Financial fraud can cause you to lose all of your hard-earned savings. Understanding how to preserve your savings and assets is essential to intelligent financial management. Have you ever thought about how many types of financial fraud are there? Writing forged checks is a typical kind of financial fraud. And some varieties entail more intricate methods of financial deception. Other cases involve investment fraud. Whatever sort of fraud you encounter can potentially turn your money upside down. However, with proper planning and knowledge, you can avoid being a victim of financial swindlers.
Keep the following easy tips in mind to lower your chances of financial fraud:
Keep an Eye on All Your Investments
Many people work with stockbrokers or financial counselors. It is critical to verify all of your investment assets independently. Do not depend solely on the financial statements provided by your financial advisor.
Keep Your Personal Information Safe
Your user IDs, passwords, and PINs control the fate of your finances. This information enables you to obtain funds and assets from your banks and investments. Maintain the confidentiality and security of all such information, and update your passwords and PINs regularly. Keep your data safe from unknown individuals. Your financial institutions, such as banks, brokerages, and the police, would never contact you to obtain your passwords and PINs.
Be Cautious While Making Online Payments
The most common type of fraud is identity theft. Someone may contact you claiming to be an institution that works for you or represents a financial business or the government to obtain funds. Fraudsters may attempt to contact you via phone, email, or text message. Please don’t rely on caller ID on your phone since scammers can utilize technology to make their calls appear from respectable businesses or organizations.
Verify their identity, especially if they ask for your personal information or ask you to part with money. Contact the relevant institution to verify someone’s legitimacy.
Be Aware of the Scams Requesting Your Personal Information
No legitimate organization will ever ask for your social security number, PIN, or bank account information in an email. Only share this data on secured websites. A well-known URL, such as www.paypal.com or www.amazon.com, should be used for such a site. It is most likely a hoax if you are unfamiliar with the website.
Use High-End Security Passwords
The days of using 12345 as your password are long gone. Hackers easily crack passwords that are basic number combinations or your pet’s name. Make a password with upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols at least eight characters long.
Don’t get Attracted to High Investment Returns
The promise of a significant return on investment is frequently too good to be true. In most investment fraud cases, the perpetrators rely on the avarice of investors drawn in by aggressive and quick profits. Investment scams involving pyramid and Ponzi schemes, unregistered investments, promissory notes, commodities, and other similar scams frequently use large profits to entice you to make poor judgments.
Know who you’re working with and only invest with regulated intermediaries like banks, brokerages, and financial advisers.
Establish Internal Controls in Your Organization
These include plans, procedures, paperwork, and responsibilities inside a corporation to deter financial fraud. The goal of these components is to detect discrepancies in records and collections. Continuously analyzing and adapting the activities above is also beneficial to guarantee that a company is on the right track while combating fraud.
Examine All of Your Accounts and Passwords
Ensure vigilance over all of your financial accounts and credit cards. Check your statements regularly and ensure you recognize all the transactions on them. And, despite what may appear to be common sense, keep your passwords confidential and complex. Also, don’t use the same password for many accounts.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
With the onset of COVID-19, the global economy has been struggling to keep up. Businesses are crashing, and the market is shutting down due to the losses incurred within the companies. A global economic crash, of course, also equates to a collapse for everyone else.
Now that things have started resurfacing again, the government has noted how the country needs to get back up on its feet, and that is only possible if they can get the businesses up and running.
For this purpose, the government set aside different funds to pay those who are well-deserving. These funds are like loans but don’t require business owners to make payments back to the government. The government creates these programs for the sole purpose of getting businesses back up.
Such a fund is the CARES Act EIDL.
What is the CARES Act EIDL?
CARES Act stands for The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The design of this program is to cater to the damages incurred in the wake of the pandemic.
Once the government announced the aid, people were encouraged to send in applications and state why they were deserving of the funds, which business owners can use for anything, from clearing out payrolls to paying for the damages.
EIDL stands for Economic Injury Disaster Loans. This loan is a subdivision of the CARES Act primarily developed to help people recover from all their losses during this pandemic.
The grant provides $1,000 to $10,000 in funding based on individual needs after the government assesses how much a company, business, or organization would require to recover from the loss.
Difference Between PPP Loan and EIDL Loan
The EIDL may sound familiar to those who are already aware of the PPP loan. The PPP loan (Paycheck Protection Program) is a program in the Small Businesses Act (SBA) that provides funding to small businesses during economic crises or when they generally lack funds.
