Want to stay informed about what is happening in the world of accounting and tax? Michael J. Yuda, CPA, LLC’s blog is here to help. We understand just how important it is for our clients to not only know what is going on with their finances, accounting and taxes, but also how the constantly changing tax laws, etc. will affect them. That is why we have set up a blog that posts informative articles, tips, and techniques designed to help you stay in charge of your financial life.
Regularly updated, our blog is a great place to learn how to better approach taxes, bookkeeping, and personal finances so that you can give your financial future some direction. If you find an article or piece of information that interests you and want to learn more about what it means then we encourage you to contact us. We always look forward to helping our clients in any way possible when it comes to their financial needs.
Contact our accounting firm in Honolulu, Hawaii, for more information about the different topics we discuss on our blog.
Does it seem that as each day passes, it feels harder and harder to save money? You desperately try to put away more money, but the amount of money you’re putting away isn’t keeping up with the rising costs of living. Remember your childhood piggy bank? Well the concept of the childhood piggy bank can be used into your adulthood as well, just on a more mature level. Of course, we’re not opposed to be using a piggy bank. Below are a few helpful suggestions that closely mimic the concept of having a piggy bank:
Every time you make a bank deposit, set a certain amount of money to be automatically placed into your savings account. You can do this each week or bi-weekly. The amount you choose is up to you, but you’ll be surprised how much you can really save in a year.
Perhaps actually use a piggy bank. You don’t necessarily have to go out and buy a ceramic pig, but collecting and saving coinage can really add up. Not only does saving loose change regularly sometimes pay off, but it does build great saving habits that you can use in other financial aspects.
Putting money into a high yield savings account or a CD is a great way to save money, and even increase the value over the years. Consider these accounts a more advanced piggy bank.
Don’t stick to just one method of saving. Having a savings account, CD and even saving pocket change are all great ways to reach financial stability. Quick thinking, smart planning and wise purchases are all extremely important when it comes to saving, however, it’s not always that easy.
We value your financial health, and want to see you reach financial stability. If you’re looking for a CPA in Hawaii who can help you get there, choose Michael J. Yuda, CPA, LLC.
With the holidays quickly approaching, many people will flock to department stores to stock up on the year’s hottest gifts. Many people will spend more than they intend to during the holidays, and this could set a lot of people back financially. This holiday season consider being mindful of what you’re spending with these helpful financial tips from Michael J. Yuda, CPA, LLC.
Decide how much you can actually spend! People often overlook extra fees when they draft a budget: this includes wrapping paper, gas to get to the store, and other small expenses. Come up with a realistic budget, and stick to it.
Much like Santa, make a list and check it twice. Assess your spending limits for the gift receivers in your family, to ensure you can comfortably spend the money on their gifts. Keep your focus on what you’ll spend, and not the gift you will buy.
Pay Cash! Many people rely on credit and debit cards, but without seeing the money dwindle, you’re more inclined to overspend. If you must use a card, use a card with the lowest interest rate.
Give yourself enough time to get your shopping done. When you wait until the last minute to finish your holiday shopping, you’ll end up overpaying for items that may have been priced lower in previous months. Getting an early start also ensures you can breathe and enjoy the holiday without stressing out.
Don’t just focus on material things! Gifts come in all shapes and forms. If you aren’t financially set to spend a lot of money this holiday season, consider giving gifts from the heart.
Your financial health is important to us! If you’re looking for a CPA in Hawaii, consider Michael J. Yuda, CPA, LLC.
When it comes to handling your finances, you won’t find a better CPA in Hawaii than Michael J. Yuda. We’re proud to announce that Michael J. Yuda, CPA, LLC is a certified QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor. What exactly does this mean?
Certified QuickBooks Online ProAdvisors are experts who have gone through extensive testing to become certified by Intuit on a range of QuickBooks products.
