Year: 2014

Don’t Get Spooked by Tax Deadlines in October!

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It’s that time of year again….Quarterlies! Bet you thought I was going to say Fall, Halloween, Breast Cancer Awareness, Color Runs, etc, etc, etc. You are busy, your kids are busy, your family is busy but most of all your business is busy. So with everything going on this month, to throw one more cog into the mix it’s time for quarterly sales tax and quarterly employment taxes. Don’t let the deadlines sneak up on you and cost you penalties and interest.

So just consider this your friendly reminder – mark your calendars, sales tax filing is due by 10/20 – make sure if you are paying on line you file by the 17th to avoid an internet delay. Payroll tax if you pay quarterly is due by the end of the month, you can mail your payment in with your 941 form. If you pay your payroll tax bi-weekly or monthly even though you are current on payment you still must mail off your 941 by 10/31.

Now is also the time to take some time and review your books before we start the last quarter of the year. This way you can catch any errors, make any changes, re-evaluate your budget and just do a general clean up before year end.

As always, you can always give me a call to help you navigate any bookkeeping issues or set up electronic tax payments to save you time & money!

Lauree Adams
Adams Business Solutions, Inc
Bookkeeping and Tax
lauree@adamsbusinesssolutions.com
850-319-4205 call or text

GULF COAST SHELL CLUB to HOST their 17TH ANNUAL SHELL SHOW

The beach and seashells are synonymous – you can’t have one without the other! Read on to learn about the Gulf Coast Shell Club and what they’re currently doing in the Panama City Beach area and their upcoming events. As the children’s tongue twister song goes… Sally sells seashells by the seashore, but while Sally may sell them by the shore it’s not likely she found them there – at least not the perfect ones. Strangely enough, the worst place to look for seashells is by the seashore. Not many species live in that rough and tumble surf and those that do wash up on the shore in good condition, are usually only after strong storms. It’s better to look in sheltered bays or dive offshore. It’s interesting to note that the best shelling times are in December and January.

Many people frequent northwest Florida to visit the beautiful beaches of the emerald coast every year and it’s common for tourists to grab a few shells to take home as a keepsake. However, there are many beachcombers so enamored by seashells that they study and research them to the point they can identify them not only by their common names, but also their scientific names. Formed in 1980, the Gulf Coast Shell Club (GCSC) of Panama City is filled with such shell admirers. Members of GCSC are a group of people interested in shells, where they live, how and where to find them, and all other aspects of their lives and beauty and uses.

They meet on the second Tuesday of every month to enjoy food and fellowship with other shell enthusiasts, win raffle prizes for unique shells, and to participate in guest speaker programs. Since its inception the primary goals of GCSC have been the detailed cataloguing of the marine mollusks of the Florida Panhandle and educating the general public on the beauty and diversity of these shells. GCSC has been instrumental in collecting data on several range extensions in the area and club founder, Bob Granda even discovered a species that was named in his honor. “We maintain a list of species found here and provide it to scientists and other collectors. We also watch changes in habitat for if the habitat is altered or destroyed, so it’s our hobby and study,” said GCSC officer, Jim Brunner. “Some people get interested in shells by finding something on the beach and wondering what they found. To this end GCSC published a book to help visitors and residents identify what they find.” Two editions of the book, Seashells of the Florida Panhandle have been published over the years and many reprints have been made due to popularity and demand.

The book contains data on over 203 shells although there are over 600 species that have been identified in this area. This non-profit organization donates to local colleges and environmental programs to assist their needs and to provide scholarships. Their pinnacle event is the annual Shell Show – this will be their 17th show to be held July 19-20, 2014 at the Panama City Beach Senior Center at 423 Lyndell Lane. Saturday’s venue will be from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm and on Sunday it will run from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Admission for adults is a mere $2.00 and for children it’s only $1.00. The event is a collaboration of scientific and artistic exhibits. There will be categories for marine shells, land shells and freshwater shells and also an entry for fossils. In addition, there will be a category for sea life which covers echinoderms, starfish, and sand dollars. Scientific judges are Dr. Emily Vokes, who studied murex and worked to expand knowledge about shells, living and fossil and Dr. Emilio Garcia of Louisiana State University. Artistic judges are Phyllis Gray of Orlando, Florida and Merlyn Jones of Panama City. Various awards will be presented. So if you want to attend an educational family friendly event that’s easy on the budget, don’t miss out on the 2014 Shell Show. For more info visit: gulfcoastshellclub.weebly.com.

