FastUpFront Small Business Blog

As life and business seem to be approaching the speed of light, the need for cheap, nimble electronic payments and personal money transferring services has only increased. But if you are relying on either your bank or a traditional payment processor to move your money, then chances are you’re swooning in fees and long waits [...]

As the 2011 tax season comes to an end, many small business owners may be learning the hard way that sloppy bookkeeping doesn’t pay- especially when you are dealing with the IRS. For those looking to make amends in the current year, the below are seven of the most common bookkeeping mistakes to avoid:   [...]

Ever since the concept of cloud computing entered pop culture a few years ago, it has gained in popularity and usage among consumers and businesses alike who were quick to harp on the advantages of operating in the “cloud” and using Software as a Service (SaaS) applications in particular. While users may still be a [...]

Aside from being a logistical headache, bounced customer checks levy a significant expense to small businesses in terms of both time and money, and these costs often go way beyond the actual face value of the check.     As economic recovery continues at a snail’s pace, and consumer dollars are stretched ever further, the [...]

As a small business owner, keeping overhead costs to a minimum may be top priority. So, when it comes to accounting issues, it may be tempting to tackle the job on your own rather then spending precious capital on hiring a professional accountant to do the job.   But is this really a wise move [...]

After considering the various pros and cons, you have decided to sell your business. Over the years you may have invested a good deal of sweat, hard work and energy (not to mention cash) into your “baby.” But knowing how to put a price tag on your investment can be difficult. Nevertheless, you certainly want [...]

Online banking may offer a great deal of ease and convenience, especially for owners of small and home-based businesses, but it exposes the account holder to a sea of unscrupulous fraudsters and hackers. In one fell swoop, a business’ entire financial health can be compromised and a business owner’s personal assets can be decimated. (Image [...]

It is common among cash-strapped small businesses for the owners and their employees take on many responsibilities simultaneously. The job of financial accounting and general bookkeeping thus often goes to someone within the business who has not been formally trained for the task. Though this may be an effective way to reduce expenses, it could [...]