Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants

1650 West 82nd Street, Ste 600
Bloomington MN 55431
Ph: 952-831-2707 Fax: 952-831-7875
www.mncpa.org

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Articles

Securing the Section 179D tax deduction for clients with energy efficient commercial buildings
Get up to speed on the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) §179D tax deduction and learn how this provision could help your clients.

Perfect your accounting firm playbook: 3 easy steps to improve profitability [MNCPA]
In these ever-changing times, adaptability is key. Here are three easy steps to enhance your accounting firm's profitability playbook and ensure consistent cash flow in an uncertain future.

Top 3 reasons your clients will love working with us [MNCPA]
Hear about how the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation can help you!

Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management may begin accepting adult-use cannabis applications sooner than expected
On Jan. 30, 2024, the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) provided a public update on the office’s rulemaking and application process for the adult-use cannabis market in Minnesota.

Cultivating success
As Minnesota’s cannabis market continues to grow and evolve, achieving a deep understanding of the complexities and opportunities within this sector is crucial.

Employer strategies that address current labor challenges
For many reasons, U.S. businesses are facing an unprecedented shortage of workers, and that’s having a profound impact on where companies choose to locate, how they price their products and services, and how they recruit, train and retain workers while trying to stay competitive nationally and globally.

2023 Minnesota Clean Energy Law SF4
In the wake of recent legislative changes to Minnesota’s clean energy bill SF 4 passed this past February, it’s important for CPAs and financial advisors to understand provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA).

Renewable Energy and Advanced Energy Investment Tax Credits
The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are offering billions of dollars in energy-related tax incentives to companies that invest in clean energy and clean energy technologies that help combat climate change. See which credits your clients may qualify for.

Strengthening data protection for you and your clients
Now is the perfect time to delve into the significance of data privacy and explore how we can collectively bolster our defenses against cyber threats.

4 benefits of mobile payment systems for CPAs
One of the latest payments technologies that has seen rapid growth recently is mobile payments, where customers can send off a payment directly from their bank accounts with a few taps of a mobile app. See how this technology can help your firm.

How to leverage technology in times of instability
Finance leaders are facing significant challenges resulting from instability in today’s national and global markets. New drivers of uncertainty have emerged over the last few years, impacting the ways organizations are being led going forward and driving the need for long-term, sustainable change.

Spotlight on Dell MDR: The compelling case for managed detection and response in CPA firms
Just as CPA firms offer specialized services for clients lacking in-house financial expertise, managed detection and response (MDR) services provide much-needed cybersecurity capabilities for organizations that may not have dedicated IT departments.

The growing market for CPAs in the cooperative business sector
A pressing issue has come to the forefront in the cooperative business community: the scarcity of CPAs specifically equipped with expertise in cooperative accounting. By bridging this knowledge gap, CPAs can seize the opportunity to enter this rapidly expanding market for their services.

How to measure the success of your hybrid work model for accounting leaders
At this stage, accounting firm leaders are turning their attention to measuring the success of their hybrid work model. But what works well for one company’s culture and working style may not work well elsewhere — even within the same industry.

Developing a succession plan in today’s world [MNCPA]
This article cover four aspects of a succession plan: developing a succession plan, compensating the retiring partner or partners, transitioning clients and transitioning firm management.

5 myths about cannabis and the accounting industry
Cannabis is expected to be a $100 billion market in the next few years, with hundreds of thousands of new companies needing accounting and tax help.

4 steps to navigate the impact of sudden wealth: Tips for business owners and entrepreneurs
With careful planning and the right team, sudden wealth can be a blessing rather than a curse. Here are four key steps to get started.

Revamp your online presence: Why updating your website is critical in 2023
Having a website is essential for any accounting firm. Your website serves as a virtual storefront, providing potential clients and new recruits with valuable information about your firm’s services and culture.

MNCPA sets 2022 legislative agenda [MNCPA]
It’s imperative issues that affect the CPA profession and those you serve continue to get attention from lawmakers.

Making the most of LinkedIn during busy season
Building a few minutes of LinkedIn time into your daily and weekly routines will help you gain momentum and connections all year.

5 smart strategies to grow your business [MNCPA]
MNCPA partner, CPACharge, shares tips to increase revenue and enhance your client experience.

Empathy: A powerful business construct [MNCPA]
Dr. Shannon Rogers explains how she is eliciting loyalty with data-driven, empathetic user experiences.

6 ways marketing can help you recruit rock stars
Developing and implementing a solid recruiting/retention marketing strategy takes deliberate effort, but the sooner you start the sooner you will begin to see payoffs.

Putting your team in the mental position to accelerate change
You already know your team is vital to successful changes, put them in the place to drive it forward with confidence.

Boost your virtual networking power
Keep the foundational principles of networking in place and apply it to the virtual space.

5 tips to help you prune toxic clients [MNCPA]
At the end of the day, not every client is a great client. And having great clients at your firm keeps your firm profitable and your team happy.

Hanging your shingle [MNCPA]
Have you ever thought of running your own shop? Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit? Does the thought of risk not scare you? Then making this move can be awesome.

The hand of private equity in accounting firms [MNCPA]
Private equity is reaching into the accounting world, but why — and what’s the trade-off for CPA firms?

Gather client experience data through effective interviews
Ask enough people about their expectations, and you can identify some universal themes about why they choose you. However, surveys can only do so much.

6 ways to show clients appreciation
Showing appreciation for others is a rare but powerful opportunity to build a relationship — and a brand.

Benchmarking as a service in CAAS practice
Benchmarking services empower our clients with the knowledge necessary to make strategic business decisions, and as their trusted advisers, we can help our clients achieve growth and improve profitability.

