#small-business
Small Business
Financial management strategies and tools for small business owners
Section 274(n) Meals and Entertainment After TCJA: 100, 50, and Zero-Percent Categories, and the 2026 Section 274(o) Cliff
A working guide to Section 274's four meal deduction rates—100%, 80%, 50%, and zero—and the 2026 Section 274(o) cliff that ended the employer deduction for breakroom snacks, catered office lunches, and convenience-of-employer meals.
Section 471(c) Inventory Exception: The $32M Rule That Lets Small Businesses Skip UNICAP
For tax year 2026, businesses with a three-year average of gross receipts at or below $32 million can elect Section 471(c) to skip UNICAP, treat inventory as non-incidental materials and supplies, and file Form 3115 — often producing a one-time Section 481(a) deduction in the year of change.
How to Use the Tax Court Small Case Procedure (Section 7463) to Dispute IRS Bills Under $50,000
Section 7463 lets a taxpayer challenge an IRS deficiency of $50,000 or less in U.S. Tax Court without a lawyer for a $60 filing fee, using a simplified Form 2 petition and informal trial — in exchange for giving up the right to appeal and the ability to set precedent.
Segregation of Duties With Three Employees: Preventing Embezzlement at Small Businesses
The median fraud at a company with fewer than 100 employees costs $141,000. This guide explains how to apply segregation of duties — separating authorization, custody, recordkeeping, and reconciliation — and use compensating controls when you have only three employees.
Solo 401(k) vs. SEP-IRA for the Self-Employed: 2026 Limits, the Roth Option, and the Pro-Rata Trap
For the self-employed, a Solo 401(k) often shelters more than double what a SEP-IRA does at the same income — a $90,000 earner can contribute $47,000 vs. $22,500 in 2026. This guide covers the limits, the Roth option, the pro-rata rule, and the December 31 deferral deadline.
100% Bonus Depreciation Is Back: How Small Businesses Combine Section 168(k) and Section 179 in 2026 to Write Off Equipment the Year They Buy It
100% bonus depreciation under Section 168(k) is permanent again for property placed in service after January 19, 2025, and Section 179's 2026 limit is $2,560,000. This guide shows how small businesses combine both to deduct equipment the year it is bought, with a worked $1.2M example and the disqualification traps to avoid.
The 13-Week Cash Flow Forecast: A Survival Guide for Small Business Liquidity
A 13-week cash flow forecast uses the direct method to project weekly cash movement across one quarter, surfacing the exact day a profitable business could still bounce payroll. Here is how to build, read, and roll one forward.
Accountable Plans: How to Reimburse Owners and Employees Tax-Free
An accountable plan lets an S corporation reimburse owners and employees for mileage, home office, and supplies tax-free under Treasury Regulation 1.62-2. It requires three things—business connection, substantiation within 60 days, and return of excess within 120 days—and replaces the employee expense deduction the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminated.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts: Keep Accounts Receivable Honest
The allowance for doubtful accounts estimates how much of your receivables won't be collected. This guide covers the percentage-of-sales and aging methods, the three journal entries, and the mistakes that distort financial statements.
Bank Reconciliation Done Right: The Monthly Process That Catches Errors and Fraud Early
A monthly bank reconciliation done in 30 to 90 minutes is the cheapest fraud control a small business has. This guide walks through the two-column worksheet, how to handle outstanding checks and deposits in transit, the recurring items that trip people up, and the internal controls that turn the exercise into real protection.
Break-Even Analysis: How Many Units Must a Small Business Sell to Profit?
Break-even point in units equals total fixed costs divided by contribution margin per unit. This guide shows how to separate fixed and variable costs, compute contribution margin, find your break-even sales volume, and measure margin of safety.
Break-Even Analysis and Contribution Margin: The Formula Every Small Business Should Run Monthly
A working guide to break-even analysis covering the contribution margin formula, multi-product weighted approach, margin of safety thresholds, and four pricing scenarios — with a candle-maker example showing why a 10% price cut can erase 25% of unit profit.