Zero Grid Accounting

So why Zero Grid? What does it mean? What is its significance?

A little backstory on myself and my experience will answer these questions. After college, I worked for 2 different CPA Firms and did 5 tax seasons. I grew tired of tax season and decided to pursue my passion in IT. I started at the help desk and by the time I quit to start Zero Grid Accounting I was a Network Admin/Software Developer. The only real relationship between IT and accounting is the numbers. Computers operate in 1's and 0's or on and off. I think you can see where this is going. Along with computers and technology, I'm also a bit of an intellectual prepper, which means I like to learn survival techniques and strategies that utilize primitive and advanced technologies.

Being that we live in an RV, we can live off the grid for extended periods, given we have access to fresh water and a way to charge our lithium battery bank. We have 20 acres of undeveloped woods with no access to any utilities for several miles in all directions. We plan to live on it this summer relying on a well that I drove into the ground myself, and the sun for our power, which means I'll be running my business completely off the grid. Eventually, this property will be our permanent home and it seemed fitting to me that my business be named accordingly.

In machine language a 1 is on and 0 is off. So when you see Zero Grid Accounting it means Off Grid Accounting. Being reliant on my ability to learn new skills and apply those skills is something that I love to do in both my business and personal life.

Throughout the upcoming weeks, I'll share some of the things I use that allow me to be an Off-Grid Accountant.

It has been a while since I posted, so here is a little about myself and how I work.

I live and travel full-time in a 5th wheel RV with my wife and two kids. We have been as far west as southern Idaho, as far north as Glacier National Park, as far south as Marathon Key, FL, and as far east as Plymouth, MA over the past 2 and a half years. We have seen some of our nation's most beautiful landscapes and monuments. Most of the time we stay in RV parks or campgrounds but occasionally we like to boondock.

In our travels, I have been able to help my customers stay on top of their accounting. Whether we are plugged in or looking to the sky for our power and internet I am always ready to enter transactions, run payroll, or make a journal entry. We set up a small but functional desk space in the RV where my wife and I can run our businesses.

If you need help getting your accounting in order click the link in my bio and schedule a call, you can find where I am currently working from and get a plan of action for your business. Who knows, maybe I'll end up in your neck of the woods and we can meet in person!

We offer 3 different packages to our clients so that you can find what fits best for your needs AND your budget. Here's a list of the accounting services I can provide.

As a small business owner I understand choosing DIY to save a buck. If you can relate and have decided to file your own taxes, it can be overwhelming to know which form to use for your small business.

There are several different types of business structures and the IRS requires a different form for each. Know your entity type and the types business activities that require reporting are an important part of know which forms to use.

I've created a list below to simplify this for you:

1️⃣ Sole Proprietorship/Single-Member LLC:
Schedule C (Form 1040)

2️⃣ Partnership/Multi-Member LLC:
Form 1065
Schedule K-1 (Form 1065)

3️⃣ C Corporation:
Form 1120

4️⃣ S Corporation:
Form 1120-S
Schedule K-1 (Form 1120-S)

5️⃣ Employment Taxes:
Form 941 (Quarterly)
Form 940 (Annual)

6️⃣ Independent Contractors:
Form 1099-NEC

Always consult with a tax professional for personalized advice.

Struggling with your accounting software?

Break free from the stress!

Follow these 3 steps to seamless financial management:
1️⃣ Visit our link in bio.
2️⃣ Schedule a consult.
3️⃣ Let's meet (virtually) and discuss your frustrations to find a tailored solution.

Your peace of mind is just a click away.

Handing over the steering wheel of your financials to an accountant can be hard!

How do you actually trust them to handle your financials with expertise, integrity, and best effort? (Unfortunately, there's such a thing as "lazy accountants".)

