#accounting
Accounting
Master accounting fundamentals and best practices for plain-text bookkeeping
How Much Does a CPA Cost? A Small Business Pricing Guide for 2026
Learn how much a CPA costs for your small business in 2026. This guide covers hourly rates, flat fees, monthly retainers, what drives costs up or down, and how to find the right CPA at the right price.
How to Calculate Payroll Taxes: A Step-by-Step Guide for Small Business Owners
Learn how to calculate payroll taxes step by step, including 2026 FICA rates, Social Security and Medicare calculations, FUTA, SUTA, and federal income tax withholding. Includes examples, deadlines, penalties, and common mistakes to avoid.
How to Create a Business Budget: A Practical Step-by-Step Guide
Learn how to create a business budget step by step. This practical guide covers the 7 essential budget components, budgeting methods (incremental, zero-based, flexible), tips by business type, and common mistakes to avoid.
IFRS: What International Financial Reporting Standards Mean for Your Business
Learn what IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) is, how it differs from US GAAP, who must follow IFRS, the simplified IFRS for SMEs standard, and what the 2026 updates mean for your business.
IOLTA: What It Is and How Law Firms Manage Client Trust Accounts
Learn what an IOLTA account is, how it works, who needs one, compliance requirements including three-way reconciliation, common mistakes to avoid, and best practices for managing client trust accounts at your law firm.
Law Firm Accounting: A Complete Guide to Trust Accounts, Billing, and Compliance
Learn how to manage law firm accounting, from setting up IOLTA trust accounts and performing three-way reconciliations to optimizing billing, maximizing tax deductions, and staying compliant with ABA and state bar rules.
LIFO Inventory Method: What It Is, How It Works, and When to Use It
Learn how the LIFO (Last In, First Out) inventory method works, how to calculate COGS and ending inventory, LIFO vs. FIFO differences, tax benefits during inflation, LIFO reserve, LIFO liquidation, and when LIFO is the right choice for your business.
Liquidity: What It Is, How to Measure It, and Why Your Business Depends on It
Learn what liquidity is, how to measure it with the current ratio, quick ratio, and cash ratio, and discover eight practical strategies to improve your business liquidity. Includes formulas, worked examples, warning signs, and a real-world scenario comparing two businesses.
Luca Pacioli: The Renaissance Friar Who Invented Modern Accounting
Learn about Luca Pacioli, the Renaissance friar known as the father of accounting. Discover how his 1494 Summa de Arithmetica documented double-entry bookkeeping, shaped modern capitalism, and why his principles still power every accounting system today.
Medical Practice Accounting: A Complete Guide to Healthcare Financial Management
Learn the essential accounting practices every medical practice needs, from revenue cycle management and accounts receivable to tax planning and profit distribution models for group practices.
Merchant Fees and Form 1099-K: What Small Businesses Need to Know
Learn how merchant processing fees relate to Form 1099-K, why the IRS sees different numbers than your bank account, how to reconcile the gap, deduct fees properly, and avoid common mistakes that trigger IRS notices.
Modified Cash Basis Accounting: The Hybrid Method That Gives Small Businesses the Best of Both Worlds
Learn how modified cash basis accounting combines the simplicity of cash accounting with accrual adjustments for long-term items. Discover who should use it, IRS rules, practical examples, and how to set it up for your small business.