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With today’s technology, you can rewrite the rules. (Or just toss them overboard.)

There are no bOUNdarIeS

social media best practices have surfaced. Here’s how to apply them to your marketing plan.

+

show us The moneyhow integration can increase productivity

paul miller’s firm broke the mold

we tell you how

The man behind mobile csmeet Josh sloat, adventurer and developer

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Solutions is published by the Tax & accounting business of Thomson reuters, 7322 Newman boulevard, dexter, MI 48130; 800.968.8900. Printed in the United States. Copyright 2011 Thomson reuters, Issue 2, 2011. Cover: Copyright 2011 reUTerS/Pascal Lauener; Page 4, top: Copyright 2011 reUTerS/Stefan Wermuth; page 6 and above: Copyright 2011 Joe Vaughn/Vaughn Media Inc. (Josh Sloat); pages 8–11 and above: Copyright 2011 Joe Treleven Photography (Paul Miller); page 13: Copyright 2011 Mediabakery/Jeff Hunter.

issue 2 | 2011

Questions or feedback? email your thoughts to solutions@Thomsonreuters.com.

ahead of the pack 12

4 NewsliNeaccounting CS features expand; your stories online.

7 iN your words Integrated software drives significant growth in productivity.

14 Tips & TacTicsYou’ve got questions. We’ve got answers. Lots of answers.

aLSO INSIde

SOLUTIONS

Join our online users’ forum, at cs.Thomsonreuters.com/community.

find more on the web, at cs.Thomsonreuters.com.

FeaTUreS

cs.Thomsonreuters.com/facebook

cs.Thomsonreuters.com/Twitter

cs.Thomsonreuters.com/youTube

cs.Thomsonreuters.com/linkedin

paul miller: his business model

8

6 inside story: Josh sloat

VIeW POINT

CS.THOMSONreUTerS.COM [ 3 ]

anytime, anywhere: How Firms That Move to the Cloud are rewriting the rules

as the seasons begin to change, it’s likely that

this issue of Solutions will find you gearing up for

year-end and, in a few short months, another tax

season. perhaps more than other professions,

tax and accounting can often still be divided

into seasons, cycles, and boundaries. but that’s

changing, thanks in part to the steadily accelerating

migration from locally hosted applications and data

to offsite hosting at remote data centers. you’ve

probably heard it referred to as “the cloud.“

the move to the cloud represents perhaps the

biggest change in application delivery since the

advent of desktop computers. and it isn’t just

changing what software can do; it’s redrawing

the very fundamentals of how we think about

technology. more and more, the power of

technology is all around us. and the increasing

variety of laptops, tablets, smartphones, and

other tools makes it easy for us (and for our

clients) to reach out and grab what we need,

no matter where we happen to be.

instead of working within a set of predetermined

boundaries, firms can now divide workflow in new

ways, set their own boundaries, and work wherever

and whenever they choose. this necessitates a

whole new set of decisions, but it also provides

another tool with which firms can differentiate

themselves. some firms use the cloud to provide

superior client service, others to provide new

services, serve new geographic areas, or create

more profitable work arrangements. and still

others to simply spend less time in the office.

here at thomson reuters, we’ve also adapted as

our business has moved from the tangibility of

locally installed cd-based applications to a much

more fluid world of constant change. it has been

challenging at times, but it has also brought us

closer to our customers in countless ways, including

our new online customer video series and live

web-based training.

the changes that accompany the migration to

the cloud will take some getting used to. but i

believe that they will strengthen the profession and

ultimately make the world a better place to work.

as you look through this issue of Solutions, i invite

you to consider what they could do to move your

firm forward. from client portals to the collaborative

power of accounting cs and mobile cs, the cloud is

making it possible to create exactly the boundaries

you choose—or none at all.

for all of us in the information business, this

is an exciting time. i hope you’re enjoying it as

much as i am.

