Author: Sointu Saarinen

SEO for Accounting Software – Understanding Appropriate Strategies

The online accounting software solutions of today are more comprehensive and sophisticated than the bookkeeping tools initially built for desktop computers. Yet not all entrepreneurs know which companies to approach when looking for potential providers. On that note, it’s important that your accounting website has the most effective SEO elements that will help put you at the top of search page results.

Are Accounting Software Still Relevant in Today’s Ecommerce Platforms?

Currently, there are online accounting software offered as cloud-based solutions in managing business finances. Accounting technology today handles automated day-to-day workflows in carrying out end-to-end mundane accounting tasks of a business for an entire calendar or fiscal period.

Business owners can therefore focus on hiring people who can raise sales, and at the same negotiate deals for the enterprise. Moreover, collaborating with internal support has become a lot easier since everything can be shared with those who are given authority to access specific accounting reports and documents.

Types of SEO Techniques to Consider as Appropriate for One’s Business

Offering a one-stop platform for organizing transactions and for managing accounting tasks, makes any type of business in any geographical location a target audience. The purpose of optimizing the content and elements of a website is to improve your visibility to searchers looking for accounting software. The crux of the matter is that your company must appear at the top of the search page results amd not in the obscure “more results” pages of the search engine platform.

Since an accounting software is beneficial for any type of business, applying both Local and National SEO techniques can help you reach a greater number of audience.

Local SEO

An SEO company apply techniques that are specifically geared toward searches made by the people in one’s community and in nearby areas. Let’s say a beauty salon located in downtown Phoenix is looking for an accounting software, adding the keyword Phoenix in the address, titles, captions. tags, and content mentioned in one of the pages of the accounting software website will be helpful. If the Phoenix beauty salon sees your Phoenix-based accounting company among top providers of answers, you have increased chances of making that Phoenix salon a new customer for your accounting software.

National SEO – As a provider of cloud-based accounting software, National SEO techniques will enable the company reach a broader range of businesses across the US. National SEO attributes give your accounting software enterprise increased chances of competing with other providers. However, entrepreneurs must  strive to create an edge by adding web pages that carry specific content to make your accounting software a standout. Such webpages add specific descriptions that provide the exact solution, which a searcher is looking for, such as but not limited to: Accounting Software for Non-Bookkeepers, Accounting Software for Non-Profits, Accounting for Spreadsheet Users, Accounting Software for Startups or Accounting Software for Customer Relationship Management (CRM).

Important Costs of Operating an Online Retail Store

When starting an ecommerce business, the first important step is to get your finances aligned with your cost projections to avoid getting stalled by surprises. Many of those who offer their ecommerce development services say that the cost of having an ecommerce website is relatively low. Still, it’s important to know what other upfront costs you need to pay in order to get your online store not just rolling, but also ready to compete in the fast growing world of ecommerce.

In the US alone, latest market reports state that there are more than 9.5 million active eCommerce sites, while many more are created every day. The number of online shoppers across the entire globe has boosted retail ecommerce sales, which in 2021 reached about US$4.9 trillion. Reports also state that as much as $3.56 trillion of those online retail sales are attributable to mobile ecommerce operations.

Important Facts to Know When Running an Online Retail Store

While running an online retail business looks promising in terms of profitability, you still need to understand that an online store works just like physical businesses. You still need to pay business registration fees, licenses and the appropriate business taxes.

Although you don’t have to pay advance and monthly rental payments for a brick and mortar commercial space, you also have to pay hosting fees for your website .Ecommerce website developer Brainvire gives advice about some of the bare minimum requirements of an online retail outlet, which include:

  • The domain name;
  • Website development and maintenance fees,
  • Fees of the ecommerce platform furnishing the point of sale (POS) system;
  • Transaction fees charged by the payment processor that facilitate the financial transactions transpiring between merchants, suppliers and customers;
  • Professional fees and salaries of technical and customer support team,
  • Service fees of digital marketing professionals, including SEO strategists, whose work can make your business website competitive amidst the burgeoning world of ecommerce.
  • Costs of the merchandise to sell online.

