Short, practical tips for small business owners — the same advice I post every morning, kept here so it stays useful.
October 27, 2026
Only the interest is an expense. Principal reduces the loan balance — if that balance hasn't moved in months, the split is missing.
October 26, 2026
Match every customer payment to its real bank deposit. Stale entries break reconciliation and can double-count income.
October 25, 2026
That money passing through your account belongs to the state. Book it as a liability and set it aside as it comes in.
October 24, 2026
Paying yourself isn't a business expense for most LLCs and sole proprietors. Categorizing it as one understates your profit.
October 23, 2026
When Uncategorized Expense grows, your P&L stops telling the truth and reconciliation takes twice as long.
October 22, 2026
Date, destination, purpose, miles — right after the trip. Rebuilding a year of driving in January is guesswork the IRS dislikes.
October 21, 2026
Merge true duplicates, deactivate what you don't use, keep names simple. A clean chart makes every report faster to read.
October 20, 2026
Anyone you paid $600+ for services this year needs a W-9 on file. Ask before their next payment — not under January deadline.
October 19, 2026
Fifteen minutes with this month vs. last month catches duplicate subscriptions, price hikes, and miscategorized expenses.
October 18, 2026
Review your A/R Aging weekly, oldest first. A polite nudge at 7 days, another at 14, a phone call at 30.
October 17, 2026
Ten seconds with your phone today saves hours at cleanup time — and protects deductions the IRS actually asks about.
October 16, 2026
Unreconciled months, mystery transactions, missing receipts — January-you will thank October-you for starting early.
October 15, 2026
Compare every QuickBooks line to the bank statement, monthly. Small errors stay small when you catch them in 30 days.
October 14, 2026
One business account and one business card. Personal slips get moved out the same week they happen.
October 13, 2026
Block 30 minutes every Friday to categorize the week's transactions while they're still fresh.