Blog

In Edmonton, we have had the opportunity to exercise our right to vote twice in the last two months; this is a privilege many of us take for granted.  Women’s voting rights were granted between 1916 ( in Manitoba), 1918 federally, however, in some provinces women’s voting rights weren’t granted...

Why is disorganization so distracting?

In these days of suspicion and anxiety, let’s promote unity, hope, and goodwill. Encourage others in positivity by paying it forward and performing Random Acts of Kindness.

7 tips to getting your year-end ready for the accountant or bookkeeper.

Many companies are facing employee shortages and finding employees who have the skills needed is like hitting the jackpot! If you haven’t been that lucky consider hiring for cultural fit and investing in your employees with training and upskilling.

Improved Skills Leads To Improved Productivity. Increase Your Speed Through Practice & Training. Let’s Hear It For Life Long Learners!

Thinking of saving on expenses by cutting back on your digital marketing budget? Not so fast! You might want to think again. Try these powerful strategies that don’t break the bank.

What is mentoring and why does it matter?

If you’re an entrepreneur looking for ways to pay it forward to the community that helped your business thrive, explore creative ways to give back

Skill sets certainly matter when looking for the perfect employee. But there’s more. Explore the hiring strategy of cultural fit and how to do it right.

Business Tips of the Day in Audio. Listen to Barb’s blogs regarding various business topics.

Giving back means more than offering donations in kind. Explore how community involvement can positively affect the bottom line of your business.

In simpler times, securing your business meant locking the safe and setting the alarm system before you left for the day. Protecting your business from the myriad of scams and frauds both internal and external has become more complicated.

When workplace tasks are taking to long , specific processes can be put in place to clearly define the task and how to achieve it.

If you’re looking for ways to improve and increase your business results, explore ways to set strategic accounting goals for 2020!

What The Heck is a Bookkeeper? What Do Bookkeepers Do? How Are They Different From Accountants? If You Are Anything Like A Large Number Of Business People, You’re Not Really Sure How A Bookkeeper Differs From An Accountant. Truth Be Told, Some Individuals Don’t Even Have A Clue As To What A Full-Cycle Bookkeeper Actually Does. A Bookkeeper, Works As Part Of Your Finance Team, Insures That All Records Are Kept Up To Date, Working With Your Accountant To Provide Your Business The Support Needed To Remain Profitable.

Getting organized has major benefits that go way beyond the basic advantages you’d expect.

How do you decide what goes on between the sheets?
We are talking about your Balance Sheet, of course! What were you thinking?
In the world of business, your Financial Reports are a record of your past, your present and a doorway to your future. They record the results of your transactions...

Mastering the Art of Accounts Receivable will Open those Financial Flood Gates

Does the dreaded challenge of payroll management routinely cast a pall over your workplace operations?
It’s interesting how something as positive as getting paid can become such a huge bone of contention, and it’s especially so when human frailty raises its ugly head. Accounting staff will often complain that timesheets are submitted...

Are Your Books Holding You Hostage?
In hostage situations, people call the police and the police call the SWAT Team. The SWAT Team gets the job done no matter how difficult, down, & dirty.
In the accounting world, when your books are holding you hostage, call Preferred Client Services. In our business...

  
Such a fantastic event last Thursday with a fun atmosphere, home-style food and sing along with Fred Penner! This was a unique family-oriented fundraiser for a fantastic organization focused on helping individuals with special needs develop essential life skills that they need to grow, succeed and belong.  Congratulations on a...

Preferred Client Services have sponsored a table at the Momentum Mental Health Awards on May 9, 2019, from 11 AM to 1 PM at the Chateau Lacombe Hotel.  While the struggle with mental health issues can often be lonely, the path to improving mental health services and removing the stigma...

Ballet Edmonton presents “Now I Know” at the Triffo Theatre in Allard Hall at Grant MacEwan (11110-104 Ave), their final performance of the season.  Join Corporate Fusion Edmonton for a night of Ballet, networking and a meet and greet with the choreographer and dancers!
Tickets available online at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/connect-at-the-ballet-tickets-59981475207 or email...

Out and About with Preferred Client Services, #yegbookkeepers, #yegbeancounters
May is looking to be a busy month for the staff at Preferred Client Services. Between Fred Penner, the Ballet and various Trade Shows, we hope to see you out about in our community!
On May 2, we will be at the Adaptability’s Fun-raiser from...

April 26, 2019 is the Alzheimer’s Face Off Hockey Tournament. Watch NHL Alumni including Glenn Anderson, Doug Hicks, Dallas Ferro & many more. Support this fantastic event, by donating to a team or a player. Check out www.alzheimersfaceoff.ca for details.
Let’s help people and families living with Alzheimer’s make a better...

