A merchant account is the intermediary that holds card payment funds before they reach your business bank account. Learn how merchant accounts work, what fees to expect (interchange, assessment, processor markup), when to use a PSP like Stripe instead, and what to watch out for in contracts.
Commingling personal and business funds can void your LLC's liability protection, trigger IRS scrutiny, and obscure true cash flow. Seven concrete steps to separate your finances and protect your assets.
A plain-English breakdown of accounting for small business owners—how the accounting cycle works, when to use cash vs. accrual basis, the three core financial statements, and the most common bookkeeping mistakes that derail otherwise healthy businesses.
Your books say $18,450. Your bank says $16,200. Which is right? Bank reconciliation closes that gap—and it's the most effective way small businesses catch fraud before it compounds.
Eleven concrete bookkeeping habits that reduce tax-season stress for small business owners — from separating accounts and categorizing expenses correctly to automating bank feeds and reviewing monthly financial reports.
Poor cash flow contributes to 82% of small business failures—not bad products or weak demand. This guide explains the three types of cash flow, why profitable businesses still run out of cash, and 10 practical strategies to improve liquidity, from shortening payment terms to building a 12-week rolling forecast.
A practical explanation of how debits and credits work in double-entry accounting — covering the five account types, the accounting equation, real-world journal entry examples, and the most common bookkeeping mistakes small business owners make.
A step-by-step guide to securing a business loan—covering SBA loans, bank terms, online lenders, credit score requirements, and the most common application mistakes small business owners make.
Your business pulled in $500,000 last year—but did you actually make money? Learn the critical difference between revenue and profit, the three types of profit you must track, and how to improve your margins.
APR bundles a loan's interest rate and all lender fees into a single number, revealing the true cost of borrowing. Learn how to calculate APR, compare competing loan offers, and spot red flags in merchant cash advances and short-term financing.
Take control of your finances with our open-source double-entry accounting system. Start your ledger today.
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