Latest news with #CPB
Time Business News
21 hours ago
- Business
- Time Business News
How to Find a Bookkeeping Company in Toronto: A Step-by-Step Guide
Whether you're a small business owner, a freelancer, or running a growing startup, having reliable bookkeeping services is crucial to managing your finances effectively. In a vibrant and competitive city like Toronto, the options for bookkeeping companies are vast—ranging from large firms to boutique providers and even virtual bookkeepers. But how do you choose the right one for your needs? Here's a practical guide to help you navigate the process of finding a trustworthy Toronto bookkeeper. Before reaching out to any firms, it's important to know what kind of services you require. Bookkeeping isn't just about recording expenses and revenues—it can also include payroll processing, GST/HST filings, bank reconciliations, invoicing, and preparing financial statements. Are you looking for full-service bookkeeping or just help with monthly reconciliations? Do you need industry-specific knowledge, such as for retail, hospitality, or real estate? Knowing your specific needs will help you narrow down your options. Toronto offers both in-person and virtual bookkeeping services. Some businesses prefer face-to-face meetings with a local bookkeeper, especially when dealing with sensitive financial information. Others are comfortable with cloud-based platforms like QuickBooks Online or Xero, and prefer virtual services that offer flexibility and often lower costs. Decide what works best for your comfort level and workflow. Ensure the company or individual you choose has the proper certifications. Look for credentials such as Certified Professional Bookkeeper (CPB) or affiliation with recognized organizations like the Canadian Bookkeepers Association (CBA) or the Institute of Professional Bookkeepers of Canada (IPBC). Certified professionals adhere to ethical standards and continuing education requirements, which means your books are in experienced hands. Word-of-mouth remains one of the most powerful tools when searching for reliable service providers. Ask fellow business owners, accountants, or your local chamber of commerce if they can recommend a reputable bookkeeper in Toronto. Additionally, online reviews on Google, Yelp, or Clutch can provide insights into customer satisfaction, responsiveness, and professionalism. Modern bookkeeping relies heavily on cloud software, automation tools, and integration with apps like Shopify, Stripe, or payroll systems like Wagepoint or ADP. A forward-thinking bookkeeping company will be proficient in these tools and help you streamline your financial processes. Ask potential providers about the software they use and whether they can work with your existing systems. Treat this like hiring a team member. Reach out to at least three bookkeeping companies and conduct brief interviews. Ask about their experience, the size and scope of clients they typically work with, their pricing models, and how they handle data security. This will help you compare and find the best fit for your business culture and budget. Bookkeeping companies in Toronto may charge hourly rates, flat monthly fees, or packages based on your transaction volume. Make sure you understand their pricing structure and what's included. Be wary of providers with unusually low rates—quality bookkeeping requires time and expertise, and cutting corners may cost you more in the long run. Once you've chosen a bookkeeping company, ask for a service agreement that outlines their responsibilities, timelines, confidentiality terms, and how communication will be handled. Some firms may offer a trial period or discounted introductory rate, which gives you a chance to evaluate their service before making a long-term commitment. Finding the right bookkeeping company in Toronto may take a little time, but it's a decision that can significantly impact your financial health and business success. By understanding your needs, doing due diligence, and communicating clearly with potential providers, you'll be well on your way to forming a professional relationship that supports your growth and peace of mind. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
ABC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
US denies arresting Australian writer because of his political views
The US government has denied arresting an Australian writer because of his political beliefs, saying he was turned away from the border for giving false information on an entry form. Alistair Kitchen, 33, said he was refused entry to the US last week after being grilled about his views on the Gaza conflict and articles he wrote about pro-Palestinian protests. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told the ABC claims Mr Kitchen was arrested for political views were "unequivocally false". "The individual in question was denied entry because he gave false information on his [Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) application] regarding drug use," a DHS spokesperson said on Wednesday. Mr Kitchen said he admitted to previously taking drugs after a border agent searched his phone and claimed to have found evidence of prior use. He said he told the officer he had used cannabis in New York, where it is legal. However, federal US law still prohibits the drug. Mr Kitchen was travelling from Melbourne to New York to visit friends when he was pulled out of the customs line during a layover in Los Angeles. He maintains he was initially interrogated about blog posts he penned on protests at New York's Columbia University against the war in Gaza. "Customs and Border Protection (CPB) specifically and proudly told me I was detained because of my reporting on the student protests at Columbia University, before they proceeded to interrogate me on my views on Gaza," Mr Kitchen told the ABC on Wednesday. DHS did not specifically deny that Mr Kitchen was questioned about the Israel-Gaza conflict. The agency said the US had the "most secure border" in American history "under the leadership of the Trump Administration and Secretary [Kristi] Noem". "This has allowed CPB to focus to actually vet and interview the people attempting to come into our country," the DHS spokesperson said. "Lawful travellers have nothing to fear from these measures, which are designed to protect our nation's security. "However, those intending to enter the US with fraudulent purposes or malicious intent are offered the following advice: Don't even try." Mr Kitchen said there was nothing new about travellers being denied entry for past drug use but suggested the practice was now being used to bar foreigners for other reasons. "What is new is the politically-motivated weaponisation of these policies to keep out forms of speech the US government does not want to hear," he said. Adding to Mr Kitchen's distress, after 12 hours of detention in LA, his phone was not returned until he landed in Australia on a Qantas flight on Saturday. CPB said it was "standard practice" that the phone and travel documents of a person being removed from the US were "placed into a packet and given to the airline". Mr Kitchen previously said he was told by the Australian consulate the airline had discretion over whether to return the passenger's belongings once on board. Qantas declined to comment.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Campbell Stock Hits 52-Week Low: Temporary Dip or Deeper Concern?
