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    INTRODUCTION


    This information is provided for individuals who are starting a mail order business and require a basic bookkeeping system. It has been written for someone who has little or no bookkeeping background. No income tax or professional advice is rendered. Such advice should be obtained from a CPA or an Attorney.


    The operation for any business requires a basic system to keep track of income expenses. There are two good reasons to keep good records.


    1. It is the law. The IRS, State Income Tax Division and State Sales Tax Division (where applicable) requires you to keep complete and accurate records.


    2. Keeping good records is good business. It helps you to understand your business better. It will let you know at all times how your bu
    According to USFDA, a combination product is one composed of any combination of a drug and device; biological product and device; drug and biological product
    siness is doing -- how much money you are making or losing. In addition it enables you to analyze expenses and revenues. You can see how seasonal and other trends develop. All of this will help you to make sound business decisions.


    BUSINESS CHECKING ACCOUNT


    It is best to set-up a separate business checking account with your bank for your business. This account should be used only for deposit of business related income and payment of business expenses. In this way you a maintain a distinction between business and personal expenses.


    STATE SALES TAX


    You are required by law in most states to collect the appropriate State Sales Tax. This only applies for sales within your state. Out of state purchasers are not charged a sales tax. Only the end-
    ; or drug, device, and biological product and fixed dose combination would include two or more combinations of drug.

    Examples of combination products may in
    ser pays sales tax. If you should be selling to a dealer he can provide you with a sales tax exemption certificate.. In this case he is not required to pay the sales tax to you since he will be collecting if from his customers.


    STATE USE TAX


    THe Use tax generally applies when a company buys supplies or equipment for its own use from an out of state business. It does not apply when material or merchandise are bought from an out of state company which will be re-sold. The use tax rate is the same as the sales tax rate.


    For specific information on regulations in your state call the nearest State Sales Tax Division in your area.


    ACQUISITION OF EQUIPMENT


    When acquiring office machines, such as typewriters, computers, copiers, furniture, etc. s
    lude drug-coated devices, drugs packaged with delivery devices in medical kits, and drugs and devices packaged separately but intended to be used together.

    uch expenditures are generally depreciated on your tax return over a period of time.. For specific information check with a qualified tax advisor.


    EXPENSES RELATED TO A HOME OPERATED BUSINESS


    If a business is operated from home in many instances a portion of rental, mortgage or other expense may be deductible when filing your income tax.. The same may apply to utility expenses. There are specific laws pertaining to this, and again you should get professional advice.


    EXPLANATION OF FORMS


    We have provided you with several forms. You can use them as they are or change them to fit your particular needs.


    1. DETAIL OF MONTHLY EXPENDITURE FORM


    In the left hand column you keep track of expenditures for merchandise and products that you resell to
    here is enormous increase in the number of combination products entering the market in the recent years. Combination products have proven advantages but fixe
    your customers. The accounting term is generally cost of goods or product, or cost of sales.. If you sell books by mail you would record your purchases for these goods (including drop shipments) in this column.


    The right hand column should be used to record all other expenditures. You obtain this information from your business checking account. If you pay for business expenses by cash keep track of theses expenditures separately and enter into this column also.. If you also use one or more credit cards to pay for business expenses list these expenses here too.. It is best to designate a specific credit card to be used for business expenses only.. Do not intermingle personal charges. In this case you may be able to deduct the interest on your taxes.
    d dose combinations are still in the process of convincing regulatory authority on their advantages over the single ingredient formulations.

    Combination pro


    2. INCOME AND EXPENDITURE FORM


    Record your daily income in the left hand column. Since you may not have income on a daily basis in the beginning stages of your business you can record income less frequently, such as weekly or even monthly.


    You may wish to keep a separate income journal. The purpose of such a journal would be to give you a more detailed breakdown of your revenue. Set it up in any way you feel it will best suit your needs. For example you may want to record new business separately from repeat business. If you sell dealerships and books, for example, you may want to record the revenue from dealerships separately from the revenue for books, etc.


    In fact the right column of this form you can keep track of your expenditures by c
    ucts have become life saving products for the pharmaceutical companies who doesn’t have many innovative molecules in their product pipeline and have been inc
    tegory. Again you can change the categories to suit your particular needs.


    When you deduct your expenses from your receipts at the end of the month you will have an income or loss figure for your business


    PROFIT & LOSS STATEMENT FORM


    Here you show you monthly revenue, expenses and profit loss. There are no requirements for you to do this on a monthly basis..


    Especially in the beginning stages of your new business, you may want to generate a Profit & Loss Statement on a quarterly basis, semi-annual or even annual basis.


    SUMMARY


    The above information and forms will give you a basic system. Tailor it to fit your own situation. You may want something more elaborate or less detailed. Or you may not even put all your business accounting on
    easingly used in the product life cycle management. Even the companies having product patents are trying to extend their product life cycle through the combi
    your P.C. If you are considering acquirING a software program to help you with your accounting I would strongly suggest you wait until you understand your business well. Also accounting software can be difficult to use for an individual without accounting background. A personal money management software system will generally be quite adequate for most small businesses.


    Don't get overwhelmed by record keeping for you new business especially if this is something new for you. Governmental agencies do not require you to keep your books in a particular way but do require you keep good records. This also means that records must be substantial. Again your accountant can give you detailed information on existing requirements.


    While the big task of any
    nation products and maximize the revenues. But the companies involved in this practice are overlooking that they are burdening the patients both economically
    new business is developing sales and acquiring customers, good record keeping is generally found in successful business operations. Your records provide you with accurate present and past information that you as the owner and president of your company must use constantly analyze your business so you will maximize profits.


    Copyright 2004 by DeAnna Spencer

    DeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this small business resource today.
    and physically. They need to rightly judge the benefits of the combination products and they have to even look at the risks involved when combining the produ
    DeAnna Spencer - EzineArticles Expert Author









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    This article has been viewed 1236 time(s).
    Article Submitted On: September 29, 2004













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