Similarly, the EIDL is a $10,000 loan; small business owners can apply for an EIDL loan to reconstruct their businesses.
The significant difference between the loans is the PPP loan has to be repaid to the government once the business stabilizes. Business owners use PPP funds to get the company back on its feet until they generate enough revenue to repay the government with some interest.
On the other hand, the EIDL doesn’t have to repay. It is solely to help businesses.
Both the loans are a part of the CARES Act.
What You Should Know
A few things need to be kept in mind before you start thinking about getting these loans.
PPP And EIDL simultaneously?
Some people may wonder whether they can receive both funds if they feel the need. The answer is yes; you can be awarded both funds. But there is a prerequisite for this.
If you think you need both loans and that your business would collapse, you could apply for both, but you cannot use both for the same purpose. You must identify two different areas in your business that would need funding.
If not, you are likely to receive only one of the funds.
Taxable or not?
There hasn’t been a lot of conversation regarding this topic. People are still unsure whether or not the revenue generated through the grant is taxable.
The most common idea is that the revenue is likely to be tax-free. However, more needs to be done to clarify this topic so people are aware of whether it is taxable.
Can I apply now?
The applications are closed, as many businesses have already asked for these grants.
There is no timeline for people to judge when they can apply for the grant but expect it back soon.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
If you’re looking for a QuickBooks Online alternative, you should first figure out what you need that QuickBooks Online doesn’t provide.
Is the user interface bothering you? Is it possible that the functionality you’re looking for isn’t available? Are you seeking a less expensive product or one that integrates better with your other programs?
Whatever your motivation for looking for alternatives, there are a few points to consider when looking for a QuickBooks Online substitute.
Let’s discuss top accounting software that could be a replacement for QuickBooks.
Deskera
Deskera is a Singapore-based business tool that seeks to cover everything a small business needs to flourish, from numbers (accounting, finances, inventory) to people (CRM, payroll, HR) and everything in between. Of course, no single software package can accomplish everything, but Deskera’s Books app—which contains accounting, banking, inventories, and more—can be used as a QuickBooks substitute.
FreshBooks
FreshBooks is for you if you’re a sole proprietor or freelancer who’s bored of tracking business activity with a spreadsheet.
FreshBooks is simple to set up and use, and you can be up and running in minutes. It is best suited for individual proprietors and freelancers. FreshBooks has a self-employed plan and a team plan for multi-user small businesses. FreshBooks also has a user-friendly interface that will make even the most inexperienced computer users feel at ease.
Wave Accounting
Wave Accounting may be the appropriate fit for you if you’re on a small budget but yet need an online accounting application with double-entry accounting capabilities.
Wave Accounting is free cloud-based accounting software, the best accounting software alternative for QuickBooks and your business.
Wave Accounting is excellent for freelancers and sole proprietors. It effortlessly provides all the accounting functions a small business needs, such as double-entry accounting, sales, purchases, banking, and decent reporting.
Sage 50cloud Accounting
Sage 50cloud Accounting is a hybrid solution that combines the dependability of a desktop application with the convenience of remote access.
For more tech-savvy people, Sage 50cloud Accounting is better for small and developing organizations. It comes in three different plans, the range of which can accommodate up to 40 users.
They provide a comprehensive range of services for small enterprises, including excellent customer management, sales tracking, purchase orders, and an inventory management module.
Patriot Accounting
Patriot Accounting, established in Ohio, has been in the accounting software market for over three decades. They seek to support small businesses and provide payroll services and software. Patriot’s payroll feature has two options:
A primarily self-service option ($10/month + $4 per employee/contractor) that allows businesses to run their payroll using Patriot’s accounting software but self-manage their tax payments
A full-service option ($30/month + $4 per employee/contractor) enables Patriot to handle all payroll and tax duties.
Both choices provide payroll setup and support and integration with Patriot or QuickBooks accounting software.
AccountEdge Pro
AccountEdge Pro is a sophisticated accounting tool developed for tech-savvy business owners. It is a desktop application with many capabilities, making it ideal for small—to mid-sized enterprises and expanding businesses.
AccountEdge Pro includes complete account administration, banking, sales, time billing, inventory, and purchasing.
The application includes payroll functionality, with both self-service and full-service payroll options. AccountEdge Pro also has standard features in other small business accounting programs, such as a customer portal and online payment taking. However, an automatic bank feed is not currently available.