regards,

Jon baron

president, professional, tax & accounting,

thomson reuters

neWSLIne

SOLUTIONS [ISSue 2, 2011][ 4 ]

cs professional suite®

& enterprise suite™

accounTinG

accounting cs™

accounting cs client access

cs professional suite

accounting products

engagement cs®

documenT manaGemenT

filecabinet cs®

gofileroom®

mobile apps

mobile cs™

payroll

accounting cs payroll

mypay solutions®

firm & workflow manaGemenT

practice cs®

firmflowtm

TaX

ultratax cs®

gosystem® tax rs

fixed assets cs®

planner cs®

toolbox cs®

cloud compuTinG

saas leasing

virtual office cs®

websiTe desiGn

web builder cs®

clienT porTals

netclient cs®

arne, the complete online community for tax and accounting professionals, lets you connect with colleagues through forums, groups, enhanced profiles, friend networks, article commenting, and more.

because it’s your community, your feedback is important to us. we’re continually improving arne to make your experience the best it can be. we recently enhanced performance to make the forums even faster, and added an email notification feature that alerts you to new discussions in forums that interest you.

we also added advanced search features, as well as new options to format text, check spelling, and add hyperlinks when posting in the forums. plus you now have more flexibility when commenting and replying to other users’ comments in the blogs & articles section. check out all the new features at cs.Thomsonreuters.com/community/faq.aspx. (note: you’ll need to log in to your web account to view the faQs.)

now in its second year of availability, accounting cs is making it possible for firms of all sizes to serve more clients in less time with its ability to share workload in new ways, allow multiple staff to work on the same client simultaneously, and combine write-up, live and after-the-fact payroll, trial balance, and financial reporting into a single, unified platform.

this fall, a variety of other features including accounts payable, new payroll capabilities, and expanded reporting options will make it an even more powerful tool. additional capabilities will include: • New accounts payable features added to

client access that enable firm clients to record payables and payments, track cash requirements, and produce aging reports to enhance cash flow management.

• A new Client Consolidation feature that enables users to combine chart of accounts data from multiple clients. the new feature will streamline reporting and tax integration by making it possible to consolidate data by account number or account grouping to make the data universal.

NeW FeaTUreS COMINg TO accouNTiNg cs

WHaT’S MOVIN’ aNd SHaKIN’ IN THe arNe commuNiTy

CS.THOMSONreUTerS.COM [ 5 ]

New book Offers Steps to small business success starting up and running an accounting firm or other small business is a rewarding journey, but it can also be a confusing one. it’s often difficult for the entrepreneur to work his or her way through the jungle of advice to find answers to questions ranging from, “do i have the right kind of insurance?” to “what do i look for when interviewing or hiring?” to “how do i sell the business when it’s time to retire?”

that’s why five cpas with diverse entrepreneurial backgrounds partnered to write Six Steps to Small Business Success, a new book that can help small business owners at any stage of development and operation. authors bert doerhoff, lowell lillge, david lucier, r. sean manning, and c. gregory orcutt combine more than a hundred years of experience between them to provide practical advice, step-by-step guidance, and proven ideas for entrepreneurs ready to embark on the exciting journey of starting and managing a successful business. “many entrepreneurs fail, not because they have a bad idea, but rather because they don’t have the knowledge and skills … to convert their ideas into success,” says co-author r. sean manning, cpa. “this book is a series of simple steps or ideas that business owners should find useful as they work to convert their dreams into reality.”

Six Steps to Small Business Success, which has been honored with the professional association of small business accountants’ (pasba) book of the year award, will be available in both print and ebook versions on amazon.com in the fourth quarter of 2011. for more information and publication updates go to 6stepsToBusiness.com.

BUSINESS/ECONOMICS

U.S. $XX.XX

There are many important lessons in life that can never be learned in a classroom. In Six Steps to Small Business Success, five seasoned CPAs combine over one hundred years of experience in order to provide practical advice, step-by-step guidance, and proven ideas for entrepreneurs ready to embark on the exciting journey of starting and managing a successful business.

