Freelancer turned part-time bookkeeper. Sharing knowledge the best I can.
ga new hire
You've just hired your first employee in Georgia. The W-4 is complete, payroll is set up, and the employee is ready for work. Then, during a bookkeeping review, you discover that payroll setup and Georgia new hire reporting are separate responsibilities, and the state deadline is already approaching.
bookkeeping for restaurants
Most restaurant bookkeeping advice starts with “track your expenses.” That's necessary, but it misses the expensive part of the job. A restaurant can record every vendor bill and still have unreliable books if the POS, payroll system, payment processor, gift-card records, and delivery channels don't reconcile
month end close checklist
It's the third day of the new month. You're still matching last month's PayPal payouts, trying to decide which Stripe fees belong to which client, and searching through email for an invoice your accountant needs. The books aren't technically impossible, but every
free payroll software for small business
“Free payroll software for small business” doesn't always mean free, ongoing payroll with automated tax filings and direct deposit. A listing may describe a limited free tier, a trial, an accounting ecosystem benefit, educational content, or official government tools that leave the business owner responsible for calculations, deposits,
how to print check
The vendor wants a check by Friday, payroll is waiting on approval, and the payment app you normally use isn't an option this time. That's the point where a lot of small businesses discover that how to print check is less about clicking one button and
net realizable value formula
You're looking at a shelf, a spreadsheet, or a stack of unpaid invoices, and the same question keeps coming back, what's this really worth if I had to turn it into cash now? That's the point where the net realizable value formula stops being
bookkeeping vs accounting
You've just landed your first steady client, the invoices are rolling in, and then the tax question hits. The spreadsheet on your laptop has receipts, bank transfers, platform fees, and a few messy notes in the corner, and suddenly you're wondering whether you need a bookkeeper,
invoice filling
You've finished the work, the client is asking for an invoice, and now you're staring at a blank page wondering what belongs on it. That pause is where a lot of avoidable mistakes start. The fix is to treat the invoice as a structured accounting document,
1099-MISC due date
Recipient copies of Form 1099-MISC are generally due by February 2, 2026, the paper IRS filing deadline is March 2, 2026, and the electronic IRS filing deadline is March 31, 2026. If you're staring at a stack of contractor, rent, or attorney payment records and trying to decide
project management tasks
The last week of the month has a way of exposing every loose end at once. Bank statements still need reconciling, payroll still needs a clean test, and a half-finished software migration suddenly matters because someone needs numbers for the close tomorrow. In that moment, the problem usually isn'
assets liabilities and equity
Alex just landed her first big client, opened the balance sheet, and felt the familiar jolt of confusion. Cash looked good, equipment had a value, there was a line for obligations she didn't fully recognize, and equity sat at the bottom like a final verdict she wasn'
box d on w2
Box D on your W-2 is an optional control number used for your employer's records, and you do not need it to file your taxes. If Box D is blank, that's normal and not a problem. A lot of people notice that empty little box right