Business Credit Scores Explained: D&B Paydex vs. Experian vs. FICO SBSS and How to Build From Zero
D&B Paydex grades payment speed 1–100, Experian forecasts delinquency risk, and FICO SBSS gates SBA loans at 155 — build all three from zero.
#small-business
Small Business
Financial management strategies and tools for small business owners
Business Line of Credit vs. Business Credit Card: When Revolving Debt Helps Your Cash Flow and When It Quietly Hurts
A line of credit beats a business card for balances held past 30 days — lower rates, higher limits, no grace-period trap.
Building a Chart of Accounts That Scales: How Small Businesses Design a COA That Survives Growth, Loans, and Your First Audit
Split current from non-current debt, give every loan its own account, and zero suspense balances monthly — an IRS-ready COA for lenders and auditors.
Chart of Accounts Template: The Five Account Types Every Small Business Needs From Day One
Every transaction lands in one of five account types: assets, liabilities, equity, revenue, expenses. Copy this starter template and tailor it to your business.
DBA vs. Legal Business Name: When a Filing Protects Your Brand and Bank Account
File a DBA to bank and bill under your brand name — it links the trade name to your legal owner, and the IRS lists it as your EIN's trade name.
Debits and Credits Explained: How Double-Entry Bookkeeping Keeps Your Trial Balance Honest
Debits grow assets and expenses; credits grow liabilities, equity, and revenue. Learn the five rules plus a 6-step hunt for trial-balance errors.
Due Diligence Checklist for Buying an Existing Business: Quality of Earnings, Working Capital, and SBA 7(a) Requirements
SBA 7(a) acquisition loans now need 1.25x coverage and a QoE above $3M — verify earnings, peg working capital, and diligence tax before you close.
The ESOP Repurchase Obligation: The Growing Buyback Bill Every Employee-Owned Company Must Budget For
A mature ESOP must buy back 2–5% of its shares yearly at fair market value — model the curve early and fund it with recycling, redeeming, or releveraging.
FIFO vs. LIFO vs. Weighted Average Cost: How Your Inventory Method Changes COGS, Profit, and Tax
FIFO maximizes reported profit when costs rise, LIFO minimizes tax, average cost splits the difference — choose by cash flow, borrowing plans, and IRS rules.
Form 8829 or the $5 Shortcut? How to Pick Your Home Office Method Without Buying a Future Tax Bill
Form 8829's actual method beats the $1,500 simplified cap until sale day, when depreciation returns at up to 25% — run both numbers yearly.
Form 945 Explained: How Small Businesses Report Backup Withholding and Nonpayroll Withholding Once a Year
Form 945 reports all backup withholding and nonpayroll withholding once a year — due January 31, with EFT deposits once the year's tax reaches $2,500.
Freight-In vs. Freight-Out: Why Inbound Shipping Belongs in COGS and Outbound Shipping Is an Operating Expense
Freight-in is part of inventory cost and becomes COGS when goods sell; freight-out is a selling expense. Mixing them distorts gross margin and tax.