Plain answers about small business books

Three federal numbers changed for the 2026 tax year: the 1099-NEC threshold, the 1099-K threshold and the IRS mileage rate, which rose mid-year. Here is what each means for you.

A well-built Google Sheet can carry a very small service business. Here is how to tell when it is time to move to QuickBooks Online.

Record the full amount each client paid as income, record the app's fee as an expense, and match the net deposit to both. Here is the step-by-step.

A QuickBooks cleanup is priced as a one-time project, and its length depends on how far behind the books are. Here is what drives both.

A bookkeeper keeps your records current all year. A CPA or other tax professional prepares returns and gives tax advice. Most small service businesses need both.

Start with your bank and card statements, not your receipts. Here is the order that gets a year of books current before your tax preparer asks.

A monthly report should tell you, in plain words, what came in, what went out and what you kept. Here is what belongs in it and how to read it.

Cleaning company books get tangled in three places: tips, helpers and supplies. Here is how to keep each one clean.