SG&A Expenses: What They Are, How to Calculate Them, and Why They Matter
US SG&A (selling, general & administrative) expenses: how to calculate the ratio, benchmarks, and what to cut without hurting growth.
Blog
Plain-text accounting insights, tutorials, and updates from the Beancount.io team.
Revenue Recognition: What It Is and When to Record Income
Learn what revenue recognition is, when to record income under GAAP and ASC 606, and how to apply the five-step model. Includes practical examples for service, product, subscription, and construction businesses.
Revenue Recognition: What It Is, How It Works, and Why It Matters for Your Business
Learn what revenue recognition is, how the ASC 606 five-step model works, common mistakes to avoid, and best practices for recording revenue accurately in your small business.
Retained Earnings: What They Are and How to Calculate Them
Learn what retained earnings are, how to calculate them using the simple formula, real-world examples, what negative retained earnings mean, common mistakes to avoid, and how to use retained earnings strategically for business growth.
Purchase Orders: What They Are, How They Work, and Why Your Business Needs Them
Learn what a purchase order is, how the PO process works step by step, the four types of purchase orders (standard, planned, blanket, and contract), the difference between POs and invoices, and best practices for managing purchase orders in your business.
Property Management Accounting: A Complete Guide to Bookkeeping and Taxes for Landlords
Learn how to set up property management accounting for rental properties, maximize landlord tax deductions including depreciation and repairs, handle security deposits correctly, avoid common bookkeeping mistakes, and file taxes using Schedule E.
Property Management Accounting: A Complete Guide to Rental Property Finances and Taxes
Learn how to set up property management accounting for rental properties, track income and expenses, maximize tax deductions including depreciation and 1031 exchanges, and file your taxes correctly on Schedule E.
Pro Forma Financial Statements: What They Are and How to Create Them
Learn what pro forma financial statements are, the three main types (income statement, balance sheet, cash flow), how to create them step by step, common mistakes to avoid, and when your business needs them for planning, fundraising, or strategic decisions.
Petty Cash: What It Is and How to Manage It Properly
Learn what petty cash is, how the imprest system works, step-by-step setup instructions, journal entries for establishing and replenishing the fund, reconciliation best practices, and internal controls to prevent fraud.
Owner's Draw: What It Is and How to Pay Yourself from Your Business
A US owner's draw lets sole props and partners pull profits for personal use — it is not a wage and is not tax-free.
Overhead Costs: What They Are, How to Calculate and Reduce Them
Learn what overhead costs are, the three types (fixed, variable, semi-variable), how to calculate your overhead rate with formulas and examples, and eight strategies to reduce overhead and boost profitability.
Outsourced Accounting: When to Hire, What to Expect, and How to Choose
Learn when to outsource accounting, how much it costs, and how to choose the right provider. Includes cost comparisons, common mistakes, and a step-by-step guide to making the transition.