Hiring a Fractional CMO: What $3,000–$15,000 a Month Actually Buys Your Small Business
A fractional CMO costs $3,000–$15,000 a month versus $275,000+ for full-time — here is what each pricing tier buys and the red flags to avoid.
Blog
Plain-text accounting insights, tutorials, and updates from the Beancount.io team.
Can You Run a Credit Check on Job Applicants? State Bans and FCRA Rules for Small Employers
Eleven US states now bar most employer credit checks. Where they stay legal, the FCRA requires written disclosure, consent and adverse action notices.
Darden FY2027 Q1 Earnings: The $3.2B Quarter Where LongHorn Carried Olive Garden
Darden's Q1 FY2027 sales rose 5.1% to $3.2B as LongHorn comped 6.2% and Olive Garden 1.1%; adjusted EPS grew 4.1% while buybacks ran on short-term debt.
Country-of-Origin Marking: A Small Importer's Guide to 19 CFR Part 134
Every import must name its origin country in English for the end buyer; miss it and CBP issues Form 4647 and a 10% marking duty.
You Just Got a Cease-and-Desist Letter: What to Do in the First 48 Hours
A cease-and-desist letter is not a court order. Verify the claim, preserve evidence, and reply on your timeline; silence or a hasty apology can cost you.
CarMax FY2027 Q2: $1.16 EPS on Cars Sold Cheaper
CarMax's FY2027 Q2 diluted EPS rose 81% to $1.16 on 19.5% revenue growth, but gross profit per used car fell $111 and CAF supplied 61% of pretax income.
States Are Loosening Agritourism Rules in 2026: California Farm Camping, Oregon Farm Stores, and Your Books
California AB 518 lets counties allow nine farm campsites; Oregon HB 4153 adds a farm-store permit. Report the new income on IRS Schedule C, not Schedule F.
Got a 1099-Q for a 529 Withdrawal? Here's Who Owes Tax and How Boxes 1, 2, and 3 Work
IRS Form 1099-Q Box 1 is your total 529 distribution, Box 2 the possibly taxable earnings, Box 3 tax-free basis — and tax follows the recipient's SSN.
Which Travel and Training Time Is Paid? The DOL Fact Sheet 22 Rules for Employers
Under DOL Fact Sheet 22, the ordinary commute is unpaid, but job-site, overnight and most training time are hours worked — and count toward US FLSA overtime.
Trade Secrets, NDAs, and the Employee Exit Checklist for Small Businesses
Trade secret protection isn't automatic: courts ask what you did to keep it secret. Signed NDAs with the DTSA notice and a 7-step exit checklist prove it.
On Strike? Your Strike Pay Is Taxable Income — and Nobody Withholds a Dime
Strike pay is taxable income per IRS Publication 525, reported on Form 1099-MISC with zero withheld — pay estimates now or owe tax plus penalty in April.
Slovenia's 2026 Normiranci Overhaul: What Freelancers and Sole Proprietors Need to Know
Slovenia's 2026 reforms lift normiranci ceilings to €150,000/€70,000 with new progressive tiers — what freelancers owe and the year-end moves to make.