 
The Staff at Preferred Client Services were privileged to attend Global Women of Vision on April 4, 2019. What a beautiful and inspiring event. Congratulations to all the winners and all the attendees....

Come Visit Preferred Client Services! We will be at The Great Canadian Trade Fair, hosted by the Sherwood Park and District Chamber of Commerce, April 12 to 14 at Millennium Place – 2000 Premier Way in Sherwood Park. Come meet the team & enter to win a gift basket at...

Join Preferred Client Services staff and help The Nina celebrate 16 years with a Fun Casino and Exhibition by Vanessa Ryl, 2019 Stantec Artist of the Year. Enjoy music by the King!
February 13, 2019 from 5 to 8 PM at The Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts, 9225-118 Ave, Edmonton.
More...

Thank you to Dr Louis Francescutti’s for his powerful presentation at the Centre for Family Literacy Breakfast. This radical visionary’s presentation regarding the toll of Illiteracy on the homeless population and the barriers that issues with literacy create to accessing and understanding the Health Care system in Canada was inspirational....

My LuvPak’s aspiration is to provide joy, hope & comfort to all children coming into care, or who are affected by poverty and homelessness. By providing a Luvpak filled with hand-picked belongings to call their own, we aim to bring a sense of self-worth to each child.
Each individual LuvPak is...

Many thanks, to all those who joined us for our 20th Anniversary Celebration, on November 20, 2018, at Lexus of Edmonton. The live musicians provided by Wes Inaba from Pure Artists set the mood. Fun was had at the fun casino by Edmonton Casino Party and the food by Creative...

Preferred Client Services is pleased to announce that Olga Avagian has completed the Trust accounting certification from the Law Society and ESILaw 360 training.  There are now 3 professional bookkeepers at Preferred Client Services with both the Trust Accounting Certification and ESILaw 360 training. We look forward to assisting small to...

Preferred Client Services is pleased to announce that Marilyn Sterling and Sharon Ruta have completed the Trust accounting certification from the Law Society. They have also completed ESILaw 360 training.  We look forward to assisting small to medium sized law offices with their trust accounting needs....

October 4, 2018, the Preferred Client Services team and Marnie Kiel from Intelytics Inc were among selected guests of Gloria Wong from TD Small Business Bank who  attended a private breakfast featuring the Tech Titan, Canadian Entrepreneur and Dragons Den star, Michele Romanow.  The Big Dreams Advice Series that TD...

The 35th Annual Great Canadian Trade Fair in Sherwood Park will return to Millennium Place from April 13-15, 2018.
Great Canadian Trade Fair & Sale is a 3 day event presented by the Sherwood Park and District Chamber of Commerce. This is an educational event organized for researchers, students, families etc.
The 2017 show was...

BNI Alberta North Charity Awards Gala
On Saturday night the PCS team joined the many BNI members from Edmonton, Camrose, and Grande Praire for an evening of elegance and celebration at BNI Alberta North’s 2018 Annual Charity Awards Gala! 
This is the night we celebrate the very best in our region! The sparkles on the...

Nina Haggerty Centre’s 15th Anniversary

Fifteen years ago the Nina started with just a handful of artists in a small studio space on 97 street. Today the centre serves over 200 artists with developmental disabilities and has a large facility with a gallery and Studios on 118th avenue and is looking forward...

Preferred Client Services has had the opportunity of working with Vision by Design for several years.  Very rewarding to be a small part of  Dr Keep’s journey. Dr. Keep purchased an existing company that had no personality and turned it into a place that not only has exceptional optometry care,...

People Power
Grow your company by growing your people.
Develop good people through good recruitment!
When Vince Lombardi was asked how he managed to win so many championships, he told them he had winning players.
Watch your people and make sure they are in the right career position. Find their strengths, discover their passions,...

That’s Right Neighbourly of Ya!
Thursday, Sept. 28/ 2017 will be Good Neighbor Day in the US, where it is actually a national holiday, originating back in the early 1970’s, thanks to the enterprising Becky Mattson, of Lakeside, Montana, who wanted a day set aside to celebrate the importance of maintaining...

Success å la Job’s Top 10
I think you’ll agree that Steve Jobs knew a little bit about effectively running a business. Here are his 10 Rules For Success
Don’t live a limited life, according to other people’s thinking. Don’t let their opinions drown out your inner voice. Have the courage to...

Tip Of The Day #98 - Remember Me!
Behavioral investigator and best-selling author, Vanessa Van Edwards cites five ways to make yourself the most memorable person in the room.
Embrace your imperfections: Charismatic people are not perfect, but they’re confident in who they are, and comfortable in their own skin. They know...

