#bookkeeping
Bookkeeping
Modern bookkeeping techniques using plain-text and automated workflows
The 150-Hour Rule Is Cracking: What New State CPA Pathways Mean for Small Businesses
Roughly 42 U.S. states have passed or are advancing laws replacing the CPA 150-hour education rule with 120 hours plus experience — Ohio, Virginia, Georgia, Utah, and Iowa lead in 2026. Here's how the accountant shortage, new licensure pathways, and fractured license mobility affect who small businesses can hire.
eBay's 2026 Fee Overhaul: Flat Rates, a 5% Refurbished Discount, and the Math Resellers Should Run
On July 1, 2026, eBay replaced tiered final value fees with flat category rates for commercial sellers on its European marketplaces — roughly 7–14% on new goods and a flat 5% on used and refurbished items. Depending on price band, the change can cut or raise your fees, so here's a 90-day audit to run against your own sales data.
Expensify's MCP Server: What Connecting an AI Assistant to Your Books Actually Means
Expensify launched an MCP server on June 8, 2026, letting Claude, ChatGPT, and Cursor query live expense data via OAuth 2.1. Here is what Model Context Protocol means for small business books, which access questions to check before connecting — read-only vs. write, revocability, data retention — and why clean records matter more in the AI era.
Ireland's Self-Employed Tax Guide for 2026: Form 11, Preliminary Tax, and the PRSI Rate Rise
Irish sole traders filing Form 11 in 2026 face a mid-year PRSI Class S rise from 4.2% to 4.35% on October 1, a €650 minimum PRSI charge, and the preliminary tax rule requiring 100% of prior-year or 90% of current-year liability by October 31 — with a ROS extension to mid-November for those who file and pay online.
Med Spa Bookkeeping: How to Handle Injectable Inventory, Injector Commissions, and Membership Revenue
A practical bookkeeping guide for med spa owners covering the industry's hardest problems — tracking expiring injectable inventory with FIFO and treatment recipes, calculating 15–25% injector commissions from provider-level revenue, deferring membership and package revenue until services are delivered, and building a chart of accounts that shows which service lines actually carry margin.
Mobile Pet Grooming Bookkeeping: Van Depreciation, Per-Appointment Costing, and the Fuel Line Owners Underbudget
How mobile pet groomers should book a $35,000–$80,000 grooming van — splitting chassis from buildout for depreciation and Section 179, building a five-component per-appointment cost model, and budgeting fuel and maintenance against the 76-cent 2026 IRS mileage rate.
Newfoundland and Labrador Is Cutting Its Small Business Tax Rate to 1% — What the Phased Cut Means for Your Corporation
Newfoundland and Labrador's April 2026 budget phases its small business corporate tax rate from 2.5% to 1.0% by 2028, retroactive to January 1, 2026 — dropping the combined federal-provincial rate from 11.5% to 10.0%. Here's the year-by-year math, the dollar savings at the $500,000 limit, and the planning moves worth reviewing.
Nuvei Is Buying Payoneer for $2.75 Billion: What It Means for Freelancers Paid Across Borders
Nuvei is acquiring Payoneer for $7.40 per share — about $2.75 billion — with closing expected by mid-2027. Here's what the deal means for freelancers and small exporters in 190+ countries who rely on Payoneer payouts, and four bookkeeping steps to track fees, FX spreads, and platform risk through the transition.
Pool Cleaning Route Bookkeeping: Chemical Costs, Revenue Per Stop, and Seasonal Cash Flow
A bookkeeping guide for pool cleaning route businesses covering how to separate chemical costs from labor, calculate revenue per stop, segment revenue by service line, and forecast cash flow through algae season and the winter slowdown.
Bookkeeping for Professional Organizers: How to Record Hourly, Package, and Retainer Pricing
Professional organizers juggle hourly billing ($75–$150/hr), flat packages, and monthly retainers ($425–$475) — and each needs different bookkeeping. How to use deferred revenue for deposits and retainers, track the 2026 IRS mileage rates (72.5¢ then 76¢/mile), and build a chart of accounts that separates income by pricing model.
Recording Studio Bookkeeping: Why 'Fully Booked' Studios Go Broke and How to Find Your Real Break-Even Rate
Recording studios typically cost $50–$120 per hour to operate before profit, yet many collect payment for only 60–70% of hours worked. How to calculate a true break-even rate (fixed costs plus debt service divided by realistic billable hours), track session vs. package vs. mixing revenue separately, handle album deposits as unearned revenue, and depreciate gear correctly under 5-year MACRS or Section 179.
Roller Skating Rink Bookkeeping: How to Account for Five Businesses Under One Roof
A roller rink runs admissions, skate rentals, birthday parties, concessions, and merchandise under one roof — and well-run rinks post 20–35% margins while others limp at 10% on the same traffic. This guide shows how to split the chart of accounts by revenue stream, hold party deposits as deferred-revenue liabilities until the event happens, capitalize the rental fleet, and track KPIs like revenue per visit and ancillary revenue share.