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Showing all 50 guides across 9 categories.
EIN
- 3 min read
What is an EIN?
An EIN is a free 9-digit tax ID from the IRS. Required for business bank accounts, payroll, and taxes. Here's what it is and how to get one.
- 3 min read
Who needs an EIN?
Not every small business is required to have an EIN. But most benefit from one. Find out if you need one and how getting one protects your SSN.
- 6 min read
EIN Application Preparation Checklist (Business Tax ID)
Everything you need before applying for an EIN: legal name, business structure, responsible party, and state info. Prepare in 5 minutes, apply in 10.
- 4 min read
Common EIN mistakes to avoid
The most common EIN application errors that cause rejections or delays. And exactly what to do instead before submitting to the IRS.
ITIN
- 3 min read
What is an ITIN?
An ITIN lets non-US citizens file federal taxes and open US accounts without a Social Security Number. Plain-English explanation of what it is and who needs one.
- 3 min read
Who needs an ITIN?
Non-residents, immigrants, and foreign nationals filing US taxes often need an ITIN. Find out who qualifies and whether it's the right tax ID for your situation.
- 6 min read
ITIN Application Checklist (Individual Tax ID)
A step-by-step checklist of documents needed for IRS Form W-7. The ITIN application. Including accepted ID types, where to mail it, and what to expect.
- 3 min read
ITIN vs EIN: what's the difference?
ITIN is for individuals who can't get an SSN. EIN is for businesses. A clear side-by-side comparison so you know exactly which tax ID applies to you.
Business Setup
- 5 min read
How do I register a small business?
The correct order to legally register a small business in the US: structure, state filing, EIN, bank account, and licenses. Step by step, in plain English.
- 4 min read
Required startup documents for a small business
The formation documents, tax IDs, licenses, and financial records every small business needs on file from day one. With a printable checklist.
- 4 min read
Basic compliance checklist for small businesses
Annual reports, license renewals, payroll filings, and tax deadlines. The recurring compliance requirements small businesses must track to stay in good standing.
- 5 min read
Tax Setup Document Organizer (Personal & Business)
A clean checklist to help you gather and organize the documents you'll typically need for personal and business tax setup.
- 5 min read
LLC vs sole proprietorship: which is right for your small business?
A plain-English comparison of the two most common small business structures. What each one means, costs, and when to choose one over the other.
- 4 min read
What is a DBA (doing business as) and do you need one?
A clear explanation of trade names, assumed names, and DBAs. What they are, when you need one, and how to file.
- 8 min read
Wyoming LLC Registered Agent: Requirements, Official Roster & Costs
Learn Wyoming’s registered-agent rules, where to find the state roster, and how Doola compares with Northwest, ZenBusiness, Bizee, LegalZoom, and Harbor Compliance.
- 7 min read
Find Registered Agent Information by State: Official Links
Use official state business portals to look up an existing company’s registered agent and find state-specific business guidance. Includes all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Financial Systems
- 6 min read
How do I track business expenses?
A simple expense tracking system for small business owners. What categories to use, where to keep records, and how to make tax time far less painful.
- 7 min read
Business expense categories: the list that makes tax time easy
The business expense categories that actually matter for taxes and bookkeeping. A simple list, what goes in each, and how to use them so tax time stops hurting.
- 4 min read
What is a profit and loss statement?
A P&L shows your revenue, expenses, and net profit for a period. Learn what every line means, how to read one, and how to run it for your small business.
- 4 min read
Cash flow basics for small businesses
Cash flow is not the same as profit. And the gap is why businesses fail. Learn how to track timing, invoice faster, and keep enough cash on hand.
- 4 min read
How to open a business bank account
What you need, where to go, and why separating your business and personal finances from day one saves significant time and money.
- 6 min read
Self-employed tax deductions: what small business owners can write off
A plain-English list of the most common and valuable tax deductions available to self-employed individuals and small business owners.
- 5 min read
Quarterly estimated taxes for small businesses
How self-employed individuals and small business owners pay taxes during the year. And how to avoid underpayment penalties.
- 3 min read
What is a W-9 form and when do you need one?
A plain-English explanation of IRS Form W-9. What it is, who fills it out, who requests it, and when it's required.
- 4 min read
Business mileage deduction: how to track and claim it
How the IRS business mileage deduction works, what counts as a deductible trip, and the simplest way to keep a compliant mileage log.
- 9 min read
Small Business Bookkeeping: The Simple System That Keeps You Out of Trouble
You don't need an accountant or fancy software to keep clean books. Here's the plain-English system: separate accounts, a weekly 10-minute habit, and the few reports that actually matter.
