How to choose project management software
Over the past two years of running a completely virtual, cloud accounting service business, I’ve learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t when it comes to project management (PM) applications. After spending hours on hours evaluating PM software, I’ve come up with a set of criteria that I hope will help you decide on your own solution.
Starting out as a freelancer? Get an EIN, ASAP
When you work as a freelancer, employers who are on top of their accounting game will always ask you for a signed W-9 form before they pay you the first time. Most freelancers just use their Social Security number as their tax ID number on the W-9. This is a big mistake, unless you really, really trust the company you’re working for.
Why Xero is great for startups
Last night, I had the privilege of joining the Xero team at Santa Monica New Tech, a group of entrepreneurs who get together to showcase new technology and network. I spoke a bit about what make’s Xero a great fit for U.S. startups looking for an accounting software solution. Here’s what I had to say.
How to upgrade your Shopify site to use Reponsive Checkout
Shopify has released Responsive Checkout, which means that checkout pages are now optimized for mobile, and also scale up to look great on tablets and desktops. There's no need for a separate mobile site.
Why you should pay your employees every week
If you're a business owner setting up payroll, you might be wondering, "How often should I pay my employees"? Twice a month and every two weeks are the most common. Just about everyone has worked a job where he or she got paid every other week. But that's not a good reason to stick with it. If given the choice, you should always choose every week. Here's why...
Basecamp update brings key features to iPhone
Basecamp just released a big update to their iPhone app. The update includes some long-awaited key features for mobile, making Basecamp a much stronger option for mobile project management. The iPhone app also now supports cool new features in Yosemite and iOS 8 including the iOS sharing extension and Handoff.
How to track emails with no reply in Gmail
This brilliant Google Script periodically goes through your Gmail account and labels messages between 5 and 14 days old where you were the last person to respond. It's a perfect way to make sure that you follow up when your recipient fails to write back. And you don't need a third-party service to do it, since the script runs under your own credentials.
Best and worst states for business taxes in 2015
The Tax Foundation is out with its annual assessment of business tax systems in the United States.
Speed up Chrome with FlashControl extension
Recently, Chrome started really dragging on my Mac. I opened up the Activity Monitor and figured out that it was Adobe Flash that was taking up all my CPU time. If you're having this issue, try installing the FlashControl extension for Google Chrome.