Small Business Blog

Accounting and payroll resources for small business owners.

Easily filter through articles and find what you want to learn below.

blue-arrow
Valuable Business Articles & Updates

Small Business Tips

Illustration of financial mistakes: error sign, calculator, and dollar icon on an orange background with text about small business owners.

5 min read

Top 3 Financial Mistakes Small Business Owners Make

Running a small business means wearing a lot of hats—owner, marketer, HR manager, and often, the bookkeeper too. It’s like trying to play quarterback...

Graphic with a scale balancing pros (storefront and growth) and cons (calculator, dollar sign) of owning a small business.

5 min read

Pros and Cons of Owning a Small Business

Let’s be real: owning a small business is not for the faint of heart.

Guide on switching accountants with icons of old and new folders, checklist, and pen.

5 min read

How to Switch Accountants: A 5-Step Guide for Small Business Owners

Switching accountants might sound like a hassle, but sometimes it’s the smartest move you can make for your business. If you’ve ever felt ignored by...

Illustration of a central figure surrounded by interconnected colorful pegs, representing a network or social connection structure.

2 min read

4 Ways Business Owners Can Make the Leadership Connection

To get the most from any team, its leader must establish a productive rapport with each member. Of course, that’s easier said than done if you own a...

Salaries on a file tab in a filing drawer

2 min read

Corporate Business Owners: Is Your Salary Reasonable in the Eyes of the IRS?

Determining “reasonable compensation” is a critical issue for owners of C corporations and S corporations. If the IRS believes an owner’s...

Icons of a factory, hard hat, and laptop with shopping cart under text about businesses not suited for TMA's services.

4 min read

What Kinds of Businesses Aren’t a Fit for TMA’s Services

We’ll say it upfront: TMA Accounting isn’t the right choice for every business.

Cost written out on wooden blocks with a yellow background

2 min read

Cost Management is Critical for Companies Today

Many business owners take an informal approach to controlling costs, tackling the issue only when it becomes an obvious problem. A better way to...

Two illustrated bank buildings labeled

5 min read

3 Best Practices for Keeping Business and Personal Accounts Separate

When you own a business, your personal and business finances can easily get tangled up. At first, it might not seem like a big deal. You pay for...

Illustration of financial tools with a warning symbol.

5 min read

5 Signs Your Accountant Isn’t Doing Enough

As a small business owner, you wear a lot of hats—marketer, manager, problem-solver, and sometimes even bookkeeper. With so much on your plate, it’s...

Cartoon image of tax items with the title “How to Handle a Large Tax Bill.”

5 min read

How to Handle a Large Tax Bill as a Small Business Owner

Getting hit with a large tax bill can feel like a punch to the gut, especially when you weren’t expecting it. For small business owners juggling...

Stressed man with tax forms and bookkeeping errors, symbolizing confusion from poor financial records.

7 min read

5 Common Tax Mistakes Caused by Poor Bookkeeping

Small business owners often face enough pressure managing day-to-day operations without the added stress of tax season. Between juggling client...

Illustration of business accounting: checklist with coins and calendar, tax data on a computer, and payroll documents on a laptop.

5 min read

What Accounting Services Does My Business Need?

Running a small business is an exciting journey, but let’s be honest—managing finances isn’t always the most exciting part. In fact, for many...

Illustration of payroll management showing a laptop screen with a payroll calendar, a large salary slip, stacked coins, a calculator, a pencil, and a businessperson standing beside the laptop, representing financial planning and payroll cost analysis.

2 min read

6 Ways Employers Can Address Payroll Costs During Economic Uncertainty

Payroll is one of the biggest costs for most small to midsize employers. If this holds true for your organization, you may be looking at the year...

laptop open with a person holding a phone in the hand with a lock on the screen

3 min read

FinCEN-Related Fraud Heats Up: How to Avoid Getting Burned

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) recently identified an increase in fraudsters using the bureau's...

financial statement on a desk with a pen and calculator next to it

2 min read

Business Owners Should Get Comfortable with Their Financial Statements

Financial statements can fascinate accountants, investors, and lenders. However, for business owners, they may not be real page-turners.

wood blocks that spell out succession

3 min read

Planning for the Future: 5 Business Succession Options and Their Tax Implications

When it’s time to consider your business’s future, succession planning can protect your legacy and successfully set up the next generation of leaders...

yellow background with a clock on it that says

5 min read

The Small Business Guide to Organizing for Tax Season

Running a small business is exciting—but let's be honest, tax season is not.

steps with crumbled paper on them that transform into a paper plane

2 min read

How to Evaluate and Undertake a Business Transformation

Many industries have undergone monumental changes over the last decade or so. Broadly, there are two ways to adapt to the associated challenges:...

KPI blocks on a tabletop with a plant in the background

2 min read

So Many KPIs, So Much Time: An Overview for Businesses

Business owners are urged to monitor performance using key performance indicators (KPIs) from the moment they launch their companies. And for good...

Two business owners reviewing together looking stressed

4 min read

Insights Into Small Business Bankruptcies

Many U.S. businesses filed for bankruptcy last year. Through the end of the third quarter of 2024 (the latest available statistics at this writing),...

Hands separating two piles of money

1 min read

Avoid Mixing Personal and Business Accounts

Small business owners and independent contractors always look for ways to save time. If you run your own business (or want to start one), having a...

arrows going up

2 min read

Embrace the Future: Sales Forecasting for Businesses

So, how are sales looking for next year? It’s not a rhetorical question. Your business should be able to look ahead and accurately estimate how its...

scale with checks and x's

2 min read

Operating as a C Corporation: Weigh the Benefits and Drawbacks

When deciding on the best structure for your business, one option to consider is a C corporation. This entity offers several advantages and...

restaurant manager gathered around other employees

2 min read

Growing the Business Means Supporting Your Managers

Many different shortcomings can hold back the growth of a company. Some are obvious, such as poor cash flow management or flawed strategic plans....

BOI logo with

3 min read

BOI Reporting Updates: What Small Businesses Need to Know

BREAKING UPDATE: March 21, 2025 The government, on Friday, March 21, significantly narrowed the scope of Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI)...

wooden blocks with the year on it, turning from 2024 to 2025

5 min read

Wrap Up Your Business Year with Big Tax Savings

With year-end rapidly approaching, many business owners are focusing on budgeting and strategic planning for 2025. But you shouldn't overlook...

Family looking at a file together

2 min read

Family Business Focus: Taking It to the Next Level

Family businesses often start small, with casual operational approaches. However, informal (or nonexistent) policies and procedures can become...

BOI logo with the text

2 min read

What Small Business Owners Need to Know About BOI Filing - December 2024 Update

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) brought new requirements for businesses to report Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) to the feds. However, a...

Two people making a deal with real estate

3 min read

Six Reasons to Separate Real Estate from Your Business Assets

When businesses acquire real estate, they often title it under the company name. Although this might seem straightforward and logical, it's not...

toy airplane sitting on a map

3 min read

From Flights to Meals: A Guide to Business Travel Tax Deductions

As a business owner, you may travel to visit customers, attend conferences, check on vendors, and for other purposes. Understanding which travel...