March 4th, 2010
Do you believe the experts quoted in every newspaper article or business journal?
When I hear in every media report the experts are shocked I throw away all of the information that the experts want to give me. If the experts were really experts they wouldn’t be shocked by what is taking place with the economy; they should have been expecting this turn of events. If being an expert means they have an extraordinary amount of data and an extraordinary amount of history and no ability to understand the pros and cons, ups and downs, or ebbs and flows of what is there I question their credibility as an expert.
Give me the honest opinion of a group of business owners with experience and their own money at risk or give me the feelings and fears of real people who live a responsible financial lifestyle and I can give a better prediction than the so-called experts.
The market and the economy are based on the confidence of the investing group. Today’s news snippets especially from the shocked experts continue to give all of us doubt about the future. Doubt and fear weaken our ability to recover.
At this point I would rather just have the facts and no opinions from pundints or experts and I can move forward with confindence regardless if that confidence means the market is moving up or down.
Review your long term strategy based on age, risk tolerance and desired returns. Your time lines for your business and your investments should adjust with your age but everybody should expect ups and downs. Some last longer than others, some are deeper than others. But sticking to a long term strategy is the best way to go.
In order to stick to your long term strategy stop listening to the experts.
Allen R Noll, CPA, President
www.thepayrollfactory.com
Tags: Business Journal, Business Owners, Confidence, Confindence, Cpa President, Credibility, Fears, Feelings, Financial Lifestyle, Honest Opinion, Newspaper Article, President Www, Pros And Cons, Real People, Risk Tolerance, Snippets, Term Strategy, Time Lines, Ups, Ups And Downs
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February 17th, 2010
For many people this is a good time of year for reflection. Whether it is the religious holidays, the long awaiting of spring and warm weather or simply with the relief from the bustle of the holiday season people seem to spend this time of year reflecting and rebalancing themselves. Many people wait until February to set their personal goals so that they are passed the giddy rush of those ever fleeting New Year’s resolutions.
And in business, what are we doing? I think this is a fantastic time of year to evaluate what you are doing and what you should be doing. We are through the rush of distributing W2s and 1099s. We have prepared all of our year end statements. And we may just have a moment to breathe before our tax returns are due. So what are you going to take time to do this year that you have been meaning to do?
Here are a few things that are good to review this time of year:
What are you doing with your marketing plan? Is it working for you? Is it driving business in your direction?
What are you doing with your accounting, bookkeeping and payroll? Are you utilizing the latest technology that your vendors in these areas have to offer? Are you still stuck filing boxes and boxes of paper away each year? Can you streamline your retention process by getting electronic files instead? What do you need to make your life easier in these areas?
When was the last time you reviewed your vendor relationships? Are any of your vendors a good source for networking or trading business leads?
Where do you stand with your customer base? Is there any product or service that is available in your industry that you should consider offering? Is your customer service staff refreshed and ready to be helpful? Are you up to speed with your competition in all areas?
Is 2010 the year that you expand your sales staff? Has your sales staff been to training recently? Are they up to date on all of your company’s offerings and services? Is your staff performing at their very best? How do you help motivate and increase your sales this year?
Business is not always creating something original and having a great new product. We have some clients who have done that and done it very well. But for most of us it is not some wonderful idea that we can bring to production. For most of us being fresh and exciting in our businesses means constantly tweaking the idea we have already had to improve it, polish it and make it better at every turn.
Will you take the time to reflect on your business and your business relationships to see where you may improve and expand this year?
Meg Eynon, VP
The Payroll Factory
www.ThePayrollFactory.com
Tags: Bookkeeping, Bustle, Customer Base, Customer Service Staff, Electronic Files, Holiday Season, Latest Technology, Marketing Plan, Payroll, Personal Goals, Reflection, Religious Holidays, Resolutions, Sales Staff, Tax Returns, Time Of Year, Vendor Relationships, W2s, Warm Weather, Year End
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February 4th, 2010
What is a white paper? There is one standard answer and then there are many options. A white paper is usually a problem and solution report. For example if you have a problem with your computer you could search white papers for a solution. But what if you have an IT person for that? What use could a white paper possibly have for you?
I had a friend recommend to me that I sign up to get the latest tech white papers. And I did, much like a kid who thinks they might be quizzed on something later. So when they arrived in my inbox I wasn’t sure what I should make of them. Until one day there was one that applied to an issue I was having with our computers. Then, lo and behold, I understood the importance of getting the latest white papers.
Soon it became like getting notice of problems that were going to happen before they actually did. I could be prepared when it came to IT.
