The IRS gives small startups considerable latitude in their choice of accounting methods. Part 1 of this tutorial lays out the IRS guidelines governing which method your startup is free to use. It then contrasts the way income and expenses are reported in the two primary methods, cash accounting and accrual accounting.
Continue readingCategory Archives: Finance
For encore entrepreneurs starting a small business, cash accounting is simpler. But accrual accounting may serve your small business startup better. Here are some tradeoffs in choosing one over the other.
Continue readingThe third part of a three-part series on determining whether an accrual accounting system or a cash accounting system is best for your business. This installment looks at the trade-offs in choosing one of these systems over the other and shows how inexpensive accounting software allows you to draw on the unique advantage of both systems to monitor the health of your business.
Continue readingIntroduction to a four-part series (plus this introduction) on choosing the best legal structure for your business. This introduction provides a high-level summary of the key issues which influence this decision.
Continue readingThe first part of a four-part series (plus introduction) on choosing the best legal structure for your company. This installment examines the pros and cons of the simplest legal structure, a sole proprietorship.
Continue readingThe second part of a four-part series (plus introduction) on choosing the best legal structure for your business. This installment looks at the pros and cons of choosing a limited liability company.
Continue readingPart 3 of a four-part series (plus introduction) on choosing the best legal structure for your business. This installment examines the pros and cons of incorporating and the tradeoffs between C-Corps and S-Corps as your corporate structure.
Continue readingThe final part of a four-part series (plus introduction) on choosing the best legal structure for your business. This installment looks at the pros and cons of operating your business as a partnership.
Continue reading