The Tides Blog

Bookkeeping Tips for
Small Business Owners.

Practical advice on bookkeeping, taxes, payroll, and small-business finance — written by a team that does this every day.

ArticleAug 2, 2026

Bookkeeping for Law Firms: Trust Accounting & IOLTA

Law firm bookkeeping explained: IOLTA trust accounting, three-way reconciliation, earned vs unearned fees, and the compliance mistakes that get attorneys in trouble.

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ArticleAug 2, 2026

Bookkeeping for Truckers & Owner-Operators

Owner-operator bookkeeping made clear: cost per mile, the per-diem deduction, IFTA fuel tax, settlement statements, equipment depreciation, and the numbers that keep you profitable.

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ArticleAug 2, 2026

The Small Business Chart of Accounts: A Complete Guide

What a chart of accounts is, the five account types, how to number and organize it, industry-specific setups, and the mistakes that make your reports useless.

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ArticleAug 2, 2026

How to Categorize Business Expenses (the Right Way)

A plain-English guide to categorizing business expenses: the common categories, business vs personal, what's deductible, and the miscategorizations that cost you at tax time.

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ArticleAug 1, 2026

The Best QuickBooks Live Alternatives (2026)

Looking for a QuickBooks Live alternative? Six real options compared — dedicated remote firms, local bookkeepers, app-based services, fractional CPAs, and DIY.

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ArticleJul 31, 2026

Bench Accounting Alternatives: 2026 Guide

Bench shut down overnight and left 12,000 businesses scrambling. What to look for in a bookkeeping service now — and the alternatives worth considering in 2026.

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ArticleJul 31, 2026

QuickBooks Live vs a Dedicated Bookkeeper

QuickBooks Live pricing, what's in scope, and where it falls short — an honest comparison with a dedicated bookkeeping firm, and how to pick for your business.

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ArticleJul 25, 2026

Restaurant365 vs QuickBooks: Which Is Right for Your Restaurant?

Restaurant365 vs QuickBooks for restaurants: an honest comparison of features, restaurant-specific costing, pricing, and which one actually fits a single spot versus a multi-location group.

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ArticleJul 13, 2026

Bookkeeping for Contractors: Job Costing Made Simple

Job costing shows contractors which jobs actually made money. A plain-English guide to tracking labor, materials, subs, overhead, WIP, retainage and 1099s.

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ArticleJul 13, 2026

Bookkeeping for E-commerce Sellers: Inventory, Fees & Sales Tax

E-commerce bookkeeping explained: why payouts aren't revenue, how to track platform fees, inventory and COGS, and handle sales tax nexus across every channel.

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ArticleJul 13, 2026

Bookkeeping for Restaurants: COGS, Tips & Payroll

Restaurant bookkeeping made clear: track COGS and food-cost %, prime cost, tips and tip payroll, POS reconciliation, sales tax, and the weekly reports owners need.

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ArticleJul 13, 2026

Hawaii's General Excise Tax (GET), Explained for Small Businesses

Hawaii's General Excise Tax (GET) isn't a sales tax — it's a gross-receipts tax on your business. Learn the rates, county surcharges, and G-45/G-49 filing.

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ArticleJul 13, 2026

Ohio Municipal Income Tax & RITA: A Small Business Owner's Guide

Ohio's 600+ cities levy their own income tax. A plain-English guide to RITA vs CCA, employer withholding, the 20-day rule, net-profit returns, and the CAT.

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ArticleJul 13, 2026

Sales Tax Nexus: When Do You Owe Tax in Another State?

Sales tax nexus explained: physical vs economic nexus, post-Wayfair state thresholds, marketplace-facilitator and Amazon FBA rules, and how to stay compliant.

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ArticleJun 16, 2026

8 Bookkeeping Mistakes That Trigger IRS Audits

The 8 bookkeeping mistakes most likely to land your small business on the IRS audit radar — and how clean books prevent every one.

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ArticleJun 16, 2026

Cash vs Accrual Accounting: Which Is Right for Your Business?

Cash vs accrual accounting explained — what changes, which is better for your business, and when the IRS forces the choice.

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ArticleJun 16, 2026

Reasonable Compensation for S-Corp Owners: What the IRS Expects

How the IRS calculates "reasonable compensation" for S-Corp owners, why it matters, and how to set a defensible salary.

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ArticleJun 16, 2026

S-Corp vs LLC: Which Is Right for Your Small Business?

S-Corp vs LLC explained for small business owners — the actual tax difference, the income threshold where it matters, and how to decide.

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ArticleJun 5, 2026

The 90-Day Bookkeeping Cleanup Plan

A practical 90-day plan to clean up messy books, get current, and set up a system that won't fall apart again.

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ArticleJun 5, 2026

The Annual Bookkeeping Audit: A Year-End Guide for Owners

An annual bookkeeping audit checklist for small-business owners: what to review, what to fix, and what to hand off to your CPA.

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ArticleJun 5, 2026

Best Bookkeeping Software for Small Businesses in 2026

The five bookkeeping platforms small businesses actually use in 2026 — what each is good at, and which fits your business.

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ArticleJun 5, 2026

Catch-Up Bookkeeping: What It Costs and Why

What does catch-up bookkeeping actually cost — and what drives the price? A practical breakdown for owners who've fallen behind.

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ArticleJun 5, 2026

How to Find a Local Bookkeeper You Can Actually Trust

How to find a bookkeeper you can actually trust — what to look for, what to ask, and the red flags that should stop the conversation.

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ArticleJun 5, 2026

How to Read a Profit & Loss Statement Like a CEO

Most owners look at their P&L wrong. Here's how a CEO actually reads one — the four numbers that matter and the three checks to run.

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ArticleJun 5, 2026

QuickBooks Online vs Xero: Which Is Right for Your Business?

QuickBooks Online vs Xero: a head-to-head comparison of features, pricing, and which one fits your business best.

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ArticleJun 5, 2026

The Real Estate Investor's Bookkeeping Guide

A practical bookkeeping guide for real estate investors: per-property P&L, entity structure, deductions, and the system that scales.

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ArticleJun 5, 2026

Tax Season Prep: A Bookkeeping Checklist for Small Businesses

The bookkeeping checklist that turns tax season from a panic into a 30-minute handoff. What to do in January (and what NOT to wait on).

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ArticleMay 22, 2026

When to Hire a Bookkeeper: 7 Signs It's Time

Not sure if you need a bookkeeper yet? Here are 7 clear signs it's time to hire one — and what it costs to wait too long.

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ArticleMay 15, 2026

7 Bookkeeping Mistakes Killing Real Estate Investors at Tax Time

The 7 most common bookkeeping mistakes real estate investors make — and exactly how each one costs you money at tax time.

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ArticleMay 13, 2026

Bookkeeper vs CPA vs Accountant: Who Do You Actually Need?

The real differences between bookkeepers, accountants, and CPAs — what each costs, what each does, and which one your small business actually needs.

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ArticleMay 1, 2026

How Much Does a Bookkeeper Cost in 2026? (Real Numbers, No Fluff)

Real bookkeeper pricing in 2026 — hourly rates, monthly packages, DIY costs, and what drives the price. Honest numbers from a working bookkeeping firm.

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