The Professional Association of Small Business Accountants has awarded the Book of the Year Award to the authors saying “If our members could communicate all the information in this book to their clients, the clients would not only be more educated on how to start, manage and exit a business, but they would most likely be more successful and have a better opportunity to achieve their business ownership goals.”

—Tim Nolan, PASBA President

“The authors of Six Steps to Small Business Success represent a group of experts worth listening to. The book is packed with applied lessons, real-life experiences, and proven strategies that if employed appropriately assist small business owners in developing a thriving, profitable organization. It’s a practical guide that every small business owner should own.”

—Darren Root, CPA.CITP Author of The E-Myth Accountant, President of Root & Associates

“Six Steps is a must read for every would be entrepreneur. It is a comprehensive, practical and insightful compilation of the issues, strategies and hurdles that the business owners will likely encounter during and after their reign.”

—Ned A Minor, founder of Minor & Brown & Author of Deciding to Sell Your Business: The Key to Wealth and Freedom

Six Steps to Small Business Success offers personal anecdotes, inspiring quotes, and thought–provoking questions that will help any small business owner remember to dream big, think realistically, and plan carefully, ultimately achieving more than ever imagined.

EDITOR’SCHOICE

SIX STEPS TO SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS

DOERHOFF LILLGE LUCIER MANNING ORCUTT

SIX STEPS TO SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS

A Product of Biz Books, LLC

we’re passionate about our products

and services. in fact, we get excited

just thinking about the ways they help

you in your day-to-day work—because

we’ve been in your shoes. and we’re

pretty sure you’re excited too, because

we’ve been getting great feedback over

the years.

so we decided it was time to capture

some of your stories on video to help

people who are curious about our

products, services, and events. our

video field team set out this year to

do just that—visiting client offices and

events, and recording honest feedback

about how our products and services

help you.

what did we learn? that our customers

are gaining firm-wide efficiencies from

our innovative product and service

solutions. but don’t take our word for

it: watch videos and read stories from

real people (just like you) working in

real firms (just like yours), discussing

the various ways they employ seamless

integration, paperless technology, and

the internet to save time and money.

you can check out testimonials at

cs.Thomsonreuters.com. select a

specific product from the products

drop-down menu, and click on the

videos & demos tab.

we’re still adding to our video library,

so not all products have testimonials

yet. new videos are coming soon.

read success stories and share your

own at cs.Thomsonreuters.com/

Testimonials.

dON’T TaKe OUr WOrd FOr IT

a built-in notification feature will alert users when subsidiary client data has changed subsequent to the consolidation so that data can be reconsolidated when necessary.

• A new spreadsheet import wizard that enables users to import employee earnings data from a spreadsheet file.

accounting cs will also gain a variety of engagement workflow capabilities in the spring of 2012, and will introduce new accounts receivable capabilities in the fall of 2012.

in the meantime, more information on accounting cs is available at cs.Thomsonreuters.com/accountingcs.

Z

You’ll be seeing little squares like this one more often in Solutions Magazine and CS Professional Suite ads. Known as Qr (“quick response”) Codes, they let you link to online content for more information by simply scanning the codes with your smartphone—no typing required!

If you have a Qr Code app (e.g., red Laser or Neoreader) installed on your phone now, scan the code above to be taken directly to the Solutions Magazine online content. If you don’t, check your app store; there are free Qr Code apps available.

LOOK FOr THe Qr COde

[ 6 ] SOLUTIONS [ISSue 2, 2011]

beHINd THe SCeNeS aT THOMSON reUTerS

this trailblazer knows mobile

InSIDe STorY

solutions: what appeals to you about being a developer?Josh sloat: my professional career has primarily been software development, and there’s never any monotony. every day presents new challenges. i love the fact that i can produce something that really contributes to people’s lives by making their work easier.

