Jonathan Reich 
As a CPA who has cleaned up more ledgers than I dare admit, I judge automation by one thing: does it cut typing without hiding risk or just plain, flat out getting things wrong. In my experience, the best tools connect bank and card feeds, apply exceptionally clear rules, route bills for approval, and surface … Read more
What up, number crunchers and SMB owners? I’ve run a CPA for a while now and see how “small” workflow choices ripple into real costs like lost time chasing signatures, rescans because a seal isn’t clear, or a client who gives up halfway through identity checks. Remote Online Notarization (RON) solves a lot of that, … Read more
When clients ask me for “the best apps for tracking receipts,” what they’re really asking for is fewer late-night hunts for crumpled paper, fewer miscoded meals, and a cleaner year end tax filing. I’ve tried out a lot of tools as a CPA that primarily serves small businesses, contractors, and startups, and the right pick … Read more
If you’re like me (and every other accountant that walks the earth), you probably don’t like change. If things aren’t broken, they don’t need to be fixed. Normally, I’d wholeheartedly agree with that sentiment, and luckily, I don’t run the world, otherwise we’d never have discovered fire, and we’d still be living in huts. Luckily, … Read more
I’m a CPA who’s spent years living inside payables and receivable doing things such as closing months, clearing audits, and rebuilding workflows when growth outpaced process. And let me tell you, small quality of life items like batch processing is where you win back hours. It sounds small, but it is absolutely worth thinking about. … Read more
What’s up bean counters, finance bros, and SMB owners? I’m a CPA, and therefore live in the weeds of payables, bills, managing invoices, you name it, I’ve handled it. I manage vendor payments for construction crews, retailers, and service shops, among others. When a vendor asks, “Did the ACH clear yet?” it’s my phone that … Read more
Alright, let’s talk about something that is somewhat new to me, and probably is to you, too. This year, I ran across Remote Online Notarizations, which are something I’d never heard of before. It’s sort of like DocuSign but for notarizations. It takes no time, is easy, and overall, I was super impressed with it. … Read more
If you’re reading this, you’re probably trying to get away from your current payroll provider and into one that actually works. As a CPA who has set up and run payroll for hourly teams for years, let me tell you, there are systems out there that work, and systems that will never quite do what … Read more
Owners ask me this a lot: ADP or Homebase? I’m a CPA who sets up payroll and time for restaurants, shops, and field crews. Both pay people, file taxes, and issue W-2s and 1099s. The real difference is focus. ADP is payroll-first with HR and benefits you can add. Homebase is schedule-first with time clocks, … Read more
Bench’s sudden shutdown left a lot of small businesses without access to their accounting and tax files right at year-end. If you were one of them, you’re not imagining it. Bench did close operations on December 27, 2024, and was acquired days later. As is typical after a buyout, many layoffs, cuts, and transitions immediately … Read more
As a CPA who has spent years in the trenches of both public practice and industry, I’ve seen the same problem over and over again: fast-growing digital businesses relying on accounting tools that can’t handle the technical side of their financial reporting. They may be fine for simple invoicing, paying bills, or keeping track of … Read more
Alright folks, let’s talk about one of the more technical things that get lost in the day to day bustle of running a small business. It’s important, but it’s not glamorous or thrilling. However, it absolutely can leave tens of thousands of dollars on the table for the IRS if you’re not tracking it carefully. … Read more
When clients come to me for advice, legal questions almost always come up. Luckily for them, I know just enough to be dangerous. Whether it’s forming an LLC, drafting a contract, or handling estate planning, most small business owners and individuals face a similar problem: they can’t afford to have a lawyer on retainer, but … Read more
As a CPA who has spent years working with small businesses, startups, and independent contractors, I’ve seen just about every way people try to handle their legal and compliance needs. Some rely on full-service law firms, others on local attorneys, and more and more are leaning into online platforms like LegalZoom. Over the last decade, … Read more
Hey fellow bean counters! When clients who don’t want to book-keep ask me what tools they should use for bookkeeping, I usually steer the conversation to Pilot and Puzzle.io. Both are names you’ll hear if you spend time in the world of finance and they share a common goal: to make accounting less painful and … Read more
As many small business owners know, when you run a small business, money movement (and management) is one of the most important, and most stressful, parts of operations. Over the years, as a CPA, I’ve worked with countless clients across many industries: retail shops, restaurants, online merchants, contractors, and service providers. If there’s one thing … Read more