Source Documents, Explained: The Invoices, Receipts, and Bank Statements Your Books Stand On
The IRS requires proof behind every deduction — an invoice, receipt, or bank statement. Vouching tests entries against documents; tracing tests the reverse.
Blog
Plain-text accounting insights, tutorials, and updates from the Beancount.io team.
Section 16, Explained: Forms 3, 4, and 5, the Two-Day Deadline, and the Six-Month Clawback
Company insiders must report trades on Form 4 within two business days, and Section 16(b) claws back profits on any round-trip trade under six months.
The Required Tax Year, Explained: Why Your Partnership or S Corp Can't Just Pick December
Partnerships must use their majority owners' tax year; S corps must use the calendar year — unless a Section 444 election buys a fall year-end.
The Relevant Range, Explained: Why Your Fixed Costs Stay Fixed Only Between Two Activity Levels
The relevant range is the activity band where fixed costs stay fixed — cross a capacity boundary and your break-even math silently breaks.
Reg CC and the Check 21 Act, Explained: Why Your Bank Holds Check Deposits
Reg CC limits check holds to two business days with $275 next day, but large-deposit, new-account, and overdraft exceptions stretch holds to day seven or nine.
Quo (OpenPhone) vs. Dialpad vs. RingCentral: Which Business Phone System Fits a Small Team?
Quo includes unlimited US/Canada texting from $15/seat, Dialpad bundles AI transcripts on every plan, RingCentral caps texts at 25-100 — pick by text volume.
Payment vs. Collection Guaranties, Explained: Why One Lets the Lender Sue You First
A payment guaranty lets the lender sue you first without touching the borrower; a collection guaranty forces it to sue the company first.
Liquidation Preference, Explained: Who Gets Paid First When Your Startup Exits
A 1x non-participating liquidation preference pays investors back before common sees a dollar — participating preferred double-dips on top.
LegalZoom vs. Bizee vs. ZenBusiness: Registered Agent Services Compared for LLC Owners
Bizee renews at $149/yr, ZenBusiness at $199, LegalZoom at $249 — compare free first years, compliance dashboards, and report filing before you buy.
Invoice Discounting vs. Factoring: Who Collects, Who Knows, and What Each Costs
Factoring sells your invoices and outsources collections; discounting borrows against them while you keep collecting — confidentially and cheaper.
Functional Currency, Explained: How Foreign Subsidiaries Translate Into U.S. Dollars Under ASC 830
Functional currency is the currency of an entity's primary economic environment — and it decides whether FX differences land in equity or net income.
Distribution Waterfalls, Explained: How Every Dollar Splits Between You and the Fund Manager
A distribution waterfall pays LPs first — capital, then an 8% preferred return — before the GP catch-up and 80/20 split; deal-by-deal funds add clawback risk.