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Some of the best accounting websites for start-ups

By Adam

Greene CPA

Image courtesy of Matthias Ripp at Flickr.com

So it is time to start with that company that you always wanted. It is now time to leave everything behind and go forth with that idea that has been running around in your head for years and even decades. Well, now is the time.

You now have the idea, the knowledge, the experience, the people and the power and finance to make your dream come true. So you start. Everything is going very well, ideas are pouring and even customers are arriving. You are getting a lot of big customers and now you are living your dream.

But wait, there is a small obstacle on your way and it is called accounting. It may not be an obstacle at all, but it is an issue that has to be addressed as soon as possible. But how? How do I manage my accounting when I’m just starting? Does this cost a lot of money? Can I hire somebody to do it?

Well, the answer to all of that is yes. You can do all the things previously mentioned and it will be a total success. But, you can also use the internet to your advantage. There are some websites that help start-ups address this accounting situation with ease and calm. Let’s take a look at some of those websites that are helping entrepreneurs reach their dream.

Accounting CoachAccounting Coach was created in 2003 in order to give students, bookkeepers, and small business owners a way to acquire and use their little knowledge and to learn new accounting skills or to increase their present knowledge. This one is amazing because the creators strived to give the public something they could work on totally for free. They aimed at making the educational material available without the cost of tuition, books and other expenses of formal education. The only requirement is an Internet connection.

And not only that, Accounting Coach also gives users the possibility of upgrading to a more professional version with a fee. That version has interactive tests and visual tutorials and you can find all the information at their website www.accountingcoach.com

The Blunt Bean CounterIt is a strange name, right? Well, this one is not a website per se, it is a blog. The owner and creator Mark Goodfield wanted to give people out there a way to get free advice on income taxes, finance and the role of money in our lives. Any individual can gain new insight from the Blunt Bean Counter. However, the blog is specifically aimed at owners of private companies and people with a high net worth. The Blunt Bean Counter takes a realistic view of the world of finance and offers insight with sometimes a “no filter” approach along with a bit of humor.

Goodfield is a professional accountant with more than 25 years of accounting and finance experience and he is a partner in a major Toronto accounting firm.

Evergreen Small BusinessThis one is another blog. Evergreen Small Business offers customers and visitors a wide range of posts that go from advice for the small business owner to how to manage personal accounts. One of their most searched sections is the frequently asked questions section where answers are given to questions regarding tax accounting, financial planning and management for small business.

The idea came from the mind of Steve Nelson, a Seattle CPA with 30 years of experience in the field of accounting. He has always loved the small business world and dynamic and he specializes in tax concerns of Small corporations, foreign tax issues and small business consulting. He also works with individuals helping them solve very complex financial issues.

Accounting LearnatoriumSmall businesses need all the financial services they can get. For example, they need to file annual taxes which can be a stressful time for any business owner and they have to remain updated on changing tax laws and maintain the daily operations of their company. This is especially true for service-based small businesses. So, Due Accounting created the Accounting Learnatorium to cover the needs of these types of clients.

The Learnatorium provides much good advice on how to deal with accountants out there and on how to be your own accountant. The Learnatorium is updated weekly and also includes stress-reducing ideas and humor to make things easier.

Dear DrebitThis one is a forum and it works as such. It is an open space to discuss and receive answers on a number of accounting and financial issues on many areas such as valuation, health care reform, and a number of other financial topics.

So, are you starting your own business? Please take some time to review these websites so you don’t run into unpleasant surprises.

Also to avoid unpleasant surprises, take a look at this article on tax preparation mistakes you should never make.