Last Updated on May 18, 2026 by Mike Faremouth, EA, MBA, BSEE – Email Mike
Links to Additional Small Business Resources
Intro – We Want and Encourage Small Business Success
For Business Owners, Partners or Shareholders. Regardless of whether you become a Client (or not), we want Small Businesses to do more than just survive, we want each and every Business to thrive!
This is just a small sample of helpful and informative information. If you’re looking for more insight on a particular topic, let us know.
Internal Links – Small Business Topics:
Articles Page – Small Business Topics – Engineered Accounting Solutions
Internal Articles on topics including accounting, bookkeeping, efficiency, profitability, and tax written to assist small businesses.
External Links – Small Business Topics:
8 Key Steps to Becoming an Entrepreneur in 2026 – Accountability Now
“Entrepreneurship is experiencing explosive growth worldwide, and 2026 represents a turning point for new founders. With technology evolving rapidly, shifting markets, and changing consumer expectations, aspiring business owners face both fresh challenges and unique opportunities.”
My Take: This is a very good overview of those elements that are keys to success, particularly Steps 3-7 in this article. Creating a repeatable process to identify those Clients or Customers that you want to serve with messaging and an approach that appeals to your niche is of paramount importance. Also Key point 5 involves discipline. Successful business people need to confine their behaviors to those activities that will actually move the needle toward achieving short and longer-term goals.
10 crucial insights for small business owners to succeed in 2026—and beyond – Fortune
“Small business owners heading into 2026 face a paradox: It has never been easier to launch a venture—and never harder to keep one thriving. Higher borrowing costs, persistent inflation, volatile consumer demand, and rapid advances in AI and e‑commerce are raising the bar on what it takes to compete. Yet a diverse group of founders—from a Hudson Valley vegetable farmer and a kimchi entrepreneur, to a dividend‑data publisher, a secret‑door manufacturer, and a padel‑club operator—are showing how focus, discipline, and purpose can turn uncertainty into an advantage.”
My Take: So, there are some insights that I don’t agree with in this article, namely –
Article Insight – Build a business around meaning, not just margins.
It’s the “not just margins,” part that caught my attention, that some may misinterpret.
Every would-be business owner or entrepreneur should create a business plan to understand if what they want to do will create sufficient margins to pay for all the activities required to serve their Clients/Customers and create enough value to satisfy all the other goals the owner/entrepreneur has. It does no one any good (least of all, the owner/entrepreneur) to embark on a vision if the costs of satisfying that vision exceed the benefits (revenue) – that’s what a business plan determines.
Article Insight – Obsess over a specific, underserved customer
It depends. Some underserved customers may not value or appreciate what you do or how you do it. Qualify them for fit. Don’t obsess on doing something purely for the sake of satisfying your customers to the exclusion of everything else – that’s not a business.
Entrepreneurship in 2026 – Intuit, QuickBooks Blog
“Business intent in the U.S. is up 94% year over year. A new QuickBooks survey reveals why millions of Americans feel they can’t afford not to start a business.”
The article mentions that Americans are increasingly looking for more control over their financial future and to supplement their income, but (ironically) see the cost of starting a business as the biggest barrier – However, their perception of the cost is often inflated compared to reality.
My Take: Every business (large or small) relies on two primary things – 1. identifying and getting Clients/Customers, and 2. delivering their products and services. A very (even a rudimentary) plan needs to be developed to understand how the owner intends to achieve these two fundamental activities and the cost associated with both. The cost needs to be evaluated against the price for these products or services to determine the amount of gross margin(s) that can be expected and if this would cover all the indirect costs (costs that are not attributed to those necessary to deliver products and services – these are direct expenses).
These plans need to be flexible. The costs of starting a business become less of a factor if these gross margins are anticipated to be large enough to cover the total costs of operating a business and pay off these startup costs within a time frame that is acceptable to the owner/entrepreneur.
Top Business Trends That Entrepreneurs Should Be Aware of in 2026 – Pace Recruit
“Why 2026 Will be a “Defining Year” for Entrepreneurs”
“Business Trends 2026: The world is now at a transformative era in the business environment. Many technological innovations in artificial intelligence, consumer behaviors and expectations, and economic shifts are reshaping how businesses operate and compete with each other. For an entrepreneur, 2026 will not be a year for following trends but for being able to predict these trends earlier and act on them accordingly. Those who understand the new rising trends in business will have a competitive edge in this smart and automated economy.”