Here’s Nina 2017 Event

The PCS team and friends enjoyed a fabulous meal at the Italian Cultural Centre , along with amazing entertainment from great Albertans like the Tri City Rat Pack.  Thank you Nina Haggerty for sharing the inspirational stories of the recipients of the awards for this year.  A...

In The Beginning, There Was Bookkeeping
In the beginning, there were numbers. Then Luca Pacioli of Florence, said, “Well, let’s add them up!”, and so it came to pass that Double Entry Bookkeeping was created, and Pacioli, born in 1447, became known, in Europe, as "The Father of Accounting and Bookkeeping",...

Going Post-It Over Networking
Allow me to refresh your memory of the term, “Who Luck”, coined by leadership expert, Jim Collins, which refers to the happy circumstance of finding just the right connection you happen to need, by being in the right place, at the right time.
So… here you are. Having...

Your Attitude Latitude 
You have the power to make or break your day…your week…your entire LIFE!!!!
Your thoughts create the reality you see around you, and, in this world governed by the Law Of Attraction, what is “like” attracts “like”.
Thus, your state of mind, your “attitude” at every given point in your...

QuickBooks Tricks
My many years of hands-on experience with the various accounting programs have taught me numerous tips and tricks that turn QuickBooks into Quicker.
So today I’m going to dish up the inside scoop on my favorite QuickBooks shortcuts…for versions Enterprise, Premier, and Pro.
Normally, to close an open window in QuickBooks,...

Take Power Over Your Program
As a business owner, do you feel annoyingly powerless when your bookkeeper complains about the shortcomings of slow and ponderous Sage, compared to the aptly named QUICKBooks?
Thanks to Beverley Goodall of Evolution Business and Tax Advisors LLP, you can now impress your beloved bookkeeper with your...

BDC’s Small Business Week Mixer and Trade Show

The PCSGL team, Olga, Tamara, Svitlana, and Penny were out having a great time last night at the Sutton hotel for  BDC’s Small Business Week Mixer and Trade Show. While celebrating the valuable contribution Edmonton small businesses make to our City many new friends were...

What’s on the edge of your T-Shirt?
’If you are not living on the edge, then you are already taking too much space.”
It was a memorable day for me when my teenage son walked into the room with this cryptic statement emblazoned across his T-shirt.
At the time, I can remember wondering...

Frogs On A Log
Leadership guru, John Maxwell often uses an old riddle his father told him as a teaching tool.
“Five frogs are sitting on a log. Four decide to jump into the water. How many are left?”
One? Actually, if you analyze his words, you’ll realize there are still five frogs...

QuickBooks Made Quicker
We all know the old adage, “Time is money.” And let’s face it, to be successful in business these days, you must wisely economize on both.
Good news! If you use Sage and/or QuickBooks, you can actually program your accounting software to save your bookkeeper valuable minutes every day...

The Rewards of Risks
“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”So said the American poet and literary giant, T.S. Elliot, and I have to agree. In fact, without taking risks, how can you grow your enterprise to maximum profitability?
How can you...

Mentally Unbalanced Due to Your Balance Sheet?
Understanding your balance sheet keeps your finger on the pulse of your business’s “health”.
A balance sheet can be very revealing when it comes to the state your business is in on any given day, so you’re not just going to “drop your drawers”...

How Can Your Lovely, Hard Earned Profits Be Gross?
Are you more confused and frustrated than you’ve been all year?
Ah yes, well, no doubt you’ve just had that annual meeting with your accountant.
Here’s the “financial reporting-challenged” business person’s mini-guide to understanding profit and loss.
Repeat after me…’In-come State-ment’
An income statement is a...

End Month End Before Year End
Do you manage an office of staff members, all needing to submit month-end expense reports and business credit card statements?
Then you know what mass pandemonium it can be at month end when all of the paperwork comes in all at the same time and all...

Right Place, Right Time!
You have just finished a 9-hour day from Hell, dealing with people seemingly from outer space. Your feet are killing you. Definitely, a headache’s coming on. The office bathroom mirror reveals that you look like you’ve not only come out the wrong end of RuPaul’s Drag Race...

The Magic is in The Moment
In the wise words of Mother Teresa,
“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”
Living for today, appreciating every moment is not a state of mind attained through dwelling on past mistakes, or even resting on your laurels and...

Failure is Inevitable - Fail Forward, Not Behind.
Leadership guru, John Maxwell teaches that “Life is playing a poor hand well.” Success comes not from eliminating all adversity, but from dealing with your difficulties and failures constructively. According to Maxwell,
“The essence of man is imperfection. Know that you’re going to make...

