Whether you are setting up a new business or running a well established one, it is important to know the basic differences between cash vs. accrual basis bookkeeping. It is also helpful if you are applying for a loan to understand why your banker wants to see your books in an accrual format.

Accounting standards in the United States are called Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). These are the accounting standards for all U.S. businesses. GAAP recognizes and provides principles for both cash and accrual accounting methods, as does the Internal Revenue Service.

Generally speaking, cash basis bookkeeping recognizes income and expenses when they are received or paid. If you are a cash basis bookkeeper you may have accounts receivable but they don’t show as an asset on your balance sheet. Your accounts payable also don’t show up as a liability on your balance sheet.

If your business has employees, it’s only a matter of time before you get audited. It will happen even if you did everything right. We’ve even had it happen to us.

3 Dos and 3 Don’ts - Tips for Moving Your Austin Office Space

The Office Moving Guide: The Dos and Don'ts of Moving Your Office

For small businesses in today’s high-tech society, Information Technology (IT) has become a significant consideration. Implementing new technology is a challenging job for small business owners and can cause numerous difficulties in day-to-day operations. Many small businesses are finding Managed IT Services as a solution to get the most from their IT investment.

Being a business owner can be exhilarating and daunting. There are so many hats you have to wear that you can't possibly be an expert at everything. That's why being informed is the best way to make decisions. When it comes to finding office space for your business, some business owners are new to finding office space, while others have new considerations such as expansion due to company growth.

It can be tough to determine what all you need to consider when choosing your office space. By following these 4 Steps to Determining Your Office Space Needs, you can be sure you're on a solid path for success.

Step 1: Determine how many square feet you need

This is an important question that must be properly researched and answered before signing a lease, whether you are launching a new company or you are an existing one who is considering an expansion or relocation.

If a mistake is made and you lease too little office space, you could end up needing more space before your lease expires, or you could face a possible lease default if you exceed the buildings parking ratio. Lease too much space and you end up being stuck paying for more space than you need for the duration of the lease term.

As a general rule of thumb you will need 175 to 250 usable square feet per person; however that depends on the type of space you are leasing, building parking ratios, the space efficiency, your ideal layout, and any other special needs you may have. For an accurate determination of your space needs, it's a good idea to engage a professional office space planner.

Step 2: Estimate the number of employees you'll have in the next 3 years

This is the primary factor in determining how much space you need. How many employees do you have now? How many do you estimate you will hire over the next 1, 2, or 3 years? Do any of them work from home? You don't want to sign a 3-5 year lease agreement based on the number of employees you have today without considering your growth needs. If you're planning to increase your headcount by 5% year over year, then you'll want to factor that in to your office space needs.

Step 3: How do you want your space laid out?

You'll need to consider how many offices you'll need vs. cubicles vs. open space. The more offices you have, the more space you'll require. If you want a more collaborative office, then open layouts might be best for your business. They also tend to provide more flexibility, allowing more room for headcount now and later.

While the general rule of thumb is to allow approximately 175 to 250 square feet per employee, this can change depending on if you are looking for office, retail, medical or warehouse space.

Step 4: Determine the number of people who require parking

Office buildings parking spaces are in limited supply so most buildings have parking ratios that only allowing tenants XX number of occupants per XX number of square feet. For example, average parking ratios for Austin Office Space buildings are 3.5 to 4 people per 1000 square foot. What that means is that each tenant is only allowed to have 4 occupants for every 1000 square feet that they lease. If you lease 4,000 square feet, you are only allowed to have 16 employees occupy that space. Questions you might want to ask your employees to estimate how many parking spaces you will need: How many drive to work each day? Do any ride public transportation? Do any carpool?

By following these 4 Steps to Determining Your Office Space Needs, you'll be well on your way to finding the best office space needs for your business.