Amazing Raffle and Auction items!!! Celebrate The Arts

We have some super amazing prizes, raffle items and auction items at our Event this weekend. The tickets are only 10 dollars and you get 5 raffle tickets. But of course we will let you buy all you want…… so to tempt you here are some of our items. Come to Harley Davidson at 11 till 4:00 and enjoy a day of art and celebration. Proceeds go to Beach Care Services.

· Leather Jacket from Harley

· Kayak from Sunjammer Sports

· 4 Rounds of Golf at Hombre

· Shimmering Seas Jewelry

· Botox from Dr. Ward at Gulf Coast Dermatology ($500 value)

· Wine World Gift Basket

· Beachy Beach Basket (Beach Towels, wine, and other fun beach items) compliments Beachy Beach 30

· Cerulean Interiors Gift Basket

· Dinner for four cooked by Konrad!!!!!

· Dinner & Movie Package: Dinner for four at Panama Pizzaria + 4 Grand Theater movie tickets

· $600 Entertainment Package: 4 rounds of golf at Bay Point ($300 value); dinner at Runaway Bay ($100 value); Panhandle Helicopter ride ($200 value)

· Blue Heron Gift Basket

· Four (4) $25.00 certificates to Jasmine Thai

· Condo Vacation Stay from PCBLP.com (2 BR, 3 nights, off-season: Sept-Feb, last week April and first 2 weeks of May). Condos listed at http://www.pcblp.com

· $30 Gift Certificate at Beef O’Brady’s

· Dusty’s Gift Certificate

· 4 tickets to Gulf World

· Outback Steak House Gift Card

And were just getting started!!!

Tips and Tricks for Dealing with Air Handler Condensation

Your air handler is essentially the indoor component of your central air conditioner. If condensation is forming on the air handler, it can cause some serious problems in your home. It can discolor the concrete upon which it is mounted or even destroy your crawlspace. Here are some excellent tips for stopping this condensation in its tracks.

Check the Duct Insulation

Any time warm, humid air comes into contact with a cold metal surface (such as the ductwork protruding from your air handler), there is going to be condensation. As such, your first and simplest step is to check that your ducts are all completely and properly insulated. Even an inch of exposed ductwork can create enough condensation to create a problem.

Seal the Crawlspace

If the air handler itself is mounted at the crawlspace, then it is important to ensure that the crawlspace is correctly sealed. Otherwise, in the summer months, the warm air that is under your home will rise up through the floors and cause your air handler to ‘sweat’. There are many different ways to seal this crawlspace including plastic sheeting, the application of foam insulation to the foundation walls on the inside of the crawlspace, and more.

Check Your Airflow

If you have blockages in your ducts or a dirty filter, this can also cause a significant condensation issue. What happens is that the temperature of the air dips below the dew point (or the point at which condensation can form on surfaces) allowing significant sweating to occur on the exposed parts of your air handler. To fix this, you may only need to change your filter or check the ducts in your air handler.

Remove Drain Blockages

There is a drainage system within your air handler that is designed to remove any condensation from the inside of the unit. However, if this drain becomes clogged for any reason, or even if your air handler is off-level, the cold water will remain inside of your unit for a longer period of time. This can also add to condensation since it cools the temperature of the entire air handler significantly. You may be able to simply clear the blockage and remedy the issue within minutes.

Check the Temperature Setting

Again, this has a lot to do with the dew point. Essentially, when there is relative humidity in the air, there is a temperature at which condensation will begin; this is known as the dew point. In some cases, solving the issue may be as simple as raising the temperature in the home by one or two degrees so that condensation can no longer form. In others, the installation of a dehumidifier may be necessary.

Install a Larger Unitjimypic

Finally, significant condensation can occur if the central air conditioner itself is simply not large enough to cool your home. The purpose of the unit is to remove the humidity from the air so that the air can be cooled, but if the unit is too small to properly do that, the level of humidity in the home will stay higher, your home will stay warmer, but the air handler itself will be very cold. This causes large amounts of condensation that can truly cause damage in the home.