Then another funny thing happened. I started browsing through these papers to find out what kind of free tech gadgets are available to help me with everything from marketing to Microsoft. I could learn the basics about disaster recovery and online back up tools. We have wonderful staff here that takes care of all of those things for us, but it helped me feel more educated and more in control when I wanted to implement something new or if questions came up about system and procedure.
White papers helped me feel empowered. It made me feel like I had a general working knowledge of what was taking place in the world of IT. (Please ignore the giggles of all of the very talented people who work in the IT field when they read the last sentence!)
So even for us non-tech types white papers can be a wonderful tool at our disposal. I challenge you to take a look at the latest in IT. An excellent source is www.ZDNet.com. The white papers are easy to understand and very useful.
Now, I said I wasn’t a tech person, but I did get excited about the launch of the iPad and I am off to go check out the different specs!
Meg Eynon, VP
The Payroll Factory
www.ThePayrollFactory.com
Tags: Computers, Control, Disaster Recovery, Funny Thing, Inbox, Ipad, Launch, Marketing, Microsoft, Options, Problem Solution, Tech Gadgets, Tech Help, Tools, White Papers, Working Knowledge, Zdnet
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January 27th, 2010
Do you just love that commercial? The one where the super hip Mac watches while the dorky suit and tie PC tries to explain all of the little issues with Microsoft? I do. But here is the thing. I am a PC. Gasps! I know! I know!
I am a PC because I have to be. The software that we use in payroll simply does not run in a Mac environment. I never used to mind. To me Apple was for people who were more creative and needed less of the applications like Excel and Word that I need on a daily basis. But that was a long time ago. Now I am slowly not only understanding the draw of Apple but I feel like I am being lured in by some of the very positive aspects of Mac.
One of the benefits I have heard about with using a Mac is that you spend a lot less time running programs to avoid viruses. A lot less! One of the reasons I have heard given for this is that Microsoft has become such a target for hackers. I can see that. It makes sense. But what do those of us who don’t need a graphics based computer do with a Mac?
Again, from what I have heard, you just sit back and enjoy it. One of our clients said he migrated everything from his PC to a Mac and didn’t lose a single piece of data. Somehow I don’t think I will be as adept as Fred if I try to make that switch over.
My real question though, is are you a Mac or a PC? I think the lines that were drawn in the sand over that question have been blurred. Even we PC types have been lured into Apple products like the IPod, ITouch, or the ever enviable IPhone. I personally can’t wait to see what Apple does with the ISlate that is supposed to be revealed today.
So tell me? Have you been lured over into the land of the Mac yet? Or are you staying with your PC? I am very curious to know!
Meg Eynon, Vice President
www.thepayrollfactory.com
Tags: Apple Products, Based Computer, Daily Basis, Eynon, Graphics Computer, Hackers, Iphone, Ipod Itouch, Long Time, Love, Mac Environment, Meg, Payroll, Pc Mac, President Www, Running Programs, Suit And Tie, Target, Vice President, Watches
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December 22nd, 2009
Happy holidays to all!
My timing may seem bad but there is an important reminder I would like to share with you at this time of year. Within the next two to three weeks your company will receive its Unemployment Compensation Rate Notice for year 2010.
The only reason my timing seems bad is that no one wants to talk about Unemployment during the holiday season. But you should be giving it some thought.
When your rate comes in for 2010 did you know that you only have a short period of time to make a rate appeal?
State Unemployment rates are based on several factors. Some of them are the number of claimants in the past calendar year; a low reserve account; or liability payments that were marked late by the Unemployment department. Your rate may also be effected by your industry if you are considered to be in a higher risk industry such as construction. While you cannot change your industry you may be able to change the other factors that effect your 2010 rate.
So when you receive your 2010 Unemployment Rate Notice don’t wait. Call your local Unemployment office and find out why your rate is what it is. You may be able to have it lowered! That is right, by finding out why your rate is as it is and by asking questions and even by filing a rate appeal you may be able to have your rate lowered.
It is worth a call and it is worth being called Meg Scrooge to give you such an important reminder!
Have a wonderful holiday season!
Meg Eynon
Vice President
www.ThePayrollFactory.com
Tags: Calendar Year, Claimants, Compensation Rate, Eynon, Happy Holidays, Holiday Season, Meg, Period Of Time, President Www, Reminder, Risk Industry, Several Factors, Short Period, State Unemployment, Time Of Year, Unemployment Compensation, Unemployment Department, Unemployment Office, Unemployment Rate, Unemployment Rates
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December 15th, 2009
I have a confession to make. I am a control freak. I keep lists. I have five calendars each year to keep track of my work and home life. I love Moleskine and in addition to my calendar I have a Moleskine notebook that I write down my to dos and activities for each day. And yes, this overlaps with my calendars.