I Fail Therefore I Am
“I Fail, Therefore I Am”, a phrase coined by business humorist and mindset mentor, Zandra Bell, is obviously, a play on the famous quote by philosopher, Rene Descartes, “I Think, Therefore I Am”.
The point being that, as humans, failing is as natural to our earthly condition...

Write it Down!
Pen, paper, an inspirational book to read or Audible to play on my cell phone…
These items are always within reach when I’m in a situation where I’m forced to wait. Whether a few minutes or a few hours, I make sure that valuable time is well spent.
Write it...

The Lonely Extra Mile
Quite often I will take a last look at my to-do list at the end of the day and, even though all my team members have left and I would be perfectly justified in saying I’ve done a full day’s work myself, I will still stay and...

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Receipts But Were Too Bored To Ask
Today’s advanced technological procedures beg the question:
“Can I destroy the original receipt if it has been scanned and saved electronically?”
CRA’s publication RC4409 on Keeping Records, has a very important paragraph that is easily missed:
"Your electronic records must...

Love Me Some Taxes
We all know the type.
Every subject the group starts to discuss, he’s the expert on them all. He’s supposedly got the inside track with every name he drops and, of course, his accountant/bookkeeper is so “income tax savvy”, that he always gets a refund every year.
What a...

A Cautionary Tale of Two Leases
Is your leased vehicle an expense, a liability, or a pain in the asset? It all depends on the type of lease.
A capitalized lease is both an asset and a liability How does that work?
Well, if the lease has a “bargain purchase option”, which is...

The Final Financial Frontier
Profitability: the financial frontier….The major voyage for your Business Starship

Your continuing mission: Take control of your financials and explore strange new worlds of business management based on interpreting the information your numbers provide.
Don’t be one of those entrepreneurs, that we bookkeeping professionals often see, who make decisions...

Success - Purpose, Potential, Significance
Mark Twain claimed that, “The two most important days in your life are the day you were born, and the day you find out why."
We’ve all been through the first one. Leadership guru, John Maxwell claims that highly successful people are the ones who have figured...

Get S.M.A.R.T.
Renowned writer and organizational management expert, Peter Drucker, was known to say…
“Most of what we call management consists of making it difficult for people to get their work done.”
His solution: Management By Objectives
Of course, first you must determine what your business objectives are…based on your vision and mission statements.
If...

No Defeat Except From Within
Exasperating. Aggravating. Overwhelming. Sometimes this is the way running your business can make you feel. Those are the days, naturally, that you just want to pack it all in and give up on your dream. American writer, businessman, and philosopher, Elbert Hubbard, were he alive today,...

We All Need A Little Inspiration
As a wise and wonderful, forward thinking optimist was always known to say, “Anybody can do anything as long as it is not forever!!!!”Who was this famous person? Well, my mother was famous to me. Not to mention indispensable!Yes, my mother was that one person...

Job Costing Just Time Consuming?
Job costing is an accounting technique generally used in situations where each job is different, performed to the customer’s specifications, such as in industries like construction, fabrication, repair and maintenance works, and in services such as auditing.
Job costing involves keeping an account of direct and indirect...

Would you like a little cheese with all that whine?
“The Universe is against me. I just can’t get ahead. Everyone else gets what they want and they don’t even work as hard as I do. I can’t really afford the time or money to go after the things I want....

Mentoring Matters
“A self-made leader doesn’t make much.”Leadership guru John Maxwell first wrote that statement almost ten years ago and claims it still holds true today. He, himself, is obviously quite financially successful but then again, according to Maxwell, he wasn’t “self-made.”
No. This business “great” attributes his meteoric rise to the...

Movin’ on Up….Or Out
Top leadership thinker, the great John C. Maxwell asserts that…
"A successful person finds the right place for himself. But a successful leader finds the right place for others.”
Even if that “right place” is in a totally different company than their current place of employment.
According to Maxwell, effective...

Losing your Memory or Losing Your Mind
The art of keeping track of your TRANSACTIONS,… ordinarily attributed to the professional bookkeepers’ domain,… has definitely been made easier with the advent of super user friendly accounting software like QuickBooks and Sage.A savvy time saving tip for any size of business is to...

Google - Not Just a Noun Anymore
Is there anything more annoying than a computer collapse? We’ve all experienced it, that unexpected, unexplained cessation of all user-friendly behavior on the part of your PC.
You have contacted your software support team.  After several lifetimes on hold, you have finally reached someone who...

Leadership and Learning
If you want something different, you have to DO something different. It only makes sense,
and yet, in this economic downturn I hear so many business owners simply lamenting the “less than stellar” situation, instead of using all that time and energy to figure out a way to adapt...

