Author: IdentityDental

February 15, 2021

Dental CPA Near Me | 4 Simple Ways to Reduce No-Shows

Dental CPA Near Me

Whether your patient is scheduled for a cosmetic consultation, restoration placement, or routine hygiene and screening visit, you want to be certain they will come. When your patient cancels with little or no notice, they delay important treatment and wreak havoc with your schedule. Even one missed appointment per day can lead to thousands in lost revenue in a single year.

Reports indicate that about one in ten patients cancels or skips scheduled dental visits. Consider these 4 easily implemented strategies for reducing your practice no-show rate:

  1. During a patient’s visit, clearly communicate the state of their oral health. Explain what treatment they need, why they need it, and when it needs to happen. Emphasize the benefits of receiving the treatment in a timely manner. Patients who understand the value of their treatment are more likely to remember and return as scheduled.
  1. Ask your patient to choose how their appointments are confirmed. Offer to use text, email, mail, or phone calls, if possible, so they are more likely to receive their reminder. Consider offering your patient the ability to authorize you to contact a spouse, parent, or partner who most often handles scheduling or reminding them of commitments.
  1. Whatever their method of choice, follow through with appointment reminders at least 24-48 hours prior to their scheduled window. If you speak to someone directly during a reminder, choose words that prompt the patient to agree to call if they cannot keep the appointment. Cancellations are less frequent when the patient feels they have made a commitment.

4. Set aside time at least once a month for your team to reach out to patients who are not yet scheduled for their next visit. Use the preferred contact method on file and offer same day or next day appointments, if possible. This has the benefit of both bringing back inactive patients and filling openings left by cancellations or reschedules.

Communication is key in reducing no-shows and reactivating patients. Before implementing new strategies for scheduling, hold a team meeting and discuss your new policies in detail. Be certain that every member on your team is ready and willing to explain the value of treatment, follow up with patients, and support the changes to your systems.

For more ideas that can help your business thrive, contact our office for a consultation.

100 West Road suite 410
Towson, MD 21204

February 1, 2021

Towson Dental CPA | 4 Ways to Grow Your Confidence as a Business Leader

Dental CPA Near Me

The up and down nature of confidence can be exemplified as a business leader because of the stressful nature of maintaining a high-ranking position. Confidence can grow with practice and effort. Here are four ways to grow confidence as a business leader.

Consistency is Key

Rapidly changing methods and ideas can prevent a business leader from feeling confident. The business should work for the business leader, not the other way around. Gaining a sense of consistency and stability with schedules, rules, and realistic expectations can lead to an increase in confidence that the business will run smoothly. Know and understand the key parts of the business, important dates, and the function of each role. You can only become confident in your business operations when you fully grasp the nature of the entire business.

Be Yourself

Being afraid to say what you think can be viewed as a lack of confidence. Speaking your mind, while still having a professional filter, can build confidence as it shows you are part of a team and contributing. Being yourself will also dispel any notion coworkers might have that you are not being a genuine person. Openness and authenticity will not only strengthen your bond with your employees, but are also essential traits for effective leadership.

Be Open to Criticism

Change cannot come from one person alone, and not all criticism should be seen as a slight against you. Listen to feedback from coworkers and customers and tailor that feedback into something positive. Do not let the criticism fester and destroy your confidence, take it and use it to grow as a person. Accepting constructive criticism and negative comments can help increase your confidence. 

Know What You Are Talking About

Fully understanding what you are talking about can help improve your confidence. If you are a business leader, strive to know everything you can about the business and its operations. If you are speaking about a topic, research everything you can about that topic. Become the expert. You will be better positioned to demonstrate confidence when it is clear that you are invested in what you are discussing.

Confidence can not only make or break your career, it can impact the business as a whole. You can take your confidence to the next level, while learning how to prevent situations from arising that can be detrimental to your confidence. 

For a consultation, contact our team.

100 West Road suite 410
Towson, MD 21204

January 21, 2021

Schiff Client Update, Friday, January 15, 2021

PPP2 Loans – as a reminder, you will qualify for a PPP2 Loan if your Fee Income is down at least 25% or more for any calendar quarter when comparing 2020 to 2019. Your best chances of meeting this requirement are Q2 2020 vs Q2 2019. If you have not done so, you are welcome to use the attached spreadsheet to perform this computation.

Many clients are asking me – “should I apply for the PPP2 Loan”? I would quickly respond with a  “YES” but, I am also respectful to those of you, that are not interested in a “Government Handout”. Whatever your decision is, I will respect it.

How will the PPP2 Loan work? – the rules will be the same as the PPP1 Loan. You must spend the funds within a 24 week period and the allocation of such is still 60% for Payroll Covered Costs and 40% for Other Covered Costs. The PPP2 Loan will equal 2.5x your average monthly payroll for 2019, the same as PPP1.

PPP1 Loans – When should I file for forgiveness? As you may recall, you have 10 months to file for forgiveness from the end of your 24 Covered Week Period. If your Practice is down by 50% or more in calendar quarter comparison from 2019 to 2020, you will qualify for the ERC – The Employer Retention Credit. If this is the case, you should hold off on filing for Forgiveness of the PPP1 Loan because you will need to SAVE some wages from the PPP1 and use them for the ERC computation. I have built a spreadsheet to support this. It is very very complicated and hard to understand, but I will share it with you this coming Sunday at 12 Noon. I am hoping the Banks will program their Portals to allow such information to be entered with the Banks Computers computing such Credit. Let’s be patient and see what transpires.

