#small-business
Financial management strategies and tools for small business owners
A computer repair shop that lumps break-fix, MSP, and refurbished sales into one revenue line can't price any of them. Learn how to split the streams, cost refurbished inventory, and track the data recovery margin that subsidizes the front counter.
Nine states now let home bakers sell TCS foods like cheesecake under food freedom laws. Learn where the line moved in 2026, what still needs a license, and the bookkeeping that keeps a home bakery from outgrowing cottage status.
The IRS postponed COVID-19 disaster deadlines under Section 7508A and the Taxpayer Advocate says July 10, 2026 is the last day to protect your refund. Learn who qualifies, which returns are covered, and how to file a protective claim before the window closes.
A dog daycare that lumps daycare, boarding, and grooming into one revenue line can't price any of them. Learn how to split streams, handle package deferred revenue, and depreciate a six-figure play-yard and kennel buildout.
Earnouts tie part of a sale price to future performance. Learn how buyers and sellers should book contingent payments, when to recognize revenue or adjust purchase price, and the tax traps that turn a good earnout into a bad surprise.
Embedded insurance at checkout is a $180B+ market where coverage is sold inside the software you already use. Learn how checkout and API-bundled policies work, what they cover, and the bookkeeping that keeps bundled premiums auditable.
Escape rooms earn per session, but pay per hour and depreciate props fast. Learn per-room revenue tracking, game-master labor costing, and how to budget the 8–12% annual refresh that keeps rooms bookable.
Estate sale companies handle consignment proceeds that belong to the estate, not the company. Learn why gross sales are a liability, how to book the account-sales report, and the 1099-K vs. 1099-MISC decision before you report someone else's money.
The IRS underpayment penalty for 2026 is 6–7% with quarterly compounding. Learn how the penalty is calculated per quarter, the $1,000 safe harbors, and the bookkeeping that keeps a small business from paying interest on its own tax.
FASB's ASU 2026-01 changes how PIK dividends on preferred stock are measured — at fair value, not par — and requires retrospective application. Learn what it means for founders, PE-backed companies, and earnings per share.
Bookkeepers hold the keys to payroll, banking, and tax data. Learn the NIST-based controls small businesses should implement, what encryption and backups actually mean for a ledger, and how the SBA's new cybersecurity loans help fund the fix.
The Fed's 2026 Small Business Credit Survey shows more firms turning to fintech and online lenders after bank declines. Learn why, what it costs, and the bookkeeping that keeps fintech APR visible before you sign.
