#small-business
Financial management strategies and tools for small business owners
FICA taxes fund Social Security and Medicare at a combined 15.3% rate — 7.65% each from employer and employee. Covers 2026 rates, the $184,500 Social Security wage base, self-employment tax rules, exemptions, and the compliance mistakes that most commonly trigger IRS penalties.
The 2025 $20,000/200-transaction threshold for Form 1099-K is reinstated—here's what freelancers, gig workers, and online sellers need to know about reconciling gross receipts and reporting taxable income correctly.
A practical guide to sales tax for small business owners — understand physical and economic nexus, apply the correct rate across 10,000+ U.S. jurisdictions, and avoid the penalties that catch most growing businesses off guard.
Step-by-step guide to calculating federal tax liability for small business owners and self-employed individuals—covering gross income, 2025 tax brackets, self-employment tax at 15.3%, quarterly estimated payments, and legal strategies to reduce what you owe.
Only 41% of small business applicants receive all the funding they seek. This step-by-step guide covers loan types, lender requirements, approval rates by institution type, required documentation, and concrete steps to improve your eligibility before applying.
A practical guide to hiring an accountant for your small business — covering when you actually need one, the difference between a CPA, general accountant, and enrolled agent, what to ask in an interview, and what you'll pay ($200–$5,000+ depending on scope).
Neglecting bookkeeping for a year costs $3,500–$8,000 in catch-up fees, plus a 30–50% CPA premium at tax time. Here's a practical system for staying current — daily, weekly, or monthly — and why real-time financial records are a business asset, not a chore.
Your income statement reveals whether your business model actually works—not just whether the bank balance is positive. Learn every line item from revenue to net income, how to calculate all three profit margins, and how to spot cost trends before they compound.
Facing an IRS audit with missing receipts? Learn how the Cohan Rule lets you claim deductions without documentation, which expense categories require strict proof, and how to reconstruct records step by step to minimize your tax liability.
When to outsource US bookkeeping: six warning signs, realistic cost ranges, and how to keep IRS-ready books without hiring full-time.
S corp basis determines how much of your losses you can deduct and when distributions become taxable. This guide covers stock basis vs. debt basis calculations, Form 7203 requirements, the order of adjustments prescribed by the IRS, and five common mistakes that permanently cost shareholders thousands in disallowed deductions.
Therapists in private practice can claim deductions for office space, telehealth software, continuing education, malpractice insurance, and retirement contributions — this guide covers every major write-off plus the ones most practitioners miss.
