Musings of a Burbank CPA: Customer Portals and Are They For You?

If you have a business where you have to send documents of any kind to your customers, then you may benefit from a portal.  You can save time on customer service and possibly postage and labor.  You will also look most professional while increasing service delivery.    What Is a Portal?   A portal is software in the cloud that allows users to upload and download files from a secure space that only they have access to.   For each client you have, you can set up a private virtual filing cabinet where only you and the client will have the key.  Your client will have their own user ID and password into their area of the portal.  There, they can upload and download documents.  Some portals also have secure signature capability to help you take the paperwork out of obtaining signatures.    How Can I Use a Portal?   Think of all the paperwork that occurs between you and your customer, and that will give you several ideas about how to use a portal.  If your business is data-intensive, you will definitely benefit from a portal; imagine moving all of those documents out of email and into a clean, private [...]

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Musings of a Burbank CPA: Working from home – how to stay productive.

As someone who flirted with using a home office when I started my CPA firm almost five years ago, I can appreciate ways to be productive in that situation.  See this post in The Christian Science Monitor by Dan Rafter for a list of five things to help with home office productivity: http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Saving-Money/2015/0720/Working-from-home-How-to-stay-productive?utm_campaign=Daily+Clips&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20702528&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_pUVKUwG9KbyeYXKcUI-Sg3o-Br0QnvegdKnVz2lG_eJFKVo-ycQj8dAUVh03Dt-LUv6mBrp3Hm2HVNxYdYsAnUSxvFQ&_hsmi=20702528 The biggest problem with my home office was two-fold.  First it was impossible to sit down with clients at home, so I needed at least a conference room or small office to meet with people. Second and most important, the area used as an office was an extension of our den, where the big TV was.  It made working at home just about impossible, so I finally rented an office in an executive suite that I still have.  Working at home is great for many, just not for me.    For financial,  accounting and tax musings, You can count on us to count for you! Email: bstonercpa@sbcglobal.net  Phone: 818-317-6035   Website: www.briantstonercpa.com   Android and the IPhone:    Has been Featured On   https://twitter.com/bstonercpa

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Musings of a Burbank CPA: CPAs Say Security is Their No. 1 Technology-Related Priority

This survey of over 3,300 accounting professionals begs the question of  the number one technology concern today.  You can see more information at the link below in AccountingWeb by Jason Bramwell: http://www.accountingweb.com/article/cpas-say-security-their-no-1-technology-related-priority/224630?utm_campaign=Daily+Clips&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=17234539&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9g0ZudbL2ST7zmq-nBqV5_Kj172khOxe6nDJ2xl_YKuUpup9zKqDEBrMZqFITEVHrUfORXNLZlDeDEzoQ8sacHajSY5A&_hsmi=17234539 A majority of professionals believe they have secured their systems adequately.  Obviously in the field of accounting and taxes, internet and data security are very important to clients as well as the professionals.  With all the identity theft problems happening recently, this is definitely a valid concern.    For financial,  accounting and tax musings, You can count on us to count for you! Email: bstonercpa@sbcglobal.net  Phone: 818-317-6035   Website: www.briantstonercpa.com   Android and the IPhone: Has been Featured On https://twitter.com/bstonercpa          

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