Author Archives: Adam Blair

About Adam Blair

Adam Blair is a certified CPA who began his career with Ernst & Young focusing on Manufacturing, Retail, and Distribution clients. He graduated from Samford University with a Master of Business Administration in Accountancy and successfully passed the Certified Public Accountancy exam. After several years in public accounting, he accepted an opportunity to work for a technology start-up, MedMined, that was later acquired by Cardinal Health. Adam has served several retail businesses as an accountant and business partner in various roles. Today, he serves as the CFO of Main Street, Inc (a parent company of CheckWorks). As the resident financial expert at the company, he believes successful businesses take great care of their customers and focus on building a team of happy employees.

How to Create a Basic Budget for a Family Vacation

Planning a family vacation is one of the most rewarding ways to spend quality time together, but without a budget, it’s easy to let costs spiral out of control. Whether you’re heading to a nearby beach or flying across the country, creating a simple, effective vacation budget can help ensure a fun, stress-free experience for everyone.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to building your vacation budget and how to make your money go further.

Continue reading

What do Business Checks Look Like?

When it comes to managing your company’s finances, understanding the tools at your disposal is key, and business checks are one of those foundational tools. While they might seem mundane compared to digital payments, business checks offer an essential layer of professionalism, record-keeping, and security.

Let’s walk you through the defining features of business checks, how they differ from personal checks, and what to look for in terms of design and functionality. We’ll also share a side-by-side comparison of safety design elements in personal and business checks to help you make an informed choice.

Continue reading

High-Tech Personal Checks: What Are They?

In today’s digitally driven world, personal checks are far from outdated. Thanks to technological innovation, they’ve become smarter, safer, and more secure than ever before. Welcome to the era of high-tech personal checks, an upgraded version of traditional checks designed for enhanced convenience and protection.

Let’s break down what high-tech personal checks are, explore their security features, and understand how they complement modern banking needs like mobile deposit checks and safety checks.

Continue reading

What is a Payroll Check?

In the world of business and employment, getting paid is one of the most important aspects of the working relationship. For decades, one of the primary ways employees have received their earnings is through a payroll check. But what exactly is a payroll check, and how does it function in today’s financial landscape?

Continue reading

5 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Buy with Personal Checks

Checks are a convenient way to pay for not only rent and bills, but also daily goods. Even as electronic payment options are on the rise, many people are rediscovering the ease of using checkbooks instead of relying on technology and cash.

Making checks your preferred payment option comes with a lot of benefits. You can always have just the right amount to pay because you simply fill it out on the spot, no need to transfer money, dig through change, or rely on electronics. You’ll also have a paper trail of exactly how much and when you spend.

Continue reading

How Long Is a Personal Check Good For?

In the world of everyday banking, personal checks still hold a significant role, whether you’re paying rent, gifting money, or handling other personal expenses. But what happens if a check isn’t deposited or cashed right away? Knowing how long a check remains valid can help you avoid the hassle of bounced payments or missed deposits. Let’s break down how long a personal check is good for, what you should do with old checks, and how to avoid issues with stale payments.

Continue reading

Where Can I Cash a Business Check?

Running a business often means dealing with checks – whether issuing or receiving them. But cashing a business check can sometimes feel like a hassle, especially if you’re unfamiliar with your options. Whether you’re a small business owner, freelancer, or contractor, knowing where and how to cash your business checks efficiently is key to keeping your finances running smoothly.

Continue reading

How to Make Plans for Your Tax Refund in 2025

Federal tax returns aren’t due until April 15th. However, you can start making a plan for your 2025 tax refund today, even if you have yet to file your return. 

You might be excited about getting some cash back; however, it’s easy to blow through the funds quickly if you don’t have a plan in place. Below, we’ll walk you through this process to help you make better choices once the money gets into your hands.

Continue reading

Preparing for the 2025 Tax Season

 

The tax filing deadline might still be a few weeks away, though it may be a good idea to get things done sooner rather than later. Whether you handle your taxes on your own or you hire a CPA, getting a head start on your taxes gives you plenty of time to gather the necessary documents and avoid any headaches or last-minute filings come April 15th. 

Get started on your taxes with these tips and tricks, including updates on some of the recent changes in the tax code that you should be aware of. 

Continue reading

What are High-Security Checks?

Even as digital payment methods have grown in popularity over recent years, checks remain a standard form of payment for individuals and businesses. From paying bills and employee wages to making gifts or charitable contributions, checks offer a convenient and secure way to complete payments.  

However, even though checks are an analog form of payment, they’re still susceptible to fraud, misuse, and abuse, just like digital methods. In fact, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) reported receiving 15,417 reports on mail theft-related check fraud last year, accounting for payments of more than $688 million. 

To protect check payments amid the rising incidence of fraud, using high-security checks can be an easy swap for account holders. Continue reading below as we discuss the important features of high-security checks, who should use them, and whether they’re worth the extra cost. 

Continue reading