Small business bookkeeping & tax guides.
Practical articles for sole proprietors, LLCs, S-Corps, and the accountants who serve them. Updated regularly with current-year IRS guidance.
10 Most Common IRS Notices for Small Businesses (and How to Respond)
Got a CP2000 in the mail? An LT11? Here's how to identify the most common IRS notices, what each one means, and the exact response steps.
Read article1099-NEC Filing Guide: How to Issue 1099s as a Small Business (2026)
If you paid any contractor $600+ for services in 2025, you owe them a 1099-NEC by January 31, 2026. Here's the complete filing process — from W-9 to e-file to penalty avoidance.
Read articleHiring Your First Employee: Tax Compliance Checklist for Small Business
Going from solo to one W-2 employee unlocks 10+ new federal and state tax obligations. Here's the complete onboarding checklist so you don't miss a filing or get hit with penalties.
Read articleR&D Tax Credit for Small Business: Section 41 Made Simple (2026)
Most small businesses think the R&D credit is just for tech giants. They're wrong. Here's who qualifies, how to compute the credit, and the new payroll-offset rules that can save startups $250K+/year.
Read articleRetirement Plans for Self-Employed: SEP-IRA vs Solo 401(k) vs SIMPLE (2026)
Self-employed retirement plans let you defer up to $76,500 of income in 2025. Here's the side-by-side comparison and how to pick the right plan for your business.
Read articleVehicle Tax Deductions for Self-Employed: Mileage vs Actual Method (2026)
The IRS standard mileage rate is 70¢/mile for 2025. Here's how to choose between the standard mileage and actual expense methods, and how to bulletproof your deduction against an audit.
Read articleHome Office Deduction 2026: Simplified vs Actual Method (Form 8829)
The home office deduction can save self-employed taxpayers $1,500–$10,000+ annually — but you have to use the right method and meet the IRS exclusive-use test.
Read articleForm 1120-S Filing Guide for S-Corporations: 2026 Edition
Step-by-step Form 1120-S walkthrough — gross receipts to Schedule K-1, AAA tracking, and the reasonable-salary trap. Avoid the 5 mistakes that get S-corps audited.
Read articleHow to Survive an IRS Audit: Small Business Owner's Defense Guide
Less than 1% of small businesses get audited each year, but if you're one of them, preparation is everything. Here's the documentation, mindset, and red-flag list to keep you compliant.
Read articleSection 179 Deduction Guide for Small Business: 2026 Limits, Rules & Planning
Section 179 lets you expense up to $1,250,000 of equipment in year one. Here's exactly what qualifies, the phase-out math, how it compares to bonus depreciation, and how to maximize the deduction in 2026.
Read articleBest Tax Software for Self-Employed and Small Business Owners in 2026
An honest comparison of the major tax software options for sole proprietors, LLCs, and S-Corps — what each costs, what each covers, and which one fits your situation.
Read articleSales Tax Compliance for Small Business: Multi-State Nexus Guide (2026)
Since the Wayfair decision, every online seller has potential sales-tax obligations in 45 states. Here's how to determine where you have nexus and what to do about it.
Read articleHow to Read a Balance Sheet: A Small Business Owner's Guide
The balance sheet is the snapshot every banker, investor, and CPA looks at first. Here's how to read yours and spot what's healthy vs broken.
Read articleTop 7 Bookkeeping Mistakes Small Businesses Make (and How to Avoid Them)
From mixing personal and business expenses to forgetting Q4 estimated taxes — here are the mistakes that cost small businesses real money every year.
Read article1099 vs W-2: Worker Classification Guide for Small Business (2026)
Misclassifying an employee as a 1099 contractor can cost a small business $5,000+ per worker in back taxes and penalties. Here's how to classify correctly.
Read articleS-Corp vs LLC: Which Saves You More on Taxes in 2026?
Switching from an LLC to an S-Corp can save thousands in self-employment tax — but only above a certain income threshold. Here's the math and the breakeven point.
Read articleQuarterly Estimated Tax Payments: A Complete Guide for Small Business Owners
Everything self-employed and small business owners need to know about Form 1040-ES — calculation, deadlines, safe harbor rules, and how to avoid the underpayment penalty.
Read articleCash vs Accrual Accounting for Small Business: Which Method Should You Choose?
Cash accounting is simpler but accrual is required for most growing businesses. Here's exactly when each method applies and how to choose for 2026.
Read articleHow to Find a CPA for Your Small Business (2026 Buyer's Guide)
Choosing a CPA is one of the highest-leverage decisions a small business makes. Here's what to look for, what to ask, and what good representation costs in 2026.
Read articleHow to File Self-Employment Taxes in 2026: Complete Schedule C Guide
Step-by-step guide to filing self-employment taxes for sole proprietors, freelancers, and single-member LLCs — covers Schedule C, Schedule SE, quarterly estimates, and the deductions you can't miss.
Read article37 Small Business Tax Deductions Every Entrepreneur Should Know in 2025
From the home-office safe-harbor to Section 179 expensing — here's the complete list of deductions that actually move the needle for sole proprietors, LLCs, and S-Corps in 2025.
Read articleLLC vs. S-Corp vs. C-Corp: How to Choose Your Business Entity in 2025
The wrong entity choice can cost you $10K-$30K per year in unnecessary self-employment tax. Here's the decision framework, with real numbers.
Read articleThe $75 Receipt Rule: What the IRS Actually Requires (and What's a Myth)
You've heard you need a receipt for every deduction over $75. The truth is more nuanced — and the consequences of getting it wrong are bigger than most owners realize.
Read articleThe 2025 Year-End Tax Checklist for Small Business Owners
December isn't just for holidays — it's the last chance to lock in deductions, fund retirement, and avoid an unwelcome surprise at filing time.
Read articleSelf-Employment Tax Explained: Why You Pay 15.3% (and How to Reduce It)
Self-employment tax is the single biggest line item on most freelancer tax bills — bigger than income tax, sometimes bigger than rent. Here's exactly how it works and the legal ways to lower it.
Read articleDouble-Entry Bookkeeping for Founders: Why Every Transaction Has Two Sides
Single-entry bookkeeping is why your books don't reconcile. Here's how the 500-year-old system that powers every modern accounting tool actually works — and why you can't escape it.
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