Five New Client Warning Signals You Should Not Ignore

As a new freelance bookkeeper, accountant, or other entrepreneur in the service or consulting business, you may be tempted to accept any client, just to get your business started. However, not all potential clients are the kind you want. Beware of the following warning signs:

1. Client is not current with income tax or payroll tax returns. When meeting with potential clients, always inquire about the status of income tax and payroll tax filings. If the client is cheating, ignoring, or lying to the IRS, they will almost certainly do the same to you.

2. Client is not current with basic accounting tasks, such as bank reconciliations. Bank reconciliations are a basic accounting function. Legitimate business owners know this and are careful to see that the task gets done in a timely manner. If you have a potential client who is not current with this task, it is an indication that he does not take the accounting side of business seriously. He may therefore not take you, your work, or your invoices seriously either.

3. Client's business cannot be located through an Internet search. Many legitimate business still do not have websites. However, this, coupled with one or more other items from this list, can be an indication that the client does not take his business seriously, and may not take your business seriously either.

4. Client's business is not listed in the White Pages. A White Pages listing is the most basic form of listing a business can have. If the client cannot be found there, then this gives the strong impression that the client is hiding. Hiding from what? Probably the IRS. See #1 above.

A few potential clients will fall into several of these catagories. If you do not wish to work for them, then don't. However, there is one tactic you can try: have them pay for your services up front. If they agree, then it's very possible they are trying to become legitimate. Don't be skimpy or shy about the sum of money you request, and make sure the check clears your bank before you begin any work.

If they don't want to pay up front, or if their check does not clear your bank, then this fact becomes the fifth and last item on this list.

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4 Cool Firefox Add-ons You Need

Microsoft Internet Explorer Web browser still rates as the most popular and widely used browser for one simple reason: It goes hand in hand with every Windows installation.

But in response to the fears of security in recent years, another browser took a piece from the monopoly position of Microsoft.

Often makes the FireFox browser of choice for those who either dislike Microsoft (for whatever reason), or want more flexibility and functionality in their browser, particularly in the areaaware of add-ons (also known as the "plugins").

Add-ons (little programs that can be) a Web browser functionality to improve trick from your browser to give you everything from upload website files to speed dialing your favorite websites.

The overwhelming majority of add-ons for Firefox for free to have (although donations are welcome). Simply log in to http://addons.mozilla.org and check the free add-ons you can hook.

Note that once you get to the page, the little programs you canwith Firefox running under the "extensions" link. Here are a few of our favorites are here in my office - just search for them by name when you are on the Mozilla site (or use the links below).

** ** Forecastfox Get international weather forecasts from AccuWeather.com, and display it in any toolbar or statusbar with this highly customizable and unobtrusive extension. " This is another way of saying, you can always know what the weather reports say that only by looking at your browserlower right corner.

This makes a very useful tool to remind an eye out for thunderstorms or by the fact that a sunny day expected when you click Finish a marathon session on your computer. http://tinyurl.com/yqv54y

** ** SpeedDial Everyone uses bookmarks or "favorites" in one or another point. But those who make frequent use them, you have a problem in itself. Each time you log on to your favorite sites, you have to wade through dozens, hundreds available, to include thousands of links, whichYou want.

Enter the "SpeedDial" add-on that helps you the most frequently used Web sites in a "Dashboard" you can customize. You can even organize a number of speed dial directories around groups of web pages (business resources, shopping sites, etc.). http://tinyurl.com/2hhn7a

FireFTP ** ** If you have a website needs the ability to upload files to your hosting account. You can either use a separate FTP program, or you can use this nifty little browser add-onFireFox that in a nice little FTP utility.

"FireFTP is a free, secure, cross-platform FTP client for Mozilla Firefox, the easy and intuitive access to FTP servers is available." I have this add-on helpful in my own business, if it is to provide quick access to the files on my websites. http://tinyurl.com/yv56ru

Download Statusbar ** ** One annoying feature of Firefox includes the download window opens, that every time you open a file from the Internet. This can getin the way and actually do not interrupt your activities.

Enter the "Download Statusbar add on" which "promises to view and manage downloads with a simple statusbar - without the download window in the way of your Web browsing."

Even if this add-on makes downloading more convenient, you need the instructions before using it just to let you read not frustrated. http://tinyurl.com/29a456

Copyright (c) 2008 Jim Edwards

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