Your accountant should:
✏️ Do their best to implement Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and utilize their experience to correctly record transactions and leave your books clear and clean – giving YOU peace!
✏️ Communicate openly and honestly with you so that you can understand your books and your business better (it shouldn't be confusing!)
✏️ Be willing to see things from your perspective as the business owner, so that your categories and accounts all make sense to you
✏️ Have high moral standards and values so that your business is treated honestly with care, making you a priority
✏️ Understand your industry so that they can advise financial decisions well

Zero Grid Accounting makes sure that our clients completely trust us to handle everything accounting-related. We promise to make you a priority and give you the very best service that your small business deserves.

Don't guess at your deductions.

EVERYONE has an opinion on deductions, but you have to check the credibility of the source as well as if they lean conservative or more risky in their business decisions. Federal and state guidelines actually determine what you can and cannot record in your books, so make sure you consult a professional!

100% of my clients are small businesses, and I couldn't be more proud of that. Coming from a larger firm, I received a significant amount of experience in handling large numbers, advising on complex financials, and working up against tight deadlines. This has allowed me to bring exceptional accounting services to the world of small businesses.

My wife has owned her small business for 10 years this month, and we quickly realized her burdens and frustrations with bookkeeping. Thank GOODNESS she had me 😆 but it made us both excited about what I could bring to small businesses in accounting services. Because I knew it wasn't just her that was feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. I get to help take away that burden.

What every business owner needs to be doing at the end of the month. Don't forget the last one! 💵

If you're still DIYing your bookkeeping, keep these best practices in mind to avoid common stresses that business owners face.

✏️ Once a week, match your entries and keep your books up to date. Taking it a little at a time keeps it from becoming overwhelming and daunting. Tackle it now!

✏️ Be strategic with the timing of your purchases. This means paying attention to cash flow so you know what is available and what is outstanding.

✏️ Take a photo of your receipts and attach it to the expense in the moment. Everything wants to throw away that paper receipt, right?

✏️ Reconcile your books at the end of each month, don't fall behind! Make sure those entries you made line up with your bank statements, and ensure nothing falls through the cracks. No surprises at the end of the year!

We've all been there, end of month (or end of year) with a mound of receipts that need to be sorted, entries that need to be matched, and nothing reconciled like it should be. You don't want to be paying top dollar to have your CPA sort through everything during tax season, so do your best to stay on top of your accounting and make these HABITS moving forward.

To make bookkeeping a strategic investment in your success, we need to know what your goal is in your business and life to advise you the best we can about the financial decisions you make and the way you record it in your books. You might just think all we do is "record transactions," but from the very first meeting with your accountant, you'll realize we think big picture.

Share your vision and thought process with your accountant. We'll integrate that with GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles), and help you achieve those goals.

Thanks, Rory!

Merry Christmas! Luke 2:11, For into you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord.

Specializing in accounting for small businesses means offering customized services that fit any budget. Your bookkeeping is EXTREMELY important, not just to make sure you're maximizing your profits, but also to make sure your books follow standard accounting principles to protect you and your business if you were to get audited. Audits don't always come from the federal level, but can also come from the state, and even your insurance providers. If you're not sure where to start, I can help!

Anyone else missing those warm summer evenings? We're at 26 degrees here in eastern Tennessee, and while we've been actively moving south to warmer temps 🚌 the cold just keeps catching up to us.

Thinking about these beautiful Door County trips, and looking forward to next summer.

How it works: it starts with a consult! We chat about your needs and your budget, I take a peek at your books, and then I provide a quote for accounting services for your business. It's often easier (and more affordable) than you think!

zerogridaccounting.com/contact

Collect your contractor's W-9 and mailing address up front, and at year end, make this one less thing you need to worry about!

Year end is here and you won't want to miss out on the secret sauce for maximizing deductions! Dive into our latest blog post where we spill the beans on lesser-known tax deductions that could be game-changers for your small business.