Nowadays, you can buy items to sell directly from manufacturers and then ship them directly to end-user customers. If you are the manufacturer, you can simply sell your products directly to an online retailer. Known as the drop shipping method of selling, the direct-to-consumer approach eliminates the increments added by wholesalers or dealers to the prices of the products sold to retail buyers.

What matters is to ensure the selling of high quality items that you can buy at reasonable prices.

Although at first you might not need to employ extra hands, be sure to include hiring of additional people in your future cost projections. Another aspect that makes online retail appealing is that as retailers, you can simply focus on growing your business without having to man your virtual storefront with lots of people.

Overview of Different IRS Codes Related to Tax Refund Claims

While an IRS tax transcript provides quick information about a specific item in a federal tax return, the numeric Transaction Codes are at times confusing. A notice about a Tax Topic coded as TC 152, gives advice that it will take more than the customary 21 days to process a refund claim. If an individual subsequently receives a TC 971 notice, it contains information about the delays in the review of his or her federal tax return.

Apparently, millions of tax filers have received TC 971 transcripts in connection with their 2021 tax returns, as the IRS is currently dealing with a massive number of backlogs. Reports have it that for the 2021 personal tax returns filed this 2022 tax season, the IRS still has to review around 9 million returns.

Those are in addition to the 5 million 2020 returns filed in 2021 still pending completion of review. The delays in processing are mostly caused by tax issues that tax refund claimants still need to resolve.

While the aforementioned answers the “What is IRS code 971 on transcript?” many ask, who receives a 971 IRS Transcript?

Who Receives a TC 971 Tax Transcripts?

Tax filers who previously received a TC 570 Transcript, which is a prior notice that the review of a tax return will be delayed, will subsequently receive an IRS transcript coded as 971. This transcript follows to provide details about the status of, or issues affecting the tax refund claim.

971 Transcript with Changes in IRS 570 Info

In reading a 971 Transcript, take note if the line amount of a 570 transaction code reflects a $0 value. If so, it denotes that a confirmation of the refund claim is still unavailable. The amount is still subject to change if after the review, the IRS examiner finds reason to adjust the amount being claimed as refund.

Recipients of a 971 transcript must also take note of the line date for the 570 transaction code, as the details of the 971 transcript may pertain to an earlier or previous tax season.
Take note that if the date appearing on the TC 570 code line is the same as the date appearing in the line date of the TC 971 transcript, it means processing of the claim for refund has been completed. This also means that the line amounts of the TC 570 and TC 971 reflect the same value, which the IRS might have adjusted.

In some cases, the TC 570 transcript for a tax refund may make progress by transitioning into a TC 571 item (freeze resolved); or become TC 572, which means the claim has been resolved correctly but requires additional action. The 971 Transcript will provide information about the resolution pertaining to any of these changes.

A 971 Transcript containing information that the claim for refund has been resolved, the next transcript that the IRS will prepare is for the 846 IRS Code. It’s the final notice informing a tax filer that the refund claim has been sent or deposited to the tax filer’s bank account.
If the tax filer has good reason to contest the adjusted amount appearing in the 971 Transcript, the individual must do so as soon as possible before the processing of the final 846 Notice.

Online Trading Platform, a Fintech Innovation that Paved the Way for New Opportunities

Financial technology or fintech innovations have brought many improvements in the delivery of financial services to consumers and business organizations. The trading platforms of the new breed of investment brokers for one, have made opportunities for investing in the financial markets accessible online, as well as easier to process and manage.

Still, not all online trading platforms are alike as some have more advanced features that give investment brokers an edge over competitors. Although such advanced features are designed to improve the usability and functions of a trading platform, they also denote higher fees. if one is still at that stage of choosing an investment broker who will act as one’s intermediary in the financial markets, it’s important to have an understanding of the basic features of a broker’s trading platform .

Basic Features of an Online Trading Platform

Online brokers offer the use of a proprietary trading platform that financial market investors can use in opening, closing, monitoring and managing their trading positions. The trading platform is the means by which brokers deliver automated financial trading services in exchange for a stipulated fee.