How did you get into developing mobile apps?i’ve always been focused on making the user experience a gratifying one, and i think apple really tapped into that with mobile devices. so i’ve had an eye on bringing this same experience to the business world. when i was presented with the opportunity to work on mobile cs, i replied, “can i start five minutes ago?”

it sounds like you’re passionate about your work.what’s not to love about getting paid to work with and develop for everyone’s favorite tech toys? i really appreciate the freedom my mobile device gives me, and there’s personal satisfaction in doing that for our users so they’re not chained to their desks. i joke that i’m making the world a better place one app at a time.

what’s next in development? we’re continually introducing more and more functionality. software’s not really released, it’s just allowed to escape. the development process is never done, so there are definitely new and exciting things on the horizon.

meeT JosH sloaT, lead mobile

device developer at Thomson

Reuters in Dexter, Mich. He’s been

with the company for eight years

and has helped develop a variety

of software products, including

building Mobile CS from the

ground up. Sloat describes

himself as a “full-time developer

and part-time wilderness

adventurer and photographer.”

OFF TO See THe WOrLd+adveNTure upgrade: sloat started backpacking in college and now takes what he calls “extreme back-country excursions.” his summer getaway this year? a 100-mile packrafting trip on the copper river in alaska, which runs through the country’s largest national park, wrangell-st. elias national park.

sHared views: “i experience parts of the world other people only ever get to read about,” says sloat. “so i use photography, another of my passions, to capture a piece of that and share it with others.”

check out his vacation album: see sloat’s pictures from alaska at CS.ThomsonReuters.com/ Community/Blogs.

Z

[ 7 ]CS.THOMSONreUTerS.COM

plenty of technology solutions promise to improve productivity. but how many providers can back that up with measurable results? well, thomson reuters can.

take the case of richard buller cpa services, llc, in Jennings, la. the 2011 CPA Practice Advisor productivity survey revealed an impressive increase at buller’s firm. “the previous time we took the survey, our productivity score was just over 200,” explains richard buller, cpa/pfs, cfa.

the firm’s 2011 score rocketed to 416 out of 600—significantly higher than its peer’s productivity score of 210 and its neighbor’s productivity score of 197. buller attributes the improved numbers to his firm’s adoption of cs professional suite products and services.

secreT To successbuller admits that it took some time and training to get everyone at the firm to embrace the new processes, but he believes it was worth the effort.

“integration helps our efficiency,” says buller. “we’re doing less clerical work because we only have to type things into the system once. that means we can spend time on more value-added work that matters to our clients. plus, cs professional suite makes it more efficient to communicate with our clients.”

the firm has enriched its service even more since implementing netclient cs to provide online client portals. buller says clients appreciate the convenience of accessing their information whenever they need it.

room To expaNdbuller’s company is now using the software as a service (saas) leasing model, which offers the integrated efficiency of cs professional suite in an online software delivery format. according to buller, the firm’s overall information technology (it) bill has decreased since implementing saas.

“you’re only paying for what you need when you need it, but i still have access to all the products,” he says. “and with saas pricing, as more profiles are added the discount increases.”

this is especially important to buller, who plans to expand his firm into neighboring states. with saas, the firm can complete a tax return for any state.

“everything we’ve implemented has led to not only increased service levels for our clients, but the ability to increase the number of services we offer,” notes buller. “and everyone comes out a winner, because it helps us improve our bottom line as well.”

In Your WorDS

Z

check it out:richard buller’s firm offers many

services thanks to the integration of the

cs professional suite. see for yourself at

rbcpas.com.

growing Stronghow integrated software helped one firm achieve significant growth.

[ 8 ] SOLUTIONS [ISSue 2, 2011]

when paul miller decided to go into business for himself about 18 years ago, he quickly discovered a shortage of advisors to help him. so he capitalized on the do-it-yourself spirit he learned from growing up on a dairy farm, and taught himself how to create a company.

since then, his edina, minn.-based firm has evolved into a company that provides exactly the kind of guidance he was looking for then. “our primary engagement is in business coaching and planning for small business owners,” says miller. “our secondary engagement is the tax planning piece.”

through his own experience getting his firm up and running, miller identified an opportunity to provide resources for small business entrepreneurs who need guidance in planning and running their operations. details such as incorporating or long-range tax planning aren’t something many small business owners have time for. and many businesses don’t know quite where to find the help they need.