My Take: This article points out three top trends (for 2026 and beyond) that I strongly agree with –
- Subscription and recurring business models continue their rise
- Data & Artificial Intelligence Driven Hyper-Person
- The Rise of the Creator Economy & Solopreneur Ventures
14 Commonly Overlooked Small Business Tax Credits – U.S. Chamber of Commerce
“Explore these commonly missed tax credits to see if there are opportunities to lower the tax burden at your small business.”
External Links – Personal Finance & Tax-Related:
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act – Tax Foundation
“The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) is now law. Any comprehensive tax legislation is going to have its wrinkles, and the One Big Beautiful Bill is no different. We have previously published estimates of the budgetary, economic, and distributional effects of the House legislation and the Senate legislation, but the final version has plenty of good, bad, and ugly to cover as well.”
One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act: Tax deductions for working Americans and seniors – Internal Revenue Service
“FS-2025-03, July 14, 2025
Note: This Fact Sheet has been updated July 25 by adding to the section on “No Tax on Car Loan Interest” new language describing the requirement for “Final assembly in the United States.”
Below are descriptions of new provisions from the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on July 4, 2025, as Public Law 119-21, that go into effect for 2025.”
IRS Tax Calendar – Internal Revenue Service
“There are key deadlines and dates that you should know about. Use this calendar to help you avoid missing important deadlines, view important due dates and actions for key filing deadlines each month. For the latest information about changes or developments please visit Forms & instructions for your specific form or publication.”
“Taxpayers affected by disasters should visit Around the nation for information on tax filing and payment extensions for your state.”
“EFTPS users: Payments must be scheduled by 8 p.m. ET at least one calendar day before the tax due date.”
“First Quarter (January, February, March)
Second Quarter (April, May, June)
Third Quarter (July, August, September)
Fourth Quarter (October, November, December)”
Welcome to EFTPS – U.S. Department of the Treasury
“The Electronic Federal Tax Payment System® tax payment service is provided free by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. After you’ve enrolled and received your credentials, you can pay any tax due to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) using this system.”
2025 Tax Brackets (For Tax Year 2025) – Tax Foundation
“On a yearly basis, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) adjusts more than 60 tax provisions for inflation to prevent what is called “bracket creep.” Bracket creep occurs when inflation, rather than real increases in income, pushes people into higher income tax brackets or reduces the value they receive from credits and deductions.”
“The IRS previously used the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as a measure of inflation prior to 2018. However, with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA), the IRS now uses the Chained Consumer Price Index (C-CPI) to adjust income thresholds, deduction amounts, and credit values accordingly.”
“The new inflation adjustments are for tax year 2025, for which taxpayers will file tax returns in early 2026. On average, tax parameters that are adjusted for inflation will increase by about 2.8 percent.”
35 Small Business Tax Deductions You’re Probably Missing (2025 Guide by Entity Type) – taxgpt
“Over 90% of small businesses miss out on valuable deductions each year. Are you one of them?”
“The IRS tax code might seem like a complex set of rules, but it’s also a powerful tool for saving on taxes. Yet most small business owners miss out on 30+ deductions they’re legally entitled to claim.”
“In this guide, we break down 35 powerful small business tax deductions. Whether you’re a sole proprietor, an LLC owner, or running an S-Corp or C-Corp, this will help you save money and stay compliant.”
Where’s My (IRS) Refund? – Internal Revenue Service
“Use this tool to check your refund. Your refund status will appear around:
- 24 hours after you e-file a current-year return
- 3 or 4 days after you e-file a prior-year return
- 4 weeks after you file a paper return”
Probably the most important topic on this page, and it’s only going to get worse as AI continues to get more sophisticated. If you’re here, bookmark the link below. It could save you a lot of money and aggravation.
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Dirty Dozen tax scams for 2026: IRS reminds taxpayers to watch out for dangerous threats – Internal Revenue Service
“Annual list highlights evolving schemes; agency spotlights National Slam the Scam Day
IR-2026-30, March 5, 2026
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced its annual Dirty Dozen list of tax scams for 2026 that threaten the tax and financial information of taxpayers, businesses, and tax professionals.”