Kashoo
Kashoo 2.0 has a newly redesigned user interface that looks brand new. It retains the previous version’s capabilities, including bill payment, contacts, accounts, and taxes, but they’ve updated everything.
Kashoo has a simple setup process allows you to rapidly set up your business, add any tax details, such as sales tax information, and connect your bank accounts. After you set up your accounts, you can view imported transactions in the new Inbox feature, which acts as a central repository for viewing current bank transactions imported from your connected accounts.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
The forex market is the world’s largest financial market, attracting thousands of investors worldwide. It includes trading between multinational companies, governments, banks, and other financial institutions. The market has been quite an area of interest for investors lately. Its excellent liquidity and long trading hours allow transactions to be varied, making it profitable for investors.
What is Forex?
Forex, better known as foreign exchange, is a distributed global market where the world’s currencies trade. It is the most liquid and largest market globally, with average daily trading exceeding $5 trillion.
If you have ever traveled overseas, you must have done a forex transaction. If you take a trip to France, you convert your dollars into euros. When this action is performed, the foreign exchange rate between the currencies regulates how many euros you get for those dollars. Plus, the exchange rate fluctuates continuously.
Making a Trade
Forex trades involve two currencies since you are betting on the value of one currency against the other. If you see a price quoted on your platform, it is the price of one euro in dollars. You will always see two prices: one is the “sell,” and the other is the “buy.”
The difference between them is the spread. Click sell or buy, and you are selling or buying the currency in the pair.
Here are some tips that can help you become a successful trader:
Mastering any discipline requires dedication, desire, and aptitude. And to become a winning forex trader is no different.
Be aware while trading and keep an open mind, as pip values are always in a state of flux. Try to opt for rational and reasonable trades instead of being ambitious. Look for the most appropriate moments to sell off a pair until the most profitable price is reached for that pair.
If you are a first-time Forex trader, it can be best to stay away from margin trading, though trading amounts more significant than your deposits may persuade the greed factor and hamper your investment.
Always use software to support your decision to make the most money. Such software can help produce thousands of extra dollars every month.
Like every other task in the world, there is always risk involved in Forex trading. We may say it is a little more than other financial investment options since there’s no controlling figure or a centralized trading system that guarantees returns.
Establishing good habits regarding reward vs. risk, timing, and leverage is an excellent way to enhance your performance.
Let’s look at the tips that every trader should consider before trading currency pairs.
Know the market
Take some time to study currency pairs yourself and what affects them before your investment. It could save you the right amount of money.
Practice
Creating a trading plan may be critical but essential for successful trading. It must include your risk tolerance level, profit goals, methodology, and evaluation criteria. Be sure that the trade you consider falls within your plan’s parameters with a plan in place.
Know your limits
It may sound simple, but that’s all it is. It is critical to your future success. It includes knowing how much you are willing to risk on every trade, maintaining your ratio according to your needs, and never risking more than you can afford to lose.
Keep it slow and steady
Another key to trading is consistency. All traders lose money and will continue to do so, but if you maintain a decisive edge, you can have a better chance of reaching the top. Educating yourself and creating a plan is good, but remember, the real test is sticking to the program through discipline and patience.
Remember, do not be afraid to explore; it is true that consistency is essential, but you may experience a re-evaluation of the whole trading plan. Choose the right trading partner, and the quality of customer service can make a difference in your trading experience.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
It’s barely noticeable venture costs during positively trending markets, particularly if you’re bringing in cash. Despite this, the accumulation of such costs can truly add up over time, and not in a positive way. Bringing down your costs by just 1% can immensely affect the exhibition of your venture portfolio over the long haul. Suppose you’re acquiring an average of 10% every year on your portfolio yet paying 2% in venture charges of different kinds. That will leave you with a net pace of return of 8%. If your portfolio is $100,000, it will develop to $466,097 in the following 20 years.
If you can reduce your yearly speculation cost to 1%, your triumphant net return will rise to 9%. If your portfolio is $100,000, in the following 20 years, it will grow to $560,440. That is a distinction of generally $94,000, and it is earned essentially by reducing your venture costs by 1%.
It is necessary to understand that, after buying the property, the return will not come automatically. It will be essential to make an active and conscious effort to obtain the appropriate profitability and administration for this type of investment. In this sense, the most important tips are:
Consider Joining Efforts
Are you a beginner investor? If so, you will likely have only one or two real estate. Although this already ensures good profitability, you can lose good opportunities by not having enough capital to make commercial proposals in general. Knowing this, consider joining forces with other investors! When you join people who also own real estate and are smaller investors, relevancy in the market grows. For example, it becomes possible to use individual assets to make more practical proposals.
