Cash Versus Accrual? You Need Both

Cash Versus Accrual? You Need Both

Barry, owner of an electrical contracting business, was frowning at the reports on his desk. His eyes narrowed as he looked up at me. “When we talked a week ago, you told me last month’s income was the best month of the year so far,” he said. “But when I run the...
Do You Have a “Splitting “Headache?

Do You Have a “Splitting “Headache?

An accountant walks into a bar . . . No, it’s not the beginning of a corny joke. It describes a visit I once made to a client. Her books were in shambles. She was bouncing checks right and left. She never had as much money in the bank as she thought she should. And...
Outsourcing: When to Use an Outside Resource for an Inside Job

Outsourcing: When to Use an Outside Resource for an Inside Job

When people ask what NPS does, I say, “We’re the guys in accounting. All those activities that end in the phrase ‘walk it over to the number crunchers’—that’s us.” We’re an outsourced Accounting Department, from bookkeeper to controller to CFO. Outsourcing is a...
Do You Have Your Company’s “Number”?

Do You Have Your Company’s “Number”?

Every business has a number. Now I’m the numbers guy, so of course I’d say something like that. I’ve even written before about key performance indicators (KPIs) and how crucial they are to managing any business. I’ve discussed the ways in which numbers help our...
Use this Five-Step Process for Creating Your Budget

Use this Five-Step Process for Creating Your Budget

After the holiday shopping and celebrations of December, January often shines the cold light of reality on a new year—highlighting how prepared you feel for it. In the world of small business, that includes having a budget. Last month, we looked at how your company...