The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminated entertainment deductions while preserving 50% meal deductions—but the rules are strict. Learn what qualifies, the five IRS documentation requirements, the 2026 phaseout of on-premises meal deductions, and the common mistakes that cost businesses their deductions.
Around 60% of small business owners feel they don't fully understand accounting. This guide covers 12 of the most common bookkeeping mistakes—mixing personal and business funds, skipping reconciliation, misclassifying workers—and shows exactly how to fix each one before it becomes costly.
A step-by-step system for tracking business expenses year-round—covering account separation, expense categories, receipt capture, monthly reconciliation, and mileage logging to maximize tax deductions and withstand IRS audits.
A practical walkthrough of the five account types, common IRS-aligned expense categories, and weekly habits that keep small business books accurate—covering chart of accounts setup, automation strategies, and mistakes that lead to missed deductions.
A practical, IRS-grounded guide to small business expense tracking—covering deductible categories, documentation requirements for meals and mileage, and how to choose between spreadsheets, accounting software, and plain-text tools like Beancount.
60% of small businesses struggle with cash flow, yet most financial problems are preventable with the right systems. This 7-phase guide walks you through auditing your books, cutting wasteful expenses, separating personal and business finances, and building a cash flow forecast that keeps you out of crisis mode.
The IRS requires receipts for business expenses of $75 or more—with lodging always requiring documentation—and imposes stricter contemporaneous records for travel, meals, and listed property under Section 274(d). Most small businesses should retain all records for at least 7 years to cover the full range of audit scenarios.
The IRS requires adequate documentation—not necessarily paper receipts—for every business deduction. This guide covers the $75 threshold rule, strict substantiation categories, retention periods of three to seven years, and digital storage standards accepted since 1997.
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.
Stop spending 8 hours a week on manual bookkeeping. This guide walks you through exactly how to automate your bookkeeping—from bank feeds and receipt capture to AI-powered categorization—so you can focus on growing your business.
Take control of your finances with our open-source double-entry accounting system. Start your ledger today.
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