OPEN for YOUR BUSINESS

The

March 2005

	Get More From Your Accountant
	Tax Reform Tops Wish List
	Tax Expert - Fred Daily
	Tax Tools
	Feedback
	Dashboard

Government should focus on tax relief first, according to 26% of business owners surveyed in the OPEN Small Business Monitor survey from American Express. Concerns about tax breaks topped healthcare benefits (20%), keeping interest rates low (14%) and reducing paperwork and regulation (14%).

The Inside Track on Getting the Best Tax Advice Ever

Q. How do you get the best service for your business from your accountant?

Find someone who knows and is passionate about your industry and you will probably get good service. The best service comes when you tap into someone's area of interest and focus. I just switched accountants because I wanted someone more focused on real estate than my previous accountant.
Terry Hillery, President of The Hillery Holding Company
Boston, MA - based luxury real estate development firm

Take your accountant out to lunch once a year, or once a quarter. By doing this, you build a relationship and relationships lead to better service. And don't be afraid to fire them. If your instinct tells you they're not doing well, you are probably right.
Erik Cushman, Publisher of Monterey County Weekly
Monterey, CA - based local, independent newspaper

We put a lot of effort into maintaining our relationship and making our needs known. Once a month we meet with our accountant and if we feel like things are slipping, we raise it on the spot. Also, we make it clear that we are on top of things by addressing pressing questions right away rather than even waiting until our next monthly meeting.
Laurence Kretchmer, Partner of Bolo Restaurant & Mesa Grill
New York, NY & Las Vegas, NV - based fine dining restaurant

Learn More
• 25 Common Business Deductions and Expenses
• 10 Ways to Pay Less in Tax

Tax Savvy author Fred Daily suggests...
Take time to find the right person for your business and build a long-term relationship with that person. Stick with them because only a professional who knows your business can give you the best service. If you work out of your home, ask questions about home office deductions. If you have a small trucking company, ask questions about depreciating cars. To get the best service you also need to have a minimal understanding of how a tax return operates and what is on there. You can get this from the IRS website or from my book Tax Savvy for Small Business.
Fred Daily, Author of Tax Savvy for Small Business (Nolo)

Through April, download a special 2004 Annual Company Spending Report for your company that includes an account summary and transaction details for the year.

Save your accountant or financial advisor the hassle of receipts; give them secure, online access to your American Express account records.

How will you be affected by the latest tax law? Find out from the experts at American Express Tax & Business Services.

Have a new e-mail address? Update it here | We want your feedback

Unsubscribe Instructions
This e-mail was sent to %%email%%. If you do not wish to receive the Open for Your Business newsletter in the future, please click here to unsubscribe. To remove this or other e-mail addresses from other types of American Express e-mail communications, please visit the E-mail Preferences page on the American Express website.

Customer Service
To ensure the security of your account, please send all other inquiries through our Secure Message Center. We are unable to respond to account inquiries sent in reply to this e-mail. You may also contact us offline at: American Express, Customer Service Department, P.O. Box 297817, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33329-7817.

Privacy Statement
For details on our e-mail practices, please visit the American Express Privacy Statement.