“a lot of clients tell me their accountant just can’t answer all their business questions, but i defend the accountant by asking the client if they’ve ever paid their accountant for anything other than tax preparation,” says miller.

“when the client says ‘no,’ i explain that if you don’t engage in a different kind of relationship, you’re not going to get a different end result.”

self-made sTraTegiesthe word “different” is a good one to describe the approach business by design uses when serving clients.

“we’re not in the accounting business, we’re in the relationship business,” says miller. “i’ve never solicited tax work. we solicit an engagement for business planning, and then based on that relationship and the positive results we deliver, clients are going to come back and use other services like tax preparation.”

the firm currently works with about 600 small-business owners. each relationship starts with the firm assessing the client’s current business structure and needs, whether it’s setting up a corporation or a basic bookkeeping system.

miller uses the example of one new client who is a real estate agent. “based on her earnings and expenses, i can save her about $7,000 to $8,000 in taxes by understanding and maximizing her business structure compared to what she’d been doing before,” he explains.

Birth of a business model

The story of Paul Miller, president of business by design, Inc., proves that necessity truly is the mother of invention.

CS.THOMSONreUTerS.COM [ 9 ]

firm facTs

Z Basics: business by design, inc., was

established 15 years ago, after about three years of

developing its full-service approach. the firm employs

a staff of 12 and provides coaching and planning

services to small business entrepreneurs.

Z weBsiTe: biz-by-design.com

Z sofTware: the firm uses ultratax cs,

accounting cs, filecabinet cs, and practice cs.

it’s starting to implement netclient cs.

SOLUTIONS [ISSue 2, 2011][ 10 ]

in his words learn more

about paul miller’s fee-based billing model. listen to our interview with miller at cs.Thomsonreuters.com/community/ Blogs/solutions.

paul miller says growing up on a dairy farm instilled a do-it-yourself spirit in him. not only did he build his business from a concept into a career, he also enjoys working on his home and

landscaping. however, he spends most of his spare time with his wife and two young daughters.

“i waited until a little later in life to start a family, because i

really wanted to get my business established first,” says miller. “my family is important to me, so i wanted to be able to have my business running smoothly enough so i could be here for them.”

buildinG balance: miller’s home and career

“ “

a lot of firms miss out on the sales opportunity of reviewing the clients’ tax returns with them. Our firm builds value by showing a scorecard of the savings we generated for clients, which then gives us the chance to talk about other things we can do for them moving forward.

–Paul Miller

business by design approaches its clients’ needs from a business coaching and planning perspective. as miller notes, he’s less interested in preparing tax returns than he is in creating valuable relationships.

“before this real estate agent came to me, someone asked her why she would pay anyone to incorporate when she could do it herself,” he says. “it didn’t take long for her to see her time could be much better spent doing other things.”

BilliNg pracTicesbecause business by design doesn’t operate like a traditional tax and accounting firm, it doesn’t bill its clients the same way, either.

instead of billing by the hour, the firm uses a fee-based model. a typical engagement fee is between $4,000 and $6,000, which includes the initial planning and implementation of the agreed-upon strategies, as well as related services such as phone calls, meetings, and emails.

the firm’s approach is to continue building the client relationship from there, adding on other services for which it can charge a fixed fee. handling payroll or bookkeeping for a small business might run about $200 per month, and that generates additional revenue. the combination of the initial fee and additional services is the firm’s long-term profit model.

and it’s something clients appreciate, miller believes. “it’s a lot easier for the client if they never have to be concerned that the clock’s ticking the moment i walk into the room.”

what’s more, clients do see the difference, both in the level of service and the value. using the same real estate agent as an example, miller says she met with five or six other firms before coming to him. after their initial meeting, she told him no one had ever gone beyond the basics of accounting to discuss other aspects of running a profitable business, such as record-keeping and bookkeeping.