A Cluttered Desk
The concept of a “clean desk” is much maligned in those popular internet jokes, said to be the sign of a cluttered desk drawer, an employee who doesn’t do a scrap of work all day and/or a sick mind.
The Harvard Business Review, however, claims that a neat desk...

He Shoots He Scores a Goal
There has always been a co-relation between entrepreneurs who set goals and those who ultimately achieve success.
The process of goal setting helps you establish a clear direction which will lead you to the realization of your objectives.
According to the Law of Attraction… “that which is...

Stop EMAIL Seniority Over YOUR Priorities
Is EMAIL edging out productive time management in your office?
Then it’s TIME to put a stop to staff spending valuable minutes… that add up to wasted HOURS… answering every email that pings their way, completely disrupting their concentration.
I have already suggested that you establish a...

Think Like There’s No One Looking
Wallace D. Wattles, author of the visionary book “The Science of Getting Rich”, was teaching about the tremendous power our thoughts have to create our reality long before the likes of popular self-help gurus like Anthony Robbins were born.
He was especially eloquent on the strength...

You Sure You Want To... To Hire Your Own  Bookkeeper?
Think carefully now,… when you know you can contract in the best team of bookkeeping experts ever outsourced, are you quite positive your business is such that you really need to hire your own?
Okay then. Let’s make sure you do it...

Do it or Die it Yourself
Ask any auto mechanic, and they’ll tell you that the worst client scenario is you’re dyed in the wool “do-it-yourselfer” who clearly can NOT do it themselves.
Not well, at any rate, which ultimately necessitates the mechanic to not only complete the original repair but to...

Somebody Screwed Up the Software
Running the wrong software program wastes time and money.
The truth is that the accounting program best suited to your needs will depend on the type of business that you run.
Just because a particular program comes highly recommended doesn’t mean it will necessarily be “the be all...

The Power of Thought
The bestselling book, The Secret, came out in 2006, popularizing the Law of Attraction, the Universal concept that states, through the process of "like energy attracting like energy", a person can improve their own health, wealth and personal relationships.
Good news!… But old news, in fact.
Actually, the tremendous...

Get ‘er Done.
Sure, you’ve got great goals for your business but where it all bogs down is what to do to actually get it there.
Success expert, Brian Tracey, suggests this 7 step action plan will effectively “get ‘er done.”

      Decide what you want.
      Write it down
      Make a...

Pays To Pay Attention To The % That Pays
The 80/20 rule, prevalent in business today, is based on the idea that 20% of a company’s clientele consistently bring in more revenue while requiring less time and effort than the other 80%, so why not simply focus on cultivating these stellar...

Frog Legs, Anyone?
“Eat a live frog first thing in the morning, and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.”
This quirky, questionable advice has actually inspired productivity expert, Brian Tracy, who now uses it as an analogy in his quest to help business people better organize their...

Hire The A-List - Fire The Rest Of The Alphabet
We’ve all had experience with the customers from hell. 
They come in different varieties, such as the one who shows up Friday afternoon demanding that a so called “urgent” order must be rushed out by the end of the day. 
Their procrastination suddenly...

Giving Back
“From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.” 
Arthur Ashe’s intelligent insight here addresses a significant side of running a business that is often overlooked in the push for profits.
A well rounded, respected organization needs to demonstrate to staff members and clients...

The Propriety of Paper Handling
You don’t want to waste either fruitlessly searching for that crucial document that should be there when you need it, but, alas is not. Never again.  Keep your paperwork under control before it becomes overwhelming.
Create a pending file for urgent, important items that need to be...

 

Incorporated....to be or not to be?
That is certainly the burning question when you are currently a sole proprietor dreaming of making it big. Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of paying an outrageous fortune to lawyers and accountants.
Why just getting a “notice to reader,” the...

 
Are You Afraid Of Fraud?
Well, these days, you should be! There are scads of scams, schemes, and swindles being reported and it’s not just the gullible, gentle geriatrics that are being deceived such as the poor dears, trying to use their portable phone to turn up the TV. 
No, on the...

Running a business is akin to that circus act where the performer runs around madly trying to keep all the plates spinning on top of their respective sticks. One ill-timed moment of hesitation or inattention, the plates can all come crashing to the ground.  
Things can start falling apart in...

One of the most difficult aspects of being your own boss is holding firm to the self-imposed self-discipline it takes to get the job done every day. The more productive you are, the better your business bottom line so how to keep alert, effective and energized when you know, if...

Paul Meyer, founder of the Success Motivation Institute, believes that, “productivity is never an accident. It is always a product of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort”.
Why continuously lecture employees on increasing their workplace productivity, when appealing to their own, “commitment to excellence and ability to plan...

  

It’s been said that “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion”. Originally articulated by Cyril Northcote Parkinson as part of a humorous essay published in 1955, this now popular adage refers to the rate at which bureaucracies expand over time.
What makes this concept amusing, of...

