Carol Topp, CPA: Accounting and Personal Finance

Business Start up Consulting


If you want to start a business, I can talk to you about all aspects of starting your own business. We’ll discuss


creating a business plan
taxes
record keeping
choice of entity (sole proprietorship or corporation),
hiring help
sales tax
marketing
managing inventory
pricing
or whatever is on your mind


I specialize in helping micro businesses start and really enjoy talking to stay-at-home moms (and dads!) that want to work from their homes. During your consultation I will also give a your copy of my Small Business Start Up Guide. It’s a very short, simple guide with information of record keeping and tax deductions that business owners may claim.

I can consult with you face to face or via telephone. I work from my home office in the northern suburb of Cincinnati called West Chester. You can save travel time and gas by arranging a telephone consultation. In order to protect my privacy a little bit, I ask that you e-mail me first, then I’ll respond and share my telephone number.



Set Up Record keeping on paper or the computer

I can help you set up your record keeping on paper or using a spreadsheet program like Excel or software like Quicken or QuickBooks. Some clients operate quite well on a paper system, some need to step up to using a computer. I can help you keep your record keeping simple, but accurate.

 I believe you need a good accounting system in order to succeed in business. If a business can't see when and where it's making money, that business is in serious trouble.

Setup:
Frequently a small business might install and set up their own accounting software without seeking the advice of an accounting professional. As a result, the software is not properly set up and accounting transactions are not properly entered. This ends up being a mess at tax time. The client winds up spending more to get the system "straightened out" than he or she would have spent to have someone help them in the first place.

Maintenance
After your system is set up and you are entering your day to day transactions, it is important that what you have regular reviews to ensure that you are correctly entering transactions and getting the most from your accounting system.

I can work with you to make your accounting system a powerful tool for better managing your business and its finances. I can even do this remotely if you do not live near Cincinnati, Ohio. Don't underestimate the importance of bookkeeping for your company. Consider the following facts

    Frequency of updating
    accounting records        Survival Rate         Accounting Records            Survival Rate

    At least monthly                 79.7%             Excellent or Good                 63%

    Quarterly                           71.5%                   Average                         49.8%

    Half-yearly                         49.9%                Inadequate                        20.1%

    Yearly                               36%               Poor or nonexistant               2.5%

Source: The Small Business Book; Robert Hamilton and John English