HHS Provider Relief Grants – Today ( January 15, 2021), the Portal of the Department of Health & Human Services is supposed to open, to allow us to submit various financial information on how you spent the HHS Provider Relief Grant(s). I am hoping in addition to the actual COVID Expenses incurred, the Department of HHS will allow us to use the loss of Gross Revenue. Let’s wait and see what their Portal calls for. We will address this on Sunday too!

Please reach out to your Schiff Team Member for any Financial Information you may need for any of these Government Programs. We are just an e-mail away!  

Finally, I will be hosting a ZOOM Meeting on these topics, this coming Sunday at 12 Noon. Here is the Zoom Link Info:

Allen Schiff is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Join Zoom Meeting – https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84365302687

Meeting ID: 843 6530 2687

One tap mobile
+13017158592,,84365302687# US (Washington D.C)
+19294362866,,84365302687# US (New York)

Dial by your location

January 20, 2021

Towson Dental CPA | 5 Signs You NEED an Accountant

Have you wondered whether you actually need to have a professional accountant? Here are 5 signs that confirm you do:

1)     You earn over $200,000 per year – Your odds of being audited once you start earning over $200,000 a year increases to nearly 4%. While this may not seem like a large number, it’s actually an increase of over 300%. Having your financials in order in case this does occur is vitally important once you become a high-earner.

2)     You are a business owner or are self-employed – Utilizing the services of an accounting professional is vitally important for any business owner or entrepreneur. Tax laws change annually. The current US tax code has over 7 million words in it. Making sure all of your deductions are included, your assets are depreciating properly, and you are maximizing your tax savings will wind up saving you money in the long run.

3)     You are setting money aside for others – When putting money aside for your children, grandchildren, or anyone you want to take care of, it’s very important to use a financial professional to decide which vehicles to use for tax-deferred or tax-free savings. This includes college savings plans or trusts.

4)     You are incurring large capital gains tax – The key to success in paying big capital gains tax is paying at long-term rates. An accountant can help you with a Qualified Small Business Tax Credit, minimize your taxes, and help you set long-term payment goals.

5)     You are experiencing rapid growth in your business – Not only is keeping your finances up to date time-consuming, it’s also complicated. When you’re experiencing rapid growth, it’s time to call in an accounting professional. Having more customers, employees, and vendors is going to require more paperwork and number crunching and can rapidly become impossible for you to manage.

Contact our team today to learn how we can make your life easier. 

100 West Road suite 410
Towson, MD 21204

January 14, 2021

PPP2 Loan Applications are now available!

Many of you have inquired about the PPP2 and the application process for such. Just now, the SBA released the PPP2 application. Please click on the link below:

https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/PPP-Second-Draw-Borrower-Application-Form.pdf

Please keep in mind, in order to qualify for this next round of funding (PPP2) you must be able to prove your collections were down by 25% or more for any calendar quarter. You must meet one of the following:

  • For all entities other than those satisfying the conditions set forth below, Applicants must demonstrate that gross receipts in any quarter of 2020 were at least 25% lower than the same quarter of 2019. Alternatively, Applicants may compare annual gross receipts in 2020 with annual gross receipts in 2019; Applicants choosing to use annual gross receipts must enter “Annual” in the 2020 Quarter and Reference Quarter fields and, as required documentation, must submit copies of annual tax forms substantiating the annual gross receipts reduction.
  • For entities not in business during the first and second quarters of 2019 but in operation during the third and fourth quarters of 2019, Applicants must demonstrate that gross receipts in any quarter of 2020 were at least 25% lower than either the third or fourth quarters of 2019.
  • For entities not in business during the first, second, and third quarters of 2019 but in operation during the fourth quarter of 2019, Applicants must demonstrate that gross receipts in any quarter of 2020 were at least 25% lower than the fourth quarter of 2019.
  • For entities not in business during 2019 but in operation on February 15, 2020, Applicants must demonstrate that gross receipts in the second, third, or fourth quarter of 2020 were at least 25% lower than the first quarter of 2020.

Next week, the week of January 11th, the Banks will be opening their portals, so you will be able to apply for PPP2. It is my recommendation, you stay with the Bank that satisfied your PPP1 Loan, for they already have your financial information. If you need a referral for another financial institution, just e mail me.

You must apply for PPP2 by March 31, 2021. I would not wait, if you qualify, for these funds ($284B) are available on a first come , first serve basis!

If you need any financial documents to support your PPP2 loan request (Tax Returns, 941’s 940’s, State Unemployment Forms), please reach out to your Schiff Team Member

Finally, and as a reminder, if you qualify for the 50% reduction, that we spoke about earlier this week, please contact us, so we can help you with the strategy surrounding the maximization of the Employer Retention Credit (ERC). Please do not file for Forgiveness of PPP1, until we have chatted.

January 6, 2021

Dental CPA in Towson | Career Tips for New Dentists

Starting your professional career as a new dentist can be one of the most exciting (and anxious) times of your life. Whether you are beginning your own practice or joining one, there are several important aspects to keep in mind. We have compiled a quick guide that will help you manage your priorities as a new dentist with confidence.

