If your firm hasn't moved to a document management system (DMS), it may be time to do so. DMSs are increasingly affordable and practical even for the smallest accounting firms. A DMS lets you go "paperless," or as paperless as anything is. The system stores documents-records, accounting files, tax returns and reports-and then helps manage their access and distribution on a centralized online system. A DMS makes your documents compact and instantly accessible, which saves you time and effort.

Sage may not have added much functionality to its small business desktop accounting software this year, but it's changed the product names and expanded its line of solutions. All of the company's small business applications now go under the name Sage 50-US (Simply Accounting is Sage 50-Canada). The old lineup stays the same, but it now ranges from Sage 50 First Accounting 2013 through Sage 50 Quantum Accounting 2013.