Small Business Accounting Basics

Balancing Your Books, Not Your Brain

This resource is built for new small business owners, helping you learn and understand small business accounting basics. Learn how to set up and use QuickBooks, create and manage invoices, or compare different accounting software options altogether. Our goal is to equip you with the knowledge to efficiently handle your business finances, giving you more time to focus on growth.

Invoicing Simplified

Invoicing Simplified introduces you to the fundamentals, ensuring you’re well-equipped to create, send, and manage invoices effectively. Whether exploring various invoicing software options or seeking tips on speeding up payments, this site section provides a general overview to help you understand invoicing’s core aspects.

QuickBooks Basics

Our QuickBooks Basics section offers a broad overview of QuickBooks fundamentals. From tracking income to managing expenses, we’ll guide you through using QuickBooks effectively, ensuring you have the foundation to explore more specific topics at your own pace.

Compare Options

Compare content covers various software features, benefits, and considerations, providing the insight needed to make an informed choice. Whether you’re a freelancer, a startup, or a growing small business, begin your search for an accounting solution here.

Now, It’s Your Turn

These resources are designed to provide a solid foundation, enabling you to make informed decisions and focus on growing your business. As your business evolves, revisit these guides to refresh your knowledge and discover new insights. Stay informed, stay efficient, and let these tools empower your journey to small business success and what that means to you!

A graphic that is used on an article that discusses what is e-invoicing. The graphic showcases a digital payment being made.

What Is an E-Invoice: Advantages and Benefits of Electronic Invoicing Software

E-invoicing, or electronic invoicing, is a digital way for businesses to send and receive payment requests. It is especially important for small...

Compare Accounting Software for Self-Employed

As a solopreneur or if you are starting a small business, managing finances efficiently is not just a necessity but a pathway to success. The right...

How to Use QuickBooks On Multiple Computers (multi-user mode in QuickBooks Desktop)

QuickBooks Desktop is a powerful accounting software platform that can help streamline your business operations for multiple users and departments....

Comparing Accounting Software for Small Auto-Dealerships

For independently owned auto dealerships, the choice of accounting software can significantly impact daily operations, financial management, and...

How to Categorize Utility Expenses (Heat, Water, Telephone, Electric) in QuickBooks Online

Small business owners may face bookkeeping challenges, particularly regarding utility expenses such as heat, water, electricity, telephone, and...
A graphic used for an article that discusses how to find a reputable CPA for small business. The graphic illustrates, ketchup, mustard and mayo, a play on CPAs, accountants and bookkeepers.

How to Find a Good CPA for Small Business (plus, CPA license check & accountant lookup)

A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) strives to comply with tax laws and helps provide strategic advice to foster small business growth. This guide...
A graphic for an article that discusses how to track expenses for small business. There is a vibrant flow chart used to resemble process.

How to Track Expenses for Small Business: 3 Non-Aggravating Adaptations

This guide is designed to make the recording of sales, purchases, and expenses more accessible and straightforward, avoiding complicated financial...
Image on smallbizsetup.org featuring a parking sign, toll bridge, and gas pump with text 'Gas, Parking & Tolls in QuickBooks' for managing these expenses in QuickBooks Online.

How to Categorize Gas in QuickBooks Online (including, tolls & parking expenses)

Small business owners often find managing transportation costs to be tricky in bookkeeping. QuickBooks Online offers an efficient way to track...

Is QuickBooks Online Safe (spoiler alert: yes, Intuit QuickBooks is safe, here’s why)

For small businesses, financial data security is 'somewhat important,' as if it's just a nice-to-have, like free office snacks. We're teasing, of...

How to Track Inventory in QuickBooks Online (including, how to enter sales in QBO)

Manually tracking inventory in QuickBooks Online, especially for Essentials and Simple Start users, requires more hands-on management than the...
A graphic built for an article that discusses "how to create a small business budget." The graphic depicts an overlapping pile of shiny pennies as a way of saying "every cent counts."

Budgeting Without Complex Jargon: How to Create a Small Business Budget in 7 Steps

Starting a small business comes with its set of financial challenges. Our goal is to make navigating these challenges simpler for new entrepreneurs....
A graphic used for an article that discusses how to get invoices paid faster. The graphic contains a wormhole to emphasis speed.

How to Get Invoices Paid Faster: A Guide for Small Business Owners

Getting invoices paid on time may sound too good to be true, and that's because, often, it is. We won't claim to have some secret salve for "how to...

Level Up Your Accounting Know-How

Our Commitment to Our Readers...

We are only successful if we are helping your small business succeed, and for us, that starts with high-quality content. If any of our content has not answered your initial search query, created a positive experience, or if the content has not met your expectations, please contact paul@smallbizsetup.org. We want to hear from you and are committed to improving our resources to better meet your needs. Like, actually!