#accounting
Master accounting fundamentals and best practices for plain-text bookkeeping
ASC 718 requires startups to recognize the grant-date fair value of equity awards as compensation expense over the vesting period, even when no cash changes hands. This guide covers measurement, recognition, forfeitures, modifications, disclosures, and the audit pitfalls that derail funding rounds.
How small businesses record foreign exchange gains and losses under US GAAP (ASC 830) and IRC Section 988, with sample journal entries, realized vs. unrealized treatment, period-end revaluation, and a practical monthly close workflow.
ASC 350-40 (350/40) capitalize-vs-expense in one table: expense preliminary, capitalize development, expense post-implementation — plus ASU 2025-06.
A side-by-side comparison of the Percentage of Completion (PCM) and Completed Contract (CCM) methods for construction revenue recognition, with worked examples, ASC 606 over-time criteria, the IRC Section 460 small contractor exception (~$31M for 2026), WIP schedule mechanics, and the overbilling/underbilling traps that wreck contractor cash flow.
A working guide to the three numbers that decide whether a restaurant makes money — prime cost, food and beverage COGS, and tip pooling — with 2026 benchmarks, FLSA rules, and a weekly accounting cadence.
A diagnostic accounting client intake form captures decision-makers, transaction volumes, historical issues, and billing constraints — preventing the scope creep that costs firms up to 20% of annual revenue.
Over half of tax-related professional liability claims against CPA firms involve engagements with no signed engagement letter, and firms without one see average claim amounts rise 19% to 71%. A well-drafted letter defines scope, caps liability, and converts the riskiest part of onboarding into a defensible client relationship.
Quote-to-Cash spans the full revenue lifecycle from quote to renewal; Order-to-Cash is the subset that starts after a contract is signed. Knowing which process is broken — and which KPIs to track — can cut DSO by up to 30% and recapture up to 60% of revenue leakage.
A working playbook for designing three-tier accounting firm pricing—Essential, Strategic, Comprehensive—that anchors buyer decisions, enforces scope, and lifts average revenue per client without adding headcount.
A repeatable six-stage client onboarding workflow for accounting, bookkeeping, tax, and advisory firms — covering pre-engagement prep, the first 24 hours, structured intake, system setup, client education, and the handoff to ongoing support. Includes the metrics and check-in cadence that separate firms with high retention from those losing 44% of clients in the first 90 days.
A five-step payment reconciliation workflow that catches fraud, cleans up cash flow, and keeps books audit-ready—citing 2026 AFP data showing 76% of organizations faced payment fraud in 2025.
A cost-benefit breakdown of DIY bookkeeping versus professional bookkeeping services—covering real time costs, hidden risks, and a four-question decision framework for small business owners.