 
Your sales minus your expenses equals your profit, correct?
That’s the traditional, time honoured formula for business success, according to General Acceptable Accounting Practices. Mike Michalowicz, with his innovative theory, “Profit First Accounting”, however, has turned what’s “typical” upside down.
According to this forward thinking author and entrepreneur, what you should be...

That little baby of a business that you nurtured out of infancy is now growing up so fast, it’s all you can do hold on to the bars of its crib! Lucky you! It’s so rewarding to see your venture go up, up and away. But the downside is getting...

Success Savvy - Are You Working On Your Business Or In Your Business?
As a business owner, often you’re out there going the extra mile, shouldering the extra load, picking up the slack to the point where your whole day is taken up with tedious tasks that usually someone else could...

Let’s go back to bookkeeping basics.
Your business is an ongoing story all about sales and services, profits and losses, assets and expenses. How do we properly put all that on paper so it can be easily read?
First there’s the balance sheet. Like a fiscal snap shot of your business, the...

The Proverbial Paper Trail

According to Albert Einstein, “The hardest thing to understand in the world is income tax.”
But as good citizens we know, when it comes to filing our taxes, ours is not to wonder why, ours is just to justify.  Yes, you need to back up the numbers you’re...

 
Barbara Steckly, owner of Preferred Client Services, your best choice in Edmonton, AB for professional bookkeeping partners.
Your business records are one thing but your personal ones are nobody’s business but your own.
Keep it that way! Separate business from personal! Maintaining a separate bank account and credit card for your business...

“Failing to plan is planning to fail.”

I second Alan Lakein’s insightful outlook there!
As a business owner, myself, I notice that this holds true for me as well as my staff members. If you start the day without any kind of plan, any idea of what you intend to accomplish, even...

Stand Up For Statements!


Let’s Hear It For Monthly Statements!
Yes, I admit I’m a big fan. The truth is, for your business to become significantly successful, you need to maintain a high level of meticulous organization when it comes to your financials. In keeping with this - Statements are your friend! 
So...

 
“Never take your eyes off the cash flow because it’s the life blood of business.”
This is sage advice from the brilliant Richard Branson.
Yes, consistent cash flow is certainly something worth attaining AND MAINTAINING on a regular basis and yet so many busy entrepreneurs don’t take the time to routinely review...

 Expenses a Pain In The ASSet





Many times, I have responded to business owners’ concerns over inconsistencies in their balance sheet and thus their profit and loss statement, or their income statement, as it’s often called, as well.
One reporting period their business will show a healthy profit and then suddenly POOF! the...

Put Profits Out of Your Reach
Day after day you do your best out there toiling away in the front line trenches of the business battlefield. Dedicated, diligent, determined, you lead the troupes to victory time and time again.
You’ve done your part. So When do you get to take home those spoils...

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The Anatomy of An Effective Invoice
Your company invoice, it’s the key to you getting paid on time, in the right way, in the right amount, again and again and again. Thus the formatting and the wording of your invoice is absolutely vital to your business success! 
First of all, you are...

“Behind The Scenes” Bookkeeper your Business Secret Weapon
As your successful business continues to grow and expand, there could quite naturally come a time that, instead of retaining a bookkeeping firm like ours to finalize your financial records every quarter, you decide it might be better to keep an accounting contingent...

Reams of Receipts, droves of documents and skyscrapers of paper!
Let’s face it, as a business owner, every year you’re inundated with more and more invoices to somehow keep organized. Where to put them and how to find them can be quite the task. If the tax authorities want all this...

 Management Reports or Financial Statements – Which One Would You Rather Have On a Desert Island?
Business Financial Reporting has a language all its own, consequently it’s quite easy for the “bookkeeping unfamiliar” to become confused. Financial statements, for instance, are the reports prepared by your accountant at each year end. 
They...

General Ledger- ITIS Got You on Edge?

The law of gravity dictates what goes up must come down and there’s just not much you can do about it. The programming of accounting software dictates what goes in as general ledger posts is what comes out in management reports, and there is,...

 
Batching is a BEEATCH!? Who knew?
Repetitive, tedious tasks, such as mass mail outs are traditionally organized in batches for efficiency’s sake.  This occurs with one or more employees completing the various activities involved, such as letter folding, envelop stuffing, stamping, addressing and sealing, by moving the whole batch through the...

It Never Ends - Yes and That’s a Good Thing!
Are you daunted by deadlines? Confronted by constant challenges? Overwhelmed by even more obstacles?
No matter how efficiently you strive to complete the tasks at hand, countless additional problems seem to arise. It’s like your work is never done! Talk about exasperating!...

