Small Business Accounting Guides
Plain-English guides to bookkeeping, taxes, cash flow, budgeting, and financial statements, written for U.S. small business owners.
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Running a small business means keeping track of money, records, and taxes, often without an accounting background. However, the basics are easier than they look. These guides explain each topic step by step, with simple examples, so you can understand what the numbers mean and know what to ask your accountant. For example, you can start with the complete bookkeeping guide, or pick the topic that matches your next task.
Because tax rules change, our guides point to official sources, such as the IRS Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center and the IRS tax calendar. As a result, you can check any date or rule for yourself before you act on it.
Bookkeeping and Accounting Basics
- Small Business Bookkeeping: A Complete Guide for Owners
- The Essential Guide to Small Business Accounting
- Chart of Accounts: A Simple Guide
- Debits and Credits: A Simple Guide
- Journal Entries: A Beginner’s Guide
- General Ledger: How It Works
- Trial Balance: How to Prepare and Review It
- Bank Reconciliation: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Month-End Closing: A Step-by-Step Checklist
- Cash Basis vs. Accrual Accounting
Financial Statements and Cash Flow
- Profit and Loss Statement: A Complete Guide
- Balance Sheet: How to Read and Understand It
- Cash Flow Statement: How to Read It
- Small Business Cash Flow: How to Track and Improve It
- Working Capital: How to Calculate It
- Financial Ratios: How to Measure Performance
- Budgeting: How to Create a Simple Business Budget
Taxes
- Tax Deductions: A Practical Guide for Owners
- Estimated Taxes: A Practical Guide
- Tax Deadlines: A Month-by-Month Guide
- Self-Employment Tax: A Simple Guide
- Tax Forms: Which Forms Does Your Business Need?
- Tax Planning: Strategies to Prepare for Tax Season
- Tax Recordkeeping: What Records Should You Keep?
- IRS Audit: What to Expect and How to Prepare
Money In, Money Out, and People
- Invoicing: How to Create and Manage Invoices
- Accounts Receivable: A Practical Guide
- Accounts Payable: A Practical Guide
- Business Expenses: How to Track and Manage Them
- Petty Cash: How to Manage It
- Receipt Management: How to Organize Records
- Payroll: A Complete Guide for Owners
- Owner’s Draw vs. Salary: How to Pay Yourself
- Independent Contractor vs. Employee
- Business Bank Account: What Owners Need to Know
Profit, Costs, and Tools
- Profit Margin: How to Calculate and Improve It
- Break-Even Analysis: How to Calculate Your Break-Even Point
- Cost of Goods Sold: How to Calculate It
- Inventory Accounting: A Practical Guide
- Depreciation: How It Works
- Accounting Software: How to Choose the Right Tool
Working With Accounting Professionals
- Bookkeeper vs. Accountant: What’s the Difference?
- Accountants for Small Businesses: A Complete Guide
- Accountant Services: What’s Included and How to Compare Packages
- Tax Accountant: What They Do, Cost, and How to Choose One
- CPA for Small Business: What They Do, Cost, and When You Need One
Latest Guides
- Retained Earnings for Small Business: What They Are and How to Calculate ThemLearn what retained earnings are, the retained earnings formula, where they appear on the balance sheet, and why retained earnings are not the same as cash.
- Financial Statements for Small Business: A Complete OverviewLearn the three main financial statements for small business, what each one shows, how they connect, and how to use them to make better decisions.
- Year-End Accounting Checklist for Small BusinessUse this year-end accounting checklist to close your books, reconcile accounts, prepare 1099s and W-2s, and get your small business ready for tax season.
- Bad Debt Write-Off for Small Business: How It WorksLearn when a customer debt becomes a bad debt, how to write it off in your books, and when a small business can deduct bad debt on its taxes.
- Home Office Deduction for Small Business: Rules and MethodsLearn who qualifies for the home office deduction, the regular and exclusive use test, and how the simplified and regular methods work for small business owners.
- 2026 Mileage Rate: Business Mileage Deduction ExplainedLearn how the business mileage deduction works, the 2026 IRS standard mileage rate, when to use actual expenses, and how to keep a mileage log that holds up.
These guides are for general education only and are not professional advice. Please read our Disclaimer and learn about this site.