Keep Control Over Finances
As the money from the property comes in, you must keep a tight grip on the moves. For example, in the case of rent, you must record the payments, including the amount received, the date, and other data related to that transaction. At the same time, it may seem redundant initially, but as you buy more real estate, care becomes indispensable to maintaining proper income control.
Always Keep an Eye on the Market
It is indispensable to prepare to take advantage of the opportunities that arise. For example, if you buy a property with valuation potential, you need to keep an eye on the market to understand when it becomes more valued. If you fail to keep up with the demand, you will probably lose excellent chances of making your investment pay off as it should and adjusting values according to context. So, never stop studying and delving into the market to stand out from other investors and ensure their place in the sun.
Consider Delegating to a Real Estate Agent
Depending on the time available and your market knowledge, delegating the management task to real estate may be the best option for your investment – especially if you are focused on leasing. With established market experience and contacts, the real estate company ensures that the administration is done more conveniently and advantageously for you. Just keep in mind that this delegation includes the payment of a fee relating to the rent amount and, therefore, will affect the profitability of the investment.
As you can see, investing in real estate is an option for anyone looking for advantages, even in times of instability. Incidentally, depending on the form of payment, this investment can be even more profitable and less impactful on the budget—that’s where the consortium comes in! Be that as it may, the truth is that real estate is a sound investment, and it presents security and profitability if you know where to allocate your resources.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Going through the plethora of potential investment products one might want to invest in can be intimidating. However, a person doesn’t have to do it all on their own. There are two most common/ feasible ways a person can invest. Either a person can choose to help an experienced financial advisor who will guide them through their investment processes, or they can ditch the “middle-man” and choose the “DIY” investment method. Both approaches have their good and bad sides:
Seeking Financial Advice
There are a few things to look for while seeking help from a professional financial advisor. One way to do it is to use a bank. However, the issue with this method is that it will only offer products from one specific financial institution. For some people, there is a possibility that this may not be the best they can get on the market. There may be better offers that they will probably miss if they choose to use this method. The second way is to use a proficient financial advisor. A person can decide to go with an independent financial advisor who will investigate the whole market or any specific restricted area, searching for a particular variety of products.
Independent Financial Advisors will analyze their client’s entire financial situation from top to bottom. Based on their situation, suggest an appropriate financial strategy and then search the whole market for the best financial products to fit their client’s needs. These independent financial advisors can also help their clients with their pension-related issues, provide investment advice regarding buying and selling, and manage their money proficiently. According to a 2012 law, independent financial advisors cannot take a commission on any new advice. As an alternative, now they must charge a reasonable fee. Financial advisors can charge their clients based on both hourly / the proportion of their assets. Some of these advisors won’t charge a penny for a simple consultation. However, some may have a fee for that as well. Some advisors even have a minimum sum that a client must first submit before considering giving them a consultation. Remember, a client must clarify an advisory fee before asking them for advice.
Do It Yourself “DIY” Investment Method
If a person is confident enough to make intelligent investments, they first need a computer or even a smartphone that will work for applying the DIY investing method. Such investment platforms often offer access to money and share tools to aid their clients in choosing the best product possible for them to invest in. However, these tools can’t offer final advice. They will provide proper guidance based on which a person has to decide. A person must pick them on holdings and ensure they aren’t too risky and appropriately balanced to avoid as much risk as possible.
Many of these platforms also provide risk-profiling tools to help their clients. These tools are great at collecting data, analyzing their investing style, and helping them make better decisions regarding investing. A person can also get investment ideas from a platform such as Hargreaves Lansdown that offers fund ratings. A few of these platforms also provide pre-prepared portfolios based on a person’s level of risk/goals, which will help them make better selections regarding stocks and funds. However, these platforms charge a certain amount of fees for their services. These guidance platforms perform differently and have different ways to analyze, and some are better at stock and shares, while others may be better for pure fund investing. Every forum must be regulated by a professional financial conduct authority, which allows a person to complain to their “financial ombudsman service” regarding any possible issues.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Directors can assess different capital speculation options after deciding on income and capital expenses. The most frequently utilized procedure for assessing speculation options is the NPV (net present value) strategy. Varieties of this procedure incorporate the benefits list and the IRR (internal rate of return).
