Taxes & Records
What Business Expenses Are Deductible?
Expenses are deductible if ordinary and necessary for your business. What qualifies, what doesn't, and 2026 rules for home office, car and startup costs.
Start small. Start right.
Straight answers on the money, tax and paperwork side of a side hustle or small business, checked against the IRS, the SBA and other official sources.
Week one
Small business checklist
- Pick an idea (done)
- Write a one-page plan (done)
- Choose a structure (done)
- Track every dollar (to do)
- Send the first invoice (to do)
Totalone step at a time
Browse by topic
- Taxes & Records Tracking income and expenses, deductions, estimated taxes and what the IRS expects. 4 guides
- Starting a Business Finding an idea, writing a plan and choosing a business structure. 3 guides
- Money & Getting Paid Invoicing customers and understanding the numbers that show how the business is doing. 2 guides
- Marketing Getting the word out, and the rules that apply when you do. 1 guide
Latest guides
All guidesMoney & Getting Paid
Gross Profit vs. Net Profit
Gross profit is sales minus returns and cost of goods sold. Net profit is what's left after all expenses. See how IRS Schedule C figures both, with examples.
Starting a Business
How to Find a Small Business Idea
Find a small business idea by starting from your skills, then testing demand and competition with free SBA guidance and Census data before you spend money.
Taxes & Records
How to Track Business Expenses
Track business expenses by keeping receipts and statements, using a separate business account and logging each cost by Schedule C category, as the IRS expects.
Starting a Business
How to Write a Business Plan
Pick a traditional or lean format, then work through each section: market, customers, costs and money. The SBA's outline, plus where to get free help.
Money & Getting Paid
How to Write an Invoice
Put your details, the customer's, a unique number, dates, itemized charges, any sales tax and payment terms on every invoice. Here's what US rules require.