June/July 2015 • www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com 3
WEB EXCLUSIVES
VOLUME 25, NUMBER 5
CONTENTS
Check out our Online Product & Service Guide
www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com/directory
A Post-Busy Season HR Checklist
for Accounting & Tax Firms
www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com/12078072
COVER STORY
8 Awards Spotlight Innovations in Tax &
Accounting Technologies
By Isaac M. O'Bannon, Managing Editor
COLUMNS
4 From the Editor: You Can Be the Accounting
Firm of the Future
By Gail Perry, CPA, Editor-in-Chief
5 From the Trenches: Accounting Software
Choices for Accounting Firms & Their Clients
By Randy Johnston
34 Bridging the Gap: Is Your Firm Ready for
Automation?
By Jim Boomer, CPA.CITP, CGM A
FEATURES
13 The ProAdvisor Spotlight:
The Future is Here … Now
18 Apps We Love: Small Business
By Gail Perry, CPA, Editor-in-Chief
22 Product & Service Guide
25 Four Growth Benchmarks Every
Accounting Firm Should Use
By Maureen Schwartz
26 Labor Law Ruling Means It's Time to
Revisit Employee Handbooks
By Richard D. Alaniz, JD
28 A Year in the Life of a SALT Accountant:
Online Sellers Face Sales Tax Complications
By Ken Berry, JD
2015 PRODUCT REVIEWS
14 Small Business Accounting Systems
By Mary Girsch-Bock
20 Sales & Use Tax Compliance Programs
By Mary Girsch-Bock
26
29 New Information and Tools for SALT
Accountants
By Gail Perry, CPA, Editor-in-Chief
30 Great Practices: How an Accountant Went
From Bean Sales to Progressive & Successful
'Bean Counter'
By Kristy Short, Ed.D
32 A Year in the Life of a Payroll
Accountant: Where's Your Business Plan?
By Taija Jenkins, Assistant Editor
33 On-Demand Services and the Ongoing
Employee vs. Independent Contractor
Debate
By Taija Jenkins, Assistant Editor
30
32
8