Small Business Finance

Profit First flips the formula. Instead of Sales minus Expenses equals Profit, every dollar of revenue gets allocated into separate accounts the moment it lands, so profit is paid first and operating expenses are forced to fit what's left. Here's exactly how the five-account system works, the percentages by revenue tier, who it fits, and the mistakes that quietly break it.

A $50,000 salary doesn't cost $50,000. Once you add payroll taxes, insurance, benefits, equipment, and the ramp-up cash flow gap, the real number is closer to $70,000. Here's the all-in cost formula, the 9-step pre-hire checklist, and the runway math that tells you whether you're actually ready.

25 to 30 percent. That's the number most self-employed business owners need to set aside for taxes, but only if it actually makes it into a separate account the same day income clears. Here's the simple formula, the quarterly schedule, and the habit that prevents the April panic forever.

Your slow season is coming. The question is whether you'll meet it with a cash cushion or a clenched jaw. Here's how to look at last year's numbers, build a real reserve, and trim costs before the dip, so your lean months feel manageable instead of terrifying.

The average self-employed driver who actively tracks mileage claims about $5,500 a year in deductions. At a 30 percent combined tax rate, that is roughly $1,650 staying in your pocket instead of going to the IRS. Most people either skip the tracking entirely or do it in a way the IRS will not accept. Here is the system that fixes both.

Small business owners spend over 20 hours per month on financial tasks, yet 46% still do not review their financial reports monthly (SCORE). A financial dashboard changes that by putting income, expenses, savings, debt, and net worth into one view. This guide walks through what belongs on your dashboard, how to build one in 30 minutes using Google Sheets or Money Mastery, and how to use the reports to have a real conversation with your money. Because 82% of businesses that fa

29% of startups fail because they run out of cash, even when they're profitable. Cash flow and profit are not the same thing, and understanding the difference is one of the most important financial skills a business owner can develop. This beginner's guide explains what cash flow actually means, why profitable businesses still struggle with it, and gives you a simple tracking process you can start using this week.

82% of business failures tie back to cash flow problems, and 42% of small business owners started with limited financial literacy. These nine financial mistakes are the ones that show up most often, from mixing finances to skipping monthly reviews to trying to manage everything in your head. Each mistake includes a specific, actionable fix backed by real data from the IRS, Forbes, QuickBooks, SCORE, and more