Don't Wait Until January: Start Your Year-End Tax Prep This October
Start year-end tax prep in October: collect W-9s under the IRS $2,000 1099 rule, clean up vendors, reconcile Q3, and calendar every deadline.
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Small Business
Financial management strategies and tools for small business owners
Pet-Sitting Insurance: Why Care, Custody, and Control Coverage Matters More Than General Liability
General liability excludes pets in your care; a $100–$300 CCC endorsement closes the gap. Deduct premiums on IRS Schedule C, Line 15.
Paying a Signing Bonus? The 22% Withholding Rule, the Clawback Agreement, and the Month-Three Quit
Signing bonuses are IRS supplemental wages: withhold 22%, apply FICA in full, and sign the clawback before you pay — same-year repayments unwind cleanly.
Your Tax Deadline Falls on a Weekend. Do You Owe Penalties on Monday?
IRS Section 7503 moves any tax deadline landing on a weekend or D.C. holiday to the next business day — but state dates and EFTPS cutoffs don't always follow.
Wallpaper Installation Business Bookkeeping: Price Every Roll, Prep Job, and Deposit Like a Pro
Quote wallpaper per roll or square foot, cost prep separately, allow 10–25% pattern waste, and book deposits as unearned revenue — not income.
Washington's Small-Business B&O Tax Credit Is Set to More Than Double in 2029 — If Its Funding Survives
Washington's small-business B&O credit rises to $375/$125 monthly in 2029 — unless voters repeal its funding on Nov 3 or courts strike it.
Business Line of Credit vs. Term Loan: How to Choose the Right Financing in 2026
A line of credit charges interest only on what you draw; a term loan charges it on the full sum from day one. Use lines for cash gaps, loans for assets.
Marriage Penalty vs. Marriage Bonus: What Filing Jointly Really Costs (or Saves) You in 2026
A single $120K earner saves $7,530 filing jointly in 2026, while two top earners pay up to $10,250 more — federal thresholds decide.
Are Your Licensees Underpaying You? A Small Licensor's Guide to Royalty Audits
Nearly 9 in 10 audited licensees underpay royalties, mostly by accident. The 7 errors audits find, the red flags, and the audit clause that shifts the cost.
Caught a Shoplifter? How Civil Demand Letters Let Retailers Recover Merchandise Value Plus Statutory Penalties
Civil demand statutes let retailers bill shoplifters for merchandise plus a $50-$500 penalty, settled by letter if paid within 30 days.
Your Paper Invoices Expire November 15: The Dominican Republic E-CF Guide
Dominican micro and small businesses must issue DGII-validated e-CFs from Nov 15, 2026 — the five setup steps, the penalties, and the ITBIS withholding perk.
Duplicate Invoice Payments: The Hidden Profit Leak Draining Up to 2% of Your Vendor Spend
Duplicate payments siphon 0.8–2% of vendor spend. Sweep your AP history, recover overpayments fast, and lock in five controls.