Certified QuickBooks Online ProAdvisors are better trained to help businesses get the absolute most out of their QuickBooks software. Having this certification ensures that Michael J. Yuda has the skills and knowledge to provide a wide range of services including: QuickBooks setup, training, payroll and consulting as well as other important skills to help your business thrive.
Certified QuickBooks Online ProAdvisors have the capabilities to reach more small business users, making finding the perfect CPA easier than ever before.
QuickBooks Online ProAdvisors have more tools at their disposable to help you reach financial stability.
Michael J. Yuda, CPA, LLC, has always been a certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor, but with our new certification with QuickBooks Online, we have more tools and resources to help you with your bookkeeping services, monthly, quarterly or annual accounting and so much more. If you’re looking for a QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor in Hawaii, look no further than Michael J. Yuda, CPA, LLC.
“Accounting is the language of business” Warren Buffett
Authored by Chris Vanderzyden
Accounting, financial statements, forecasting, budgeting, taxes…Unless you are an accountant, most small business owners have very little understanding of the finance side of their business, and in order to be successful, it is imperative that you know and understand the language.
According to a recent report from the Small Business Administration, one-third of new businesses fail within two years, and fifty-six percent within the first four years. I actually thought these stats were pretty good – two-thirds stay in business for two years – not bad at all! But, how many are profitable? Only about 40%.
Why the lack of profits and thus the high failure rate? Incompetence, and one of the primary inadequacies cited is lack of financial knowledge.
I get it; the finance side of business is just not as sexy as the product development, marketing & sales, or whatever is your sweet spot in your business. However, it is critical to your success that you not only understand your financial information, but also utilize the data to make sound management decisions.
Hire a CPA and a bookkeeper to do the dirty work, but do not hide your head in the sand in regards to what your financial picture looks like. Your ability to read and properly analyze the information will ensure that your business continues to thrive.
Here are a few key points to understanding two of the basic financial statements – the Balance Sheet and Income Statement:
1. Balance Sheet – The balance sheet is a picture of the position of a company at a specific date. It provides the value of assets, liabilities and owner’s equity and provides the information necessary to determine the level of solvency and liquidity of a company.
A key indicator to liquidity is the current ratio: the ratio of current assets to current liabilities. Current asset are those assets that can be converted to cash within the current period such as, accounts receivable. Current liabilities are those liabilities that are expected to be paid off within a current year, accounts payable.
Computed: Current Assets / Current Liabilities
A 2:1 ratio (twice the assets as liabilities) is a good marker of a healthy small business.
Two additional balance sheet key ratios to consider:
Inventory turnover – the number of times that inventory is replaced in a period. This provides an indicator of how well the inventory levels are being managed.
Computed: Cost of Goods Sold (CGS found on the income statement) / Average Inventory in a Given Period
* Is your rate good? How is it trending compare to previous periods? Compare your turnover rate to your successful competitors.
Receivable turnover – is a measurement of how many times a business collects its receivable in a period or how efficient their collection process is. The goal is to collect receivables as quickly as possible, so the higher the ratio the better.
Computed: Credit Sales / Average Accounts Receivable
2. Income Statement – Displays all revenue sources and expenses for a given period of time. Three key analytics:
Gross Profit Margin = Sales – CGS / Revenue
Analyze – are you making a profit on the products you are selling?
This will indicate how efficient your company is operating.
Net Profit Margin = Net income/revenue
This is the income derived from every dollar of revenue.
VICTORY TIP FOR THE WEEK:
Your financial statements are your greatest tools to identify weaknesses in your business. It will alert you as to when trouble is brewing and allow you to be proactive in resolving issues. Is there a problem in your inventory control? Do you need to tighten your cash management procedures? Is your pricing out of whack? Are your operating expenses eschewed?
Don’t hide your head in the sand—carefully and consistently analyze your financial statements, and watch the trends as you compare period-to-period. Your efforts will guide you to make better management decisions that will positively impact your bottom line. Trust me – it pays to fall in love with the language of numbers!
