Baltimore's New Security Guard Wage Law: What It Means for Your Payroll and Books
Baltimore's ordinance sets a roughly $18/hour wage plus $5.50 benefits floor for security guards from January 1, 2028 — payroll taxes don't count toward it.
#bookkeeping
Bookkeeping
Modern bookkeeping techniques using plain-text and automated workflows
Bounced Checks and NSF Fees: How to Book Returned Checks, Bank Charges, and Redeposits Without Double-Counting Revenue
A bounced check reverses the deposit and reopens the receivable — book the NSF fee as its own expense and apply the redeposit to the invoice, never to revenue.
Customer Overpaid You? How to Handle Overpayments and Unapplied Cash Without Creating Ghost Revenue
An overpayment is a liability, not revenue. Book the excess as a customer credit, park unmatched cash in a clearing account, and escheat stale credits.
Daily Money Manager Bookkeeping: Retainers, Bill-Pay Trust Controls, and the Fiduciary Line
A daily money manager is not a fiduciary until formally appointed — price retainers deliberately, never commingle funds, and log every bill-pay.
September 30 Is Coming: How Small Contractors Can Win a Share of the Federal Q4 Spending Sprint
Agencies obligate 30–40% of annual contract dollars in Q4, peaking in September — how a small firm gets SAM-ready and quotes fast enough to win a share.
Hop Farm Bookkeeping: Why Your $12,000-Per-Acre Trellis Depreciates Differently From the Bines
Hop yard buildout runs $12,000-$15,000 per acre, and the trellis depreciates as 7-year farm equipment while IRS Section 263A decides the plants.
Hot Sauce Maker Bookkeeping: Why Your Home Kitchen Is Off-Limits and What a 5 oz. Bottle Really Costs
Hot sauce is an FDA acidified food, so most states bar it from home kitchens. Budget $500-$1,000 for process review and training before your first bottle.
Inventory Shrinkage and the Retail Safe Harbor: Deduct Theft and Breakage Without a Year-End Count
Section 471(b) lets US retailers deduct estimated shrinkage without a year-end count — a three-year shrink-to-sales ratio times stub-period sales, on Form 3115.
Joint Venture Bookkeeping: Capital Accounts, Profit Splits, and Partnership Tax Filing
The IRS treats most joint ventures as partnerships: keep separate books, track capital accounts, and file Form 1065 by March 15.
Manufacturer Coupons vs. Store Coupons: Which Discounts Actually Reduce the Taxable Sales Price
Manufacturer coupons stay taxable because the vendor reimburses you; store coupons cut the base. US rules for BOGO, double coupons, and booking each.
Mobile Mechanic Bookkeeping: Van Build-Out vs. Lease, Parts Markup, and Pricing the Trip Charge
A $125 posted labor rate falls to $94 once drive time counts. Price the trip charge by zone, tier parts markup, and claim Section 179 on a 6,000-lb van.
Pet Deposits vs. Pet Rent vs. Pet Fees: What You Can Actually Charge
Pet deposits are refundable and often capped; pet fees and pet rent are Schedule E income when received — IRS Pub 527 rules, state caps, and how to book each.