A significant bit of leeway of the profitability index is acknowledged when conditions keep you from undertaking every single gainful investment. In these circumstances, you utilize the profitability index first to classify projects launching ventures with the most impressive benefit list.
You’re assessing a capital speculation venture that produces income in the following three years. Net revenues are $1 million in the current year, $4 million in the subsequent year, and $3 million in the third and last year. The capital venture’s underlying speculation is $6 million, and there is no rescue incentive toward the end. Lastly, the capital expense is 10 percent.
The company’s investment project choice usually involves opportunities with a wide range of potential outcomes. This article explains the most used methods for evaluating an investment project’s recovery time and profitability.
These methods will give you tools to compare several projects or options. Although they are models with limitations, advantages, and disadvantages, they help you make better decisions.
Once you identify a certain number of projects with investment possibilities, it is necessary to calculate their value. Methods to do this often include calculating the net present value, the internal rate of return, the recovery period method, and the rate of return.
The first step is to estimate the cash flows for each project. There are three main categories of cash flows:
The initial investment
Annual operating cash flows (which last the life of the project)
The project exit cash flows
Once the cash flows are determined, it is necessary to choose a valuation method. Here are some of them.
Net Present Value. The Net Present Value (NPV) is the difference between the market value of an investment and its cost. Essentially, the VPN measures how much value is created or added by carrying out some investment. Only investment projects with a positive NPV for investment.
Internal Rate of Return. The Internal Rate of Return (IRR) is the alternative to the most common NPV. With the IRR, we try to find a single performance rate for the project (the R (r)) in the NPV equation. This rate is based solely on the project’s cash flows and not on external rates (or required by the company).
If the investment exceeds the required yield, you must consider the investment opportunity. Otherwise, reject it immediately.
The IRR is the performance required for calculating the NPV with that rate at zero. There is no mathematical approach to calculating IRR. The only way to find it is through trial and error.
Recovery period method. The recovery period method determines the time it takes to receive the initial investment back. In the simplest sense, the recovery period is like the amount of time needed to reach the equilibrium point, which is when you do not win or lose.
Profitability Index. Another method used to evaluate an investment project quickly is by calculating its Profitability Index (IR) or its benefit/cost ratio:
In most cases, if the IR is more significant than 1, the VPN is positive; if it is less than 1, the NPV is negative. The IR measures the value created by invested weight. In other words, if we have a project with an IR of 1.50, then with each peso invested, we get $ 1.50 as a result (a gain of $ 0.50).
Now, what method is best to use? Most investors, especially in the corporate and financial world, will say that the VPN is the most reliable measure of whether a project is a good investment.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Is there an ideal number? What should be considered when determining subordinates’ work, and how much consideration each requires?
It is imperative to comprehend the range of control and hierarchical structure while depicting an association. The length of control alludes to the number of subordinates under the chief’s immediate control. For instance, a manager with five direct reports has a range of power of five. Too much or barely any information is a decent method to see how efficient an association is. The interview length took a gander at the company’s authoritative structure.
Is there an ideal number? What considers the work that subordinates perform, and how much consideration each requires? For instance, the control range can be more than one hundred in a call center. At the same time, chief capacities – with high degrees of cooperation and communication – could profitably endure close to three or four. So, the idea of performing the work and how much consideration it requires ought to administer the staff task to a director, not an ideal industry objective.
In an organization, the span of control means the structure or shape of management.
A hierarchy is followed, relying on either a tall, narrow span of control or a wide, flat one.
Tall-Narrow: In this kind of structure, every supervisor has a few subordinates who provide straightforward details to him. Subsequently, numerous board layers are in a vast association, from the top to the supervisor level. The span of control is narrow, and the state of the association structure is tall due to the numerous layers of the executives.
Wide-Flat: In this kind of structure, every director has subordinates revealing directly to him. Thus, even in a vast association, just a couple of executives’ layers start from the top to the supervisor level. The span of control is comprehensive, and the state of the association structure is level due to the modest number of executive levels.
Characteristics of Tall-Narrow
The relationship between the manager and the subordinate is formal. Assistants keep a distance from their managers when discussing personal things.
Managers’ jobs involve close supervision. They monitor employees’ activities and do not allow them the freedom to make their own work decisions.
Specialization exists in such an organizational structure where every position and level expect to specialize in that job position.
Slow dissemination of information exists where the report takes time to travel from the top to the bottom of the hierarchy. Therefore, the main disadvantage of a structure is the flow of communication and its delays in making decisions.