* This post was originally written and posted on ChrisVanderzyden.com– thanks to Chris Vanderzyden for sharing with us! We’re so excited for you to share this with our readers! Follow her blog for more amazing posts.
Are you looking for someone to handle bookkeeping for your small business? If the answer is yes, it’s best to choose a bookkeeper that is a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor. A Certified ProAdvisor knows the ins and outs of the powerful and useful software, and can help keep your books in order, which translates to a more financially stable business. Why should you choose a QuickBooks Certified ProAdvisor?
In most cases, Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisors are trained CPAs, accountants and other professionals who have spent years studying and learning how to handle small business finances.
Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisors have completed a comprehensive and thorough QuickBooks training course and exam in order to be certified.
They can help get you started on the right foot with aiding in set-up, proper training and even troubleshooting.
Certified ProAdvisors can help provide the best guidance to help you have the highest satisfaction from using QuickBooks.
A Certified ProAdvisor knows how to get the most out of the software.
If you’re looking to get the most out of QuickBooks for your small business bookkeeping, consider contacting Michael J. Yuda, CPA LLC, in Honolulu, Hawaii. There’s no better QuickBooks ProAdvisor in Hawaii, than Michael J. Yuda to help learn the ins and outs of QuickBooks. With personalized service and attention to your unique business, Michael J. Yuda can help provide only the best and most experienced QuickBooks bookkeeping services! Contact us today!
Poor financial decisions can add up and wreak havoc on your life. Piling debt can be crushing to your emotional well being, and could get you in a lot of financial trouble. If you’ve found yourself in debt, it probably feels as if you’ll never be able to rid yourself of this burden, but there are plenty of ways you can help your situation and even become debt-free:
Make cutbacks: Nobody loves the idea of making cut backs, but cutting money from certain aspects of your life can help you take care of debt a little more. Working on a budget when money gets tight may sound like a daunting and awful task, but it might also have you realize where your money is going, and potentially improve your financial health for the long term.
Seek help: If you’ve found yourself in a tough spot financially, perhaps seeking out a CPA could help teach you fiscal responsibility and get your finances in order. A CPA may not actually get you out of debt, but can help set you down the path to a more sound financial life, and help you know how to handle your money so you can stay out of similar situations. Consider seeking out help before making any drastic decisions, such as claiming bankruptcy. There are many professionals out there who can help give you advice, before contacting lenders.
Prioritize Your Debt: Study the consequences of missing certain payments. It’s not the best choice to only pay the largest debt with the biggest interest rate first. Read over any lending agreements and statements, to get a picture of which debts should be a top priority, and which can wait.
Avoid Pay Day Loans: Burying yourself in more debt in order to pay off existing debt is a recipe for financial destruction. Stay away from pay day loans, loan sharks, and any situation which makes you feel like you’re solving one problem and creating another.
If you’re looking for a CPA in Hawaii, consider contacting Michael J. Yuda CPA, LLC! Your path to financial stability begins with proper assessment and the best guidance from the very best CPA in Hawaii.
You’ve probably heard it time and time again, but saving money could be one of the most important things you can do in your life. There are a variety of great reasons as to why saving money is a great long term decision. You may or may not have enough money to pay for everything you need now, but taking the initiative to save money is never a bad idea. Here are a few great reasons to start saving now!
Emergency: It’s a great idea to set a fund aside to cover unexpected expenses that may arise. Surprise expenses like car repairs, sudden job loss, and medical emergencies are things that can happen, and having an emergency surplus of cash handy is a smart way to ensure you’ll be able to handle the hardships.
Retirement: The sooner you begin saving money for retirement, the less you will have to save in the future. Starting a retirement fund early is a great way to build financial stability in your older years. It’s a wise decision to contribute up to what your employer matches, and then gradually contribute more of your gross income.
Buying a House: Saving money to make a down payment on a house could be one of the biggest decisions you will ever make. If you’re able to save enough to pay the down payment up front, you can cut out the stress of loans and avoid high interest rates.