The Campbell's Company CPB has endured a challenging run in 2025, with its stock down 20.4% year to date. This sharp decline starkly contrasts with the broader market, underperforming the S&P 500's modest 1.8% growth, the Zacks Consumer Staples sector's 6.6% return. However, the industry's average decline was just 4% during the same time frame. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research As of the last trading session, CPB closed at $33.32, just above its 52-week low of $32.83 reached on the same day. Notably, the stock is currently trading below both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, reflecting ongoing weakness in momentum and investor sentiment. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research These developments raise a critical question for investors: Is CPB's slump a short-term correction due to temporary headwinds, or does it reflect deeper structural issues within the company? Campbell's has been experiencing weaker-than-expected performance in the Snacks business amid shifting consumer trends and competitive dynamics within the market. The performance of its Snacks business was mixed in the third quarter of fiscal 2025, reflecting ongoing category softness and heightened competition within the snacking market. The macroeconomic environment remains dynamic and consumers are becoming increasingly deliberate with their spending, especially on discretionary snack items. Many are continuing to cook at home and prioritize food purchases that offer better value, which has supported growth in the Meals & Beverages segment but created headwinds for the Snacks trend continued in the fiscal third quarter, wherein net sales in the division totaled $1,012 million, down 8% year over year. Excluding the impact of the Pop Secret divestiture, organic net sales were down 5%. The decline was caused by a 5% drop in volume/mix, with net price realization remaining flat. Looking ahead, management expects the recovery in the Snacks business to be slower than initially anticipated. In addition to sluggish snack sales, Campbell's is grappling with persistent cost inflation. In the third quarter of fiscal 2025, the company faced cost inflation and related headwinds that weighed on its profitability. Its adjusted gross profit margin declined 110 bps to 30.1%, impacted by cost inflation, supply-chain expenses, unfavorable net pricing and acquisition-related impacts. In addition, CPB's adjusted marketing and selling expenses rose 5% to $207 million in the fiscal third quarter, primarily due to the impact of the recent its last earnings call, management highlighted that it expects core inflation to rise in the second half of the fiscal year — both year over year and sequentially — with full-year core inflation to stay in the low single-digit range. The company's ability to balance inflationary pressures with its strategic goals will be critical in maintaining its trajectory toward growth. Campbell's has been operating in a dynamic environment. Reflecting its performance so far in fiscal 2025, the company recently reaffirmed its full-year guidance originally issued on March 5, 2025, excluding the impact of tariffs. However, adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) and adjusted earnings per share (EPS) are now projected to be at the lower end of the guidance range, primarily due to a slower-than-expected recovery in the Snacks segment. CPB forecasts fiscal 2025 organic net sales to range from a 2% decline to flat year over year. Adjusted EBIT is estimated to grow 3-5%. The adjusted EPS is expected to decline 4-1%, in the range of $2.95-$3.05, compared with $3.08 reported in fiscal 2024. Campbell's is navigating a tough operating landscape in 2025. Pressures in its core Snacks business, inflation-driven margin erosion and a subdued earnings outlook have all contributed to the stock's notable underperformance. With shares trading near 52-week lows and momentum indicators pointing to continued weakness, investors will be closely watching the company's ability to execute a turnaround. At present, CPB carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). Nomad Foods Limited NOMD manufactures, markets and distributes a range of frozen food products in the United Kingdom and internationally. It currently sports a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks Zacks Consensus Estimate for Nomad Foods' current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 4.6% and 7.3%, respectively, from the prior-year levels. NOMD delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 3.2%, on S.A. BRFS raises, produces and slaughters poultry and pork for the processing, production and sale of fresh meat, processed products, pasta, margarine, pet food and other products. It currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy). BRFS delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 5.4%, on Zacks Consensus Estimate for BRF S.A.'s current fiscal-year earnings implies growth of 11.1%, respectively, from the prior-year Group AB OTLY, an oatmilk company, provides a range of plant-based dairy products made from oats. It presently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. OTLY delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 25.1%, on consensus estimate for Oatly Group's current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 2.7% and 65.8%, respectively, from the year-ago figures. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report The Campbell's Company (CPB) : Free Stock Analysis Report BRF S.A. (BRFS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Nomad Foods Limited (NOMD) : Free Stock Analysis Report Oatly Group AB Sponsored ADR (OTLY) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
