The happs with Apps: so much more than angry birds.

• Author: Austin, Milla
• Position: AppHappy

When I first got my iPhone it was used exclusively for phone calls, music and Angry Birds. Fast-forward five years and mobile applications have become a major part of my business. From accepting credit cards to researching tax law, apps have made me a tech-savvy CPA. The good news is that it took little or no time to learn. Just a quick download and a couple dollars and I'm a "Super CPA" in my client's eyes.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Since there are so many apps available, it can be a bit overwhelming deciding which to use. The following are a few simple apps that I believe will make your work life simpler.

1Password: A great app for password management. With so many passwords for each program it gets difficult to keep track. Not to mention the countless hours requesting new passwords, waiting for a new password and going back to re-enter. You can even keep your credit card numbers and other important information safe. You just need to remember one master password and 1Password does die rest. It's pricey ($17.99), but you won't believe how much easier life is after you start using it.

TurboScan: If you ever wished you had a scanner when you were out of the office, try using your phone's camera. You take three pictures of any document, receipt or note, and you have a scan of a PDF or JPEG that you can email or store in programs like EverNote. If you're trying to go paperless, you will love, this app. Plus, the $1.99 price tag won't break the bank.

CCH Mobile: It's great when you're out of the office and you pull up the answer to your client's tax question on a tablet or smartphone. When I do that, my clients usually let out a "Wow!" Now I can pull up research without my computer and if I am out of the office. It also never hurts to read the latest news when sitting in the airport!

Square: Everyone should accept credit cards in this day to keep up with their competitors. Square makes it easy. Imagine grabbing payment before you leave your client's office. With a service charge of only 2.75 percent and working with any smartphone and tablet. you can start accepting credit cards quickly.

Expensify: If you have the type of clients that love to give you the good old shoebox of receipts at the end of the year, move them to Expensify. This app will let them track business expenses and mileage with the ability to scan and upload...