Education: Whether hoping to obtain a master’s or doctorate degree, or send your children to college, saving now is a great way to guarantee you don’t lose your shirt with student loans and high tuition prices.
There are many different reasons to save money! If you’re unsure on how to handle your finances, consider seeking out a CPA! If you’re looking for a CPA in Hawaii, don’t hesitate to contact Michael J. Yuda today!
Would you believe that being a CPA might be one of the most important jobs today? It’s no secret that the world is always getting more and more complicated, and financial concerns are the driving backbone of these complications. Over the last few decades, CPA’s have been responsible for handling many major issues for the government and even some of the world’s biggest corporations and organizations. A CPA knows the inner workings of the companies and clients they work for, and can effectively create and analyze financial information to see where a company or client is and where they need to go. A CPA is almost like a financial James Bond, always on top of the situation and an expert in the field. Without CPA’s, the business world would crumble.
Many businesses rely on a CPA to help guide them with investments, budget and even decide on expanding a company or waiting until more fiscally strong. It’s undeniable that a CPA may be one of the most important components of any business. Regardless of whether you’re part of a giant corporation, or just a small start-up company, it’s essential to hire a CPA that will help make important and often crucial decisions involving your finances. Skimping accounting can affect an entire business sector, and cause major problems. Finances and accounting are crucial to the success and stability of the business world, and a CPA is the nucleus of any business, as they can help control a businesses’ growth much like a cell.
If you are a seasoned QuickBooks veteran, you probably already know how useful and beneficial this amazing program can be for your finances. If you’re not entirely sure if QuickBooks is for you, consider the following:
QuickBooks allows you to manage your cash better. Using QuickBooks allows you to manage and maintain your finances, and accurately keeps track of spending and income.
QuickBooks is less expensive than other programs that do the same tasks. Not only does QuickBooks provide an excellent value, but the numerous resources for free support makes learning and using QuickBooks extremely easy.
Once you’ve gotten the hang of using QuickBooks, you’ll no longer need an outside accountant or bookkeeper to do your day-to-day books. QuickBooks will lessen the amount of money being spent on outsourcing your books, which in the long run can add up over time. Who doesn’t want more money in their pocket?
QuickBooks allows you to create reports at anytime, so you always know where you stand.
QuickBooks is a powerful and useful tool that can help achieve financial stability and success for your business or personal finances. However, not everyone is well-equipped to master this program, and some folks just don’t have the time to handle their own QuickBooks bookkeeping. If you’re looking for a QuickBooks ProAdvisor and CPA in Hawaii,contact Michael J. Yuda CPA, LLC!
Chances are that you have heard it time and time again, but it will always be important to save money! Saving money is much easier said than done, but having an abundance of saved money can ensure financial stability in the future. If you’re constantly burdened by the thought of not having any savings and don’t know where to even start saving, consider seeking the help of CPA to help keep your finances in order. Below are a few tips that can help jumpstart your savings:
Get rid of any existing debt! The sooner you pay off any debt, the less interest you’ll accrue and the sooner you will be able to spend money. Once all debts are paid off, you can begin putting more money into your savings. If you want to save while paying your debt, consider consolidating debts to pay less interest.
Start an emergency fund. Setting aside enough money to survive on for 3-6 months is an excellent idea in the event you lose your job, or are faced with a financial catastrophe.
Set attainable goals and strive to meet them. Whether buying a house, or starting a retirement fund, it’s crucial to map out goals that you must meet in order to fulfill your financial wants. It’s also helpful to establish time frames within the goals.
Record all of your expenses. Keep track of all expenses in your daily life with the help of a CPA or yourself. This is a great way to know which adjustments to make on your spending habits.
Make a budget. After balancing your earnings and setting savings goals, it’s important to budget your money in order to successfully save.
There are many tips and tricks that can help you save money, but a CPA can help guide you and keep your finances in order. If you’re afraid you can’t afford a CPA, it’s still important to keep track of your spending to help secure financial stability.
