Blog
Short, practical guides for US business owners.
Employer Payroll Taxes Explained: What US Small Businesses Pay
Learn which payroll taxes are paid by the employer—Social Security, Medicare, FUTA and state unemployment—and how to calculate employer taxes on payroll.
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Self-Employed Payroll Guide: How to Pay Yourself as an S-Corp or Sole Proprietor
Learn how self-employed payroll works for S-Corps and sole proprietors, IRS reasonable compensation rules, owner's draws, and the best payroll software.
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Semi-Monthly vs. Bi-Weekly Payroll: Key Differences & Pay Periods
Compare semi-monthly vs. bi-weekly payroll, weekly and monthly pay schedules, how many payroll weeks are in a year, and which works best for US small businesses.
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Form 941 explained: who files it and how to avoid penalties
Who files Form 941, what it reports, a quarter-end checklist and the mistakes that lead to penalties.
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Employee or independent contractor? How the IRS looks at it
The three areas the IRS checks when deciding if a worker is an employee or a contractor, with examples and a simple review process.
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A 7-step monthly bookkeeping checklist for small businesses
Seven simple monthly steps that keep your books accurate and your tax season stress-free, with a QuickBooks example.
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