Only the Good Lives On
Want to prevent toxic energy from infesting your workplace? Turn that overload of apathy and bitterness into an atmosphere of inspiration and optimistic engagement?
Each day, single out a positive accomplishment on the part of one of your staff members and congratulate them on a job well...

Mining Employee Potential
Sir Thomas Browne observed that:
"Rough diamonds may sometimes be mistaken for worthless pebbles"
In this current business climate, that could certainly be a very costly mistake to make regarding a potentially valuable member of your team.
Having trouble finding the right fit for one of your employees? Keep in mind...

Closing That Open Door Policy From Time To Time
 
As the supervisor, you pride yourself on being, personable, accommodating, and accessible. But does your “open door” policy have you closing down the office in the late hours of the night?
“But I can’t get any work done during the day.”
Sound like a familiar...

GST out of sight out of mind - in the bank
Ah the torture of GST tax time!
The pressure to pay back money you probably no longer have…
Next year, why not get prepared?
Start a separate bank account for your GST  at another bank so you won’t be tempted to touch it. What you...

Cell phone cease and desist
Texting. On the surface it’s so innocent and unobtrusive, over so quickly, easy and simple.
But in reality it’s the staff distraction from hell!
You add in the compelling force of Facebook games and personal posting and soon you’re left wondering, is anyone out there actually doing their job?
How...

Barbara Steckly, Preferred Client Services - Bookkeeping Services in Edmonton, AB with your business tip of the day.
Is your Productivity Enemy #1 - Email?
“If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much."
These wise...

[Our Team starting the race at last year’s competition.]
Preferred Client Services Group will be participating in Women2Warrior’s competition of 2017 and we are recruiting for our team. If you’re a woman and your bravery allows you to participate on this obstacle adventure race, we would love to have you in our team!...

Barbara Steckly, owner of Preferred Client Services, your best choice in Professional Bookkeeping Partners.
Are you baffled by the current barrage of “so-called” bookkeepers out there these days offering up their services?
 If you’re trying to pick the right professional to finesse your financial files, make sure you get the “REAL DEAL”!
You...

Barbara Steckly from Preferred Client Services with your bookkeeping tip of the day
How does your company handle cash transactions? 
What procedures do you have in place to prevent theft?  Most people prefer to pay by credit card or debit.  Even though this costs your company more bank service charges it is...

 

Barbara Steckly from Preferred Client Services with your bookkeeping tip of the day.
How do you make that decision to have an in-house bookkeeper or a third party bookkeeper?
Are you adding other duties besides the daily bookkeeping functions such as answering the phones, some inside sales?  This will sometimes work out,...

Barbara Steckly from Preferred Client Services with your bookkeeping tip of the day.
KPI analysis- Key Performance Indicators.
As a business owner, you should be well aware of where your money is being spent and whether or not you are charging enough for your products and/or services.
A monthly KPI (Key Performance Indicator)...

Barbara Steckly from Preferred Client Services with your bookkeeping tip of the day.
 You know you’re making a profit, yet there never seems to be enough cash flow.
One reason is using business cash for personal reasons.  These entries are applied to your shareholder loan account and are not part of the...

Barbara Steckly from Preferred Client Services with your bookkeeping tip of the day.                
 How do you know if you have a good bookkeeper or a bad bookkeeper?
A good bookkeeper is always up to date and will have immediate answers for you.  
A bad...

Barbara Steckly from Preferred Client Services with your bookkeeping tip for the day.
Who gets insured through your WCB account?
The simple answer is: all full-time, part-time, temporary and casual workers. However, you may not know that in addition, if you have sub-contractors working for you, they also must be insured under your account if...

Barbara Steckly from Preferred Client Services with your bookkeeping tip for the day.
Are you concerned about profitability from the goods you sell? I certainly hope so!
If your main business is to buy and then re-sell goods, setting the correct retail price to insure profitability is really important. You start by...

Have You Ever Wondered How Much Money Your Business Really Has?
Not knowing the difference between your cash flow and your bank balance can quickly lead to disaster.
Your online bank balance does not show cheques that have not cleared nor deposits in hand but not made. Nor does it show upcoming...

Barbara Steckly from Preferred Client Services in Edmonton, Alberta with your bookkeeping tip for the day.
Ready to Eliminate Penalties for Missing Deadlines?
As business owners, we and our staff are surrounded by deadlines. Some of those deadlines are self-directed and subject to change with few repercussions.
However, governments and suppliers attach interest...

Barbara Steckly, from Preferred Client Services with your bookkeeping tip for the day.
Are you challenged by headaches with your accounting software?
Every program has it’s “hitches and glitches." But before you work on solving the issues your staff are complaining about, do a little analysis. Do you have a systems problem...