  1. Protect Your Work-Life Balance – While you might be used to a heavy schedule during your years in academia, don’t let yourself burn out. You deserve a healthy work-life balance. By setting expectations and following them, you can enjoy your time with friends, family, or hobbies without feeling tread on by your work schedule.
  2. Know Your Strengths – Your practice should center on two things: what you are compassionate about, and what you are incredible at. Don’t pursue a specialty just to appeal to your community if it isn’t something you are excited about. Focusing on your strengths will bring you more satisfaction in your work as well as higher quality to your service.
  3. Manage Your Debt – Dental school graduates usually have a significant trail of student debt following them. Whether you refinance, make extra payments, or choose an alternate repayment plan, focus on reducing your balance instead of simply paying off the interest. Don’t forget to contribute early to your retirement fund, either. The best time to start saving was yesterday.
  4. Successful Practice Management – A dental practice is a business, and a business needs a strong leader. Dental schools don’t typically prepare you for the financial and leadership elements of your career, so don’t be afraid to seek coaches or consultants. With the right mentor, both you and your practice can succeed.
  5. Continue Your Education – The last advice you want to hear as a new dentist is ‘more schooling,’ but it’s true. Once you have settled in, you should look for new opportunities to hone your skills. There exists a world of workshops, lectures, and courses that can further your passion in dentistry, bring you confidence in your work, and improve the value of your practice.

With the right mindset and plan, you can build yourself up as a new dentist, achieving your leadership and financial goals. If you are considering starting your own practice, our team will be the resource you need to secure your future in success. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

100 West Road suite 410
Towson, MD 21204

December 31, 2020

Schiff Client Update, December 31, 2020

PPP#1 Loans

  1. Covered Expenses paid with your PPP#1 Loan will now be tax deductible for money already received
  2. PPP#1 funds will not be taxable income, which means the expenses paid with the PPP#1 funds will be tax deductible
  3. The New Tax Bill, that President Trump signed on Sunday, December 27, 2020, repeals the requirement of deducting the EIDL advance from the PPP forgiveness amount
  4. The EIDL advance up to $10,000 per Practice (or $1,000 per Employee), will not have to be repaid.
  5. The New Tax Bill simplifies the forgiveness process on PPP loans of $150,000 or less. (We have yet to see what that new process or form will be). Please wait to apply for forgiveness, for the Banks are still waiting on updated guidance from the SBA and the US Treasury. Please remember, you MUST file for forgiveness, 10 Months after your 24 week period is up. If you do not file for forgiveness, your PPP Loan , will become a two (2) year Loan payable at 1% interest.

PPP#2 – Second Round of Funding

  1. The SBA will have 10 days (after the New Tax Bill is enacted) to establish regulations for the next round of PPP#2 funding. Thus, please keep in mind that the highlights below are terms we anticipate being signed into law; however, the SBA’s regulations may alter this.
  2. $284.5 Billion in funds will be available through the next PPP#2 loans.
  3. Paycheck Protection Program (PPP#2) offered through March 31, 2021.
  4. Is your Practice eligible for the second round of funding (PPP#2)? Businesses with less than 300 employees who have had a 25% or greater reduction in collections (i.e., gross receipts) in any ONE quarter of 2020, when compared to that same quarter of 2019. For example, let’s assume you collected $100,000 in April 2019, $1000,000 in May 2019 and $100,000 in June 2019 for a total of $300,000 for Q2 of 2019. We will need to compare that to the same quarter of 2020 (April, May & June 2020) to determine if you have a reduction of Collections that are 25% or better. I sense most of you will, since you were closed a good portion of Q2 2020. If so, we will then need further guidance from both the SBA and the US Treasury, as to what criteria will be needed to be satisfied to meet the new requirements of the PPP#2.
  5. I will be working with the ADA in January 2021 as the PPP#2 develops and will be reporting back to you at that time. The ADA has been “off the charts” supporting Dentistry throughout this process. Your membership with the ADA is working for you!!  

Other Key Tax Provisions for Dentistry

  1. Employee Retention Tax Credit: Extended through July 1, 2021; We are waiting on further guidance as to how this work in 2021.
  2. COVID-Related Pay Tax Credits: Extended to March 31, 2021. These are the refundable payroll tax credits for Emergency Paid Leave and Emergency Family Medical Leave Pay that were set to expire on December 31. Please e mail Diane Nelson, CPA, MST at DNelson@schiffcpa.com for further guidance and help if needed.
  3. Charitable Giving Incentive Extended: One-year extension of the $300 “above the line deduction,” meaning you can take this deduction even if you are not using itemizing your deductions on your individual income tax return. Is now $600 if Married Filing Joint (MFJ). Please see note below on giving to the ALS Clinic at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Thank you!
  4. Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA) Relief: Allows individuals to carry over any unused health and dependent care FSA benefits from 2020 into 2021 plan year.

Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)

Many of you received Phase 2 funding from the Department of Health & Human Services. Some of you, even received funding from HHS recently within their Phase 3 funding. As of today, we will have to report to the Department of HHS in January 2021 and again in July 2021 as to how you used these proceeds and what monies were spent on such. As soon as January 2021 begins for Small Business, the Department of HHS will be supplying us with further guidance as to what documents will be needed in order to gain full forgiveness. As of now, please save all documentation (Invoices, Canceled Checks and Credit Card Receipts) for any items you purchased that would qualify for PPE Equipment & Supplies. We will be sending out an updated e-mail with instructions, as soon as the requirements become apparent to us.  

2020 4th Quarter Estimated Payments due , January 15, 2021

During the last Quarter of 2020, we have met with most of our clients. During your 2020 year end meeting, we presented to you, two (2) scenarios with respect to your Tax Position as of December 31, 2020. Please review such, and please pay the 2020 4th Quarter Estimate based on the Column of your Tax Projection that states the PPP Loan will not be taxable. If you have any questions, please contact your Schiff Team Member on Monday, January 4, 2021.