So what is a girl to do? I can’t go without my calendars and lists and notebooks cold turkey! I would be up at nights worrying if I could have missed something by not keeping careful track of my responsibilities and my life. My to do lists and my shopping lists! When would I know to change the air filter in my house’s heating unit or when to send out a birthday card to my neice? How would life look without my precious lists?
Well! I am not willing to find out. I have tried before to cut back on the number of calendars I keep. And I will try again this year. I am going to try to limit it to three! One for home, one for work and one for my staff so they can find me at all times (and never need to)! But every once in a while something comes along that helps me get rid of a list. Or lets me accomplish something early so it never even makes it to a list in the first place!
And what you may ask yourself does this have to do with payroll? Well, I would venture to guess that I am not the only person out there with multiple lists and multiple calendars. I happen to know that many in the HR field may be just like me and are the people responsible for the details in life! So how do we slowly step away from being obsessive about our responsibilities?
One way in payroll is to use the tools available to you so that you don’t have to keep folder after folder of changes to be made and updates that have to take place three months down the line. If you use an online payroll system like the one we provide at The Payroll Factory there are often “set it and forget it” features built right into the software! So in our payroll I can go online and make a change to my whole company’s health insurance premiums right now and put in a date to activate it. Instead of remembering that on my first pay in 2010 to increase my insurance rates it is already done. Date activation. You have to love that!
There are other set it and forget it features that I find helpful in our payroll software as well. One that I used last week was to put a note in the system so that when our staff logs in to view their check stubs they get a reminder to fill out a new W4 for 2010 and to hand it into our HR person. I date activated this note to start running this week and to stop running at the end of January. I really enjoy this date activation feature and you just know that the staff loves getting my little notes on pay day!
What ways could you be using date activation fields in payroll to help you stop making lists? Or keeping multiple calendars? Do you think that if I stopped keeping so many lists and calendars that it might free up some time for me? What would I do with that time? Hmmm? It gives a girl some room for thought!
Your Payroll Control Freak,
Meg Eynon, Vice President
www.ThePayrollFactory.com
Tags: Air Filter, Birthday Card, Calendar, Calendars, Careful Track, Cold Turkey, Confession, Confessions Of A Control Freak, Control, Hr Field, Moleskine Notebook, Neice, Notebooks, Payroll System, Three Months
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December 7th, 2009
Have you been out enjoying the rush of the holidays? Have you been shopping for family and loved ones with great care? Have you snuck in a gift or two for yourself since the sales are so tempting? And have you had that experience yet of feeling like you forgot something when you left the house or a store? A coupon you just knew you had? Something you meant to get but you can’t remember what until you are in bed that night when it pops suddenly into your head?
Well, don’t let that happen to you with your company’s payroll. At the end of the year we run things through payroll that only happen once a year. Medical fringe benefits for shareholders, the personal use of a company car, special bonuses at the end of the year, and the list goes on and on.
Rather than waking up in the middle of the night in January when it is too late to post anything into tax year 2009 through payroll why don’t you check out our list? Here is a reminder of some of the things that companies report to their payroll companies at this time of year.
http://thepayrollfactory.com/resources_reminder.html
Now you are just like someone else with a list. Check it and check it twice. After all, ’tis the season!
Meg Eynon, Vice President
www.thepayrollfactory.com
Tags: Company Car, Eynon, Fringe Benefits, Holidays, Meg, Payroll Companies, Personal Use, President Www, Reminder, Rush, Shareholders, Shopping, Time Of Year, Tis The Season, Vice President
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November 30th, 2009
I bet at this time of year most people are going to bed with thoughts of sugar plums, holiday sales, and holiday parties on their minds. Not me!
This time of year ramps up the busy season for payroll professionals. It is not as glamorous or as fun as planning for holiday parties. Sometimes it feels more like hunkering down for the long haul.
Don’t worry for my family and friends. I am still up until all hours fussing over gifts, making last minute goodies, and baking lots and lots of cookies. But I am also trying to get myself beyond organized so that when January 1st hits I am more than ready for the rush.
One thing that I do that I recommend every company that has employees in Pennsylvania should do is check what is new in local payroll taxes. Okay, it is not as fun as checking out who has free shipping online. Or looking for the latest Ugg trends. But it is good and it is very necessary!
It is easy to check. Go to www.newpa.com/index.aspx and see what taxes are new in your township.
It might not be as fun as shopping for the hot new “it” item but you will be glad that you did. A new local payroll tax is not a nice suprise to find on your doorstep in February!
Enjoy Cyber Monday!