Curious to uncover these hidden gems? Click the link below to discover the magic of tax deductions and give your business the financial boost it deserves!

https://www.zerogridaccounting.com/blog/littleknown-tax-deductions

Shopping small can be hard, but it's critical to the health of our economy - especially right now. Supporting small businesses is supporting American families and their dreams. Go to the extra effort this holiday season to shop small to make a big difference here at home. 🇺🇸

Helping small businesses from the start is really important to me. While I can help seasoned businesses clean up their books (even books that go back YEARS), keeping businesses well organized and out of the mess in the first place is preferred! That's why I have packages specifically for startups that will help you set up QuickBooks and do your books yourself if that's what your new business budget can accommodate.

This tip is for those small business owners who own or lease a place of business (that could be an office space, retail space, or even a warehouse). This is often overlooked, and something that business owners fail to mention to their accountant. But this increase to assets can look good to investors, creditors, and banks. So make sure to keep good records of your building improvements!

Setting up smart accounting systems for your business always saves time and money. BUT, you need to set it up correctly so that all of your accounts are in sync and working FOR you instead of against you. Otherwise it could do the opposite.

Happy Fall! We're still enjoying the beautiful fall weather down in Kentucky this November (high 60's!) which is a nice change of pace for our full-time RV family. This makes me grateful for my 100% remote, virtual accounting business and the ability to help anyone in the country – we get to chase the warmer weather!

November and December I'll be scheduling consults for new clients, and end-of-year clients for book cleanups. If you're thinking about taking accounting off your plate as a small business owner in 2024, now's the BEST time to reach out! You'll get your 2023 books in order for tax filing coming up, AND start off on the right foot keeping your books organized for 2024.

Helping small businesses go from frustration and overwhelm to peace of mind is my priority! Hope you're enjoying fall wherever you are this year.

A good accountant doesn't just know accounting regulations and state requirements, best general accounting principals, and is knowledgeable from experience in working with countless clients in unique business situations (all of which qualifies John as an accountant), but a good accountant also knows his tools WELL.

John is an Intuit QuickBooks Certified ProAdvisor so that you have the peace of mind knowing that he is utilizing QuickBooks to benefit your business in the best, most efficient way possible. You know that your accounts and the way things are recorded and organized is vitally important to measuring your finances, profit and loss, and ultimately your business' success. John leverages QuickBooks to make sure your books are in order and working FOR you, not against you.

Hey small business owners, it's that time of year again! I have a few slots open for new clients who just need a cleanup of their books at year end in preparation for taxes. (No ongoing services required!)

Did you know it's more affordable to pay a bookkeeper to clean up your books vs. your CPA hourly to do the same thing?

I specialize in bookkeeping and making sure your accounting is clean and ready for your CPA, saving you time and money. Book a free consult so I can take a look at your books and provide you with a custom quote and action list for getting your books clean.

BOOK HERE: zerogridaccounting.com/yearend

I’m a husband, and a dad to two amazing kids. I love exploring the great outdoors (which includes hiking and fishing), and dream of owning a homestead and farm someday. I'm based in Colorado but work with clients all over the country remotely. My God and my conservative values are important to me. I’m a family man through and through.

So why "Zero Grid Accounting?" In case you haven’t noticed… my home is on wheels. My family and I are in a season of exploration! We hit the road in our RV in fall of 2021, and haven’t looked back. So in all sense of the phrase, we are (sometimes figuratively, sometimes very literally) “off grid.”

And THEN (hang with me, this is the nerdy part) “zero” because “off” to a computer reads as a zero. Like this: 0. Which I obviously deal with a lot of in accounting. Therefore “Zero Grid” is a play on “Off Grid.” Yep, kind of nerdy. But that's where it came from!

Less contact with your accountant, time saved for the both of you, no need to stash a paper receipt.

No books? No problem. Zero Grid will set up your books, setting YOU up for success. This includes connecting you with QuickBooks, so no need to do that ahead of time.

Decide to have Zero Grid handle your books moving forward? Your setup becomes free with the purchase of an ongoing monthly package.

https://www.zerogridaccounting.com/services