Characteristics of Wide-Flat Organizational Structure
The features that involved a wide-flat organizational structure are:
Equality prevails in this structure, where managers and subordinates work side by side. They also have informal forms of communication and relationships.
Teamwork exists in this form. There is no close supervision of the manager upon subordinates—freedom to make decisions and work at their pace finishes in such an organization.
Flexibility: The demand for the work changes. Therefore, the individuals in this organization will not be forced to perform one specific job for the rest of their lives. They are allowed to switch the nature of their work according to the heart of the work.
The decision-making is faster in this organization as the managers and subordinates are close to one another. The decision-making process is quicker and more effective.
Which is Better?
The wide-flat organizational system is better considering the flow of information and the cost-saving advantage; the flow of information is fast, saving time in the decision-making process; hence, the cost savings. It is necessary to keep everything in a structure. In a business organization, Structure proves its worth when making decisions daily. Difficulties arise when the levels in the system create problems for the departments.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Unlocking Payroll Accounts: Key Advantages for Your Business
Benefits of payroll accounts include streamlined payment processing, enhanced compliance management, improved financial control, and increased employee satisfaction through reliable, transparent compensation systems. These dedicated business bank accounts segregate payroll funds from operating capital, creating clear financial boundaries that protect both employer and employee interests while simplifying tax obligations and reducing costly errors.
Over my 20 years as CEO of Complete Controller, I’ve witnessed countless businesses transform their operations simply by opening dedicated payroll accounts. From chaotic spreadsheets and missed tax deadlines to smooth, automated systems that practically run themselves—the difference is remarkable. This guide reveals the concrete advantages you’ll gain, including how to slash processing time by 90%, avoid the $845 average IRS penalty, and why 50% of employees consider leaving after just two payroll mistakes.
What are the benefits of payroll accounts?
Core benefits: Accurate payments, regulatory compliance, organized recordkeeping, enhanced employee trust, and fraud prevention
Accurate payments eliminate the $291 average cost per payroll error while building workforce confidence
Regulatory compliance becomes automatic through segregated tax funds and clear audit trails
Organized recordkeeping transforms monthly reconciliation from days to hours
Enhanced employee trust develops through consistent, transparent payment processes that reduce turnover by addressing the #1 workplace complaint
How Payroll Accounts Transform Business Operations
Payroll accounts fundamentally change how businesses handle their most critical expense—employee compensation. These specialized bank accounts exist solely for wages, taxes, and related costs, creating an organized system that prevents the chaos of mixed funds.
The mechanics are straightforward. You fund the account before each pay period with the exact amount needed for salaries, taxes, and deductions. Your payroll software connects directly to this account, automating disbursements while maintaining complete separation from your operating funds. This segregation prevents accidental spending of payroll funds—a surprisingly common problem that leads to bounced paychecks and IRS penalties.
The critical difference between account types
Unlike general business accounts that handle everything from inventory purchases to utility bills, payroll accounts serve one purpose. This laser focus creates powerful advantages:
Payroll accounts process only compensation-related transactions, making reconciliation simple and audit-proof
General accounts manage all other business expenses, keeping operational costs clearly separated
Zero commingling means you’ll never accidentally use tax withholdings for inventory or miss payroll because you paid vendors first
Clear cash flow visibility shows exactly what you owe employees and tax authorities at any moment
Accuracy, Security, and Compliance Benefits
Payroll errors cost businesses an average of $291 per mistake, with companies experiencing a 1.2% error rate each pay period. For a 100-employee business, that translates to potential annual costs exceeding $41,000 just fixing mistakes—before considering the devastating impact on employee morale.
Dedicated payroll accounts eliminate most common errors through systematic organization. Each transaction exists in isolation, making mistakes immediately visible during reconciliation. Manual calculations disappear when your payroll software connects directly to the dedicated account, removing human error from the equation.
Data security through isolation
Payroll fraud affects 9% of businesses, with a median loss of $45,000 per incident. Segregated payroll accounts create natural barriers against fraud:
Limited access controls restrict who can initiate transactions
Clear audit trails document every penny moving through the account
Automated flags alert you to unusual activity or ghost employees
Two-factor authentication adds security layers that general accounts often lack
Achieving bulletproof compliance
Consider this sobering statistic: 40% of small businesses face IRS penalties averaging $845 annually for payroll tax mistakes. Many spend over 80 hours yearly just managing compliance. Payroll accounts simplify this burden dramatically.
