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When Talking ERP Needs, Does Business Size Matter?
Julie Stepp, CPA Senior Consultant - Fahrenheit Finance November 2013 Since When Does Size Not Matter? Take it from me, guiding an organization down the path to ERP implementation is a maddening exercise when things go right…and a catastrophic nightmare when they don't. The path to implementation is fraught with hazards. If the requirements are not properly ‘brainstormed’…Read More -
Concrete Steps to Cut Healthcare Spending
It's widely believed among experts that as much as one-third of spending on medical services is wasted and worthless. Last year, the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation and Consumer Reports teamed up to launch the "Choosing Wisely" campaign. Each of the 39 medical specialty societies has, within its arena, identified five specific medical screening or treatment procedures which are…Read More -
Be Aware of the Stakeholders in Your Business—Or You May Regret It
In the good old days, business owners believed that as long as they served their customers effectively and made sure that their stock maintained or increased its value, all was taken care of. However, it's now part of the norm that business owners not only have to please their customers and shareholders, but also be concerned with their stakeholders. A…Read More -
Court Decisions Make It Easier to Deduct LLC Losses
What happens if you're the owner of a limited liability company (LLC) that generates tax losses, and you don't spend a lot of time in the activities of the business? The losses might be classified as passive, and your ability to currently deduct them might be severely restricted by the passive activity loss (PAL) rules. A number of court decisions…Read More -
Beware: M&A Activity Can Trigger Unexpected Tax Issues
During a merger or acquisition, the issues surrounding employee benefit plans may not get a great deal of attention. But afterwards, the complexities of merging a variety of benefit arrangements can overwhelm the companies. Even worse, the IRS is on the lookout for compliance failures after a merger or acquisition and may step in to conduct a "team audit." Keep…Read More -
Paying for Performance and 2014 Raises: What Others are Planning
A new survey looks at how employers are setting their salary budgets for 2014. Based on survey results, it appears that most employers expect to hand out raises similar to those given in 2013. But at your organization, does it matter enough when the time comes to hand out raises? The latest General Industry Salary Budget Survey of 910 employers from Towers…Read More -
Surviving an Earnout Provision in a Business Sale
Earnout sales are becoming more common, especially in high-growth companies, those with unproven products, and situations when the buyer and seller disagree on valuation issues. By some estimates, up to half of small business sales involve earnout provisions lasting two to five years, and involving 15 to 50 percent of the purchase price. What are earnout provisions based on? Keep…Read More -
Does Your 401(k) Plan Need a Safe Harbor for the Coming Year?
Nobody likes getting slapped with a penalty by the IRS for any reason, let alone for missing the mark on a retirement plan intended to be a benefit. Ideally, your third party administrator will sound the alarm if you are drifting in that direction, in time for you to make necessary adjustments. But if your business is close to the edge…Read More -
Don’t sweat the small stuff…at your Peril
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff Russ Gambrel, Sr Consultant Fahrenheit - October 2013 I recently attended the Global Leadership Summit and walked away after two days full-to-brimming with energy and motivation to make a bigger difference in my organization. GLS has become a global phenomenon and I can’t recommend a better national seminar to which you should devote CE/Training hours…Read More -
Time to SHOP for a Health Plan? IRS Fine Tunes the Tax Credit
The IRS recently issued proposed regulations fine-tuning the rules governing the healthcare tax credit available to certain small employers, beginning in 2014. The Affordable Care Act contains a credit of up to 50 percent of premiums for eligible employers. Keep reading to learn what the new proposed regulations add to the mix.Read More -
How does Company Culture Impact Performance?
Rachel Antrobus, Fahrenheit Finance Senior Consultant September 4, 2013 Company culture can be hard to change. But startup companies possess a distinct advantage – they can proactively create and build their desired culture from the ground up. How important is it? Important enough that many institutional investors believe company culture trumps even strategy as a harbinger of long-term success. In…Read More -
Curb Employee Turnover with Engagement Challenges
Employee turnover is expensive -- very expensive. As the economy continues to build strength, albeit slowly, employee turnover will become a larger problem for many employers. But traditional retention strategies, including pay and benefits, are not the only tools available to address the challenge. In fact, you may be throwing money at the problem with little to show for it.…Read More