Meg Eynon, Vice President
www.ThePayrollFactory.com
Tags: Aspx, Cyber Monday, Doorstep, Eynon, Family And Friends, Goodies, Holiday Parties, Holiday Sales, January 1st, Long Haul, Meg, Payroll Professionals, Payroll Tax, Payroll Taxes, President Www, Ramps, Rush, Suprise, Time Of Year, Ugg, Vice President
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November 23rd, 2009
That is right! It is the most wonderful time of year for businesses! It is budget reviews for 2010. It is vendor review time. It is time to get focused and make a plan for the coming year.
What are you going to do differently in 2010 that you did not do in 2009?
I personally have lots of plans. I wrote out my goals for my business life, my personal life and for things I am going to get done in 2010.
One of the things that I am going to tell everyone with a payroll to do in 2010 is to independently check to see if your payroll company is making your tax payments! Yes, that even means you, my Payroll Factory clients!
It is so important in today’s corporate environment to make sure that everything that needs to be done to keep your company tax compliant is being done. Yes, you hire a service. Yes, you expect the service to do the job you are paying them for. But, did you know that the IRS holds all corporations responsible for making their federal tax deposits on time and in the correct dollar amount regardless if a service is being used or not. Let me repeat, the corporation is responsible. Period.
So how do you know the service you hired is doing their job? You check. Independently. You don’t ask them to give you proof of payments, you don’t ask them to give you reassurance. You check.
Lots of companies have to check up on things. They have to check when supplies are delivered to make sure everything they ordered is there. They have to check that certain equipment is functioning. They have to check that their customers are being delivered what they have promised in service or in product. So while you are checking ~ check your tax payments too.
The following is a link to our website on how to check your tax payments have been made. Use it in 2010! You will be glad you checked!
http://thepayrollfactory.com/check_tax_payments.html
Tags: Budget Reviews, Business Life, Compliant, Corporate Environment, Corporations, Correct Dollar, Federal Tax Deposits, Irs, Job, Payroll Company, Payroll Tax, Personal Life, Proof, Reassurance, Tax Payments, Time Of Year, Wonderful Time
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November 19th, 2009
It has been a while since I wrote about corporate giving. I intended to follow up right away with more information on what I think and what some of our clients have experienced.
It was quite hard to come back to this topic. Many of our friends and clients know that Glenn Gleason, Allen’s brother in law, recently passed away. Part of my thoughts with corporate giving were tied closely into Glenn’s situation, spirit and the way he gracefully led the charge in raising funds and awareness for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
That being said I would like to finish this series, it has just taken me a while to be able to articulate my thoughts and feelings.
One thing that happened after Glenn’s passing is that we had a quick and very informal staff meeting to figure out what we were going to do for Allen, Glenn and their families. What we decided was that they had the infrastructure to get arrangements made, children picked up from school and making sure that every one was fed. There was nothing that we could really do without inserting ourselves into an already well orchestrated situation.
So what we decided to do was to donate to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It was a very quick and real way for us to feel as if we had done something. As if we participated in helping without getting in the way of Glenn’s family and friends.
A few years ago when my father passed away the staff at The Payroll Factory was very helpful and caring. I was allowed to work when I could and to feel as if I had a place to come that was structured and welcoming away from the details of what needed to take place with my family. At that time the staff got together and made a donation in my father’s name to my son’s school for children with autism. It was a difficult time, and yet by simply being caring and showing such thoughtfulness in their donation I felt supported and cared for by the people that I work with. Those types of things go a long way toward team work and employee retention. I certainly know that I felt a sense of community and loyalty to my company during that difficult time that still resonates with me today.
While this series of blogs has taken a serious turn, I wanted to illustrate how important giving can be. When we do it as a company it really takes on even more importance somehow. It can show the true colors of an organization and its employees in time of strife. It can show continued dedication to our community. It can lead by example.
A lot of our clients are already involved in corporate giving. We see companies that have payroll deductions taken each payroll for things like United Way and other charities that are corporate sponsored.
As the holiday season approaches perhaps you can think of ways that your company can give back to the community. Either by donations of money or of donations of time. Either way giving can have a wonderful effect. It lets people feel involved when they give. It lets people feel understood and cared for when they receive.
Submitted by:
Meg Eynon, Vice President
www.thepayrollfactory.com
Tags: Brother, Children With Autism, Family And Friends, Final Word, Gleason, Infrastructure, Leukemia, Leukemia And Lymphoma, Leukemia And Lymphoma Society, Leukemia Lymphoma, Leukemia Society, Lymphoma, Payroll, Spirit, Staff Meeting, Thoughtfulness, Thoughts And Feelings
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