Welcome to the Boomtown blog. Most posts here are about bookkeeping, QuickBooks, and the parts of running a small business that nobody warned you about. I write for self-employed folks who want their books to make sense without becoming an accountant in the process.
A Bookkeeping Setup for Self-Employed Estheticians
A solo esthetics practice doesn't need a complicated financial setup, just a consistent one. Here's how to handle booth rent, retail, deductions, and taxes.
Tips, Gift Certificates, and Retail: 3 Things Massage Therapists Get Wrong in Their Books
You've got the basics down. These three, tips, gift certificates, and retail products, are where even organized massage therapists get tripped up. Here's how each really works.
Your Q3 Estimated Taxes Are Due September 15 (Here's How to Pay, and Catch Up If You're Behind)
The Q3 estimated tax deadline lands September 15, right in the end-of-summer blur. Here's how to figure what to pay, pay it, and catch up if you've fallen behind.
A Bookkeeping Setup for Self-Employed Massage Therapists
A massage practice doesn't need a complicated financial setup, just a consistent one. Here's how to track your income and tips, claim the right deductions, and stay ahead of taxes.
Employee or Contractor? How to Classify the Teachers at Your Yoga Studio
Paying teachers as 1099 contractors is the studio default, but it's not always the correct call. Here's how classification actually works, and what it costs to get wrong.
How to Take Time Off From Your Business Without the Bookkeeping Falling Apart
The bookkeeping pile that wrecks your post-vacation week isn't built while you're gone. It's already there when you leave. Here's how to clear it ahead of time.
Pricing Math for Self-Care Providers Who Want to Pay Themselves
If your pricing has never been tested against the math, it might be quietly underpaying you. Here's how to find your hourly floor.
Estimated Taxes 101 for Self-Employed Self-Care Providers
If you're self-employed, you owe estimated taxes throughout the year. Here's how to figure out what to send, when, and how to avoid penalties.
A Bookkeeping Setup for Therapists Working Through Headway, Alma, or Grow Therapy
If you're a therapist running a private practice through one or more insurance billing platforms, your bookkeeping has to handle something most generic small business setups don't. Here's a workflow that holds up.
5 Things People Get Wrong About Business Travel Deductions
Business travel deductions are widely misunderstood, and getting them wrong can cost you real money. Here are five of the most common myths, plus what the IRS actually requires.
Setting Up Bookkeeping Habits That Last Past Tax Season
Tax season is over. The window right after is the best time of year to set up bookkeeping habits that actually hold. Here's how to start, without trying to overhaul everything at once.
What to Do If Your Books Are Behind When Tax Time Arrives
It's March, your tax preparer has emailed twice, and the books haven't been touched in months. You have two options for moving forward; here’s how to choose between them.
What to Bring to Your Tax Preparer When You're Self-Employed
Tax forms are showing up and your preparer is asking for your numbers. Here's what they actually need, what self-care providers commonly miss, and what to set up so next February feels different.
How to Calculate Revenue Growth Rate (and When It's Actually Useful)
Revenue Growth Rate is a popular metric in business advice, but it's more useful in some situations than others. Here's how to calculate it, when it's worth tracking, and when it's just creating false signals.
How to Build a Budget for Your Small Business
Building a budget for your small business doesn't have to be complicated. Here's a practical approach: what to include, how to handle irregular income, and how to use your budget without becoming a slave to it.
Why You Should Reconcile Your Bank Accounts Every Month
If there's one bookkeeping habit I won't budge on, it's monthly reconciliation. Here's why, and what happens when people put it off.
Monthly vs Annual Software Subscriptions: Which Should You Choose?
Annual software subscriptions usually advertise meaningful savings, but the right choice depends on more than the discount. Here's what to actually consider before committing.
Year-End Bookkeeping Checklist for Small Business Owners
A practical year-end bookkeeping checklist for small business owners, with notes on what to skip if it doesn't apply to you.