We all want to keep our competition out of our business, but we need to do more than wish to make it happen. Showing what we’re worth and getting it is a process that can keep your competition out. It’s like buying “customer insurance.” (If only we could!) You make it harder for your competitor to steal your business by raising the value bar and documenting what you do.

Sometimes it's very confusing trying to figure out which of the financial planner designations make the most sense. Which one should the accounting professional pursue or, in many cases, recommend to clients to seek as a referral in other planners?The first hint is not to mix up professional associations with the credentials or designations.

Popular tax information source Research Institute of America has announced the release of its annual year-end tax cutting tips."Tax Saving Moves for the Rest of '99" is designed to assist taxpayers to take the initiative before the end of 1999 to maximize tax savings.Even though this year did not involve any significant tax legislation, RIA advises that 1999 is the last year that five-year income averaging can be used to compute the income taxes due on lump-sum distributions from a qualified employer plan.In addition, the IRS has just extended the

The AICPA has announced another phase for its WebTrust program with a new verification service designed soley for Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Also released was WebTrust 2.0, the follow-up program to the original WebTrust package.The new program for ISPs is similar in format to the original WebTrust, but intended specifically for online hosts.

The Internet economy is worth $507 billion. This Internet explosion has numerous corporations seeking, at a record rate, consulting firms to help them plan and implement e-business strategies.Consulting firms eager to cash in on the boom are quickly morphing themselves into "technically enlighted strategists." They are doing this to set themselves apart from the many boutique firms that have popped up in response to the e-commerce Web mania.U.S. Internet consulting services are expected to top $710 million for 1999 and could grow to $4.38 billion in 2003.

CPAs involved in technology will want to take notice to the recent announcement made by AICPA on a new accreditation just for professionals involved in technology, strategic planning, implementation, management and business strategies.A point system for the accreditation is structured to allow veteran IT professionals, as well as novices, into the realm of reaching the mark.The accreditation also speaks to the services and competencies outlined with the new CPA Vision.

Entrepreneurs come in all shapes and sizes, from the small shop owner on the corner to the multi-million dollar super player. Finally, an organization called the Association for Enterprise Opportunity is watching out for the small shop owner and a lot more people with good ideas who are having trouble finding capital.A trade association, AEO is a clearinghouse for more than 400 organizations who make "microloans," or loans valued less than $25,000. The average loan is about $12,000.AEO requires its recipients to educate themselves on business practices in order to qualify for loans.

Two weeks ago, CPA firm roll-up-wanna-be Centerprise Advisors LLC got approval from the SEC to start determining investor interest in a planned IPO. This Monday, Centerprise received regulatory approval from the SEC to begin trading on Tuesday morning.

Time constraints can make or break you in recruiting. Nothing is worse than sifting through resumes for hours just to lose a great prospect to another firm. Now, there’s a solution. HireSystems, the service leader in hiring management solutions, helps companies quickly and effectively sort through resumes.HireSystems allows recruiters to focus more attention on individuals and relationships and less on mounds of paper. An organization can get custom-built software in just a few days.