News and Insights
Earmarked Funds and Restricted Grants Don’t Belong in the Same Pot
Jump to the bottom to hear Justin explain this -> If your bank balance says $240,000, how much of it can you spend? For a
Is It Time to Drop a Revenue Stream? 5 Signs to Watch
Jump to the bottom to hear Brittany explain this -> Think back to when you first opened your doors. Chances are, there was one revenue
How We Build a Nonprofit Budget (and Why Our First Draft Only Gets You 75% of the Way)
Jump to the bottom to hear Justin explain this -> If your budget is one spreadsheet tab with last year’s numbers plus 3%, you’re not
What Happens in a Quarterly Meeting With Your Accountant (and Why It Keeps Tax Season From Being a Surprise)
Your books are getting done. Your taxes are getting filed. And every spring, you still get a tax bill that makes your stomach drop. A
How Does Accounts Payable Work When You Outsource It? (Here’s Exactly How We Do It)
You’re the Executive Director. Bills show up in your inbox, in the mail, and sometimes in a phone call from a vendor asking where their
You Got the Money from Mohawk Valley Gives. Now What?
Jump to the bottom to hear Justin explain this -> Mohawk Valley Gives just wrapped up, and your organization had a good run. Donations came
What Actually Happens When You Switch Accountants
Jump to the bottom to hear Justin explain this -> You’ve known for a while that something isn’t working. Your accountant takes a week to
New Nonprofit Treasurer? Here is what to look for in your financials.
Jump to the bottom to hear Justin explain this -> New Nonprofit Treasurer? Here’s How to Actually Read Your Financials Congratulations! You got voted in
13 Signs Your Financials Are Rubbish
You open your financial package every month. It’s formatted nicely. The numbers add up on the page. So you assume it’s accurate. Here’s the problem:
Is Your Nonprofit’s Credit Card System Ancient?
Jump to the bottom to hear Justin explain this -> Quick test. Do you know exactly how many credit cards are active at your organization
Your Board Treasurer Shouldn’t Be Doing Your Accounting
Jump to the bottom to hear Justin explain this -> If your board treasurer is the one reconciling accounts every month, you’re not alone. A
You Can’t Do Everything. So What Actually Moves Your Business?
Growing your business isn’t a mystery. More outreach, more follow-ups, more marketing, more training. You probably already know what you should be doing more of.
How Much Does Outsourced Accounting Cost?
How Much Does Outsourced Accounting Cost? An Honest Answer, With Real Numbers If you’re researching accounting support, you already know the drill: you go to
What Should You Actually Do With Profits? A Cash Reserve Framework.
Jump to the bottom to hear Justin explain this. What Should You Actually Do With Profits? A Cash Reserve Framework for Hospices and Nonprofits Most
11 Years, One Business, One Marriage: What Working with My Spouse Actually Taught Me
Jump to the bottom to hear Justin explain this. People hear that Beth and I work together and they usually say one of two things.
Internal Controls That Actually Fit a Small Hospice
Jump to the bottom to hear Justin explain this. If your hospice has one bookkeeper, a part-time CFO (or none at all), and a finance
When Your Nonprofit Loses Its CFO: What to Do in the Next 30 Days
Jump to the bottom to hear Justin explain this. You didn’t plan for this. One week your finance team was humming along — and the
Should You Consider a Line of Credit (LOC) for Your Business?
Jump to the bottom to hear Brittany explain this. Cash flow is one of the biggest stress points for business owners ,especially when revenue fluctuates
Why Your Hospice’s Monthly Report Should Use Per Patient Day, Not Total Dollars
Jump to the bottom to hear Justin explain this. Every growing hospice hits the same moment: you open the monthly P&L/hospice monthly report, see that
The FY 2026 Hospice Cap Surprise: Why Small Hospices Get…
Jump to the bottom to hear Justin explain this. The FY 2026 Hospice Cap Surprise: Why Small Hospices Get Blindsided — and the 4 Numbers
Struggling to Explain Your Financials to the Board? You Don’t Have to Do It Alone.
Jump to the bottom to hear Justin explain this. Struggling to Explain Your Financials to the Board? You Don’t Have to Do It Alone. You
Why Your Hospice’s Financial Statements Aren’t Enough — And What MVI Benchmarking Tells You Instead
Jump to the bottom to hear Justin explain this. If you’re reviewing your hospice’s financials every month and feeling reasonably good about the numbers, you
You Don’t Have a Numbers Problem – You Have a Confidence Problem
Jump to the bottom to hear Shannon explain this. As a small business owner, you may think you have a numbers problem, but what’s really underneath it
The Hidden Risk in Your Accounts Payable Process (and How to Fix It)
We’re going to explain an AP mistake most nonprofits don’t see—until an audit exposes missing approvals, duplicate payments, and broken processes. In today’s nonprofit and
401(k) Remittance Deadlines for Small Businesses
401(k) Remittance Deadlines for Small Businesses: What the DOL Actually Requires 401(k) contributions must be deposited as soon as reasonably possible, typically within a few
Universal Bookkeeper Welcomes New Controller
Universal Bookkeeper welcomes Thomas G. Squires, CPA, MA PA, as Controller—bringing three decades of accounting and leadership experience to the team. Universal Bookkeeper (UB) is
Celebrating 10 Years of Universal Bookkeeper
Ten years ago, Universal Bookkeeper was just an idea — and a whole lot of heart. This month, we celebrated how far that idea has
Hospice Accounting Case Study: How Mountain Valley Hospice Strengthened Financial Operations with Universal Bookkeeper
Hospice Accounting Case Study: How Mountain Valley Hospice Strengthened Financial Operations with Universal Bookkeeper “We needed more than just bookkeeping—we needed a strategic financial partner.
