Guides · 31
Bookkeeping, tax and finance guides
Plain-language guides to bookkeeping, tax preparation support, compliance and finance, each with its sources and a review date.
Startup accounting
1 guide
Bookkeeping
8 guides
- BookkeepingAccounts Receivable and Collections: A Small Business GuideHow small businesses set invoice terms, age receivables, track DSO, run a collections cadence and know when to write off a bad debt.
- BookkeepingBookkeeping Basics for Small Business OwnersWhat records to keep, cash vs accrual, how reconciliation works, and the monthly routine that keeps a small business's books usable all year.
- BookkeepingCash Application: Matching Payments to Invoices CorrectlyHow cash application matches payments to invoices: lockbox, ACH, card payments, short pays, unapplied cash, automation limits, and the KPIs to track.
- BookkeepingCatch-Up Bookkeeping: How to Fix Months or Years of Neglected BooksHow to triage neglected books, the documents you need, how reconstruction works, what to prioritize before a deadline, and what drives the cost.
- BookkeepingHow to Design a Chart of Accounts (With SaaS and Ecommerce Examples)How to number and structure a chart of accounts, with worked SaaS and ecommerce examples and the mistakes that force a costly rebuild later.
- BookkeepingHow to Switch Bookkeepers Without Losing Your BooksA practical checklist for changing bookkeepers safely: what to demand in an exit pack, who owns your QuickBooks or Xero file, and how to time the move.
- BookkeepingThe Accounts Payable Process, Step by StepHow accounts payable actually works: vendor onboarding, W-9s, invoice coding, three-way match, payment runs, controls, and the KPIs that show if AP is healthy.
- BookkeepingThe Month-End Close Checklist: Day by Day, Close by Business Day 5A day-by-day month-end close checklist covering reconciliations, accruals, deferred revenue and review, so your books close by business day 5 every month.
Tax
7 guides
- TaxCash vs Accrual Accounting: Which One Should Your Business UseA plain-English guide to cash vs accrual accounting for US small businesses: IRS rules, the 2026 gross receipts test, and how to switch with Form 3115.
- TaxEstimated Taxes for Small Business: 2026 DeadlinesSafe harbor percentages, the 2026 quarterly due dates, how corporate rules differ from personal ones, and how the penalty is actually calculated.
- TaxForm 1099 Guide for Tax Year 2026: NEC, MISC, and 1099-KWhich 1099 to send, the new $2,000 threshold for 2026, W-9 collection, 1099-K rules for payment platforms, deadlines, and what late filing actually costs.
- TaxForm 5472 for Foreign-Owned LLCsForm 5472 and the pro forma 1120 for foreign-owned US LLCs: who must file, the $25,000 penalty, deadlines, EIN steps and reportable transactions.
- TaxIRS Notices Explained: CP2000, CP14, CP504, LT11 and MoreA plain-language guide to common IRS notices, what each one means, the real response deadline, and when to bring in an enrolled agent or CPA.
- TaxLLC vs S-Corp Taxes: When the S Election Actually Saves MoneyThe self-employment tax math behind LLC vs S-corp, reasonable salary rules, state quirks in CA, NY and IL, and a worked example with real numbers.
- TaxR&D Tax Credit for Startups: 2026 Guide to Section 41 and Form 6765How the R&D tax credit works for startups in 2026: the four-part test, the $500,000 payroll offset, Section 174A expensing, and Form 6765 Section G.
Compliance
3 guides
- ComplianceDelaware C-Corp Annual Compliance: Franchise Tax, Report, and FilingsHow Delaware C-corp annual compliance works in 2026: franchise tax methods, the March 1 annual report, registered agent duties, and federal filings.
- ComplianceHow to Set Up Payroll for a US Small Business in 2026Federal and state registrations, the EIN, worker classification test, pay schedule choice, and Gusto vs ADP vs Rippling for setting up US payroll.
- ComplianceSales Tax Economic Nexus Guide: State Thresholds for 2026Economic nexus after Wayfair: which states dropped the 200-transaction test, marketplace rules, and registration steps once you cross a threshold.
CFO and finance
7 guides
- CFO and finance2026 US Bookkeeping and Accounting Cost IndexThe 2026 US bookkeeping and accounting cost index: BLS and Robert Half wage data, published prices from 7 outsourced providers, and Finbryn's own rate card, all checked 2026-09-29.
- CFO and financeBurn Rate and Runway: How to Calculate and Extend ThemHow to calculate gross burn, net burn, and runway, apply the default alive test and burn multiple, and extend runway before your board needs to ask.
- CFO and financeRevenue Recognition Under ASC 606 for SaaS CompaniesHow SaaS and subscription businesses apply ASC 606's five steps, handle deferred revenue, multi-year deals, usage pricing, and commission capitalization.
- CFO and financeSaaS Metrics Every Finance Team Should TrackA plain guide to MRR, ARR, churn, NRR, CAC, CAC payback, LTV and gross margin, with formulas, a comparison table and a worked example.
- CFO and financeThe 13-Week Cash Flow Forecast: A Step-by-Step Guide for OwnersHow to build a 13-week cash flow forecast using the direct method, run a weekly variance review, and meet what lenders expect to see.
- CFO and financeThe Fundraising Finance Data Room: What Investors ExpectWhat belongs in a startup's fundraising data room: cap table, financial model, historicals, tax filings, contracts, and the gaps diligence teams find most.
- CFO and financeWhat Goes in a Board Reporting Pack (With a Monthly Template)What a startup board pack should include: financials, KPIs, cash, a hiring plan and risks, plus a monthly template and realistic timing after close.
Fintech
2 guides
- FintechAccounting for Fintech and Payments CompaniesHow fintech and payments companies reconcile processor settlements, book interchange, safeguard client money, and recognize platform revenue under ASC 606.
- FintechCrypto and Digital Asset Accounting for US CompaniesHow US companies apply the new fair value GAAP rule to crypto, track wallet-level tax lots, and handle Form 1099-DA and staking income.
AI in accounting
1 guide
Industry guides
2 guides
- Industry guidesEcommerce Accounting for Shopify and Amazon SellersHow to account for Shopify and Amazon settlement payouts, inventory and COGS, sales tax nexus, and marketplace fees, with a worked reconciliation example.
- Industry guidesNonprofit Accounting Basics and Form 990, ExplainedHow fund accounting, restricted funds, and functional expenses work for nonprofits, plus which Form 990 you file and when it's due.
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