Minnesota’s Angel Tax Credit [MNCPA]
The Angel Tax Credit is an important tool for assisting small startup businesses across the state get a foothold in the capital markets. Read about the latest developments.

Is there a silver lining to the Great Resignation?
Here are five recommendations to implement now to help mitigate a stressful busy season due to staff shortages.

Communication drives everything [MNCPA]
Adapt your communication style to meet others where they are.

How to grow a modern, scalable accounting firm in 2022 [MNCPA]
While change can create challenges, it can also open the door to more opportunities. Here are seven tactics to help your firm stay competitive in 2022 and beyond.

Business as unusual
Employers are faced with changing traditional ways of addressing employment issues and short-term solutions are not likely to help.

5 critical technologies for 2022 [MNCPA]
With so many new and emerging technologies available, it can be challenging to identify those that can have an immediate, positive impact on your bottom line.

CPA firms: Expect the unexpected [MNCPA]
Don’t forget to incorporate the BOA rules into your succession-planning discussion. Doing so will help you to avoid complications, especially if non-CPA owners are involved.

The importance of employer branding [MNCPA]
A dive into what an employer brand is, how to build your employer branding strategy and how to promote it to attract high-quality candidates.

Add HRAs to your client’s tax planning toolkit
With a wage war in many sectors, what more can employers provide to tip the balance for staff retention?

Nuts and bolts of cryptocurrency taxation [MNCPA]
The inclusion of the virtual currency question on the front and center of Form 1040 have made cryptocurrency a subject that tax practitioners cannot afford to ignore anymore.

Best practices for digital ad campaigns
You can’t control how people search for your services, but using digital ads regularly can help you build brand awareness and a more detailed profile of qualified leads.

Is an ESOP the right exit strategy for you?
Though ESOPs can be relatively complex, they are often an excellent succession tool for a seller that can provide significant tax and intangible benefits.

The life and times of a networking zealot [MNCPA]
Get insight and news from MNCPA leadership about the organization and professional issues.

Client centricity leads to profitability
Becoming client centric requires an investment in training and retooling, but the return on your investment will be immediate and significant.

How to leverage referrals in this virtual world
Thankfully, there are options that exist to bring in new business from behind your desk.

Are the details killing your company?
What are you doing to ensure that every member of your team pays attention to the little details that send big messages about your organization?

3 ways to improve digital marketing campaigns
Now that more firms are exploring and launching digital marketing activities, let’s look at three ways to help CPAs get real digital leads.

Business Perspective: Thomson Reuters [MNCPA]
While this can sound daunting, there are three key elements you’ll want to include in your conversation with clients when talking about advisory.

Maintaining and enhancing client engagement now and in the future [MNCPA]
Thankfully, there are several actions you can take (that don’t require you to log into Zoom) to maintain a high level of client service from afar.

The state of mergers and acquisitions [MNCPA]
With the M&A market finally slowing down at the end of 2019, the global pandemic and resulting market volatility appear to be accelerating the slowdown.

Dealing with return-to-work stress
As more workers transition back to the office, what can organizations do to plan for a safe, comfortable transition?

The future of business etiquette and communications
Whether for health reasons or due to multiple physical offices and markets, leaders must use new messaging to breach the physical divide and keep their relationships close.

How accountants can improve a business’s COVID-19 recovery and resilience [MNCPA]
The economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic turned many accountants into emergency workers. Accountants were called upon to help triage financial hemorrhaging due to lost customers.

Keep your pipeline alive now so you can thrive later [MNCPA]
With much of the world in disarray and businesses feeling like they are in limbo because of COVID-19, it may seem like the wrong time to focus attention on business development at your firm. It's not.

Nothing is status quo during the COVID-19 pandemic, including how you communicate
Do a communications gut check. Take five minutes to audit yourself and reflect on whether you’ve communicated with the audiences most important to you lately and, if so, how

COVID-19 pandemic turns CPAs into emergency workers
Many people think that accountants are just rational unfeeling counting machines who operate completely on logic and reason.

Positioning an organization to survive and thrive during an economic downturn [MNCPA]
In times of economic uncertainty, it’s imperative for businesses to know how and where to play it safe and double down in order to not only survive, but grow.

5 easy ways to increase new business during busy season
Your clients are right in front of you during busy season and at various times throughout the year. You can build marketing and business development into those conversations for cross-servicing and referrals.

Client centricity creates a path to profitability
Many firms think they know what their clients want, but scarcely do. In short, most client-centric service strategies produce neither the “wow” factor nor the profits.

View from Revenue: Teaming up to help Minnesota businesses [MNCPA]
Find out about key issues the MNCPA is monitoring at the Capitol. Stay current on legislative news and events with stories, tips and grassroots involvement.

Learning the ropes: A tale of attending client meetings with a mentor
Teaching less experienced staff members how to work client meetings is a win all around for the team.

How high-growth accounting firms are outperforming their competitors
Well, while there may not be a magical “sauce” that leads to instant growth, our research has discovered a few common threads that lead to high growth for accounting firms.

Decoding Section 280E [MNCPA]
As the cannabis industry flourishes, a complex set of regulations and tax codes has emerged, shaping the financial landscape for businesses operating in this dynamic sector.

ESG: Where do I start? [MNCPA]
As stakeholder expectations around environmental, social and governance (ESG) grow and regulatory compliance pressures continue to increase, many organizations are focusing on sustainability.

Quality Management standards [MNCPA]
We’re now a year and a half closer to Dec. 15, 2025, the date by which QM implementation is required. Follow these practical steps to prepare your firm for compliance.

MNCPA Perspectives blog posts

Promoting CPAs in a time of complexity, crisis
CPAs have been relied upon more than ever for their expert decision-making skills. As Donny Shimamoto put it, the pandemic turned CPAs into emergency workers helping families and business owners...