MerchantFinancial Advisory
Home / Insights / Bookkeeping
MFA Insights

Bookkeeping guides

Bookkeeping guides for small businesses: clean books, write-offs, records and routines that hold up at tax time. Need it handled for you? See our bookkeeping services.

Keep-handy month-end close checklist for small business, 8 steps: 1 record every sale, deposit, bill and receipt; 2 categorize the bank feed and clear uncategorized items; 3 reconcile every bank and credit card account to the statement; 4 review who owes you and whom you owe; 5 record accruals and adjustments; 6 tie payroll and sales tax to the liability accounts; 7 review the profit and loss and balance sheet against last month; 8 lock the month in QuickBooks Online with a closing date. Records to keep: generally 3 years after filing; employment tax records at least 4 years. Dates: January 15, 2027 fourth 2026 estimated tax payment; January 20, 2027 New Jersey ST-50 for October to December 2026; February 1, 2027 Form 1099-NEC for 2026 payments of 2,000 dollars or more.
Bookkeeping · Nov 9, 2026

Month-End Close Checklist for Small Business: 8 Steps (2026)

A month-end close checklist for small business: 8 steps to close your books each month, from bank reconciliation to locking the month in QuickBooks Online.

Read the article →
AI in accounting and tax: where it helps and where it stops. Good uses: sorting transactions, flagging duplicates and reconciliation gaps, chasing receipts, drafting summaries. Keep a human on anything you sign, complex tax questions, tax positions, and your personal data. Rules: verify AI answers, watch for AI voice scams, professionals can't rely solely on AI, and tax pros need a written security plan.
Bookkeeping · Oct 15, 2026

AI in Accounting and Tax: What the IRS Says in 2026

AI in accounting and tax: what the IRS's new 2026 AI guidelines say, where AI tools help with bookkeeping, and why you should verify any AI answer before you file.

Read the article →
Flowchart: four questions to decide whether you need to issue a Form 1099 for 2026 payments, plus thresholds and 2027 deadlines
Bookkeeping · Oct 9, 2026

Form 1099 Preparation Guide for 2026 Payments: The New $2,000 Rule and How to File Right

The 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC threshold jumps to $2,000 for 2026 payments. Who needs a 1099, the 2027 deadlines, and a step-by-step QuickBooks process to file right.

Read the article →
MFA Insights newsletter

Get key tax dates and new articles by email

Every new MFA Insights article, the IRS, New Jersey and New York deadlines that matter, and a calendar you can save. For individuals and small and mid-sized businesses.

Up to 3 short emails a week. Unsubscribe from any email in one click. We never sell or share your address. Privacy Policy.

Talk to MFA

Have a question about your taxes, books, or QuickBooks?

Book a 30-minute consultation to talk through your taxes, accounting, or QuickBooks setup, or email us at [email protected]. We provide accounting, tax and business solutions for individuals and small and mid-sized businesses in New Jersey, New York and nationwide.