CS.THOMSONreUTerS.COM [ 11 ]

paul miller acknowledges that moving

to an entirely fee-based billing model

might seem intimidating to traditional

accounting firms—not to mention that

it takes effort to make the transition.

his advice? “you have to have a leap

of faith that you can go out and

generate fee-based income,” says

miller. “the trick is to get beyond the

mindset of everything being tied to

your time and production so you can

find a different outlet.”

he adds that some firms might

consider hiring someone to go

out and generate other kinds of

revenue, in order to transition to a

fee-based model.

fearless about

the fees

““

We’re not in the accounting business, we’re in the relationship business.

–Paul Miller

“clients like her may be paying us an up-front fee of $5,000, but when they realize that our comprehensive approach can save them $7,000 a year in taxes, it’s pretty easy to see the value,” miller explains.

opporTuNiTy KNocKsmiller has found additional value in his own business by operating as efficiently as possible. using thomson reuters products, particularly practice cs, is the “cornerstone” of the efficient integration of systems. it also helps the firm provide a consistent experience to clients.

“any time clients call, i want them to be able to get the same information no matter who they talk to,” miller explains. “it can be a challenge to get everyone doing the same thing, and that’s a huge advantage of practice cs.”

business by design also uses a combination of web-based technology and phone calls to communicate efficiently with clients. for example, the firm regularly reviews clients’ tax returns with them online, instead of in person. this way, they can discuss any open items and make necessary adjustments before the return is finalized—saving everyone time and effort.

“i handle about half my appointments by remote access right now,” says miller. “but even if a client isn’t coming into the office, i still have an opportunity to cement that relationship by showing them what we saved them on their taxes through good planning.”

[ 12 ] SOLUTIONS [ISSue 2, 2011]

when google+ was launched, a joke circulated on

Twitter that it would be more newsworthy if a day

went by without the introduction of another social

media platform.

in all seriousness, new platforms aren’t unveiled every

day. but the continued development of new online

spaces like google+ does highlight the ongoing—and

still growing—significance that social media plays.

facebook, twitter, linkedin, and google+ are the most

prominent players in the social media universe right

now. in addition to networking opportunities, they give

people the chance to connect at both the personal and

professional level.

this is as true in the tax and accounting industry as it

is anywhere else. “more and more firms are starting to

become engaged with the different social media

tools,” says bryan hoeft, director of marketing for

thomson reuters. “as they start to explore what’s

out there, best practices are emerging.”

one best practice hoeft recommends is viewing social

media as a single ingredient in an overall marketing

strategy. consider all possible communication

channels—from billboards and newspaper ads to

email and twitter—and determine what mix of media

will reach your target audience most effectively.

iT BegiNs wiTH “Hello”

to get started in social media, firms can create

corporate profiles, just as thomson reuters has done

on facebook and twitter with cs professional suite.

there’s also a thomson reuters profile and

cs professional suite user group on linkedin (see

when it comes to the online network, you can’t afford to fall behind.

Put Yourself ahead of the Pack

now firmly established as a business-oriented social networking space, linkedin is a smart place for any professional or firm to be.

“being on linkedin is a great way for accountants to interact with other professionals, a lot like the old word-of-mouth referral system,” says bryan hoeft, director of marketing for thomson reuters.

linkedin includes Q&a functionality that lets users ask and answer questions in an open format. according to hoeft, participating in relevant discussions helps accountants build credibility and visibility.

in addition to its corporate profile, thomson reuters has created a cs professional suite user group. once they join the group, users

can interact with each other on a variety of topics.