Metro
13-06-2025
- Metro
Ireland has a US border — it could help travellers nervous about Trump's America
Bleary eyes, hours-long lines, and a deep-rooted rumbling of irrational anxiety. The US has a reputation for intimidating border control. There's something about passing through immigration when you land at JFK that makes you wonder if you've accidentally smuggled 30 kilos of coke into your hand luggage. But international travellers arriving from a select group of airports, including Ireland's Dublin and Shannon, breeze through customs — without an American passport. That's because the Irish airports are two of 15 in the world that offer US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance, which allows travellers to clear US immigration – and the headache that comes with it – before they board. Unless you make a habit of flying from an airport that offers it, preclearance is unlikely to be on your radar. But travelling via Dublin could ease stress for anyone nervous about flying to the US right now. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. So, now you know there has been a US border in Dublin Airport for more than 30 years. Preclearance as a concept, though, has been around much longer. It was first introduced in 1903 for ferry passengers arriving in the US from Victoria, Canada, before being extended to air travel in the 1950s. It's arranged via legal treaty, and in practice, that means that when you arrive on US soil, you do so as a domestic passenger — free to bypass the usual border inspections and skip straight to baggage reclaim. Queues tend to be shorter at preclearance, because there are generally less people passing through. Experts say it can save you hours. Another advantage is that, if the worst occurs and you are refused boarding, you won't be deported — if you live in Ireland, you're already at home. If you're coming from the UK or Europe, at least you're still on the right side of the Atlantic. Preclearance also exists at airports in Aruba, Bermuda, Abu Dhabi and the Bahamas, as well as nine airports in Canada. But Dublin was the first outside of North America — a decision based on the long history of diplomatic relations between Ireland and the USA. Travellers have no choice in the matter — essentially, if you're flying to the USA from Dublin, you have to go through preclearance in the Irish capital. It's worth noting that the workers who process your documents are US border control agents, not Irish airport staff. Some CPB agents are dual-nationals. However it's important to remember they are all American citizens, working for the US government – now the Trump administration – overseas. The main difference is that CBP officers working in Ireland are unarmed, in accordance with Irish law. Metro's Lifestyle Editor, Kristina Beanland, travelled to the Windy City via Dublin in 2023 and shared this account of her trip. 'My friends and I, who had travelled from London, arrived at a small corner of Dublin airport, where there was no one else apart from us and a few customs officers. 'But the strangest part was that you suddenly felt like you were in the USA. There were American accents and uniforms with the stars and stripes on the arm, and signs signalling that you were approaching a US border. 'It was weird, and felt like a slightly annoying stop on the journey – that is, until we arrived at O'Hare and were rewarded with a breezy stroll off the flight, straight to pick up our suitcases and into the waiting cab. In total, it probably took less than an hour to get from the plane to Michigan Avenue. 'That said, on the way home, stopping in Dublin was annoying. We'd already gone through American border control in Chicago, and the stopover was a result of having to take the same inbound route back. 