- 6 min read
Local bookkeeper vs software: when to hire and when to skip
A local bookkeeper costs more than software but handles judgment calls software can't. Here is the simple test for when each makes sense, in plain English.
- 7 min read
Bookkeeping for a local service business
If you run a local service business, your books are simpler than you fear. Separate money, track what you earn and spend, and review monthly.
Taxes
- 7 min read
How to pay yourself as a business owner
Owner's draw or salary? The answer depends on your business structure. Here is how to pay yourself as a sole proprietor, LLC, or S corp, and the one rule that matters most.
- 10 min read
Small Business Taxes: What You Actually Owe and When
Self-employment tax, quarterly deadlines, real deductions, and the one habit that stops a spring surprise. Plain English from someone who paid the penalty so you don't have to.
- 7 min read
State and local tax basics for small businesses
Federal tax gets the attention, but states and cities take their cut too. Here are the state and local taxes most small businesses actually meet.
Money & Profit
- 5 min read
How Small Businesses Lose Money Without Noticing
The silent leaks draining your profit each month, and a simple way to spot them before they grow.
- 6 min read
Upwork Fees Explained: What the 5–15% Cut Costs You
Upwork takes 5%, 10%, or 15% of every contract depending on your tier, plus connect costs. Here's exactly what lands in your pocket and how to price around it.
- 5 min read
Fiverr's 20% Fee: How to Price Gigs That Still Pay
Fiverr keeps 20% of every order including tips and extras. Learn the real math and how to set gig prices so you actually earn what you need.
- 6 min read
PayPal Fees in 2026: Exactly What You Pay Per Transaction
PayPal charges 3.49% + $0.49 (US goods & services) per payment, more for international and currency conversion. See the real net before you invoice.
- 7 min read
Stripe vs PayPal: Which Takes Less of Your Money
Both take a cut of every sale but in different ways. A plain comparison of Stripe's 2.9% + $0.30 vs PayPal's fees, plus when each wins.
- 6 min read
Etsy Fees Breakdown: Listing, Transaction, Payment & Offsite Ad Fees
Etsy stacks a listing fee, 6.5% transaction fee, payment processing, and optional offsite ad fees. Know your true margin before you list.
- 8 min read
Freelance Platform Fees Compared: Upwork, Fiverr, Guru, Freelancer & More
A side-by-side look at what every major freelance platform charges, so you can pick where your take-home goes furthest.
Sales & Clients
- 7 min read
A Basic Client Follow-Up System to Avoid Lost Sales
Most lost sales aren't lost. They're forgotten. A simple follow-up system so no opportunity slips through.
- 5 min read
How to write a business invoice that gets paid faster
What to include on a professional invoice, how to structure it, and practical steps that reduce the time between sending and getting paid.
- 9 min read
Getting Paid: How to Invoice, Follow Up, and Actually Collect
Landing the work is half the job. The other half is collecting the money. A plain-English system for invoices that get paid, follow-ups that work, and clients who go quiet.
Insights
- 5 min read
Insight: Freelance Platform Fees Are Creeping Up. Here's What to Do
A plain look at where platform fees are moving in 2026 and the concrete moves that protect your take-home.
- 5 min read
Insight: 2026 Quarterly Estimated Tax Dates Small Businesses Should Not Miss
The 2026 federal estimated tax due dates and a simple system to set aside the right amount every quarter.
Marketing & Growth
- 5 min read
How to get your first 10 customers
Your first 10 customers almost never come from ads or social media. A practical, no-budget plan using direct outreach to the people and communities you already know.
- 5 min read
Free marketing channels for a new small business
The free, sustainable marketing channels that actually work for small businesses without a budget or marketing team.
- 4 min read
How to write an offer people actually respond to
Most offers fail because they're vague. This framework shows you how to write a clear, specific offer that converts real conversations into paying customers.
- 4 min read
Word of mouth. How to build a referral system for free
Word of mouth doesn't need to stay random. A simple referral system turns your best customers into a steady source of new ones.
- 4 min read
Simple social media for small businesses with no budget
A no-budget social media plan that takes 30 minutes a week and works without ads, agencies, or daily posting.
- 5 min read
How to price your services (and stop undercharging)
Stop guessing on price. A practical method for calculating what to charge based on real costs, market rate, and client value. So you stop leaving money on the table.
- 9 min read
Small Business Marketing on a Shoestring: A Free Plan That Works
No budget, no ads, no plan that works. The order of operations for first-time owners: talk to real people before you post, pick one free channel, and do it every week.
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