Maryland – LLC’s , Sub S Corporations – Maryland MD 510 Payments due TODAY, December 31, 2020

Recently, the State of Maryland changed their tax laws as it relates, to the State of Maryland Taxes due from Pass Through entities, such as a Maryland LLC, Maryland Partnership and a Maryland Subchapter S Corporation. The new Tax Law, will allow you to pay your State Taxes through your entity, and receive a tax deduction. Please be sure to pay this Tax with Maryland Tax Form 510D. https://www.marylandtaxes.gov/forms/20_forms/510D.pdf. Please pay today, December 31, 2020, if you have not done so.

This only applies to Maryland Partnerships and Corporations, NOT SOLE PROPIETORSHIPS taxed as an LLC!

ALS Clinic at Johns Hopkins Hospital Baltimore – Cindy Schiff

As you have gotten to know Cindy, life was not about her, but about mankind. There will be no better way to honor her life with a contribution to research of the horrible disease of ALS. Contributions in Cindy’s name can be mail to:


Hopkins ALS Clinical & Education Fund
c/o Lora Clawson, CRNP
JHOPC – Suite 5070A 
601 North Caroline Street
Baltimore MD 21287

Or , you can pay on line at >>

https://secure.jhu.edu/form/als?fbclid=IwAR3RvQ3xmUM0vdcXfrcxvOI1XF7h1k5j58ARe8iWPvqtUx38lWl6lyV4QfM

Special “THANKS” to each of you, that have made a Contribution to the ALS Clinic at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore in honor of Cindy’s Name. I am so appreciative of each you and your generosity. The ALS Clinic in Baltimore, is amazed at the abundance of love as well!  My heart is filled with amazing warmth & comfort….Thank you!

ADCPA PODCAST on PPP Funds & Cindy Schiff & the ADCPA

As most of you know, the ADCPA produces a weekly PODCAST on Dental Practice Management as well as Dental Finance. The December 16th PODCAST was on >>>What Dentists Need to do to Qualify for a New PPP Loan in the Next Round of Stimulus as well as was dedicated to Cindy & her life. If you would like to listen to this Podcast, please click on the Hyper Link below. I am grateful for Art Wiederman, CPA (ADCPA Los Angeles CA) for dedicating the PODCAST to Cindy & her life.

https://blubrry.com/art_of_dental_finance/71634748/what-dentists-need-to-do-to-qualify-for-a-new-ppp-loan-in-the-next-round-of-stimulus/

December 21, 2020

Additional Coronavirus Response and Relief (ACRR)

This morning the text of the new Additional Coronavirus Response and Relief (ACRR) legislation was released. If the legislation is passed by Congress and signed into law, it will include the following items:

1.  PPP Deductibility – Expenses used to obtain loan forgiveness will be deductible.

2.  EIDL Grant taxability – The EIDL Grant (up to $10,000 received in April 2020) will be tax free and related expenses will be deductible.

3.  EIDL Grant impact – The EIDL Grant will no longer reduce PPP loan forgiveness. Under the CARES Act, if a practice received a $100,000 PPP and $10,000 EIDL, it would be eligible for $90,000 forgiveness and be left with a $10,000 PPP loan. That adjustment is being eliminated allowing for the potential to obtain full forgiveness.

4.  Simplified application – PPP loans of under $150,000 will be eligible for a one page simplified forgiveness application but still must retain documentation and meet the requirements of the program.

5.  2nd Round PPP – If your practice incurred a 25% or greater reduction in collections in any 2020 calendar quarter compared to 2019, it may be eligible for a 2nd PPP loan. Most practices should have incurred such a reduction for the 2nd quarter that includes April – June 2020. We need additional time and guidance to determine if there will be other limitations.

6.  Stimulus payments – Taxpayers with under $150,000 adjusted gross income (married filing joint) or $75,000 (single) will be eligible for an additional $600 stimulus payment or 2020 tax credit.

7.  Meals – Business meals provided by a restaurant paid in 2021 and 2022 will be 100% deductible but still require normal documentation including the business purpose, who attended, and what business was discussed. There is no change to business meals paid in 2020.

It is important to note that even if this legislation is passed without changes, it will take the Treasury Department, SBA, and IRS a few weeks or months to clarify some details. 

This is GREAT NEWS to all business owners! A early Christmas gift before Christmas!  :>)

December 16, 2020

Next Round of HHS Grant Relief Funds 12/16/20

Today, December 16, 2020, many of you should be receiving the next round of HHS Payments (Phase 3 Payments).  Please check your bank statement for they are ACH into your Business Checking Account. For those of you, that have had your 2020 year-end meeting with us, you may want to increase your Estimated Tax Payments due January 15, 2021, for these funds are taxable. Please contact your Schiff Team Member for any questions you may have. If your 2020 year-end meeting is coming up, we will need this info from you ASAP, so that we remain current.

December 6, 2020

Towson MD Dental CPA | Claim Financial Freedom

Whether you’re starting a new practice or have been an owner dentist for years, the financial stress that can come from being a business owner can sometimes overwhelm even the most seasoned professionals. Our goal is to help you achieve complete financial freedom so that financial worries don’t interfere with your ability to work well. 

Below are some tips you can follow on your own to help build a rock-solid foundation for your practice. Staying organized and up-to-date with your financials allows you to focus on delivering quality care to your patients. Contact our firm today to learn how we can help!

1. Have a plan. As the popular saying goes, “failing to plan is planning to fail.” In order to see true success, you’ll need to have both short and long-term plans for your practice. How will you allocate new earnings? How is your practice prepared to deal with slow seasons? How are you budgeting for new purchases? If you don’t already have answers to these questions, they could be a great place to start. Planning for the unexpected can help safeguard your profitability from being derailed by unforeseen expenses.