If you are experiencing condensation on your air handler and you cannot find the cause with these tips and tricks, please give the friendly agents at A Superior Air Conditioning a call. We will be happy to schedule an appointment to stop the condensation in its tracks.

Questions you should not be afraid to ask your bookkeeper

Sometimes we get so overloaded with the day to day operations of our businesses that we forget about how important it is to have someone creditable keeping our books. One of the things my new clients seem to always say to me when I ask them “well why did your former bookkeeper do…..” and 9 times out of 10 they answer with: I’m not sure I just thought I’d better not question it. Nothing could hurt you more than not asking questions.

I encourage my clients to ask me questions and poll my knowledge. If I don’t know the answer immediately I will find the answer.

One of the most common things I see is not having your bank statement and/or credit card statements reconciled at the end of each month. There is absolutely no reason not to do this. Not only does it give you accurate financials but it keeps your books clean so there is no guessing game.

If your bookkeeping is making large or numerous general ledger entries you should also question their reasoning behind the entries or what they are for. If your books are being balanced each month you should have very little journal entries.

If you would like to find out more please feel free to contact me for more information.

Lauree Adams, Owner
Adams Business Solutions, Inc
lauree@adamsbusinesssolutions.com
850-319-4205

Getting Your Central Air Conditioner Ready for Summer Use

Although it may still be cold outside for now, temperatures will soon start warming up. Of course, for those of us in Florida, that means we’ll need to turn on our central air conditioner units to stay comfortable. The following five tips will help you ensure that your unit is ready to work hard for you all summer long.

Change the Filter

This is perhaps the absolute simplest thing you can do to make sure that your central air conditioner is up to the job of keeping your home or business cool during the summer. First and foremost, though, you’ll want to decide what type of filter to use. The manufacturer of your unit likely recommends a certain type or brand, but many of these are interchangeable, as well. You can choose filters that simply remove dirt and debris from the air or you can even get a HEPA filter that will reduce allergens even at the microscopic level.

Check the Condensate Drain System

The condensate drain system is where all of the water goes that is created as your air conditioner cools the air. Remember that your units job is to remove the humidity from the air, and all of that humidity has to go somewhere in the form of water. Depending upon where your blower is located, your condensate drain system may be a gravity-fed drain or a pan installed under the unit itself. In some cases, and particularly in basements, a pump is used to remove this water as it collects. Make sure that you clear out the debris from these drains and ensure that things are flowing smoothly.

Clear the Debris

Central air conditioners are made up of more than what you can see in your home or business; there is also a condenser unit located outside which essentially acts as a radiator. Because its function is to essentially suck in outside air, it’s only natural that things like leaves, dust, pine needles and more will eventually block the fins. Every so often during the cooling season, and again after storms and other significant events, it is important to ensure that all of the debris is cleared away from the condenser.

Check the Ductsjimypic

Finally, you’ll want to be sure that you’ve thoroughly inspected all of the ducts in your home. This means checking that there are no rugs or other furniture covering or otherwise blocking the registers. Then, you may even want to open them up to make sure that no large particles of dirt and debris have become lodged inside. Finally, take the time to check the main ducts all along your house and ensure that they are all properly connected and sealed. This will make sure that the air your air conditioner is working so hard to cool is reaching its intended destination and not being lost in your attic or basement.
Here at A Superior Air Conditioning, we always recommend our 21-point inspection service prior to the cooling season. We will not only take a look at all of the things mentioned above, but we will check your system as a whole so that we can catch potential problems early. Call us today to schedule your appointment!

Minimum Wage goes up – FL Reemployment Rate Comes Down

By now most of you have received the notice of the minimum wage has increased as of 1/1/14 to 7.93 per hour. If you have not posted your notices in your breakrooms, community office areas in order to be compliant please take a moment to do so.

Also the Florida Department of Revenue has been mailing out their annual notice of reemployment tax rates (formerly unemployment tax). Surprisingly most have been receiving notices of lower rates. Those of you who have been paying 1.2% and have not had any claims should see your rate lowered to .59%. Remember this is for the first $8000.00 of wage earnings for each employee – while employed by your company. If the employee starts with you in June & has already hit their $8000.00 wage cap from their previously company that does not carry over to your company, they start over.

