Best Accounting Blog Posts From Around the Web, April 2018

Today the Rules of Thumb blog from MoneyThumb is going to do something we haven't done in a while, and that is to create a list of what we feel are the best accounting-related blog posts from across the web. The selections we made are accounting blog posts from the last few weeks. We hope this great list will help our accountants, CPAs, and bookkeepers stay up-to-date on the latest in accounting, according to our experts below:

1. THE NONPROFIT – WHAT IS A 990 ANNUAL RETURN AND WHO MUST FILE?

Since the income tax deadline is this coming Tuesday, April 17, 2018, this blog post from Between Wall and Main is timely for accountants who have non-profit clients. Here is the beginning of the post, "The 990 tax form is the form tax-exempt organizations are required to file each year.  This form allows the IRS and the general public to analyze the operations of a nonprofit.  The form provides information on the nonprofit’s mission, programs, and finances.  The information on the 990 form allows potential donor’s, lending institutions, and individuals interested in supporting a specific cause make an informed decision about the charities they may want to support.   An organization can clearly state its mission on the 990, as well as emphasize its accomplishments of the previous year.  The form provides information on where the organization gets its revenue; a potential employee can find out how much a nonprofit pays its employees; potential board members can see who is on the board; the organization’s cash reserves are also available to be viewed."

2. HOW TO CUSTOMIZE INVOICES IN QUICKBOOKS ONLINE

Five Minute Bookkeeping has this post with directions on how to customize invoices in QuickBooks Online. A great instructional piece, especially for those of you who are new to QuickBooks. The blog post gives step-by-step instructions that can make customizing invoices a breeze!

3. Elevate Your Bookkeeping and Accounting Employees to Higher-Value, Revenue-Generating Positions

This blog post from Growth Force states, "The best thing you can do for your bookkeeper (and for the business) is to re-evaluate their responsibilities and give them the opportunity to grow their skills and interest. If you value your staff as important resources in your company, listening to their training needs, career goals and ideas for your business will allow them to feel like the transition is not a threat to their job.  If your employee becomes a profit-producing asset, it will help increase productivity and profitability. They know your business well, so if you put them into an income generating role, they will feel encouraged with how they are contributing to the success of the company."

4. One of our favorite blogs come from the website Accounting Web. They never fail to educate accountants, and always offer timely information. This blog post, Why Spreadsheets Are Here to Stay, will make some of you rejoice, and others groan, according to your accounting style. No matter your personal feelings about spreadsheets, the post is a very good read and one we suggest you take on.

That concludes our list of the best accounting-related blog posts from around the web for the first part of April 2018. MoneyThumb always wants to make sure our readers are informed and educated about all things accounting. That is why our Financial File Converters are also such a hit. They make your job as an accountant SO much simpler and less time consuming, and that's always a good thing. 🙂