2. Set goals. Don’t be afraid to dream big. Your practice will only be as successful as you make it. Setting goals allows you to have a clear yardstick to measure your success against and can help you make better financial choices in the present. By recognizing the simple truth that every small decision you make now can have a huge impact on the future, you’ll be able to start setting yourself up for success. Your future self with thank you.

3. Be Smart. When starting or growing your business, there can be benefits to taking on strategic debt. However, doing so in a manner that will benefit, rather than hinder your growth requires an understanding of the returns you can expect on your investment. Don’t jump into big purchases without a plan, rather weigh the potential benefits and risks of all your financial decisions.

4. Get Organized. Disorganization can be a killer for any business. In order to ensure you’re not letting anything important slip through the cracks, it’s important to have systems in place that will guarantee nothing is missed. In addition to protecting you from unforeseen troubles, efficient organization can also help bring opportunities for improvement to light. Whether it’s money that could be saved or resources that could be conserved, understanding the ins and outs of your financials can help you to understand exactly how your money is being used.

If you feel that you could improve in any of these areas, our firm is here to help! Our goal is to make the process of managing and running your practice as simple as possible, allowing you to focus on delivering quality work to your patients and growing your business. Contact us today to learn more.

100 West Road suite 410
Towson, MD 21204

December 1, 2020

Townson Dental CPA | Combat Burnout to Increase Production

Have you ever felt tired, stressed, and overwhelmed to the point where it impacts your production numbers? Burnout can happen to all dentists and their teams. Yes, this includes you. Before burnout starts to significantly impact your practice, you need to know how to recognize it and how to manage it.

Identify Signs of Burnout

If you start to feel unfocused, tired, or bored, you may be experiencing burnout. Does your team lack the enthusiasm they once possessed? When you start to notice these clues and behaviors, take action immediately. You and your team have invested countless hours in building a fulfilling career in dentistry. Don’t allow a temporary period of burnout to cause you to question your work. Instead, it’s time to reinvigorate your attitude.

Identify the Problem Areas

When production numbers begin to slip, look at where your numbers are starting to drag. A dental CPA can help you identify areas where your numbers a falling. When a department’s numbers begin to sink, your team members can start to feel low, impacting the office’s overall morale. Identifying the problem area allows you and your team to find and implement a solution before dissatisfaction spreads.

Identify New Areas to Explore

If you are experiencing burnout, the time may be right to learn a new skill. Sign up for a CE course or workshop on a subject that is new or intriguing. By expanding your skills, you can increase the number of services you provide, which can turn sagging appointment numbers around. Could your team benefit from additional courses? You may want to try selecting a course the entire team can participate in together. Not only will you all be learning new applicable skills, but you will be improving your relationships with each other which will lead to improved morale.

Burnout will happen to even the best dental team. When you start to notice the signs of burnout, don’t wait for things to improve on their own. Be proactive and identify the areas you or the team could improve. Whether it is improving the number of hygiene appointments, or taking a new CE course, take action immediately to combat signs of burnout.

A dental CPA team can help you evaluate areas of opportunity. Contact us today.

100 West Road suite 410
Towson, MD 21204

November 17, 2020

Maryland Dental CPA | Common Payroll Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Handling payroll for a dental practice is often thought of as a simple task. The truth, however, is that there are many minor errors that can easily lead to major problems. Train your team to catch these small mistakes your practice might be making, so you can be sure to avoid them in the future.

Estimated Recordkeeping – Don’t wait until the day before payroll is due to log shifts worked for the pay period. Days can begin to blend together and it can be challenging to recall who worked which days and times after the fact. Looking through notes and emails to figure out past days’ activities can be stressful and even inaccurate, leading to incorrect pay.

Employee Misclassifications – There are many differences, at both federal and state levels, between an employee and a contractor. Make sure you classify your team members, temporary replacement workers, and anyone else in payroll correctly to ensure an accurate, streamlined process. Depending on the infraction and your area, heavy penalties can occur for misclassified worker pay.

Not Tracking Bonuses or Gifts – Work trips or group outings are no problem, but any sort of bonus or gift that has monetary value needs to be tracked. Gift cards are a common example of this. Make sure to keep a running log of any exchanges like these for year-end purposes.

Paying Employees Wrong Rates – When employees are hired, given a raise, or have their pay otherwise adjusted, make sure this is correctly logged in the system or software you use. Using an hourly wage in a program to pay as salary can have rounding problems, so double-check your work. Manual error or forgetting to process a raise on the books right away can lead to owing back-pay or other issues in the future.

Holidays or Haphazard Payroll – Try to set a fixed schedule for your payroll. When holidays affect the normal cycle, have an established plan to deal with it appropriately. Depending on your area, missing or late payroll can create tax headaches or incur penalties, as well as causing hardship for your team.

Payroll can be a straightforward and mistake-free process at your practice, but it requires proper oversight and attention. Keep an airtight system, follow up on any mistakes, and think ahead. For more information on how to handle payroll or tax concerns, contact our office.

November 10, 2020

Towson Dental CPA | Converting Leads into Patients

Marketing is an essential part of attracting new business. Strong print and internet marketing materials can help introduce your practice to potential new patients. Glowing reviews and testimonials tell people that you have a trustworthy team and offer quality care. However, even the best marketing efforts won’t contribute anything to your business if you fail to convert leads into patients. There are a variety of reasons outside of your control that might stop someone from scheduling an appointment at your practice, but it’s important to make sure you do all you can to help motivate people to seek treatment with you. Below are some tips to help your team more effectively sell the value of your service to potential new patients.

