Questions
Answers to the tax and accounting questions that come up when you're running a business.
My practice management software shows one revenue number and my bank shows another. Which is right?
Both numbers are telling you something real, but neither gives the complete picture. Your software tracks what you charged and what's owed after adjustments. Your bank shows what actually collected. Proper bookkeeping reconciles both.
Read answerCash basis or accrual: which fits a medical business?
Cash basis is simpler and works for many small practices, but insurance reimbursement lag and prepaid packages mean medical businesses often need accrual-style visibility. Many owners start with cash-basis books while tracking receivables and package liabilities separately.
Read answerA client prepaid for a package of sessions. Is that income now?
No. Until the sessions are delivered, that money is a liability, not income. You recognize revenue as each session is completed, not when the payment arrives.
Read answerWhat does a properly built chart of accounts do for a medical business?
A properly built chart of accounts separates revenue by service line, splits direct delivery costs from overhead, and tracks prepaid package liabilities. Without this structure, your books show totals but cannot answer margin questions.
Read answerWhich monthly reports actually matter for my business?
The core set includes the profit and loss statement, balance sheet, and cash movement report. Depending on your business, you may also need receivables aging and margin by service line to see the full picture.
Read answerHow can I tell which of my services earn money and which just stay busy?
Track the direct costs that go into each service and compare them to what you charge. Many owners find that their busiest services aren't their most profitable, and without cost tracking there's no way to know which is which.
Read answerI did my own QuickBooks setup and I am afraid to look at it. What now?
DIY QuickBooks files with miscategorized transactions and unusable reports are extremely common. We assess whether to repair or rebuild, restructure the accounts for your type of medical business, reconcile everything, and hand back books you can actually trust.
Read answerWhy does my profit and loss look fine while my bank account feels empty?
Your profit and loss statement and your bank account measure different things at different times. The gap usually comes from insurance receivables not yet collected, inventory purchased but not used, loan principal payments, prepaid package cash already spent, owner draws, and taxes never set aside.
Read answerDo you take over my bills and invoicing if I want that too?
Yes. Hunter Green CPA offers accounts payable and accounts receivable as add-on services starting at $100 per month each. Bills get tracked and paid on time, invoices go out promptly, and everything is recorded in your books.
Read answerHow long do I need to keep receipts and financial records?
Keep most business financial records for seven years to cover the IRS's standard audit window and extended periods for income understatement. Payroll records need at least four years. Cloud bookkeeping with digital receipt storage makes retention automatic rather than a filing cabinet project.
Read answerMy side business made real money this year. Why is my refund gone?
Your business profit stacks on top of your W-2 clinical income and gets taxed at your highest marginal rate, plus self-employment tax. The W-2 withholding that used to produce refunds was never meant to cover this extra layer.
Read answerWhen does an S corporation election start making sense?
An S corporation election makes sense when the tax savings on distributions exceed the added costs of payroll, a separate tax return, and compliance with reasonable-compensation rules. There's no universal income threshold. It depends on your actual profit and what the overhead will cost you.
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