#compliance
Compliance
Navigate regulatory compliance and maintain audit-ready financial records
GAO's AI Report on the SBA: What Federal Contractors and SBIR Applicants Should Do Now
GAO report GAO-26-107828 found the SBA froze nearly all AI work in March 2025 and took six years to publish its legally required AI use-case inventory. Here's what AI-assisted market research, proposal screening, and fraud detection mean for federal contractors and SBIR/STTR awardees — and the records to keep now.
Greece's B2B E-Invoicing Mandate Hits Everyone October 1, 2026: What myDATA Phase 2 Means for US Businesses
On October 1, 2026, Greece's myDATA e-invoicing mandate extends to every Greek-established business, and non-compliant invoices carry a penalty of 50% of the VAT involved. US companies aren't required to file through myDATA, but their Greek customers' input-VAT credits now depend on clean digital reporting — here's who's in scope, what changes for cross-border invoices, and a practical checklist.
Helicopter Sightseeing Tour Bookkeeping: Part 91 vs. Part 135, Insurance Costs, and the 2029 Fleet Deadline
How a sightseeing helicopter operator's books differ from other small businesses — Part 91.147 vs. Part 135 certificates drive $5–25M liability premiums, helicopters depreciate over 5 years under MACRS only if business use stays above 50%, weather cancellations complicate ASC 606 deferred revenue, and NYC's December 2029 Stage 3 noise ban turns non-compliant airframes into an asset-impairment problem today.
Idaho HB 583: What the New Short-Term Rental Preemption Law Means for Airbnb and VRBO Hosts
Idaho's HB 583, effective July 1, 2026, bans cities from requiring STR licenses, owner-occupancy, night caps, or mandatory property managers — but hosts must still register with the State Tax Commission and remit lodging taxes on stays of 30 days or fewer.
Illinois' $95,000 GigSmart Settlement: What Staffing-App Worker Misclassification Means for Your Business
Illinois' attorney general settled with staffing app GigSmart for roughly $95,000 after finding 479 workers misclassified as independent contractors — denied overtime, minimum wage, and Illinois' four-hour minimum shift pay. Here's the ABC test regulators apply, why client businesses can share joint-employer liability, and the labor-cost records that protect you.
John Deere's $1M Right-to-Repair Settlement: What It Means for Small Businesses With Dealer-Locked Equipment
Minnesota AG Keith Ellison and four other states settled with John Deere on July 8, 2026, forcing 10 years of dealer-equivalent repair access for farmers and independent shops. Here's what dealer-locked equipment costs small businesses beyond agriculture, and how to budget preventive maintenance instead of absorbing emergency repair markups.
Massachusetts Secure Choice: What the Mandatory Retirement Savings Bill Means for Small Businesses
Massachusetts's House passed the Secure Choice Savings Program 148-2 on July 8, 2026, mandating auto-enrollment Roth IRAs for employers with 25+ workers — 6% default contributions, $250-per-employee penalties, and a qualifying-plan exemption small businesses can use to opt out entirely.
Minnesota Just Made 'Sending a Lead' a Licensed Activity — Here's What Changes August 1
Minnesota's HB 4188 redefines 'arranging' small-dollar and short-term consumer loans to include marketing, lead generation, underwriting, and collections. Starting August 1, 2026, lead generators, affiliates, and referral partners handling loans of $1,300 or less may need a Regulated Loan license — Connecticut has already fined an unlicensed mortgage lead generator $50,000 under a similar regime.
Missouri's HB 974 Insurance Data Security Law: What Small Agencies Must Do Before January 1, 2026
Missouri's HB 974, signed July 2, 2025 and effective January 1, 2026, applies the NAIC Insurance Data Security Model Law to nearly every insurance licensee in the state — requiring a written security program, annual risk assessments, an incident response plan, vendor oversight, and breach notification to regulators within four business days.
The National Flood Insurance Program Expires September 30, 2026: A Small Business Guide
The NFIP's authority to issue and renew flood insurance expires September 30, 2026 unless Congress reauthorizes it. During a lapse, existing policies stay in force and claims are still paid, but no new or renewal policies can be written — a risk for small businesses closing on property, refinancing, or renewing coverage in flood zones. Here's what happens in a lapse and how to prepare.
NCUA Preempts State Interchange-Fee Laws: What the Credit Union Rule Means for Your Business
On June 30, 2026, the NCUA issued an interim final rule declaring that federal law preempts state laws — like Illinois's Interchange Fee Prohibition Act — that bar interchange fees on the sales-tax and tip portions of card transactions for federal credit unions. Here is what the rule says, why the litigation is far from over, and how small businesses should track card-processing costs while the rules stay unsettled.
New Hampshire's HB 1433 Child Care Tax Credit: What Employers Can Claim Against BPT and BET
New Hampshire's HB 1433, signed July 9, 2026, creates a Child Day Care Creation Tax Credit worth 50% of qualifying costs against the Business Profits Tax and Business Enterprise Tax, capped at $5 million statewide with a four-year carryforward. Here is who qualifies under the 12-slot rule, how it differs from HB 1634, and what to track before 2028 filings.