Be responsive and available. As a dental professional, you know what it’s like to be busy. Often, your patients have busy lives of their own. Make sure your team is available to take calls as they come and try to offer flexible appointment times to help people work within their limited free time.

Don’t be too pushy. While it’s helpful to be clear about all the treatments offered at your practice, patients are often turned off by overly “salesy” approaches. Take the time to get to know a patient and their needs, goals, and budget before trying to sell them on dental solutions. This will make them feel valued and understood, increasing the likelihood of treatment plan acceptance.

Offer a friendly and welcoming environment. There are a number of people who absolutely dread going to the dentist. Because of that, some potential patients may already have a negative feeling towards you and your team despite no fault of your own. Work to overcome this discomfort quickly by offering a personable and kind environment. Make sure your team greets patients by name and gets to know a bit about them. A little can go a long way.

Don’t lose track of people. Repetition is one of the easiest techniques for cementing something into memory. If a potential new patient contacts your office, be sure to follow up if you don’t hear from them again. You never know the reason they didn’t call back, so taking that step for them can offer a second chance to make a connection and help your practice stand out more in their mind.

Many dentists find it difficult to think about their practice as a business. It is likely that you chose dentistry due to a passion for service and healing, not bookkeeping or sales. Yet nearly any successful retailer will say that the only way to gain business is to give customers what they want, when they want it. Contact our firm for more strategies on boosting new patient numbers and patient retention!

November 6, 2020

Update – Phase 3 Dept HHS Provider Relief Grant (PRG)

I wanted to reach out to offer some insight into the HHS Phase III Funding Application that I emailed you on Friday October 23, 2020.

This 3rd round of HHS funding will first go to Dental Practices who have not received funding from HHS within the previous two (2) HHS phases. This would include Start Up Dental Practices as well as those Practices that were rejected or did not apply for Phase 1 or Phase 2 Funding. After all applications have been processed AND all entities who qualified for the 2% of net 2019 collection payment have in fact received their payments, there is a possibility of additional payments from HHS if there are monies left over. There are no guarantees.

At this time we do not know how much funding, if any, will be left over to be distributed to practices that have already received their 2% of Net 2019 Collections payment from HHS. We will have to wait and see.

If you are in need of your P & L for Q1 2020, Q2 2020 and/or Q1 2019 and/or Q1 2019, please reach out to your Schiff Team Member. We can also supply you with your 2019 Income Tax Return as well.

BREAKING NEWS: VA Dentists Newly Eligible to Apply for up to $100,000 from Rebuild VA Grants

We are receiving a lot of inquiries with respect to “VA Dentists Newly Eligible to Apply for up to $100,000 from Rebuild VA Grants”. Please see the following email:
https://welcome-11f6d10.netsolhost.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Email.pdf

It is our opinion you should apply for these Grants. Please note, these GRANTS are TAXABLE

If you receive the Grant, it can be used for any of the following:

  • Payroll support including employee salaries, paid sick leave, medical leave, or family leave, and costs associated with the continuation of group health care benefits during those periods of leave
  • Mortgage Payments
    Rental or Lease Payments
  • Eligible Utilities:  Electricity, Gas, Water/Sewer, Telephone and Internet service
  • Principal and Interest Payments for business loans incurred prior to, or during the COVID-19 emergency
  • COVID Related Expenses – (applicants who received CARES Act funds are not eligible for reimbursement of these expenses under the Rebuild VA Grant)  (An example of this would be if you received the HHS Grant)

Here is a complete list of documents needed along with the required documentation:
https://www.governor.virginia.gov/media/governorvirginiagov/governor-of-virginia/rebuildva/RebuildVA-Business-Doc-Requirements_v3.pdf

Examples of Documentation – W-9, Business Income Tax Returns, Most recent Virginia Employment Commission Quarterly Report:
https://www.vec.virginia.gov/employers/VEC-FC-2120

PLEASE NOTE: You will need a DUNS NUMBER for the Completion of the W-9. If you do not have a DUNS Number, you can apply for one here:
https://www.dnb.com/duns-number/get-a-duns.html

Please reach out to your Schiff Team Member if you need any documentation from us (Tax Returns) during the Application Process.

October 23, 2020

Schiff Dental Clients- HHS Phase 3 – Update October 23, 2020

HHS Grant Relief Fund – Phase 3

Yesterday, the HHS changed the rules yet again, to now include the loss of Gross Revenue during the Pandemic. As a result of this change, we are encouraging clients to file for the additional funding under Phase 3 of the Provider Relief Fund (PRF).

You can apply again, even if you already applied. You can apply if you are a “start up” Dental Practice (January through March 2020). You can apply if you did not receive the proper amount of funding under Phase2. Please keep in mind, these funds are currently taxable.

There will be reporting requirements in the future (July 2021) in order for you to substantiate the funding. If you cannot support the funding, the excess will have to be repaid back to HHS. What can you use the HHS Funding for, besides the loss of Revenue? Here is a list of expenses.

a. Supplies: Expenses paid for purchase of supplies used to prevent, prepare for, or respond to the coronavirus during the reporting period. Such items could include: personal protective equipment (PPE), hand sanitizer, or supplies for patient screening.

b. Equipment: Expenses paid for purchase of equipment used to prevent, prepare for, or respond to the coronavirus during the reporting period, such as ventilators, updates to HVAC systems, etc.                                                          

c. Information Technology (IT): Expenses paid for IT or interoperability systems to expand or preserve care delivery during the reporting period, such as electronic health record licensing fees, telehealth infrastructure, increased bandwidth, and teleworking to support remote workforce. 

d. Facilities: Expenses paid for facility-related costs used to prevent, prepare for, or respond to the coronavirus during the reporting period, such as lease or purchase of permanent or temporary structures, or to modify facilities to accommodate patient treatment practices revised due to coronavirus.

e. Other Healthcare Related Expenses: Any other actual expenses, not previously captured above, that were paid to prevent, prepare for, or respond to the coronavirus.

