#small-business
Small Business
Financial management strategies and tools for small business owners
H-2A Wage Rules for 2026: What Changed in Farm Labor Costs
The Department of Labor's October 2025 H-2A rule replaced the flat state AEWR with a two-tier OEWS-based wage system and a new housing credit of $0.71 to $3.18 per hour, projected to save U.S. farms $2.4 billion a year — but it requires separate pay codes by skill level and documented job orders to survive an audit.
Bookkeeping for Hotshot Trucking: Cash Flow, IFTA, and Tax Deductions Explained
Hotshot trucking operators need a chart of accounts that separates fuel, MC-authority insurance, factoring fees, and IFTA liability from generic vehicle expenses, since brokers often pay 15-45 days after delivery while fuel and insurance are due immediately.
Illinois Excludes 401(k) Employer Matches From Unemployment Insurance Wages Starting July 1, 2026
Illinois excludes employer 401(k) matching contributions from state unemployment insurance (SUI) taxable wages for contributions made after June 30, 2026, under an amendment to 56 Ill. Adm. Code 2730.155; employee deferrals remain taxable, and the change aligns Illinois with existing federal FUTA treatment.
Illinois' New NICU Leave Law: What Employers Need to Know Before June 2026
Illinois' Family Neonatal Intensive Care Leave Act takes effect June 1, 2026, requiring employers with 16 or more employees to provide 10 to 20 days of unpaid, job-protected leave for children hospitalized in a NICU, with civil penalties up to $5,000 per affected employee.
Independent Voiceover Artist Bookkeeping and Taxes: Schedule C, Home Studio, Gear, Agent Commissions, Residuals and Multi-State Income, and the KPI That Explains Your Year
Every audition is unpaid labor — track per-job gross vs commission, pass exclusive-use for the home booth, expense gear via Section 179/bonus, allocate buyouts over usage, and run on revenue per audition.
IRS Business Tax Account Expands to Partnerships, Nonprofits, and Government Entities
On April 6, 2026, the IRS opened its free Business Tax Account portal to partnerships, tax-exempt organizations, and government entities, letting a designated official view balances, download an EIN verification notice, and make payments online instead of mailing paper forms.
Kiteboarding School Bookkeeping: Why IKO's Insurance Structure Puts Liability on Individual Instructors, Not the School
IKO's Basic Instructor Membership covers instructors for recreational liability but excludes students during lessons unless the instructor teaches through a recognized IKO Center, a coverage gap kiteboarding schools should reflect in separate insurance sub-accounts, fleet depreciation schedules, and worker-classification decisions.
Leather Goods Maker Bookkeeping: Why Your Real Material Cost Isn't What You Paid Per Hide
A 50-square-foot hide costing $450 landed with a 64% yield rate has a real material cost of $14.06 per usable square foot, not the $9.00 the invoice implies — the gap driving margin surprises as 2026 tariffs and a shrinking U.S. cattle herd push leather prices up roughly 22%.
Meadery Bookkeeping: TTB Formula Approval and Wine Excise Tax Explained
Meaderies are classified as bonded wine premises under 27 CFR Part 24, file TTB Form 5000.24, and owe wine excise tax of $1.07 per gallon up to 16% ABV — reduced to roughly $0.07 per gallon on the first 30,000 gallons under the CBMA small producer credit.
Meta Killed Native Checkout: How to Fix Your Facebook and Instagram Shop Bookkeeping
Meta shut down native checkout on Facebook and Instagram Shops, shifting payment processing, sales tax collection, and order records entirely onto seller websites — here's how to reconcile revenue, fees, and tax liability under the new setup.
New York's New Buy Now, Pay Later Rules: What Merchants Offering Installment Checkout Need to Know
New York's NYDFS has proposed the first state BNPL licensing framework, requiring lenders to obtain a license and merchants to transmit refund credit statements within seven business days of approving a return.
No Tax on Overtime in 2026: What the New W-2 Box 12 Code TT Requirement Means for Employers
Starting with tax year 2026, employers must separately report qualified overtime compensation on Form W-2 using Box 12, Code TT — but only the FLSA-required premium half of overtime pay qualifies, capped at $12,500 for single filers and $25,000 for joint filers.