A Foreign Investor Owns Part of Your U.S. Business? The BEA Surveys You Must File Even If Nobody Contacts You
If a foreign investor owns 10%+ of your U.S. business, BEA surveys are mandatory: BE-13 in 45 days, yearly BE-15, and the BE-12 benchmark.
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Small Business
Financial management strategies and tools for small business owners
Bounce House Rental Business Insurance: The Coverage Gaps and How to Book Every Premium
General liability won't cover your own inflatables in transit. The four-policy stack bounce house renters need, and how to book premiums under IRS rules.
California's AB 692 Just Banned Most "Stay-or-Pay" Employment Contracts: What Small Employers Must Fix Now
California AB 692 voids stay-or-pay clauses signed on or after January 1, 2026 — audit your offer letters now or risk $5,000 per affected worker.
How to Write a Customer Credit Policy: Credit Limits, Payment Terms, and Collection Triggers
Set who gets credit, how much, and what happens when payment is late: approval tiers, credit limits, deposits, late fees, and a day-triggered collection ladder.
Selling Abroad? The FCPA Rules Every Small Exporter Should Know
The U.S. FCPA covers small exporters too: a foreign agent's bribe can be yours, grease payments rarely qualify, and clean books are your best defense.
The First Sale Rule: How Importers Who Buy Through Middlemen Can Legally Pay Less in Tariffs
Importers buying via a middleman can declare the factory's first-sale price to U.S. Customs and cut duties 10–20%, if every tier is documented.
Garage Door Installation & Repair Bookkeeping: Licenses, Warranties, and Job Costing That Protect Your Margin
Garage door shops hold 10–15% net margins by accruing a warranty reserve, loading labor with 35% burden, and logging truck stock and state licenses per job.
Glamping Business Bookkeeping: Nightly Rates, Seasonal Occupancy Math, and Payout Reconciliation
Glamping books run on nights × occupancy × rate: record gross payouts to match the 1099-K, hold lodging tax as a liability, and depreciate tents in 5–7 years.
Illinois Freelance Worker Protection Act: What Hiring Businesses Must Put in Writing
Illinois FWPA: freelance deals of $500+ (aggregated over 120 days) need a written contract and payment within 30 days — or owe double damages plus fees.
IRS2Go Is Gone: What the New IRS App Means for Your Refunds, Payments, and Tax Records
The IRS app replaced IRS2Go on Sept. 25, 2026: sign in to check refunds, pay balances, pull transcripts and your IP PIN — business accounts stay on IRS.gov.
The IRS Doesn't Need Your Books to Audit You: How Examiners Reconstruct Cash-Business Income
With missing records, the IRS rebuilds income from bank deposits, net worth, markup and unit volume — reconciled books keep the audit on specific items.
Juice Bar and Smoothie Shop Bookkeeping: Track Produce Spoilage per Ingredient to Protect Your Margins
A 70% smoothie margin can be 45% after spoilage. Log waste per ingredient, cost recipes on yielded produce, and book abnormal loss outside COGS.