We are encouraging all clients, to start to maintain a list of Covid Expenses you have incurred within your practice between the period of March 15, 2020 and June 30, 2022.

For additional information on the HHS Phase 3, please click on the following links:

ADA News – October 22, 2020 – https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2020-archive/october/hhs-provider-relief-fund-open-for-phase-3-applications?utm_source=DEC_DIQ+Morning+Briefing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS201022074&o_eid=5213J4648590B4Z&rdx.ident%5Bpull%5D=omeda%7C5213J4648590B4Z

What is the Provider Relief Fund? – https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/cares-act-provider-relief-fund/for-providers/index.html?language=es#what-is-the

HHS Webcast – November 2, 2020 – click here to register – https://webex.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1392456&tp_key=eddc1773dc

ADA – FAQ’s – HHS – https://success.ada.org/~/media/CPS/Files/COVID/HHS_Provider_Relief_Fund_FAQ.pdf

HHS Client Assistance à If you have questions, please contact the HHS Provider Support Line at 1-866-569-3522 during the hours of operation from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT Monday-Friday.

October 21, 2020

Schiff Dental CPAs | Medicine for Your Business

The business world often goes hand in hand with stress. Pressures to attract new customers, meet quotas, or increase productivity can make working feel like an unpleasant chore. If you have begun to dread going into the office due to an oppressive atmosphere, chances are strong that you are not alone in your feelings. Turning things around for you and your team may be easier than you think. Consider adding fun back to your business with a daily dose of laughter.

 While the addition of humor to the workplace does not move deadlines or reduce the expectations for performance, it can help create a more enjoyable environment for everyone there. When the office feels fun and engaging, the work feels lighter and more accessible. Scientific studies have shown that laughter relieves tension, boosts the immune system, and relaxes the muscles. Additionally, laughing can increase memory, energy, and creativity and elevate the mood. Every office can benefit from these effects.

There are many ways to inject some humor into your workdays. Try sharing a joke with your team to start the huddle and invite them to bring their own. Post a board in a shared space and challenge everyone to bring a funny image or comic strip to hang. Have a silly shirt day once a week or once a month. Take silly photos or videos of you and your team to share on social media.

Embracing a little more humor with your colleagues and team takes only a small investment of time and can yield large increases in mood, productivity, and worker morale. For more ideas on making your work more engaging, contact our Schiff Dental CPAs.

October 14, 2020

Dental CPA | Dental Practice Human Resources: FAQs

Whether you manage human resource decisions and concerns yourself or simply oversee your practice manager, as the business owner, you are responsible for ensuring your policies are legal, appropriate, and applied fairly. You may find it useful to take a moment to review a few commonly asked questions regarding aspects of human resources for dental practice owners.

What questions do I need to avoid during interviews?

There are a few basic, even common questions we would not think twice about asking during conversation that are not appropriate for an interview setting. Some of these include:

  • Are you married?
  • Do you have children?
  • What is the origin of your (unusual) name?

While all these questions can be meant to break the ice, they can also lead to the sharing of information about protected class status, such as disability, family status, ethnic or religious heritage, and others. Even if the answers would have no bearing on your decision, these questions can leave you open to a complaint or suit if the position is not offered.

What should I do if an employee refuses to sign their disciplinary action form?

Bring a witness into the room, note the refusal to sign, and have the witness sign confirmation that the disciplinary action form was provided. Additionally, remind the employee that refusal to sign does not nullify the disciplinary action and further infractions can still lead to more serious consequences.

We use software to track the hours our employees work. The program has a function to automatically deduct meal times so the employee does not need to manually clock in and out. Should we use that function?

Before you decide to implement an automatic system of this type, consider the time saved by not manually entering hours. Then compare that to the time lost by entering corrections if a team member misses lunch, returns early, or runs late. If your office rarely deviates from schedule, this may be beneficial. However, if you find that you are making corrections more than once or twice a week, it may be costing more time than it saves.

If you have other questions regarding staffing concerns, contact our office for a practice management consultation.

September 16, 2020

Maryland Dental CPA | From Dreams to a Reality: Effective Goal Setting

No matter how impressive your vision for your practice may be, dreams require hard work, strategic planning, and a willingness to adapt to make them real. Highly successful practice owners learn to set goals realistically and effectively. Master the skills of effective goal-setting, strategic planning, and assessment to find greater success in your business.

Set Incremental Goals

Start small when setting goals. Establish daily and weekly goals. It can be easy to let ambition take over while you dream of long-term goals. However, you cannot reach your long-term goals without smaller victories along the way. Setting smaller, incremental goals provides the opportunity for you to be in constant control of your practice. You will know if you miss a weekly goal, and you can then adjust your strategy to make sure it never happens again. If you are only setting quarterly or yearly goals it can come as a surprise when you miss them, or your team might be left struggling to meet them at the last minute.

 

Make Goals Visible

You and your team need a visual reminder of what your goals are and when you plan to achieve them. Put them up on a bulletin board in the office, include them on your calendar. Write your goals in a place you look daily as a constant reminder. We all have those back-of-the-mind thoughts or ideas that might be good if implemented, but they are frequently forgotten. Make your goals visible to you and your entire team.

