Category: Small Business Tips

Modern technology simplifies and streamlines staffing a small business, no matter where you are. You no longer need to the traditional full office with people typing away in cubicles. Skype, instant messaging, and webinars allow us to work from anywhere in the world, and still get the job done. But technology doesn’t just help you […]

If you’re a driver for Uber, Lyft, or some other ridesharing service, you may not be aware that you’re considered an independent contractor, or in other words, self-employed. Lawsuits are pending in some states that contend that you should be treated like an employee but until that is all sorted out, for tax purposes, you’ll […]

If you use contract employees (also known as independent contractors, freelancers, or self-employed workers), you know you have to issue them a 1099-MISC if you pay them over $600 in a year. But what’s this new thing called a 1099-K, and what does it have to do with your business? In other words, what’s the […]

Taxes can get all kinds of complicated. You have to fill out a series of forms that you don’t understand and then the IRS penalizes you when it’s not done properly. There’s no reason to make things harder than they need to be. So, let’s break down the Schedule K-1 form together. Very basically, a […]

You may have heard the phrase blockchain before, but we’re going to try to explain what it means so that small business owners that aren’t cryptocurrency gurus can keep up. Blockchain is basically a digital ledger for bitcoin transactions. But what’s a bitcoin?  Bitcoin is a brand name (think Kleenex or Band-Aid) that has become […]

DISCLAIMER: This article uses basic math. If math makes you break out in a rash, proceed with caution. In 1961, John Little made a big splash in queueing theory with his self-titled Little’s Law. Queueing theory is the mathematical study of waiting lines, or queues. Consultants and researchers use queueing theory to predict queue lengths […]

So, you’ve decided to pick up some freelance jobs so you can work from home and be your own boss. Getting started freelancing can be pretty tricky, whether it’s a side hustle or full-time job. Where do you begin? Luckily, here at ZipBooks, we get it. We’ve been there, and we’re here to give you […]

When you’ve got a business, the point is to get paid, right? There are all sorts of different ways to receive payments these days, some more efficient than others. Would you rather wait for a check in the mail, or receive an electronic deposit right to your bank account? Seems like a no-brainer! Here’s some […]

The average person doesn’t usually include shipping rates as a regular, consistent category in the budget. But you aren’t the average person—you’re a proud small business owner—which means you are shipping a considerable number of packages weekly. But you’re also not getting the bulk shipping discounts like some bigger businesses that ship hundreds of packages […]

All financial reports are built up from debits and credits that make up all the recorded transactions, also called “journal entries”, on your general ledger, so here’s a quick accounting review before we dive into an intro on the two most important financial reports, or you can just jump to the income statement guide or […]