If you plan to use accounting software, knowing the basics will enhance your intuition and enable you to navigate the tools more effectively. Even if you opt to hire a professional, you’ll be able to better communicate if you understand the concepts that I’ve discussed in this guide to accounting basics. Similar to any other profession, time management is an essential skill to have. Plus, reviews of your financial health need to be completed in a timely way. If you’re on the prowl for an accountant, you want to find one that listens. I believe a good accountant is one who understands what your business does, the expenses required for you to operate, and any financial challenges you might have on your radar.
Essentially, debits and credits track where the money in your business is coming from and where it’s going. We’ll provide systems and tools to simplify expense tracking throughout the year. This ensures you don’t miss out on deductions come tax time and gives you valuable insights into your business spending. Allocate a portion of your earnings towards professional development and skill-building. This could include attending workshops, conferences, or online courses to enhance your content creation expertise or explore new avenues for audience engagement. When collaborating with brands, understand your worth & research industry benchmarks for pricing sponsored content & partnerships.
Lipovetsky hosts the “Not Alone” podcast and has over 6.5 million followers on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. If you are an accountant or an aspiring accountant, develop the skill of providing a listening ear. You can better apply your knowledge if you have a clear understanding of a client’s needs. https://www.bookstime.com/ Also, if you have the funds, hiring an in-house accountant is my recommended option. This way the responsibility for maintaining your business’s accounting is off your shoulders. If the nature of your business is seasonal, tailor different factors, like the frequency of your evaluation, to this cycle.
For example, Heller says his accounting employees work fully in-office, but a fully or mostly distributed company may hire fully remote accountants. Then, each year, you must complete continuing education, as required by your state. “Having a CPA may require additional education and experience, but it’s also highly regarded and provides accountants with many career opportunities,” Barentzen says. You also usually need to get some relevant work experience Accounting for Content Creators and Influencers to sit for the CPA exam—which is changing in 2024 to account for the industry’s growing emphasis on technology, Smith says. Ernst & Young’s EY Career Path Accelerator Program provides courses to help people entering the field reach the 150 credit hours needed for the CPA exam. The Apple TV+ video streaming service has spent buckets of money on shows and movies, but almost exclusively worked with Hollywood A-listers, ignoring social-media creators.
That might mean making hard decisions about the equipment you use, whether to hire an assistant or not, which partnerships to take on, and so much more. However, to truly benefit from those income streams, you must track, categorize, and manage each one accurately. By understanding which platforms and strategies generate the most income, you can optimize your efforts, tailor content to your audience, and negotiate better deals with brands. Depending on your specific role, you might have busy seasons, Smith says.
Good financial organization offers both short and long-term benefits and can foster growth and sustainability. It’s easy to tell if you’re turning a profit, how well your content is performing, and whether you need to pivot. You can prepare for peaks and slow periods while allocating your budget appropriately and making informed decisions that help you build a digital empire. It is crucial to understand your tax obligations and ensure you are paying the right amount.
Jason Andrew is the co-founder of SBO, an accounting and finance business, and the Arbor Group, a business that helps entrepreneurs accelerate their growth. He’s also the author of the popular book Stark Naked Numbers, which is packed full of accounting wisdom and secrets. Geni is also an accounting author, blogger, speaker, coach, and management consultant. She was named a Top 25 Thought Leader by CPA Practice Advisor and has almost 150k followers on LinkedIn, where she posts regular articles. Dawn Brolin is a CPA and CEO of Powerful Accounting, a US-based firm that specialises in accounting, tax, forensics, and fraud.