Raymon Lester, CPA

07/21/2026

07/20/2026

Quick question for business owners…

If the IRS asked for a receipt from five years ago, could you find it?

How about a signed lease agreement, board minutes, employee records, or the purchase documents for a piece of equipment?

Good recordkeeping isn’t just about staying organized—it’s about protecting your business.

Join me Wednesday at 6:30 PM EST as we discuss how long businesses should keep important records and practical ways to organize them before you need them.

07/15/2026

Is your company ready for a financial statement review or audit?

Many organizations don't think about preparing until it's too late. In this short Facebook Live, I discuss a few practical steps you can take now to help your business or nonprofit become more review- and audit-ready.

We cover:
✔️ Choosing the appropriate basis of accounting
✔️ Maintaining proper supporting documentation
✔️ Reconciling accounts monthly
✔️ Strengthening internal controls
✔️ Why preparation today can save time, money, and stress later

Please note: This discussion focuses on financial statement reviews and audits performed by an independent CPA—not IRS or state tax audits. However, maintaining accurate financial records can also help your organization if it is ever examined by a federal or state agency.

If your business or nonprofit could benefit from stronger financial reporting, budgeting, cash flow management, KPI analysis, or Fractional CFO services, I'd love to help.

📅 Schedule your complimentary consultation today:
https://www.raymonlestercpa.com/calendar

07/13/2026

As your organization grows, there may come a time when a lender, grantor, board of directors, or other stakeholder requires compiled, reviewed, or audited financial statements.

The mistake many organizations make is waiting until that requirement arrives before preparing.

One of the first questions to ask is:

What basis of accounting should your organization be using?

Common bases of accounting include:
• Cash Basis – Records income and expenses when cash changes hands.
• Accrual Basis (GAAP) – Records transactions when they are earned or incurred, regardless of when cash is received or paid.
• Modified Cash Basis – A hybrid approach that combines elements of both cash and accrual accounting.
• Tax Basis – Financial statements prepared using the rules applied for income tax reporting.

Now ask yourself:

✔️ Are your books currently maintained using the required basis of accounting?
✔️ If an accountant requested supporting schedules and documentation today, how prepared would your organization be?
✔️ Would your accounting records withstand the scrutiny of a review or financial statement audit?

Preparing early can save your organization significant time, reduce costs, minimize stress, and help avoid unpleasant surprises during the engagement.

Good financial reporting isn’t just about compliance—it’s about building credibility and giving management confidence in the numbers they rely on to make decisions.

The best time to prepare is before you’re required to.

07/08/2026

Profitable doesn't always mean financially healthy.

That's why successful dental practices look beyond the Profit & Loss Statement and Balance Sheet and monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that reveal what's really happening behind the numbers.

In this short Facebook Live, I discuss 6 key performance indicators every dental practice owner should monitor to better understand profitability, cash flow, collections, and the overall financial health of their practice.

As we begin the second half of the year, now is the perfect time to dig deeper into your numbers and determine whether your practice is on track to meet its financial goals.

Watch the replay and let me know which KPI you think is most important for your practice.

07/08/2026

Recently, I had a conversation with a prospective client who was looking to replace her previous CPA. She shared that her former CPA’s actions allegedly raised significant concerns with the IRS, resulting in multiple clients being examined. Unfortunately, she found herself going through an IRS audit, and she told me the CPA was ultimately arrested.

Whether or not a business owner is directly involved, dealing with an IRS audit can be time-consuming, stressful, and expensive.

Experiences like this serve as an important reminder that not all tax preparers and CPAs provide the same level of integrity, ethics, or professional judgment. Choosing an accountant should never be based solely on the lowest fee or the promise of the biggest refund.

As a CPA, I’ve never understood why anyone would risk their career, professional license, reputation, and even their freedom by preparing fraudulent tax returns or engaging in unethical conduct. Our profession is built on trust, and that trust must be earned every day.

Business owners should work with an advisor who is committed to doing things the right way, not just the easy way.

Integrity and excellence will always outlast shortcuts.

07/06/2026

Your patients count on you to catch small dental problems before they become major ones.

Your practice deserves the same level of attention financially.

Don't just review your Profit & Loss, dig deeper into your KPIs, cash flow, collections, overhead, and profitability. Small financial issues often become expensive problems when ignored.

Healthy practices are built on healthy financial decisions.

06/30/2026

One of the biggest reasons businesses struggle isn’t because they aren’t making sales—it’s because they aren’t collecting the money they’ve already earned.

Too many business owners focus on generating new revenue while ignoring their accounts receivable. The longer invoices remain unpaid, the greater the strain on cash flow. Eventually, that can make it difficult to pay employees, vendors, taxes, or even yourself.

Sometimes it’s the small disciplines that determine whether a business succeeds or fails.

✔️ Send invoices promptly.
✔️ Follow up on past-due balances consistently.
✔️ Establish clear payment terms.
✔️ Review your aging report every month.

Remember: Revenue is vanity. Cash flow is reality.

A good bookkeeper records what happened. A trusted accounting advisor or Fractional CFO helps you build systems that improve collections, strengthen cash flow, and keep your business financially healthy.

How often do you review your accounts receivable aging report?