Small Business Guides
Plain-English guides to starting a small business, staying on top of taxes and bookkeeping, and running your own money.
Start a business
What it costs, what to buy first and how to price your work.
How to Start a Bookkeeping Business From Home (Step by Step)
Choose your services, check local rules, set monthly package prices and land your first clients. A practical plan for a home bookkeeping business.
Updated October 29, 2026
How to Start a Box Truck Business (Non-CDL, Step by Step)
Start a box truck business with one truck: pick your loads, check DOT rules, plan costs, price per load and track every mile.
Updated October 29, 2026
How to Start a Candle Business (From Home, Step by Step)
Start a candle making business from home. Test burn safely, follow CPSC wick rules, price each candle, sell on Etsy and track your money.
Updated October 29, 2026
How to Start a Catering Business (From Home or a Rented Kitchen)
Start a small catering business. Learn the health department steps, find a kitchen, price per person and line up first events, with a 30-day plan.
Updated October 29, 2026
How to Start a Cleaning Business (Step by Step for Beginners)
Start a cleaning business on a small budget. Pick services, check licenses, price each job, find first clients and track your money from day one.
Updated October 29, 2026
How to Start a Courier Business (Including Medical Courier Work)
Start a courier business with the car or van you have: pick a niche, check rules, plan costs, price each run by the mile and track every trip.
Updated October 29, 2026
How to Start a Credit Repair Business (Rules First, Step by Step)
Start a credit repair business the careful way. Read the FTC and CFPB rules, check state law, plan costs, price your service and track your money.
Updated October 29, 2026
How to Start a Dog Walking Business in Your Neighborhood
Pick your services and area, check local rules and insurance, price each walk from your time and miles, then sign your first clients. A beginner plan.
Updated October 29, 2026
How to Start a Food Truck Business (Costs, Permits and a 30 Day Plan)
Pick a tight menu, line up health permits and a commissary, price each plate from food cost and track daily sales. A step by step food truck plan.
Updated October 29, 2026
How to Start a Handyman Business (Simple Steps for Beginners)
Start a handyman business with tools you may already own. Check local rules, price each job, find first customers and track your money.
Updated October 29, 2026
How to Start a Home Care Business (Non-Medical, Step by Step)
Start a non-medical home care business. Check state licensing, plan costs, price each care hour, hire caregivers the right way and track your money.
Updated October 29, 2026
How to Start a Home Daycare Business (Licensing, Costs and Pricing)
Start a home daycare business the right way. Check state licensing, prepare your home, set weekly rates, find families and track your money.
Updated October 29, 2026
How to Start a Jewelry Business (Handmade, Online and Permanent Jewelry)
Start a jewelry business from home. Pick a style, price each piece, sell online or on Etsy, try permanent jewelry and track your money from day one.
Updated October 29, 2026
How to Start a Junk Removal Business (Truck, Pricing and First Jobs)
Start a junk removal business with a truck or trailer. Licenses, disposal rules, startup costs, pricing math, first customers and money tracking.
Updated October 29, 2026
How to Start a Landscaping Business (Costs, Licenses and Pricing)
Start a landscaping business step by step. Choose services, check licenses, budget equipment, price jobs with real math and win first clients.
Updated October 29, 2026
How to Start a Laundromat Business (Costs, Steps and Numbers)
Start a laundromat business the smart way: buy or build, check permits, plan an example budget, price each load and track utilities and income.
Updated October 29, 2026
How to Start a Lawn Care Business (Beginner Steps and Real Math)
Start a lawn care or mowing business. The equipment you need, licenses to check, an example budget, how to price a lawn and find first customers.
Updated October 29, 2026
How to Start a Medical Transportation Business (NEMT Beginner Guide)
Start a non-emergency medical transportation business with one van. Check Medicaid and local rules, plan costs, price each trip and track every mile.
Updated October 29, 2026
How to Start a Mobile Bar Business (Mobile Bartending for Beginners)
Start a mobile bar or mobile bartending business. Choose a service model, check alcohol rules, price events and plan your first 30 days.
Updated October 29, 2026
How to Start a Mobile Detailing Business (Car Detailing for Beginners)
Start a mobile car detailing business with the right equipment, local permits, fair prices and a 30-day plan. Example budget and pricing math.
Updated October 29, 2026
How to Start a Painting Business (Beginner Steps and Real Math)
Start a house painting business with basic gear. Check licenses and lead paint rules, price each job, find first clients and track your money.
Updated October 29, 2026
How to Start a Photography Business (A Beginner's Step by Step Plan)
Pick one niche, register your business, build a portfolio, price each session from your real costs and track every dollar. A simple plan for beginners.
Updated October 29, 2026
How to Start a Pressure Washing Business (Step by Step for Beginners)
Start a pressure washing business with a simple plan: services, licenses, an example startup budget, pricing math and a 30-day launch plan.
Updated October 29, 2026
How to Start a T-Shirt Business (From Home, Online or on Etsy)
Start a t-shirt business from home. Compare printing yourself vs print on demand, price each shirt, sell on Etsy and track your money from day one.
Updated October 29, 2026
How to Start a Trucking Business with One Truck (Owner-Operator Guide)
Start a one-truck trucking business. USDOT number, MC authority, insurance, UCR and Form 2290 from official pages, plus costs and cost per mile math.
Updated October 29, 2026
How to Start a Tutoring Business (Step by Step for Beginners)
Start a tutoring business from home or online. Pick subjects, check local rules, set session prices, find students and track your money.
Updated October 29, 2026
How to Start a Vending Machine Business (Beginner Guide)
Start a vending machine business with one machine, a busy location and real numbers. Budget, pricing math, permits and a 30-day plan.
Updated October 29, 2026
How to Start a Window Cleaning Business (Low-Cost Beginner Guide)
Start a window cleaning business with a squeegee, ladders and a plan. What you need, costs, pricing math, first customers and money tracking.
Updated October 29, 2026Taxes and bookkeeping
Deadlines, records and what to set aside, in plain words.
How to Track Business Expenses: A Simple System for Small Business Owners
Track business expenses with a separate account, one receipt habit and a weekly 15 minute update. Steps, categories, mileage and what records to keep.
Updated October 29, 2026
When Are Business Taxes Due? Small Business Tax Deadlines 2027
Most 2026 business returns are due March 15 or April 15, 2027. See every 2027 IRS deadline for sole owners, LLCs, S corps and employers in one list.
Updated October 29, 2026Money
Budgets, debt and savings for your own household.
How to Pay Off a Car Loan Faster (and How Much You Really Save)
Pay off a car loan faster with extra principal payments, biweekly half payments or lump sums. See the math on a $25,000 loan and check your contract first.
Updated October 29, 2026
Zero-Based Budget: What It Is and How to Make One (With an Example)
A zero-based budget gives every dollar of take-home pay a job until income minus plan equals zero. Follow 6 steps and a full $4,200 example budget.
Updated October 29, 2026Free calculators
Work out your own numbers in the browser. Nothing you type leaves your device.
Startup cost calculatorTotal startup cost, monthly costs and months of runway.
Price per job calculatorA price that pays you, covers overhead and leaves a profit.
Loan payoff calculatorPayoff date, total interest and what an extra payment saves.
Self-employed tax set-aside calculatorHow much of your profit to set aside for taxes.