Tax funds sit protected in your payroll account, impossible to spend accidentally. Automated systems calculate withholdings precisely and remit them on schedule. When audit time arrives, every transaction appears in one organized location. State and local tax obligations become equally manageable through this systematic approach.
The Financial Impact: Measurable Savings
Small business owners waste an average of 5 hours weekly on payroll tasks—that’s 260 hours annually. Payroll software connected to dedicated accounts slashes this by 90%, recovering over 230 hours yearly. At a conservative $50 hourly value, you’re gaining $11,500 worth of productive time.
The savings multiply when you factor in error prevention. Those $291-per-mistake costs vanish. The $845 IRS penalty risk disappears. Employee turnover from payroll problems—which costs thousands per departure—drops dramatically.
Real-world transformation
Kids & Families Together, a nonprofit serving vulnerable families, exemplifies these benefits perfectly. Before implementing dedicated payroll accounts with automation, they spent three days per pay cycle just reviewing timesheets. Their transformation delivered:
$10,000 saved in first-year payroll costs
70 hours monthly recovered from administrative tasks
3,300 reports eliminated through automation
Zero payroll errors after previously averaging several monthly
This organization now directs those recovered resources toward serving more families—proof that payroll efficiency impacts your core mission.
Building Employee Trust and Satisfaction
Here’s a startling reality: 50% of employees actively job-hunt after experiencing just two payroll errors. Another study found 64% of workers have suffered financial stress from paycheck problems, with 53% ready to quit if issues persist.
Payroll accounts guarantee consistent, accurate payments that arrive like clockwork. Employees access self-service portals showing real-time pay information, tax withholdings, and year-to-date earnings. This transparency builds trust while reducing HR inquiries about pay discrepancies.
The psychological impact extends beyond accuracy. When employees know their employer maintains dedicated payroll accounts, they perceive greater financial stability and professional management. This perception translates directly into retention, engagement, and workplace satisfaction.
Implementation Strategy for Maximum Impact
Transitioning to dedicated payroll accounts requires planning but delivers immediate benefits. Start by selecting a business bank account specifically for payroll—many banks offer specialized options with features like sub-accounts for different tax types.
Next, connect your chosen payroll software directly to this account. Modern platforms like those we integrate at Complete Controller handle this seamlessly, often completing setup in under an hour. Configure automatic funding from your operating account to ensure sufficient balances before each pay run.
Your implementation checklist
Open a payroll-specific business bank account with strong online banking features
Calculate your per-period needs, including gross wages, employer taxes, and benefits
Set up automatic transfers from operating accounts 2-3 days before each pay date
Configure software connections between your payroll system and new account
Test with a small group before rolling out company-wide
Document procedures for your team to maintain consistency
Monitor the account weekly initially, then monthly once established. Regular reviews catch discrepancies early and reinforce the habit of treating payroll as a distinct financial function.
Lessons From Two Decades of Payroll Management
Through Complete Controller, I’ve guided hundreds of businesses through payroll transformation. The pattern never varies: companies struggling with mixed accounts, compliance nightmares, and employee complaints become smooth-running operations within weeks of implementing dedicated payroll accounts.
My hard-won insights include never attempting partial implementation—segregate completely or not at all. Small businesses benefit most, contrary to the myth that only large companies need sophisticated payroll systems. The businesses thriving today invested in proper payroll infrastructure before problems arose, not after.
Common mistakes I’ve witnessed include underfunding payroll accounts (include a 10% buffer), neglecting regular reconciliation (monthly minimum), and allowing too many people access (limit to 2-3 maximum). Security requires constant vigilance—enable every available protection including transaction alerts and approval hierarchies.
Taking Action
Payroll accounts represent more than accounting best practice—they’re foundational to business stability, growth, and team satisfaction. The statistics speak clearly: errors cost money, compliance failures bring penalties, and payment problems drive away talent. Yet the solution remains remarkably simple.
Every day you delay costs money and risks relationships. Start today by opening that dedicated account. Your future self will thank you when month-end closes smoothly, employees sing your praises, and the IRS becomes a non-issue. Ready for expert guidance on building bulletproof payroll systems? Visit Complete Controller to discover how our team transforms payroll from your biggest headache into your smoothest operation.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Benefits of Payroll Accounts
What is the primary benefit of using a payroll account?
The primary benefit is achieving accurate, timely salary payments while simplifying compliance and reconciliation through dedicated fund segregation. This separation prevents accidental spending of payroll funds and creates clear audit trails for tax authorities.
