#accounting
Accounting
Master accounting fundamentals and best practices for plain-text bookkeeping
Writing Down Obsolete Inventory: A Small Business Guide to Lower of Cost or Net Realizable Value
Under GAAP's ASC 330, inventory must be carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value. This guide shows small businesses how to calculate NRV, book the write-down, document it for the IRS, and avoid the book-tax timing trap.
The CPA Search Now Takes 73 Days: A Small Business Guide to the Accountant Shortage
Filling a CPA-credentialed role now averages 73 days, 41% longer than non-credentialed roles, while the number of candidates sitting for the CPA exam fell from over 100,000 in 2016 to about 67,000 in 2022. This guide explains what is draining the pipeline, what the shortage costs in fees and delayed closes, and five ways small businesses keep books clean and filings on time without waiting in line for a firm.
Charitable Giving in 2026: Cash vs. Property, $500 Noncash Threshold, and the Appraisal Rule for Donations Over $5,000
Noncash gifts over $500 require Form 8283 and over $5,000 require a qualified appraisal — and every single gift of $250 or more needs a contemporaneous acknowledgment letter before the return is filed.
Corporate Card and Expense Management Software in 2026: Automated Receipt Matching, Real-Time Controls, and Free vs. Paid Plans
Corporate card and expense platforms in 2026 now auto-match receipts via OCR, enforce spend controls at authorization, and sync to your books — with free tiers funded by interchange and paid plans at $5–$15 per user unlocking advanced approvals and ERP mapping.
Rent-to-Own Store Accounting: How to Classify the Lease, Book Repossessions, and Track the Fleet
Most week-to-week rent-to-own agreements are operating leases, not credit sales — the unit stays on your books as depreciating rental inventory, each payment splits into lease revenue, bundled services, and fees, and a repossession is a status change rather than a gain or loss. Covers lease-versus-sale classification, repossession entries, doubtful-rent allowances, and the payout math that decides whether a unit makes money.
The Accountant Shortage in 2026: Why 120,000 Openings, a 77% Shortage Index, and Rising Pay Define Hiring
BLS projects 120K+ accounting openings yearly while CPA pipeline shrinks — 77% shortage index, 134% hiring index, and why firms are rethinking pay and pathways.
The Rule That Can Make Companies Look Riskier Overnight: What a Fix Would Mean for Your Financial Ratios
A pending accounting fix could stop companies from looking riskier overnight when short-term obligations roll — how to prepare ratios and disclosures.
Aplos vs. QuickBooks for Nonprofits: Why "Classes" Aren't Real Fund Accounting, and How to Actually Choose
QuickBooks uses Classes to tag nonprofit funds; Aplos does native fund accounting. Learn the balance-sheet, restriction, and audit differences that decide which to choose in 2026.
Cin7 vs. Katana vs. inFlow: How Product-Based Small Businesses Should Choose Inventory Management Software in 2026
Cin7, Katana, and inFlow solve different inventory problems. Learn how to match your sales channels, BOM needs, and integrations to the right platform before you lock in.
GASB Statement 103 Is Effective for Fiscal 2026: What State and Local Governments Must Change
GASB 103 overhauls the 25-year-old GASB 34 model — new MD&A, unusual items, proprietary funds, and budget comparisons effective for years ending June 30 2026.
Personal Training and Fitness Studio Bookkeeping: Reconciling Membership Platforms, Class-Pack Deferred Revenue, and the Package Profit Margins Most Trainers Never Calculate
Fitness studios collect cash upfront for memberships and class packs but earn it over weeks. Learn how to reconcile Mindbody and Stripe, track deferred revenue correctly, and calculate the true margin on personal training packages.
Ramp Stack and the Rise of the "AI Operating System" for Accounting: What the $44B Ramp Launch Means for Firms and Small Business Clients in 2026
Ramp launched Stack June 3, 2026 — an AI operating system for accounting firms that deploys agents for close, reconciliations, and journal entries. Learn what it automates and where human review remains.