CPA2Biz Launches This Month in Partnership with State Societies.

CPA2Biz -- the profession's own business services portal -- is starting to rollout its content, products and tools this month. CPA2Biz is a comprehensive business services provider serving the needs of both the CPA profession and, through the CPA, the small to medium-size business community. Formed in Mar. 2000, the portal is a direct outgrowth of the highly acclaimed CPA Vision Process. The AICPA and state CPA societies are excited to offer this rich and dynamic resource to support CPAs and their professional needs.

CPA2Biz is currently structured into two operating divisions: the Professional Services Division (PSD) and the Application Solutions Division (ASD). Through the PSD, which is scheduled to go "live" this month, CPA2Biz provides AICPA and state society members with a comprehensive suite of products and services that will address most of their professional needs. CPA2Biz's Professional Services site will provide in-depth information and services through vertical online "Resource Centers" which are organized around areas of practice or industry specialization.

"While the PSD is officially launching this month, it will only get stronger over time," says Erik Asgeirsson, vice president of the PSD. "We will be adding new content every day and by the end of this calendar year, we are planning on having significantly more `Resource Centers' covering most of the major areas of practice for CPAs."

The Application Solutions Division, which is scheduled to launch late this calendar year, is developing a comprehensive business services hub that offers an integrated suite of best-inbreed business applications. One group of applications is directed toward the management of a CPA firm. The other group is directed toward the needs of small to medium-size businesses.

"Consistent with its role of being the profession's business services portal, CPA2Biz levels the playing field for both CPA firms and the small to medium-size businesses they serve," says Bill Reeb, CPA and vice president of the ASD. "Our goal is to provide CPAs with affordable, state-of-the-art business applications -- solutions that were, until now, available only to much larger organizations. By streamlining internal business processes,with its integrated suite of business applications, CPA2Biz is being designed to free CPAs and business managers to focus limited resources on those core activities that create competitive advantage rather than on the minutia of managing the non-core business infrastructure," Reeb said.

The mission of CPA2Biz is to deliver on the CPA Vision Process and to help position the CPA as the e-enablement professional to small and medium-size enterprises -- whether those enterprises represent the CPA's clients or their employers.

Majority-owned by the AICPA, other significant shareholders of CPA2Biz include Microsoft, The Thomson Corporation, Aon, and Shared Services LLC (the joint venture of the AICPA and 52 state, district and territory CPA societies). It serves as the official marketing and distribution arm of the AICPA.

Better, Faster, Easier Online Services

Everything members have come to expect from aicpa.org and CPAWeb.org and a lot more is available and vastly enhanced on CPA2Biz.com.

* The new site is easier to use, with simplified navigation and in-depth information categorized by practice and industry into vertical "Resource Centers."

* The new site is customizable to reflect your personal areas of interest.

* You now have access to new tools and resources for your practice and/or your business, including professional development and career services, as well as the ability to purchase products and services from the AICPA and other leading vendors completely online.

CPAWeb and AICPA InfoBytes Users

Registered users of CPAWeb.org will be provided a seamless login to CPA2Biz.com. Once there, they will find all of the services currently available on CPAWeb.org. CPAWeb.org users will be receiving additional details via e-mail.

Subscribers to AICPA InfoBytes will be able to access approximately 1,000 hours of online course materials at CPA2Biz.com. InfoBytes subscribers will also receive additional details via e-mail.

Members should look to future issues of The CPA Letter for more on CPA2Biz as it evolves and can visit aicpa.org and CPAWeb.org for updates on CPA2Biz as well.

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Aon Corporation Makes Multi-Million Dollar Investment in CPA2Biz; Chief Operating Officer Appointed

Coming on the heels of Microsoft's and The Thomson Corporation's combined $50 million investment in CPA2Biz is a multi-million dollar investment by Aon Corporation. Under the partnership, Aon will provide innovative insurance and related services to CPAs, their employers and clients.

Separately, CPA2Biz announced that Michael Harnish, CPA, has been appointed chief operating officer. Harnish, who has assumed responsibility for CPA2Biz's operations as it develops strategic services, tools, products and other valuable content for CPAs, their clients and employers, has more than 35 years of experience in the technology, public accounting and legal sectors.