Jonathan Reich 
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, money movement (and management) is one of the most important, and most stressful, parts of day-to-day operation. In my work 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 I’ve learned, it’s that choosing … Read more
As a CPA, I’ve spent an embarrassing amount of time chasing down signatures, notarized forms, and legal paperwork for clients. It’s just part of the job. Whether it’s loan documents, business contracts, or compliance forms, notarization is a necessary but often time-consuming step in the financial world. Or, at least it used to be. In … Read more
Over the years, I’ve worked with countless small businesses, startups, and growing companies. I’ve been asked about Pilot, because management wants to be hands off and has absolute disdain for maintaining their own books. In my opinion, Pilot is just the bookkeeping service that pairs software with outsourced accountants. It’s carved out a strong reputation, … Read more
As a CPA, I’ve spent a long time advising small business owners, contractors, and entrepreneurs on the ins and outs of paying employees, vendors, and independent contractors. What sounds straightforward, writing a check for services, quickly becomes complicated when you factor in compliance, cash flow, taxes, and the practical reality of running a business. The … Read more
Part of running a successful business means getting paid efficiently and reliably. Over the years, I’ve seen countless clients struggle with payment processing systems that are either too expensive, too rigid, or simply not aligned with the way they operate. There are many platforms out there that can aid in Accounts Receivable, and GoCardless is … Read more
As a CPA, paperwork is part of my daily life. Like at this point, I am REALLY good at pushing paper, and that’s good because it pays my bills. Tax filings, financial statements, loan documents, you name it, I’ve probably seen it. However, occasionally I run across documents that need to be notarized, and that’s … Read more
As a CPA working with small businesses every day, let me just tell you, it seems like most of the small businesses I come across are in shambles behind the scenes when it comes to their account payables and payment systems. Late invoices, high fees, clunky systems…these things eat into both profits and peace of … Read more
As many small business owners know, credit card payments are no longer optional. If your business doesn’t accept cards, you’re leaving money on the table and likely irritating your customers. But not all processors are created equal. Some specialize in brick-and-mortar retail, others in e-commerce, and some focus on B2B payments. Over the years, as … Read more
If you’re thinking about an exit in the next 6 to 36 months, let’s talk about the big picture and the trade-offs of different strategies. As a CPA, I’ve helped many small business owners sell their business, and help them figure out what the business is worth, so I’ve ran into a whole bunch of … Read more
As a CPA who’s worked with businesses of all sizes, from tiny startups to growing mid-market firms, I’ve spent more time than I’d like to talk about inside accounting platforms. I’ve seen the best of what’s out there. I’ve also seen some clunky, outdated, overengineered systems still making the rounds because “that’s what everyone uses.” … Read more