Author:

Mike Kappel

Mike Kappel, serial entrepreneur and CEO of Patriot Software, offers payroll advice from more than 30 years of experience to small business owners.

Offer Credit to Customers: The Pros and Cons

By Mike Kappel

Offering credit to your customers can be a risky, but rewarding, endeavor. You need to weigh the pros and cons before you offer credit to customers.

Business owner standing in front of an "Open" sign.

What Is a DBA, and Does Your Small Business Need One?

By Mike Kappel

The name of your company plays a big role in your success. But, for many small businesses, legal structure limits what a business can be called. To use a name that interests consumers, you might need to register a doing business as (DBA) name. What is a DBA name?

Employer and employee learning how to organize business finances.

How to Organize Your Business Finances: Top 5 Effective Ways

By Mike Kappel

The lifeblood of any business — large or small — is financial integrity. Efficiently managing your small business accounting can help determine your success. If you don’t know where to start, consider leveraging accounting software. By getting your finances in order, you will save a lot of hours, headaches, and dollars.

Man reviewing allowable business expenses.

What Are Allowable Business Expenses for Your Small Business?

By Mike Kappel

As a small business owner, you may run on a tight budget. Your business expenses might add up fast between equipment, inventory, overhead, and payroll. Luckily, many of your business expenses are tax-deductible. But, what constitutes an allowable business expense?

What Is Depreciation?

By Mike Kappel

For your small business, you might make some big purchases on items to keep you in operation. When it’s time to report your expenses for taxes, using depreciation in your accounting books could help you save money.

1099 subcontractor shaking someone's hand.

Hiring a 1099 Subcontractor: Do Your Homework

By Mike Kappel

As a small business owner, you might have considered hiring a 1099 subcontractor. In some ways, a subcontractor can give you more flexibility than an employee. Subcontractors are responsible for their own permits and payroll taxes.

What Is a CPA? | Overview

By Mike Kappel

If you are in business, you have likely considered using an accountant or a CPA to handle certain aspects of your business finances. But did you know that not every accountant becomes a CPA?

How to Form a C Corp

By Mike Kappel

You might have considered incorporating your small business. Do you know how to form a C Corp? Forming a C Corp takes more time and money than other types of business structures. But, you are free from personal liability.

What Are Intangible Assets?

By Mike Kappel

If you’re like many small businesses, you account for company assets that you can see and touch. But, what about the items of value that aren’t physical? You may be undervaluing your business by forgetting your intangible assets. What are intangible assets?

Business owner reviewing liabilities online.

What Are Liabilities?

By Mike Kappel

As a small business owner, you might owe money to vendors, employees, and the government. You need to keep track of your business’s debts in your accounting books. When it comes to recording the money you owe, mark your debts as liabilities. What are liabilities?