Barbara Steckly from Preferred Client Services, in Edmonton, AB with your bookkeeping tip for the day.
 Nervous about switching payroll programs?
If your current payroll program no longer serves your business needs, then it’s time to make a switch. If that switch happens in the middle of the year, there could be...

Hi, Barbara Steckly, here from Preferred Client Services in Edmonton, AB with your, "One Minute Business Builder".
How painful was your last year-end?
If you’re in the early years of business and don’t quite know what to do with all those receipts and invoice copies, just the thought of year end can trigger...

Barbara Steckly from Preferred Client Services with your bookkeeping tip for the day.
Are your banking machine deposits causing problems for your bookkeeper?
Bank machines are great for busy entrepreneurs with after-hours deposits.  But if your receipt only shows the total of your deposit, it takes more sorting time on the bookkeeping end.
Some...

Barbara Steckly here from Preferred Client Services with your bookkeeping tip for the day:
Have you ever missed deducting legitimate business expenses?
Let’s face it. Saving extra money on taxes is as important as earning revenue. But many business owners miss claiming key deductions. For instance, even if your vehicle is not...

Knowing How To Read Your Financial’s - Are you following up on these critical key areas?
Make sure your bookkeeper is reviewing  your financial’s with you on a regular basis, weekly, or monthly is recommended. Set up budgets and projections. This way you have an idea of what your financial picture is...

Have you ever experienced a systems nightmare within your company?
It’s bad enough to have one of your systems crash, but it’s even worse if the system you have is not right for your business. Before you spend thousands of dollars on the latest and greatest system, complete a systems diagnostic in...

Are you in the dark about who is doing what task and when they are doing it? 
Clear and consistent communication is the key.
Try this teamwork tip we use at Preferred Client Services Group:
At the end of each working day, our team gathers to share progress on files and we complete...

Do you really need the stress that a financial mess can cause? 
When that mess involves missed filing deadlines and government penalties, well – even more stress!
Likely you already know the importance of getting organized, but when it comes to your bookkeeping, where do you start?
Begin by recording every monthly, quarterly,...

Have you ever experienced a systems nightmare at your company? It’s bad enough to have one of your systems crash, but it’s even worse if the system you have is not right for your business.
Before you spend thousands of dollars on the latest and greatest system, complete a systems diagnostic...

There’s an old saying, “People can take good news, and they can take bad news, but they can’t take surprises.” The surprises that business owners find the most challenging are financial surprises. Below are the top three we hear about all the time.

Shortage on payroll deductions  - Upset staff and...

Dec 31, 2016 is just around the corner. Along with the season’s festivities, important and mandatory tasks relating to your business paperwork needs to be done. Be prepared! The sooner you start preparing, the smoother things will go as the deadlines approach.


T4 – Your employee T4 forms are due by February...

Preferred Client Services Group is proud to be part of the 2016 “Here’s Nina” red carpet evening. On Wednesday, November 2, 2016 at 5:00 pm, join event hosts Josh Classen and Sheri Somerville as the Nina Haggerty Centre honors their chosen award winners.
Held at the Italian Culture Centre, 14230 133...

We’ve all experienced unexpected glitches despite normally smooth running financial systems. If those occur just before crucial CRA filing deadlines, you could quickly fall behind, with late filing penalties as the result. Ouch!
Below are two ideas to minimize payroll headaches and insure your deadlines are met:

Take a few moments to...

If your favorite kind of chips are poker chips, then this event is for you!BNI Premiere is proud to be hosting its second annual Charity Poker Tournament and Silent Auction. We raised over $11,000 last year, with proceeds going toward Easter Seals and the BNI Alberta North Teachers Program.

Now, in...

On August 25th, Preferred Client Services Group hosted Hole No. 4 at BNI North’s Annual Golf Classic, held at the Ranch Golf Course at Acheson. Despite a 30 minute downpour, a good time was had by all. A big thanks to Amanda, and Tamara, who dispensed pop, popcorn, and chocolate...

What happens when you team up Preferred Client Services, Colby Steckly Chartered Accountants & BNI Premiere in a bowling Challenge?

Hear the company bookkeeper’s lament, “Oh Stress, thy name is Payroll!” If you’re the bookkeeper (or the business owner who is stuck doing payroll), you may have noticed that employees get a bit testy if

Their pay cheques don’t arrive on time
Mistakes are made on their cheques
Their T-4’s are late or...

“Who cares about good record keeping anyway?” says the frustrated business owner, struggling to handle the myriad of tasks on the daily To Do list. The short answer: the government cares, your bank cares, your employees care, and underneath that pile of paper – you care.
All business owners, from start-up...