'Fast-forward two years though, and we're living in a world where Donald Trump is President. The idea of passing through a US border that's only a 50-minute flight from home, somehow feels a lot less stressful than doing so on actual American soil.' Rolling out preclearance on foreign soil is not a decision for the US alone. Host nations must see the benefit. Niall Kearns, airport director at Ireland's Shannon Airport, told CNN last year that it's good for business. Fifteen airports outside the US have a US preclearance border: Dublin (Ireland) Shannon (Ireland) Aruba Hamilton (Bermuda) Abu Dhabi (UAE) Nassau (Bahamas) Calgary (Canada) Edmonton (Canada) Halifax (Canada) Montreal (Canada) Ottawa (Canada) Vancouver (Canada) Winnipeg (Canada) Toronoto (Canada) Prince Rupert (Canada) Since Donald Trump returned to the White House, scrutiny has ramped up at the US border, with travellers detained and deported due to visa mix-ups and even content saved on their phones. In February, British graphic artist Rebecca Burke, 28, was detained for 19 days after TSA agents said she had been working in the US illegally (she was doing odd jobs for a host family in return for free accommodation, and no money had exchanged hands). In April, two German tourists were deported after their trip to Hawaii was deemed 'suspicious' because they hadn't booked a hotel. A Lebanese man who is a US citizen (with an American wife) was also detained when he tried to return home after a weekend trip to Canada. In March, an unnamed French scientist was denied entry to the States after airport immigration officers searched his phone and found messages critical of the Trump administration. Last month, Turkish-American streamer Hasan Piker claimed he was detained and questioned for two hours by US Customs and Border Protection agents at Chicago's O'Hare Airport after returning from France. He said agents interrogated him about his political views, including his stance on Trump and Gaza. Piker said the questioning felt 'deliberate'. On Wednesday, the US president resurrected a controversial travel ban from his first term in the White House: a proclamation that bans citizens of 12 countries from entering the United States. Tariffs, travel bans, mass firings – if there's one thing you can be sure about with Donald Trump, it's that he'll make news. Constantly . That's even the case here in the UK, where most of his decisions have no direct impact. But is all that coverage stopping Brits from hopping across the pond for a vacation? If you look at the dry numbers from the US National Travel and Tourism Office, you might think the answer is no. In January, the month of Trump's second inauguration, the number of UK visitors to the US was 5% higher than the previous January. More Trending February and April saw more Brits going to the US than in the same months in 2024, suggesting that far from putting people off, we may even be more keen to visit the country when it's run by Trump. ABTA, the British trade association for the travel industry, tells a similar tale. They 'haven't seen any significant changes in terms of UK-US travel post-Trump administration', a spokesperson told Metro, with 'no noticeable shifts away' from the States. But that may not be the full story. You can read our political reporter Craig Munro's analysis here. MORE: Zelensky refutes Trump's take on war and calls Putin 'murderer who came to kill the kids' MORE: Donald Trump calls Elon Musk 'the man who has lost his mind' and won't talk to him MORE: Teenager dies after inhaling cleaning product in social media 'dusting' challenge
Axios
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Protests ignite after U.S. customs detains Palestinian men at SFO
Two Palestinian men had their visas revoked by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at San Francisco International Airport Wednesday and remain in federal custody, according to Supervisor Bilal Mahmood. Driving the news: An East Bay Jewish congregation had invited Eid Hthaleen and Ouda Alhadlin, two community leaders in the occupied West Bank, to participate in an interfaith speaking tour. The men's detention comes as the Trump administration escalates immigration raids, cracks down on nationwide protests and tries to deport some pro-Palestinian protesters. State of play: The two men arrived on a flight from Jordan around 1pm Wednesday and were denied entry with "no cause given" despite holding valid visas, according to Mahmood. Both were scheduled to speak at the Kehilla Community Synagogue to help fundraise for children's programming in the West Bank. Members of the synagogue raised the alarm after the two men failed to meet them at the airport, Mahmood told Axios. Mahmood visited SFO Wednesday night after a call from the public defender's office, "knocking on doors" and staying until 2am in search of answers. A CPB official eventually confirmed to him that they are holding both men and plan to return them to the Middle East as early as Thursday afternoon. What they're saying: CPB did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment. The latest: The synagogue quickly rallied supporters Thursday morning. Roughly 100 protesters stationed themselves at SFO's international terminal, chanting "Let them go" and holding signs that said "Jews say stop the genocide of Palestinians," Mission Local reports. The Bay Area branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations also organized a City Hall demonstration Thursday with other faith leaders to demand the men's release. "We don't know what conditions they're in or if they've been given any food," Mahmood said. Zoom in: Mahmood called their detention an unconscionable act of censorship and discrimination, especially when Hthaleen and Alhadlin are part of a "humanitarian mission" to bridge the gap between Palestinians and Jews.
