Blog
Plain-text accounting insights, tutorials, and updates from the Beancount.io team. Browse by tag.
QuickBooks Alternatives: 10 Best Accounting Software Options for Small Business in 2026
Compare the 10 best QuickBooks alternatives for small business in 2026. From free options like Wave and GnuCash to full-featured platforms like Xero and FreshBooks, find the right accounting software for your budget and needs.
How to Send Money Abroad: A Complete International Payments Guide for Small Businesses
A complete guide to international payments for small businesses. Compare wire transfers, online services, and multi-currency accounts. Learn about fees, exchange rates, IRS regulations, and how to save money sending payments abroad.
How to Pay Yourself from an LLC: Salary vs. Owner's Draw Explained
Learn how to pay yourself from an LLC using owner's draws or salary, understand the tax implications of each LLC tax classification (sole proprietorship, partnership, S-corp, C-corp), and discover when an S-corp election can save you thousands in self-employment taxes.
How to Open a Business Bank Account: A Step-by-Step Guide
Learn how to open a business bank account step by step, including required documents for each business type, how to compare bank fees and features, common mistakes to avoid, and tips for choosing between national, community, and online banks.
Business Credit Scores: What They Are, How They Work, and How to Build Them
Learn what business credit scores are, how the major scoring systems (PAYDEX, Experian, Equifax, FICO SBSS) work, and step-by-step strategies to build strong business credit that opens doors to better financing, supplier terms, and more.
Bankruptcy for Small Business: What It Is, Types, and When to Consider It
Learn everything about small business bankruptcy, including Chapter 7, 11, and 13 options, the step-by-step filing process, costs, how it affects your credit, and practical alternatives like debt negotiation and restructuring.
ACH Payments: What They Are, How They Work, and Why Small Businesses Need Them
Discover what ACH payments are, how the Automated Clearing House network works, the difference between ACH credits and debits, processing times, fees, and how small businesses can use ACH to cut costs and automate payments.
Year-Over-Year Growth: The Formula Every Business Owner Needs to Master
Learn how to calculate year-over-year (YOY) growth with the simple formula, real-world examples, and practical tips. Understand when to use YOY vs. MOM vs. QOQ, which metrics to track, common mistakes to avoid, and industry benchmarks for healthy growth rates.
Working Capital: What It Is, How to Calculate It, and How to Manage It
Learn what working capital is, how to calculate the working capital ratio, understand the cash conversion cycle, identify when negative working capital is a problem, and discover seven strategies to improve your working capital and keep your business financially healthy.
The Waste Book: The Oldest Book in Accounting and Why It Still Matters
Discover the waste book, the oldest book in accounting history. Learn how colonial merchants used waste books to track daily transactions, how Isaac Newton repurposed one for calculus, and why this centuries-old concept still shapes modern bookkeeping.
Variable Costs: What They Are, How to Calculate, and Reduce Them
Learn what variable costs are, how to calculate variable cost per unit and contribution margin, real-world examples across industries, the difference between variable and fixed costs, and seven proven strategies to reduce variable costs and boost profitability.
Statement of Retained Earnings: What It Is, How to Prepare One, and Why It Matters
Learn what a statement of retained earnings is, how to prepare one step by step, understand the retained earnings formula, calculate the retention ratio, avoid common mistakes like confusing retained earnings with cash, and know what negative retained earnings mean for your business.