News & editorial
From the editorial desk, 2020
Archive of pieces from the editorial desk dated 2020.
Year-End Tax Planning: A Checklist for Small Business
Year-end tax planning for small business: a plain checklist of December 31 choices on equipment, payroll, bills and estimated tax for the 2020 tax year.
Small Business Saturday: How Shops Can Prepare
Small Business Saturday is November 28. Here is the date logic and a short prep checklist for shops, using free tips from the SBA and American Express.
Voting Leave Laws: What Employers Need to Know
Voting leave laws vary by state. Learn what employers should check before Election Day on November 3, 2020.
Business Interruption Insurance: What Policies Cover
Business interruption insurance pays lost income after a covered loss. Learn the physical damage test, common exclusions and how to read your policy.
FFCRA Paid Leave: What Small Employers Must Provide
FFCRA paid leave gives workers up to 80 hours of paid sick time. See who is covered, what it pays, the small-employer rule and the records to keep.
EIDL Loan Terms: What to Check Before You Sign
EIDL loan terms in plain words: the rate, the 30 year term, the one year wait for the first payment and what to read before you sign an SBA offer.
Payroll Records Retention: How Long to Keep Them
Payroll records retention rules for US employers in 2020: the federal minimums from the Department of Labor and the IRS, and a simple way to apply them.
PPP Loan Forgiveness: What Borrowers Must Document
PPP loan forgiveness checklist: the payroll, rent, mortgage interest and utility records borrowers should keep to support a request.
Paycheck Protection Program: How the Loan Works
The paycheck protection program offers forgivable loans to small businesses. See who can apply, how loan size is set and the terms at launch.
Remote Work Security: A Checklist for Small Firms
Remote work security for small firms: a plain checklist covering VPN updates, strong logins, patching and home network steps, based on CISA and NIST advice.
Supply Chain Risk: A Small Business Mapping Guide
Supply chain risk can stop a small firm fast. Map your key suppliers, find single points of failure and set backups before a disruption hits.
Schedule C: How Sole Proprietors Report Income
Schedule C is the tax form sole proprietors use to report business income. See what goes on each part and which records back each line.