Goals Need to be Measured

How will you know if you achieved your goal if you cannot measure it? Goals should have a measurable standard. Perhaps your goal is to see 10 new patients by the end of each month or to increase the number of referrals by 50% before the end of the quarter. Pick specific numbers and concepts that can be defined in a concrete way. Abstract goals are harder to reach because they are too difficult to define. When goals are measurable, you will know exactly what you need to achieve your desired result.

Rethink the way you are setting your goals for your practice. Your ambitious plans will be successful only if you have a road map to reach them. This is where effective goal setting comes in. Get into the habit of writing down your goals and measuring them. Effective goal-setting strategies take careful planning. Master these skills and you will be on your way to the practice success you have dreamed of achieving.

For more tips on managing your practice, please contact Schiff & Associates.

September 2, 2020

Dental CPA in Maryland | Finding Opportunity in Hygiene Appointments

What percentage of your total production consists of hygiene appointments? For many dentists, hygiene appointments make up a significant portion of total production numbers. According to a study last year, hygiene appointments comprise nearly one-third or greater of total production numbers for approximately 80% of all dentists.

Hygiene is a significant source of overall production, but is there room for improvement? The same study uncovered a startling statistic – only 17% of dentists indicated that the majority of their active patients are receiving regular hygiene appointments every six months. This means there is a significant opportunity here. Hygiene numbers could increase as much as five times among current, active patients.

What steps can you take to encourage patients to schedule, and attend, regular hygiene appointments?

It is necessary to have an action plan in place. Create a consistent system that can be followed for confirmations. Some practices call or text one or two days prior to the appointment. This can help reduce the number of no-shows. Instill in your team the need to address the importance of hygiene examinations to patients. Most patients are not fully aware of all that goes on during the appointment and view it merely as a cleaning. Emphasize the need for regular oral cancer screenings as well.

Opportunity exists within your practice. Harness the potential that each patient brings with regular hygiene visits.

Boost hygiene production to improve your bottom line. Contact Schiff & Associates for financial insight and assistance.

 

August 26, 2020

Maryland Dental CPA | How Team Morale Can Make or Break Your Dental Practice

Team morale can make or break your dental practice. It’s a bold statement, but there are several reasons why it is true. The morale of every member of your team impacts other team members, your patients, and over time, even your bottom line. If you want your dental practice to be a success, team morale needs to be a priority.

Unhappy staff are less productive. When a member of your team is unhappy in their job, they work more slowly, are less efficient, and are less likely to “go the extra mile” to ensure a great patient experience. When an unhappy staff member isn’t giving a great patient experience, that patient is less likely to be a repeat patient and unlikely to refer anyone else to your practice. Over time, this could potentially cost you dozens of patients and thousands of dollars.

Unhappy staff make other staff unhappy. When one person is feeling unmotivated, unappreciated, or disgruntled, their attitude affects those around them. Other staff are forced to work harder to compensate for the lack of productivity. One person complaining about being unhappy can hurt the morale of every other person in your office. What starts as a seemingly small problem can quickly gain momentum if it isn’t addressed quickly and correctly.

Unhappy staff are more likely to quit. On the surface, this may seem like a good thing: take the poor attitude and low morale out of the equation. However, the cost of finding, hiring, and training a replacement can be high. Even more, the most common reason why an employee quits a job is that they feel unappreciated and/or unsupported by management. Chances are good that if one of your staff feels that way, others aren’t far behind.

Overcome team morale issues with good leadership. As the dentist and CEO of the practice, you are the primary person your team is looking to for leadership. Hold yourself accountable to your team for following through on your promises. Deal with conflicts as soon as they arise. Have an open door policy that makes your staff feel comfortable coming to you with problems so you can address them before they become unmanageable.

Hold regular effective team meetings to ensure every team member understands their place in your vision for the practice. Recognize individual and team successes. Show appreciation. Ensure that you are supportive of any staff empowered to make decisions. If you need to coach them on a change in policy, do so privately to avoid undermining their authority.

You are the leader of your team. The trust, support, recognition, appreciation, and respect you give to your team is the foundation of your team’s morale. When you create a great working environment, your team morale is high. High team morale creates a better patient experience and greater productivity, which benefits everyone. To ensure your practice thrives, make your team’s morale a priority.

August 19, 2020

Maryland Dental CPA | How to Prepare for an Audit

The prospect for an audit can be daunting. The best way to combat the stress and anxiety induced with this process is to prepare yourself and your company before it happens. Below are a few tips to keep your stress levels low and your preparations high through the process.

Know what it will entail

If you are unaware of what an audit entails, it is a good idea to do your research and learn about the process. Knowing what questions the IRS examiner might ask or what documents they will want to see can help control your anxiety and show you are well prepared.

Document thoroughly

Get in the habit of keeping up with your primary and secondary tax records year-round to be better prepared for when an audit happens. Staying organized using a personal filing system will help you know where everything is. Be sure to have a digital and paper trail as well incase anything happens to either filing system.

Gather the Information

Before the audit happens, make sure you have all the necessary documentation that will be asked of you to present. If you believe something is missing, you can try to recreate the records as accurately as possible or contact the place where you submitted it to for their records. Since you will have all your documents in one place, lay out the information and label it for the auditor for an efficient process.

Pre-audit compliance report

If you feel overwhelmed or disorganized, get on track with a thorough examination of your financial data to prepare and compile your documents. Our experienced team will help you set up a system and provide you with confidence if facing an audit.

For more information on audits, or addition accounting advice, contact Schiff & Associates today.