Want to learn more about changes and how they can affect your business or what you can be doing to save you money? Contact me today Lauree Adams, Owner Adams Business Solutions. lauree@adamsbusinesssolutions.com * 850-319-4205.

How to Choose an Air Conditioner for a New Build

If you are in the process of or even considering the prospect of building a new home in Florida, then you will inevitably need to put some thought into the air conditioner you purchase. There are several different factors you should consider to ensure that your air conditioner is an efficient workhorse for many years to come.

Size Comparisons

You can purchase an air conditioner in almost any size imaginable, so it is important that you select one that is just right for the size of your new home. The absolute best way to do this is to have your contractor perform what is known as a ‘load calculation.’ Essentially, this helps in determining the size of the home, the amount and type of insulation being installed, and even the amount of window space in the home. All of these things can have a significant impact on the efficiency of your air conditioner, so they should be considered carefully.

Position of Installation

Something else that you will need to consider is the position within your home that you will be installing your air conditioner. Simply put, if you will need a large unit, then you’ll need to make sure that you can install it in such a place that the cooled air will be able to adequately reach every room in your house through the ducts. If you install the unit in the corner of a basement, for example, then the cooled air will have a more difficult time reaching the areas of the home that are the furthest away.

Consider the Moisture Performance

The primary purpose of an air conditioner is to remove the humidity from the air in your home, thereby causing it to become cooler. As such, you’ll want to be sure that you carefully consider the efficiency with which a unit can remove this humidity from the air. The abilities of these units vary, and not all air conditioners are created equally in this regard. Your unit must be able to sufficiently remove enough humidity from the air to keep you comfortable during even the hottest, stickiest days.

Don’t Go Too Largejimypic

One of the most common mistakes that homeowners make when purchasing a new air conditioner is purchasing one that is simply too large for their homes. While it may seem as if the unit would run more efficiently, this isn’t the case. Consider this: a unit that is too large will cycle on and off more rapidly. This alone causes plenty of problems, including more wear and tear on the unit and higher electricity bills. Furthermore, because the unit will cycle on and off so quickly, it will not have the ability to adequately remove the moisture from the air in your home. It is very important to choose a unit that is the right size for your new home.
If you have questions about different air conditioners, or if you are confused about your load calculation results, then please contact us here at A Superior Air Conditioning. We are always available to discuss different products and applications with you, and we will be more than happy to provide you with estimates for our professional installation services.

Celebrate the Arts is Bigger and Better this Year!

 

Save the Date for Saturday, Jan 25th!

Celebrate the Arts Local Artists Market,  just got bigger and bolder thanks to Harley Davidson of Panama City Beach.

This year the event will also include a Celebrity Fashion Show and Live Auction, where local “celebrities” from Sheriff Frank McKeithen to Holly, Mandy and Miguel of Island 106 will not only be modeling the latest Harley fashions but will be auctioned off for a lunch date to benefit Beach Care Services.

In addition to the Fashion Show, with a $10 donation, participants can also enjoy a wine and cheese tasting.

The artists market portion of the event is free to the public, who can expect the same great wares from years before, with the addition of some new artists such as Roxanne Turnipseed who will be debuting her young girls’ bracelet line and Christon Anderson, whose works can be viewed from Main Street Gallery in Panama City to A.Wickey’s Gallery on 30A.

More About Celebrate the Arts

The event was born three years ago when business neighbors Karen Smith of Beachy Beach Real Estate and Roy Eure Jr., designer and owner of Cerulean Interiors fantasized about using art to help their community.  Eure, an artist himself, wanted to show his support for the local artist community and give them an opportunity to share their work while Smith saw an opportunity to fund raise for charity.  Artists would sell their wares and give a portion of the proceeds to Beach Care Services, a local charity that helps Panama City Beach locals in need.

This year’s event is expected to not only offer more, but more people will get an opportunity to take part due to Harley Davidson  providing the event location.   To stay tuned into the event, visit the Celebrate the Arts Facebook Page.

Information on how to pre-purchase Fashion Show and Wine Tasting tickets will be announced soon. Until then Save the Date for January 25th starting at 11 am.

 

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