Blog
Plain-text accounting insights, tutorials, and updates from the Beancount.io team. Browse by tag.
Fixed Costs: What They Are, How to Calculate, and How to Reduce Them
Learn what fixed costs are, how to calculate total and average fixed costs, the difference between committed and discretionary fixed costs, how they compare to variable costs, break-even analysis, and proven strategies to reduce fixed overhead expenses.
Financial Statements: What They Are, How to Read Them, and Why They Matter
Learn about the four core financial statements every business needs: balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement, and statement of retained earnings. Includes practical examples, key ratios, common mistakes to avoid, and a framework for using financial data to make better business decisions.
Equity in Accounting: What It Is, How to Calculate It, and How to Grow It
Learn what equity means in accounting, how to calculate it using the accounting equation, understand the difference between owner's equity and shareholders' equity, what negative equity signals, and practical strategies to grow your business equity over time.
Cash Receipts: What They Are, How to Record and Manage Them
Learn what cash receipts are, how to record them in a cash receipts journal with journal entry examples, common sources of cash receipts, seven best practices for managing incoming cash, and how proper cash receipt documentation keeps your business tax-compliant and audit-ready.
Best Small Business Credit Cards: How to Choose the Right Card for Your Company
A comprehensive guide to choosing the best small business credit card. Compare cash back, travel rewards, low APR, and secured cards. Learn how to match your spending patterns to the right card and avoid common mistakes that cost businesses money.
Accounting Software: How to Choose the Right Tool for Your Business
A practical guide to choosing accounting software for your business. Learn the 7 features that actually matter, 5 mistakes to avoid, and how to evaluate options from free tools to enterprise platforms and plain-text solutions.
The Accounting Dictionary: 44 Essential Terms Every Business Owner Should Know
A comprehensive accounting dictionary covering 44 essential terms every business owner should know, organized by category: bookkeeping basics, core accounting concepts, tax terminology, business structures, and financial ratios.
Unearned Revenue: What It Is, How to Record It, and Why It Matters
Learn what unearned revenue is, why it's classified as a liability, how to record it with journal entries, real-world examples from SaaS to gift cards, tax implications, and best practices for managing deferred revenue.
Trial Balance: What It Is, How to Prepare One, and Why It Matters
Learn what a trial balance is, how to prepare one step by step, the three types (unadjusted, adjusted, and post-closing), common errors and how to fix them, and why it matters for accurate financial reporting.
Straight-Line Depreciation: The Formula, Real Examples, and How to Calculate It
Learn the straight-line depreciation formula, see step-by-step calculation examples, and understand when to use this method. Covers IRS recovery periods, journal entries, depreciation schedules, and comparisons with accelerated methods.
Shopify Accounting: A Complete Guide to Bookkeeping and Taxes for Ecommerce Sellers
Learn how to manage Shopify accounting the right way—from setting up your chart of accounts and tracking COGS to navigating multi-state sales tax, reconciling payouts, and avoiding the most common ecommerce bookkeeping mistakes.
SG&A Expenses: What They Are, How to Calculate Them, and Why They Matter
Learn what SG&A (Selling, General & Administrative) expenses are, how to calculate the SG&A ratio, industry benchmarks, tax deduction rules, and seven strategies to reduce SG&A without hurting growth.