“we think the linkedin group is a great complement to our private arne community” says hoeft. “it gives our users another way to engage with each other.”

a closer look:

liNKediN

CS.THOMSONreUTerS.COM [ 13 ]

sidebar below). staff at tax and accounting

firms might wish to create their own individual

profiles, too, so they can engage with clients

and prospects on an even more personal—and

still professional—level.

maKe iT meaNiNgful

the key, says hoeft, is to deliver value in every

posting or tweet. a firm must engage in a

conversation. social media is not a one-way

broadcast tool; it’s a chance to collaborate

and converse with prospects and clients.

“it subtly brings about awareness for your brand

and promoting yourself,” says hoeft. “if you

share information people need, such as changes

in tax law, they’re going to notice that—and may

think of you the next time they need accounting

services, because you’re top of mind and have

established credibility with them.”

hoeft adds that managing multiple platforms

is time-consuming, and suggests that firms

start with just one or two unless they can

devote someone to a social media role. he

also recommends promoting any social media

presence on other mediums, such as the firm’s

website or business cards.

last but not least, firms should bear in mind

that there’s as much to learn from social

media as there is to share. “i follow a variety

of accountants and tax professionals on

twitter,” says hoeft. “it’s a great way to get a

quick pulse of the industry and find out what

clients think is important.”

Put Yourself ahead of the Pack

learn more social media best practices from web marketing expert bryan hoeft at the 2011 users’ conference, where he’ll be presenting two workshops, basic social media smarts and advanced social media smarts. register for the event and view all the available workshops at cs.Thomsonreuters.com/uc.

back to school with mr. hoeft

click, lisTen & learn what makes social

media valuable for accounting professionals? director of marketing for thomson reuters bryan hoeft explains in a podcast at cs.Thomsonreuters.com/community/Blogs/solutions.

TIPS & TaCTICS

[ 14 ]

learn more

check out more tips for streamlining your work at cs.Thomsonreuters.

com/Tips.

SOLUTIONS [ISSue 2, 2011]

work smarter, Not Hardertake note of these tricks to help you get more from your software.

accouNTiNg csQ: what options should i select in accounting cs to match the report output i had in cs professional suite accounting (csa)? a: two pdf guides available from the program’s help topics outline how you can select report options in accounting cs to closely mimic csa reports. • accounting cs: report options comparison with

write-up cs and Trial Balance cs• accounting cs: payroll report options

comparison with payroll csto open these guides in adobe® reader®, search on pdf guides from the index in the accounting cs help browser and click the special topic guides link.

Q: how can i add a beginning balance column in the enter trial balance screen?a: complete the following steps:1. click the view maintenance link in the upper-right

corner of the screen.2. select the view you want to change and click the

edit button.3. click the copy column button to add a new column,

which you can then modify. 4. highlight the new column and then select amount

as the column type and Beginning Balance as the amount type, and then specify the year.

5. click the arrow buttons to change the column order as needed.

Trial BalaNce csQ: when i use the “account balances only” option for a consolidation client, what are my options for consolidation?a: when the account balances only checkbox is marked for the consolidation client (on the general information tab of the client properties dialog), you can specify that the grouping type for the consolidated chart of accounts be based on your selection from just one of the following options:• account number• any one of the grouping schedules• tax code

eNgagemeNT csQ: does engagement cs support the 64-bit version of microsoft office 2010?a: all cs professional suite applications that integrate with office applications are supported on the 32-bit version of office 2010. however, due to compatibility issues with existing 32-bit applications and add-ins, we do not support the 64-bit version of office 2010 at this time.

filecaBiNeT csQ: we’re considering moving our firm’s filecabinet cs data to an sQl database so we can take advantage of the format’s performance and reliability. what should we know beforehand?a: before you make any major decisions about moving your data to an sQl database, we suggest that you review knowledgebase case K15552837, filecabinet cs data file format alternatives (standard vs. sQl). this article provides discussion points for you and your trusted network technician, as well as a link to information about converting your data if you decide the sQl format is right for you.

pracTice cs Q: i lost track of my timers. how can i find them?a: in the firm dashboard, add the staff active Timers portlet, which shows all active running timers (both running desktop timers and running timers in time & expense entry). staff members who have security privileges to enter time and expenses for themselves and for other staff members, and privileges to edit prior period entries (if the running timer is in a prior period), can stop a timer by right-clicking and choosing stop Timer from the context menu. you can also select a staff filter from the drop-down list to narrow the list of timers displayed in the portlet.

