Non-profit accounting comes with its own language, and some of the most common terms can also be the most confusing. Understanding the distinction between restricted and unrestricted funds is important for maintaining accurate records and ensuring transparency with donors, grantors, and board members.

Payroll runs in the background for many small businesses, but the reports behind it can offer valuable insight into your financial health and compliance. Taking time each quarter to review key payroll reports can help catch issues early, ensure accuracy, and give you a clearer picture of how payroll is impacting your business.

Hiring help is a big step for any small business, but deciding how to classify that help is just as important. The difference between treating someone as an independent contractor (1099) or an employee isn’t just administrative; it has real financial and compliance implications. And getting it wrong can be costly.

Payroll is often one of the largest expenses for a non-profit, but it’s not always tracked in a way that reflects how work is actually being done. For organizations that receive grant funding or manage multiple programs, properly allocating payroll is key to accurately tracking program and funding costs and maintaining compliance.

Accrual accounting is the standard method most non-profits use to track their finances. Rather than recording activity only when cash changes hands, it focuses on when revenue is earned and expenses are incurred.

One common point of confusion within non-profits is the difference between restricted funds and deferred revenue. While both may involve money that comes with strings attached, they are treated very differently in financial reporting. Understanding the distinction is important for maintaining accurate records and ensuring transparency with donors, grantors, and board members.

When one person handles too many financial responsibilities, it can create risk for a non-profit organization. This is where separation of duties comes in. It is one of the most important internal controls non-profits can implement to protect their finances and maintain accountability.

QuickBooks Online is a powerful tool. It connects your bank accounts, automatically pulls in transactions, and generates reports in seconds. But, it doesn't equal good bookkeeping on its own.

Non-profits in Chatham County are required to file personal property tax forms each year, even if they qualify for exemption. With the April 1 deadline approaching, it’s important to understand what’s required and how to avoid delays or missed exemptions.

Most business owners assume their taxes are determined at year-end. In reality, your taxes are shaped all year long by how your income, expenses, and investments are organized in your bookkeeping.

Clean books mean your financial records are accurate, organized, and up to date. When your books are clean, you can trust your numbers and make confident business decisions.

Sporadic bookkeeping creates risk, while consistent monthly bookkeeping creates clarity, control, and confidence.

Let’s break down how long to keep business records, what the IRS actually expects, and how digital bookkeeping makes this much easier.

Most IRS notices sent to small business owners aren’t random, and they’re not always because someone did something intentionally wrong. In many cases, they’re triggered by common bookkeeping mistakes that quietly pile up throughout the year.

Jon Ossoff recently introduced a bipartisan bill that could cut taxes for businesses with fewer than 15 employees by adding a wage-based tax deduction.

You don’t need to be an accountant to run a successful business. But you do need to understand what your numbers are trying to tell you.

A monthly close isn’t just for big companies. It’s one of the most important habits a small business can have.

Inaccurate Profit & Loss statements are among the biggest reasons tax returns are delayed, and errors occur. This article explains how common bookkeeping mistakes, such as missing transactions, poor categorization, and unreconciled accounts, create tax season stress and higher preparation costs. Learn how maintaining clean, tax-ready books each month helps small businesses file faster, reduce errors, and save money on tax preparation, and how J&S Accounting supports business owners with year-round bookkeeping built for tax efficiency.