Generally, basic platforms provide trading channels for different types of investment products like stocks, bonds, foreign currencies, commodities, and futures or options for financial derivatives. Some though are tailored to offer only specific markets such as crypto assets; or for CFDs (Contracts for Differences) on stocks, foreign currencies, cryptocurrencies or precious commodities.

The most basic features are the order entry screens, accounts for maintaining trading funds, tools for monitoring trades and investments, charting tools, real-time quotes, news feeds and educational or instructional research materials as aid for new traders. Some trading platforms include a demo trading platform as a way of helping new users learn how to use the features before they carry on with actual trade.

Nowadays, trading platforms include a mobile application as a basic feature to make the software accessible to smartphone users anywhere and any time.

Types of Trading Platforms

A trading platform can be categorized as a commercial platform for use of day traders and retail investors. It can also be a prop platform, developed and designed for large scale brokerages in tailor fit for a specific trading style along with its specific trading requirements. The latter type is best best for institutional investors who trade with large blocks of securities.

Choosing a platform though should take into consideration not only the fees, because lower costs could equate to fewer features as trade-offs. Yet advanced features depend on the level of expertise of a trader and on how such features help in their decision-making. The usability of other advanced features also depends on a trader’s investing style and preferred investment products, to which visualizations and real-time streaming is of great importance.

One platform that has been drawing attention today is Rakuten Trade, but since the trading platform is of foreign-origin, interested users ask “is Rakuten Trade safe?”.

A Quick Look at Rakuten Trader and Its Trading Platform

Rakuten Trade is actually a multi-awarded trading platform licensed by the Malaysian Securities Commission since 2017, to carry on with a restricted Capital Markets Services Licence. The reason why this platform is drawing serious attention from investors in other countries is because Rakuten Trade’s trading software enable user to trade in Malaysia’s financial markets.

At a minimal cost, foreign investors can invest and trade on Malaysian stocks, exchange traded funds (ETFs) or real estate investment trusts (REITs). After all, most financial advisors recommend investing in foreigna securities as a way of diversifying one’s investment portfolio.

The Telegram Messaging App and Its Forex Trading Channels

To understand how providers of forex and cryptocurrency signals render services, one can simply take a close look at Telegram’s Forex Trading Signal Channels.

While Telegram is mainly a messaging application, it stands out from other social messaging apps, because the platform also contains several foreign and cryptocurrency exchange channels that allow users to receive and send not only fun conversations. Telegram app users can also connect their Meta Trader account/s and their brokers to signal providers in forex signals telegram channels .

Through Telegram’s Forex Trading Channels, trading signals providers build their Expert Advisor (“EA”) messaging account using a Telegram Bot. The “bot” enables EAs to query and reply to trading orders from Telegram’s Metatrader 4 (MT4) or MT5 account users, as part of their trading services, EA members of the Telegram Forex Trading Channel can process trading messages given as instructions by customers.

Additional exceptional features of Telegram’s trading platform is the availability of trading signals in different languages, as well as the ability to read signal displayed as images.

About Telegram’s MetaTrader Account and Connector Software

Telegram messaging app users who engage in forex and crypto trading but want to be constantly on their toes in managing their trading activities need only to connect their MetaTrader account by way of the Telegram Connector software. Any type of MetaTrader account whether MT4 (specifically for forex traders) or MT5 (for traders of stocks, CFDs and futures) can be connected by the Telegram Connector to any of the EA’s providing their services in Telegram’s Forex Trading Signals Channel.

First off, Telegram connected MT4 or MT 5 account users must make sure their account is also connected to a broker. That way, signals received as notifications can be executed by the Telegram EA servicing the customer’s Telegram meta trader account.

About Telegram’s Connector Software

Telegram’s Connector software is quite versatile as it enables app users to trade foreign currencies, commodities, indices and cryptocurrencies; whilst giving users the capability to manage risks by trading on signals in different lot sizes; or by a percentage of their account balance. This denotes that the Telegram Connector software is also flexible as it allows traders to control risks by buying or selling gold in fixed lots, while trading forex by percentage.

