).
Continue reading "What are generally accepted accounting principles?"What are assets, liabilities and owners equity?

To understand a company's financial soundness you need to know what assets, liabilities, and owners' equity are.
Assets, liabilities and owners' equity are the three components that make up a company's balance sheet, and it is this balance sheet that gives you the little snap shot of how secure, or insecure the company is financially.
Continue reading "What are assets, liabilities and owners equity?"Using an Accountant On-Call - Is it a Good Idea for You?

If you're starting a business, you'll soon find that one of the most important members of staff will be your accountant. He or she will be responsible for the majority of your finances, including payroll, tax preparation, and a wide variety of other money-related tasks.
One way to find an accountant for your business is to use an accountant on-call. These types of employees are typically hired from staffing or placement agencies and can be hired on a temp or temp to perm basis.
Continue reading "Using an Accountant On-Call - Is it a Good Idea for You?"