Technology

CCH Small Firm Services – Fixed Asset Manager for TaxWise & ATX800-681-1750; www.taxwise.com800-681-1752; www.atxinc.com From the Dec. 2012 review of fixed asset management systems. Best Fit: Professional tax and accounting firms using, managing the asset depreciation strategies of multiple clients. The system also offers direct integration with TaxWise and ATX. Strengths Easy to use and […]

As changes are made to tax laws and technology, the business owners interact with their customers and tax and accounting professionals change. Many tax professionals find themselves moving from the role of tax return preparer to year-round consultant.

Every business owner knows that flexibility is a requirement for success. Being able to adapt to changing customer needs, vendor issues and work schedules is a part of the job requirement, whether the business is a shoe store, a restaurant or an accounting firm.

There is a good lesson here for small firms. It’s been my experience that many firms are challenged in the areas of hiring the right people and applying the appropriate level of leadership to allow staff to expand business. Instead, many small firm owners build their business around their individual skill set and then wonder why their business model depends so heavily on them.

Judging from the media coverage, technology hardly existed at all in 2012. Instead, the nation sat enthralled, week after week, by billions of dollars in political ads, four debates and nearly-endless campaign speeches.

Firms who recently saw a loss of clients are now looking to shore up and consider building again, not only building bigger firms, but building more successful ones.

Day 29 (counting down): Isaac continues his series of gadget gift ideas that will last through the 2012 holidays.

More than 35 million Americans hit stores and websites on Thursday. Sales hit $59 billion.