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Licenses

Track business licenses, renewals, and associated costs

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9 min read

Kentucky HB 185: How the New Occupational License Predetermination Law Affects Small Business Hiring

Kentucky's HB 185, in effect statewide since July 15, 2026, lets applicants with a conviction history request a binding predetermination from a licensing board before paying for training, and bars boards from treating any felony as automatically disqualifying — a change that directly affects the labor pool for small businesses hiring cosmetologists, HVAC techs, real estate agents, and other licensed trades.

Mike Thrift

small-businesshiringcompliance
7 min read

Bait and Tackle Shop Bookkeeping: Live Bait Mortality, Dealer Licenses, and Pass-Through Sales

Bait and tackle shops run three revenue models through one register — perishable live bait, hard goods, and state fishing-license sales. Live bait mortality should be booked as shrinkage expense (tracked by species and supplier), bait-dealer licenses are recurring compliance costs tiered by sales volume in states like Wisconsin, and license sales are commission revenue (typically 4.75%–5%) with the state's share held as a liability, never income.

Mike Thrift

bookkeepingsmall-businessinventory
5 min read

Chicago Business License Fees Rose Up to 400% in 2026: What Changed and Who Pays More

Chicago's BACP raised license fees in two waves on January 1 and February 1, 2026 — the Limited Business License doubled from $250 to $500, the Regulated Business License quadrupled to $1,000, and livery vehicle licenses rose 140% — weeks after the mayor's "Cut the Tape" small-business initiative. Here's which tier applies to you and how to budget for renewal.

Mike Thrift

small-businesslicensespermits
9 min read

Aerial Banner Towing & Skywriting Company Bookkeeping: The FAA Waiver That Gates Every Flight Hour

How banner towing and skywriting operators should keep their books — track the FAA Certificate of Waiver (Form 7711-2) as the license that gates revenue, accrue engine-overhaul reserves per flight hour, treat client deposits as deferred revenue until the flight flies, and reserve peak-season cash against twelve months of fixed costs.

Mike Thrift

bookkeepingsmall-businesscompliance
7 min read

Fishing Charter Bookkeeping: Why Fuel and Bait Are COGS and Your USCG License Deserves Its Own Line Item

A well-run fishing charter nets roughly a 25% margin even when booked solid. This guide shows how to structure a charter's books — classify fuel, bait, and ice as cost of goods sold for per-trip margins, track the $1,300–$1,600 USCG six-pack license and its five-year renewal cycle, and accrue maintenance reserves per engine hour to survive the off-season.

Mike Thrift

bookkeepingsmall-businesscost-of-goods-sold
6 min read

Minnesota Just Made 'Sending a Lead' a Licensed Activity — Here's What Changes August 1

Minnesota's HB 4188 redefines 'arranging' small-dollar and short-term consumer loans to include marketing, lead generation, underwriting, and collections. Starting August 1, 2026, lead generators, affiliates, and referral partners handling loans of $1,300 or less may need a Regulated Loan license — Connecticut has already fined an unlicensed mortgage lead generator $50,000 under a similar regime.

Mike Thrift

compliancelicensesloans
7 min read

New Jersey Legalizes Human Composting: Bookkeeping for a Natural Organic Reduction Facility

New Jersey's natural organic reduction law takes effect July 1, 2026, making it the 14th state to legalize human composting. The 45-day reduction cycle forces deferred-revenue treatment under ASC 606, unclaimed soil becomes a tracked inventory line, and NOR vessels need their own depreciation class — here's how funeral homes should set up the books.

Mike Thrift

bookkeepingsmall-businesscompliance
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