Moreover, traders can customize the use of the signals channel by setting the EA to move to Stop Loss (SL) or to Take Profit (TP) at a certain number of pips or price level, as the case may be.

Other customization features include controls for setting a trading signal on a pending status for a specific period; or as an instant order but based on a specific money management instructions on every channel level and for different signal providers.

Significance of Double-Entry Method in Accounting Software

Accepting credit card payments is commonplace in most businesses, as statistics reveal that 80% of American consumers use credit cards most of the time. When looking for an accounting software to record all your business transactions, the best ones are those that record credit card sales using the double-entry accounting system. That way, recording of credit card payments will take into account every component of a credit card sale.

The Double Entry Method of Recording in Accounting Software

While there are accounting software that simply inputs sales based on the transaction amount, whilst categorizing the payment as either Cash Sales or Credit Card Sales, such an approach follows the single-entry method of accounting.

The accountant in charge of summarizing the entries into a financial report will still have to analyze how much was generated as Net Credit Card Sales. Bear in mind that in every credit card payment, a small portion actually applies as payment for credit card processing fees. The fees are collected by credit card companies from merchants as part of the credit card accreditation arrangement.

If an accounting software uses the double-entry accounting method, it will be easier for the accountant to distinguish the Net Credit Card Sales. The recording system will automatically reduce the amount recorded as Credit Card Sales by an outright deduction of the credit card processing fee that a credit card company collects.

Generally, it will take about 24 – 36 hours for a credit card company to process and record the transaction in their accounting books. This denotes that the merchant still has to wait for 2 to 3 days before the actual cash is transferred to his or her bank account. An accounting software that uses the double-entry accounting system will then follow through with another entry to record the actual cash received from a credit card transaction.

To illustrate by way of example, we will use American Express Cards as our model. Based on the most recent Statista report, there are about 1.103 million credit card users in the U.S. while more than half (54%) of the credit cards in circulation in 2019 were American Express (AMEX) Cards. AMEX cards are easy to activate because once a cardholder receives his or her plastic card, activation by way of confirmation can be done online via the americanexpress/confirmcard web page.

Supposing a merchant accepts payment by way of an AMEX card; this comes with a 2.5% processing fee collected from that merchant. Now here’s how a double-entry accounting software will reflect a credit card sales transaction

Let’s say a customer used his AMEX card to pay for a merchandise worth $100. An accounting software using the double-entry of recording will take into account the following:

1. On the Day of Credit Purchase

An Accounts Receivable from AMEX (Debit Entry) — $ 97.50
Payment of AMEX Processing Fee (Debit Entry) —- $ 2.50
Sales (Credit Entry) —————————————— $100.00

Take notice that the total of the Debit Entries ($97.50 + $ 2.50) is equal to the lone Credit entry for Sales of $100.00. Moreover, the transaction is not immediately recognized as a Cash increment, while the processing fee is immediately recorded as an Expense of the merchant. In effect, the fee reduces the actual Sales generated from the credit card transaction. This further denotes that another transaction will be recorded by the accounting software once AMEX transfers the cash to settle the credit card purchase of the customer.

2. On the Day AMEX Transfers Cash to Merchant’s Bank Account

Increase of Merchant’s Cash in Bank Balance (Debit Entry) ————————— $97.50
Settlement of Accounts Receivable from AMEX (Credit Entry) —– $97.50

This entry reverses the original recognition of the sales as a receivable from AMEX, while at the same time, reflects an increment in the merchant’s bank account.

Inasmuch as the double-entry method recognizes every component of each credit card sale, it will be easier for the accountant to summarize the transaction as well as prepare financial reports in a timely manner.

Features that Car Owners Would Like to Find in a Car Insurance Mobile App

Like most industries, the car insurance business is faced with greater challenges of keeping up with the changing lifestyle of car owners under the new norm. The need to be more competitive with offers, must also take into account that today’s customers particularly the millennials, have a penchant for mobile technology. They shop around not just for coverage, but also for innovations that will make it possible for them to save time and money in getting all processes done through their smartphones.