Should my business be an S Corp or LLC
Before You Jump on the S Corp Bandwagon: What Small Business Owners Should Know about S Corp Election Are you a sole proprietor? Or maybe
Stop Losing Money: Reduce Late Fees with AP Automation
Are late vendor fees stacking up like unread emails in your inbox? You’re not alone. Many small businesses struggle to keep up with accounts payable
Balancing Work While Studying for the CPA Exam: My Journey at Universal Bookkeeper
Why I Chose the CPA Path When I first graduated from high school, I was torn between two career paths: becoming a pharmacist or becoming
7 Proven Strategies to Build Strong Customer Relationships for Small Business Growth
Have you ever left a business thinking, “That customer service was excellent,” or “They really understood what I needed”? As a small business owner, those
The Role of a Fractional CFO in Scaling Your Business
As a small business owner, you’re no stranger to wearing multiple hats—managing operations, overseeing marketing, handling customer relations, and even keeping an eye on the
How Much Does an Outsourced Accounting Firm Cost Compared to An In-House Accountant or CFO
The True Cost of Hiring an Accountant vs. Outsourcing with Universal Bookkeeper Many small business owners are unaware of the true cost of employing an
How to Revolutionize Hospice Informational Visits
In this video, we explore an innovative approach to hospice informational visits that’s helping agencies navigate staffing shortages while improving efficiency. With the shift to
How much to budget for taxes as a Single Member LLC or 100% S-Corp Owner
Understanding how to budget for taxes is crucial for business owners, particularly those operating as a Single Member LLC or a 100% owner of an
Stay Audit-Free: 8 Tips to Keep the IRS at Bay
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is responsible for collecting taxes in the United States, and part of their efforts include auditing taxpayers to ensure compliance
5 Tips for Smooth and Accurate 1099 Filing for Small Business Owners
If you’re a small business owner, it’s important to make sure you’re up to date on all your tax obligations, including preparing and filing your
Next Steps After Receiving Your Paycheck Protection Planner (PPP) Loan
Great news- you’ve received your Paycheck Protection Planner (PPP) loan for your small business! Now what? Justin Miller is here to guide you through the
“Don’t Pierce the Corporate Veil”
At Universal Bookkeeper we strive to assist and helping our valued clients in all facets of their business and finances to the best of our
“The Difference between a Traditional and Roth IRA”
People toss around the words, “Roth IRA” and “Traditional IRA” in everyday casual conversation, but how are they different? What are the advantages to having
What you need before you hire your first employee
Ever wonder what you need before you start to pay your first employee? Check out this video for a quick overview what you need so
Retirement Options for Small Business Owners
Ever wonder what options you have if you are a small business owner and would like to strategically plan for retirement? Watch the video below
Personal Financial Planning Advice for Millennials
Most Millennials are stressed out with their finances. One of the best things you can do at an early stage is to sit down with
Year End IRA Planning Tips with MCB Consultants
Had a chance to sit down with Bill Matteson from MCB Consultants to talk about year end IRA strategies. Here is what he had to
Early Mortgage Payoff Strategies
In the next few weeks, I am buying a new house which got me thinking about how I could potentially pay off the mortgage faster
Check out this site to play with your Paycheck and Tax Return
Hi Everyone, If you are like me, then you sometime want to see how your tax return would fare if you were to have more
Make you business more efficient with these tools!
On a regular basis, I get asked the question: “what tools do you use in your business”? Part of my job is to continuously try
How to Retire from Your Corporate Job and Become Rich
Today is July 28th. At this very moment I am 3 days into my corporate “retirement” and pursuing a lifestyle that is more in tune
Why aren’t you an S-Corp?
Your a single member LLC business. Mid-year… after the initial shocker of the Federal tax balance has finally settled in your stomach, you vow to
Finance Resolution for Small Businesses
Finance Resolution for Small Businesses Okay. It’s a new year so you know what that means – “Oh I’m gonna eat healthier” – “I’m going
Safe and Secure Remote Accounting
Safe and Secure Remote Accounting At Universal Bookkeeper we pride ourselves on financial security for our clients. We all understand the issues that come with
Tax Tips for Businesses
Plan Early: Last Minute Tricks to Make the Most of Your 2015 Tax Return I know what you’re thinking, “Justin, I was just getting my
Why the Future of Accounting has Gone Virtual
Why the Future of Accounting has Gone Virtual and How You are Missing Out You all have that friend that treats tax season like any
“Motivation such an aggravation” – sum 41
There are a few things that I have thought about this weekend that I feel are important to put on paper. The importance of
The Bootstrapping Tools You Need to Run (not start) Your Business & More!
“If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t BIG enough!”
Your kid doesn’t deserve a trophy!
Top 3 Blogs of the Week Here we go again. Being an avid blog reader allows me to find great content that I can share
When do I need to start a formal “payroll”?
Payroll is expensive, confusing, and expensive. But unfortunately, it is a necessary facet of business for almost every industry and organization type. Use the following
How to pay a bill fast!
Let me paint the picture: This is how every business pays their bills. Step 1 – Open the envelope. Step 2 – Sort invoices. Step
The Money You Lose by NOT Having a Bookkeeper!
So your asking yourself why you need a bookkeeper or accountant? I usually fall back on 1 simple but major question. WHAT DO YOU PAY
Reduce Self Employment Taxes
Get asked this question a lot – Reduce Self-Employment Taxes with a Corporation or LLC | LegalZoom: https://t.co/lN0vcbeILe — Universal Bookkeeper (@univbookkeeper) July 12, 2015
How does remote bookkeeping with Universal Bookkeeper work?
Remote bookkeeping allows the business owner to obtain accurate financial statements through a non intrusive process. This process will most likely involve providing access to bank, credit