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Small Business

Financial management strategies and tools for small business owners

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8 min read

Sale Barn Bookkeeping: How Livestock Auctions Must Handle Custodial Trust Accounts Under the Packers and Stockyards Act

Livestock auction markets are federal fiduciaries under the Packers and Stockyards Act — custodial accounts must be funded by the next business day, reimbursed in full within seven days, and reconciled monthly. This guide covers the chart of accounts a sale barn needs, how the required surety bond is calculated from sale volume, and why Beef Checkoff and brand-inspection fees must stay out of revenue.

Mike Thrift

bookkeepingcompliancefiduciary
8 min read

MGA Bookkeeping: How to Account for Contingent Profit Commissions That Take Three Years to Settle

MGA profit commissions aren't calculated until 18–24 months after a policy year ends and don't finalize until the third anniversary. This guide covers accruing constrained estimates under ASC 606, keeping fiduciary premium trust accounts separate from operating funds, and a chart-of-accounts structure that keeps multi-year true-ups auditable.

Mike Thrift

insurancebookkeepingrevenue-recognition
9 min read

How Should States Tax Partnership Income? Inside the MTC's Blended Apportionment Proposal

The Multistate Tax Commission's January 2026 white paper proposes a "blended" apportionment method that folds a partnership's sales, property, and payroll factors into each partner's own state tax calculation. Because states currently split between aggregate and entity sourcing theories, the same partnership dollar can be taxed twice — or not at all. Here's what multistate partnerships and multi-member LLCs should track now.

Mike Thrift

taxmulti-state-taxpartnerships
6 min read

Your Amended Business Tax Return Now Takes Over a Year to Process — Here's Why, and How to Protect Your Cash Flow

The National Taxpayer Advocate's 2025 Annual Report to Congress found the IRS took over 13 months on average to process 1.6 million business amended returns, after a 27% workforce cut left the Small Business/Self-Employed division down nearly 38%. Here's what the report says and six concrete steps to shield your cash flow.

Mike Thrift

taxtax-compliancesmall-business
8 min read

The Netherlands Is Cutting the Zelfstandigenaftrek Again: What ZZP Freelancers Should Budget for in 2026 and 2027

The Dutch zelfstandigenaftrek drops from €2,470 in 2025 to €1,200 in 2026 and €900 in 2027 — an 88% reduction since 2020's €7,280. For a ZZP freelancer with €50,000 profit, the 2026 cut alone adds roughly €400–€480 in tax, compounded by the MKB-winstvrijstelling falling to 12.70%. Here's the full phase-down schedule and five concrete budgeting steps.

Mike Thrift

taxtax-deductionstax-planning
6 min read

The NLRB Joint-Employer Standard Reverted in 2026: What It Means for Staffing, Franchise, and Subcontractor Arrangements

On February 25, 2026, the NLRB withdrew its 2023 joint-employer rule and reinstated the 2020 standard, which requires actual "substantial, direct, and immediate control" over eight essential employment terms. Here is what the reversal means for businesses using staffing agencies, franchise agreements, or subcontractors — and the practical steps to limit exposure.

Mike Thrift

compliancelegalsmall-business
6 min read

The Roth Catch-Up Mandate Arrives: 2026 401(k) Rules for High Earners and Business Owners

Starting January 1, 2026, SECURE 2.0's Section 603 requires workers 50 and older with over $150,000 in prior-year FICA wages from the same employer to make 401(k) catch-up contributions — $8,000 standard, $11,250 for ages 60–63 — as after-tax Roth. Plans without a Roth option must amend by December 31, 2026 or bar catch-ups entirely; W-2 S-corp owners are in scope while K-1 partners are not.

Mike Thrift

401kretirement-planstax-planning
7 min read

The SBA Just Sunset the SBSS Score — How 7(a) Small Loan Underwriting Works Now

As of March 1, 2026, the SBA eliminated the mandatory FICO SBSS score prescreen for 7(a) Small Loans of $350,000 or less, replacing the single national cutoff (most recently 165) with lender-specific credit models and a new 1.1x minimum debt service coverage ratio — here's what changed, why approval criteria now vary by bank, and how to prepare your financials before applying.

Mike Thrift

sbasba-loanssmall-business-loans
7 min read

How to Read an Accounts Receivable Aging Report: 30/60/90-Day Buckets Explained

An AR aging report sorts unpaid invoices into current, 1–30, 31–60, 61–90, and 90+ day buckets so you can spot cash flow risk early. Healthy businesses keep 70–80% of receivables in the first two buckets; collection odds drop below 70% past 90 days. Here's how to read the buckets, run a weekly collections workflow, and turn the report into a cash forecast.

Mike Thrift

accounts-receivablecash-flowinvoicing
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