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ulTraTax csQ: if i’ve filed a 1040 return electronically and the irs has already accepted it, can i make changes to the return and resubmit it to the irs?a: once the irs accepts an electronic return, you cannot submit the return again. instead, you must file an amended return on paper.

Q: i’m preparing a 1065 return, and the following items are not being completed: form 1065, total assets; schedules l, m-1, and m-2; the schedule k-1 capital account analysis; and the analysis of partner’s k-1, current year (decrease) worksheet. why aren’t these items completed? a: whether these items are completed is determined by your answer to form 1065p3, schedule b, Question 6. • If you entered 1 in the meet all requirements for

Question 6? field in screen othinfo, none of these items will be completed.

• If you entered 2 or 3 in this field, all of these items will be completed.

• If you entered 4 in this field, only the schedule k-1’s capital account analysis and the analysis of partner’s k-1, current year (decrease) worksheet will be completed.

gosysTem Tax rsQ: can i suppress the detail for a specific schedule k-1 line on form 1065, and then print the partner footnote detail for that line?a: no. when you suppress the detail for a specific line on schedule k-1, gosystem tax rs automatically suppresses the footnote detail for that line.

Q: how can i print form 709 instead of printing only the extension?a: do one of the following:• Choose file > preview entire return and clear the

extension checkbox in the print dialog.• Navigate to the organizer > extensions > 8892

extension information screen and select form 8892 computed amounts with entire return from the drop-down list in the print options section.

fixed asseTs csQ: how can i create a customized report in fixed assets cs?a: complete the following steps.1. choose setup > custom reports.2. click add, enter a description for the new report, select

a template (if desired), and then click continue.3. select the columns you want to include in the report.

to view the types of columns that are available, select general or a treatment from the select category drop-down list. to create a custom column, click the add calculated column button.

4. when you are finished adding and arranging columns, click continue.

5. select the presentation options you want to use for this report, and then click oK.

6. click done.

weB Builder csQ: how do i get my new website to show up in search engine results?a: because search engines such as google constantly crawl the web looking for new sites and updated content, your website will eventually be listed in search engine results. but why wait? take control and let google know about your website today with information-rich content and a sitemap. learn more in Knowledgebase case K42306854.

NeTclieNT csQ: how can i find out whether adding a module to a portal will result in additional billing charges? a: if you’ve enabled next-generation features in utilities > settings > Nextgen for your firm’s netstaff cs portals, log in to your portal and click the administration ng button near the upper-right corner of the window. then, select a netclient cs user in the users list to view his or her permissions. in the permissions section on the right, some modules are listed in green text and are preceded by a ($) symbol, which means that they are billable modules. if you enable any of these modules, we will immediately begin charging your firm. to view pricing information, click the help button in netfirm cs administration and open any help topic, click the search button in the help browser window, and search on pricing information.

featured solutions in this issue

accounTinG

accounting cs

engagement cs

trial balance cs

documenT manaGemenT

filecabinet cs

firm & workflow manaGemenT

practice cs

TaX

ultratax cs

gosystem tax rs

fixed assets cs

websiTe desiGn

web builder cs

clienT porTals

netclient cs

PRSRT STDU.S. Postage

PAIDThomson Reuters7322 Newman boulevard

dexter, MI 48130cs.Thomsonreuters.com

tl 24065

the 2011 thomson reuters users’ conference

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friday night event is an excellent opportunity

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an evening at mcas miramarFriday, November 4, 6:30 – 10:30 p.m.

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