Are payroll accounts required by law for small businesses?
While not legally mandated, payroll accounts are strongly recommended as a best practice for maintaining compliance and financial control. Many businesses find them essential for avoiding IRS penalties and managing state tax obligations effectively.
Can payroll accounts help prevent fraud?
Yes, segregated payroll funds with restricted access and detailed audit trails significantly reduce fraud risk. The account isolation makes unauthorized transactions immediately visible and creates barriers against common schemes like ghost employees.
How do payroll accounts improve financial forecasting?
They provide crystal-clear visibility into your largest expense category, enabling precise cash flow planning. Predictable, segregated payroll expenses make budgeting straightforward and eliminate surprise shortfalls.
Do payroll accounts integrate with accounting software?
Modern payroll systems seamlessly integrate with major accounting platforms, enabling automated reconciliation and real-time reporting. This integration eliminates manual data entry and reduces errors between systems.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Jennifer BrazerFounder/CEO
Jennifer is the author of From Cubicle to Cloud and Founder/CEO of Complete Controller, a pioneering financial services firm that helps entrepreneurs break free of traditional constraints and scale their businesses to new heights.
Brittany McMillen is a seasoned Marketing Manager with a sharp eye for strategy and storytelling. With a background in digital marketing, brand development, and customer engagement, she brings a results-driven mindset to every project. Brittany specializes in crafting compelling content and optimizing user experiences that convert. When she’s not reviewing content, she’s exploring the latest marketing trends or championing small business success.
How do we let ourselves get into debt? You seem to wake up one day and realize that your debt is greater than your income. We go into debt for many reasons, most of which are living beyond our means. While it may be necessary to go into some debt to purchase a car or home on credit, we could sometimes avoid unnecessary debt.
It is not suggested that you avoid making purchases or live your life to the fullest. However, you do have to focus on your finances and minimize your debt as much as possible. It would help if you focused on your financial health and saving for your future. You should also be focused on leaving your family a legacy of financial responsibility and not leaving them with overwhelming debt to deal with after you are gone. Here are six ways you can conquer debt for good!
Do Not Borrow
Resist the temptation to spend more than you can. When you want to get out of debt, any expense will be focused on your needs, not your desires or cravings. Temptations—”Why wait if you can have it right now” and “It’s yours for only three simple payments of …”—must be overcome. It would help if you had the character and discipline necessary to not spend beyond your means.
Establish a Viable Budget
Having a written budget is an “obligation” if you want to get out of debt. If you are married, sit down with your wife and organize the budget together. You and your wife are a team and need to plan this important issue together. Both of you need to know where your money is going (every penny).
The bigger the debt, the stricter your budget should be. Focus on the needs: food, lodging, public services, and transportation should be the most expensive to consider.
They must restrict their outings to eat and stop buying anything extra. Objectively evaluate the cable and satellite television subscriptions, and you will realize that these are not essential needs when you are in a financial crisis. It isn’t easy, but it is time to eliminate all unnecessary expenses.
Reserve an Emergency Fund
Within your budget, reserve something for the unexpected—budget to develop this emergency fund. Then, when an unexpected receipt or emergency arises, you will have the means to resolve it without going over budget. However, one must have the discipline and control to use this fund exclusively for emergencies.
Sell Unused Items
Many Western countries have attics, garages, basements, closets, and even storage sheds filled with “things” -those they do not use and fill space. Now is the time to turn those objects into cash to help pay off the debt. You would be surprised to know how much you could earn at a garden sale or a flea market.
If you are paying for a car that you cannot afford, it would be a good time to sell it and get a cheaper one. You can find excellent prices on reliable vehicles from previous models. But it would be best if you were honest about want vs. need. Remember, this is a temporary situation as long as you manage to keep your expenses under control and free yourself from being a slave to debt.
Work
If you can, consider working overtime at your company or considering a part-time job. Some have gotten temporary jobs doing homes or cutting grass. You may be one of those people who fix things. In that case, distribute flyers offering your services around your neighborhood.
All this will require hard work and long hours of effort, but if you are seriously determined to get out of debt, overtime at your job will help. Again, it is a temporary situation.
Obtain More Education
With the labor market constantly changing, it would be prudent to analyze the possibility of returning to the university to advance their education. Many universities have created evening programs that allow adults to continue to do so while they get the title they need. It could also apply to any scholarship or grant available in various fields.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
