Corn Maze and Fall Festival Bookkeeping: Your Six-Week Season Playbook
Season-pass cash is deferred revenue, not August income — and your maze crew is usually non-farm labor owed US overtime. A six-week bookkeeping playbook.
#small-business
Small Business
Financial management strategies and tools for small business owners
Custom Farming Bookkeeping: How to Set Per-Acre Rates That Actually Cover Your Machinery Costs
Iowa State pegs 2026 combining near $49.88 per acre. Price custom farming from ownership cost per engine hour, and split IRS Schedule F from Schedule C.
What to Actually Charge for Custom Woodworking
Price custom woodwork from true costs — 15–25% material markup, overhead per billable hour, 10–20% profit — not a materials-times-three guess.
You Just Hired Employee Number 100: The EEO-1 Report, the Snapshot Quarter, and the 2026 Rescission Fight
At 100 employees the federal EEO-1 report kicks in, counted from a Q4 payroll snapshot — but the EEOC proposed rescinding it in July 2026. What to do now.
Renovating a Pre-1978 Home? The EPA Lead-Paint Rule Every Contractor Must Follow
EPA's RRP Rule fines uncertified firms up to $49,772 per violation per day — certify for $300, assign a Certified Renovator, keep records three years.
Your Chatbot Is Now Breaking EU Law Unless It Introduces Itself: A Small Business Guide to the AI Act's Transparency Rules
Since August 2, 2026, EU AI Act Article 50 forces chatbots to disclose they are AI and deepfakes to carry labels — US sellers with EU customers included.
The Fed Just Hiked Rates for the First Time Since 2023: What 3.75–4% Means for Your Business Borrowing
The Fed raised rates to 3.75–4% on Sept 16, 2026 and prime hit 7.00% the next day: every prime-plus business line, SBA 7(a) loan and card reprices now.
Hawaii's General Excise Tax Is Not a Sales Tax: What the GET, County Surcharges, and the 4.712% Pass-Through Cap Mean for Small Businesses
Hawaii has no sales tax — the GET taxes your gross receipts at 4.5% including county surcharges, and 4.712% is the most you may legally show a customer.
The IRS Is Holding Its 7% Rate for Q4 2026: What That Costs You When You Owe
The IRS holds interest at 7%, compounded daily, for Q4 2026 — a $10,000 balance costs about $178 a quarter, matching the estimated-tax penalty rate.
ITAR, EAR, and Your SaaS: When Selling Software Abroad Quietly Makes You an Exporter
Selling SaaS abroad can trigger ITAR or EAR duties via downloads, deemed exports, and encryption — classify first, screen every deal, keep 5 years of records.
Joint Interest Billing for Small Oil and Gas Operators: How COPAS Rules Decide Who Pays for the Well
A COPAS joint interest billing audit window closes 24 months after the calendar year ends — check overhead rates, AFE overruns and your decimal before it shuts.
Open Enrollment 2026: The Small Employer's Checklist for Notices, Limits, and Deadlines
ACA affordability hits a record 9.96% for 2026 plan years and the Medicare Part D notice is due before October 15 — the small employer's full checklist.