Hiring an Accountant

Accountants can help you keep an eye on major costs as early asthe start-up stage, a time when you are probably preoccupied withcounting every paper clip and postage stamp. Accountants help youlook at the big picture.

Even after the start-up stage, many business owners have no ideahow well they're doing financially until the end of the year,when they file their tax returns. Meanwhile, they equate their cashflow with profits, which is wrong. Every dollar counts forsmall-business owners, so if you don't know where you stand ona monthly basis, you may not be around at the end of the year.

Excerpted from Start Your Own Business: The Only Start-Up GuideYou'll Ever Need