Car insurance companies cannot dismiss the new trend as just another passing fancy because as it is, every industry including the government sector, now operates online and by way of digital technology. Still, while a car insurance mobile application is a factor that can attract a potential customer’s attention, there are features that can make some car insurance apps more desirable than the others.

After all, shopping around for a reasonably priced car insurance policy with adequate coverage is no longer as daunting as it used to be. There are now websites that can provide information about the nearest car insurance companies in a specific location; along with real data that enables a customer to make side-by-side comparison of quotes. One such website is Car Insurance Near Me, which has a compilation of info on nation-based average costs of insurance per state, minimum requirements per state, average costs of insurance based on brand and similar other useful data, all for making informed decisions.

Features that Car Owners Would Like to Find in a Car Insurance Mobile App

While there are websites that can provide real time quotes, rates and requirements, those looking for insurance providers will also compare the capabilities of their mobile app. Below are some examples of features that potential customers look for in a provider’s mobile car insurance mobile app:

Simple but full process automation of insurance claims in case of car-related mishaps and incidents.

All-in-one approach particularly for full insurance coverage on damage or loss of car, legal responsibility to a third party, and the potential medical costs.

Capability to provide an on-demand request that becomes useful in emergency situations. There are instances when a person who has to drive a car for a long trip, but not fully subscribed under a travel insurance plan. An app’s capability to process even at least a temporary insurance on demand at any time is a worthwhile app feature.

Data analytics, a feature that works only if an app is hooked up with a special device installed in the automobile.The app can perform analysis and assessments of car and driver data collected by the device, This permits the insurance firm to monitor the actual mileage of the car as well as driving style of the car-owner to establish the cost of the policy.

While this feature may seem to favor the insurer, the car owner on the other hand, will be more safety-conscious in knowing that his or her driving style could increase the cost of the car insurance coverage.

Trading with Binary Options, What You Should Know

When contemplating on placing your investment assets in binary options trading, the first step to take is learn the important facets of this financial trading concept. Start with knowing why many have taken interests in putting their money on binary options. In the same light, have an understanding that there are also risks involved.

What are Binary Options and What Makes It Different from Conventional Methods of Trading?

First off, have a clear understanding that binary options are investment products, which you can offer as trading instruments. However, under binary options trading, you stand to either gain quickly or lose all just as fast.

Trading with binary instruments is quite simple because you simply have to give a “Yes” or “No” answer, to signify your decision to invest a specific asset. That is mainly because trading on binary options works within a limited time frame..

Simply stated, prospecting on an investment product and its future gain works only up to the expiration of the date or time on which you are officially recognized as a party to a specific binary options trading activity. .

Keep in mind that binary options come with an expiration of time or date. When said expiry time or date is up, you can gain if your futures projection on your asset is on the side of the strike price; or that price that yields the profit you expected. However, if the price is below the amount you projected as future gain on an investment asset, you stand to lose your money to those who traded on the outcome or the position opposite to your Yes or No decision.

In binary options trading, the results are exercised immediately, which means if you gain you get to claim the profit right away but based on the yield you projected. Similarly, if you lose, your investment asset goes to the trader/s who made a bid against your futures projection. Win or lose, you do not have the right to sell your investment asset.

It’s as simple as placing a bet on a high or low number, which makes binary options trading sound risky. That is why you cannot just dive into it without completely understanding how you can reduce, if not eliminate the risks involved.

Important Aspect to Look for in a Broker Offering Binary Options Trading

As in any kind of financial trading, placing your investment asset under a binary options trading-arrangement, requires opening an account with a reputable and licensed broker. It is important to check if the broker is duly recognized as a licensed and/or registered broker in your country, because some jurisdictions do not recognize binary options as a legitimate trading activity.

“IQ OPTION LTD” (https://ipoption.com/) for one, is a certified broker in Europe. It is recognized and registered with the EEA ànd Cyprus SEC  under the trade name IQ Option Europe Ltd.

However, this broker does not offer its platform and services to users in Australia, Belgium, Canada, U.S. and middle eastern countries like Israel, Iran, Palestine, Syria and Sudan, or in Southeast Asian countries like Japan and North Korea.