Recently in Outright.com Category

Here are the news headlines we posted recently on our Finovate Twitter feed (follow it here).

AlphaClone Introduces New "Activist Masters" Fund Group - Investment research firm AlphaClone develops "clones" - replications of the investment patterns - of top investors. The company has announced a new clone, which follows the investment performance of 15 renowned activist investors including Carl Icahn and ValueAct Holdings. http://bit.ly/cCHeAw

BancVue Acquires Game Company Skill-Life -- In its first corporate acquisition, BancVue announced on Feb. 9 the purchase of Skill-Life, a software company that develops interactive games designed to teach financial literacy to children between 8 and 12 years old. http://bit.ly/mnqr5

CashEdge Integrates Data Solutions with Neuralus -- Account aggregation service CashEdge and Neuralus, a developer of intelligent financial solutions, have agreed to integrate their technologies to offer automatic updates of banking and credit card transactions for Neuralus clients' Cashflow INSITE accounts. http://bit.ly/aFJLeX

Geezeo to Provide Online Platform to 1^st Mariner Bank -- Geezeo has been selected by 1^st Mariner Bank to provide its online consumer finance platform. Geezeo offers online banking solutions including personal finance management, account access services, and community marketing. 1^st Mariner is a Maryland bank with 24 branches and more than 14,000 ATMs. http://bit.ly/c0ZA6i

iBearSoft Delays Release of Desktop Client iPhone app -- iBearSoft has delayed the release of its previously announced Desktop Client, a support application that will allow users to more easily add data to the company's iBearMoney iPhone app. The delay will allow developers to improve the design and offer simpler functionality. http://bit.ly/aJJ7jY

Jwaala Adds Twitter and Skype Options -- Jwaala has added Twitter and Skype capabilities to its MoneyTracker BOB (Better Online Banking) platform, allowing them to be used to deliver consumer alerts. The alerts allow financial institutions to contact their clients with transaction, credit, and security information. http://bit.ly/b0umqH

Kasasa Adds Atlantic Coast Bank and Security Bank -- Two new banks have agreed to carry Kasasa brand checking account products. Atlantic Coast Bank, which operates in Georgia and Florida, will offer Kasasa Cash and Kasasa Saver accounts. Security Bank will offer all four Kasasa products in Illinois. Atlantic Coast is the first Georgia bank to offer Kasasa branded products. http://bit.ly/daQXk1

Mint.com Offers New Online IRA Center -- Online personal finance service Mint has a new IRA Center website where visitors can compare Roth and traditional IRAs and can link directly to financial institutions that offer retirement accounts. Users of TurboTax software can access the IRA Center from within the application. Mint's new IRA site is located here. http://bit.ly/9eTlD9

Monitise Americas to Launch Android App -- Monitise Americas announced plans to launch a mobile banking app developed for Android phones. The app, which will offer account management, payment, and commerce services, will be available as a free download and will be compatible with all Android phones. http://bit.ly/cCcb3I

Outright.com Adds Editing Feature to its 1099 Tax Filing Service -- Outright.com has added a new feature that allows users to edit the IRS 1099-MISC tax forms generated by its new online 1099 filing service. Users can also edit related company and contractor information. Making changes in the forms does not automatically re-file them with the IRS, but users can do so from the Outright site. http://bit.ly/cPf8i8

Prosper Receives Bridge Financing, Plans Series D Fund Raising -- Prosper has received $2 million in bridge financing from its existing investors: Accel Partners, Benchmark Capital, DAG Ventures, Meritech Capital, Omidyar Network, and Volition (formerly Fidelity Ventures). Prosper is preparing its next fund-raising effort and intends to announce its Series D round soon. http://bit.ly/beljVA

SmartyPig to Move Savings Deposits from West Bank -- SmartyPig is a technology company that mixes savings accounts with social networks, allowing users to create an e-savings account for a particular goal. The company is moving its deposits from West Bank, which stated that it would not be able to keep up investing the deposits. Deposits linked to SmartyPig grew $179 million in 2009, and totaled $187 million at the end of the year. SmartyPig expects to transition to a larger bank in 2010. http://bit.ly/9VTC9m

Free online bookkeeping site Outright.com has added its first fee-based service for small business owners.

Outright provides online tools to help small businesses track and manage their finances. The company focuses on single-owner enterprises that require accounting systems that are fast and easy to use. The Outright.com site imports data directly from the user's bank or other financial services provider to populate reports and tax forms. (Finovate 2009 video here.)

The company's new service helps business owners manage 1099 tax forms for contractors. Using data from the W-9 forms that businesses collect from employees, Outright.com automatically fills out the required IRS 1099-MISC forms, electronically files them with the Internal Revenue Service, and sends copies directly to the contractors. (See screenshot #1 below.)

Unlike other services at Outright, the 1099 tax form product isn't free. The company charges $5 per filing. But for each contractor that joins Outright, the company will refund the fee. Outright plans on introducing more fee-based services in the future.

Along with the launch of its 1099 service, Outright also launched a new tax information website, Right Taxes Now. The new site provides tax advice and offers opportunities to sign petitions regarding small-business tax-relief legislation. It also provides links to services offered at Outright.com. (Screenshot #2)

Both the new tax product and the Right Taxes Now website should help bring users to Outright's site. According to traffic data from Compete, Outright.com saw about 54,000 unique visitors in December, down from its 2009 peak of nearly 71,000 in November. The Right Taxes Now site was launched on January 20 and traffic data is not yet available.

Compete.com, January 2010, traffic data here

#1. Outright's 1099 tax service

#2. Links to Outright from Right Taxes Now

#3. Outright.com helps users track income...

#.4 ... and expenses