The Profitjets Blog
Finance Writing for People Running the Business
Practical articles on bookkeeping, accounting, tax, payroll and financial strategy, written for founders and operators rather than for other accountants.
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What is Bookkeeping: A Step-by-Step Guide
What bookkeeping covers, how it differs from accounting, and the five-step process behind a clean set of books.
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How Unemployment Benefits Are Calculated by State
How the weekly amount is worked out, and why states differ.
How to Acquire an Existing Accounting Practice
Why Buy an Accounting Practice, How Accounting Practices Are Valued, and What to Evaluate in Due Diligence.
How to Amend a Tax Return: Form 1040-X Step-by-Step Guide
When Should You Amend Your Tax Return, When NOT to Amend, and Understanding Form 1040-X: The 3-Column Structure.
How to Become a Qualified Bookkeeper in 2026
The qualifications, the software, the career path and the ethics that separate a qualified bookkeeper from a data entry clerk.
How to Calculate Burn Rate: A Guide for Startups and Small Businesses
Gross and net burn, runway, and where the cost hides.
How to Calculate SAM (Serviceable Addressable Market) for Investors
The TAM / SAM / SOM Framework, Two Methods to Calculate SAM, and Why Investors Care About SAM, Not Just TAM.
How to Calculate SOM (Serviceable Obtainable Market): A Founder's Guide
SOM Definition, How to Calculate SOM: Two Approaches, and Triangulation: Use Both Approaches.
How to Calculate TAM, SAM, and SOM: A Guide for Startups and Small Businesses
Two approaches, a worked example, and what gets challenged.
How to Check Your IRS Refund Check Status: Paper vs Direct Deposit
Paper Check vs. Direct Deposit: Know the Difference, Tracking a Direct Deposit Refund, and Tracking a Paper Check.
How to Check Your IRS Tax Refund Status in 2026
The Fastest Way: IRS Where's My Refund Tool, When Can You First Check, and The Three Status Stages.
How to Choose the Best Certified Bookkeeper
What certification proves, what it costs per hour, and how a certified bookkeeper differs from the CPA you may also need.
How to Choose the Best Remote Bookkeeper
How remote bookkeeping actually runs month to month, what it costs, and what to check before you hand over the books.
How to Choose the Right Bookkeeping Solution for Your Business
The Bookkeeping Options, Decision Matrix: Which Is Right for You, and Cost Comparison.
How to Complete IRS Form 56: Notice Concerning Fiduciary Relationship
Why it protects you, and why the termination notice matters.
How to File Form 1040-X: Amending Your Federal Tax Return
When Should You Amend, Deadline to File Form 1040-X, and How to Complete Form 1040-X.
How to File Form 1041: Estate and Trust Income Tax Return
Who Must File Form 1041, Tax Year Options, and Types of Income Reported on Form 1041.
How to File Form 1099-NEC: Step-by-Step Guide for Businesses
Who Needs to File Form 1099-NEC, Payment Threshold, and Step 1: Collect Form W-9 Before Making Payments.
How to File Form 1099-Q: Payments from 529 Plans and Coverdell ESAs
Who Issues Form 1099-Q, Understanding the Boxes on Form 1099-Q, and When Distributions Are Tax-Free.
How to File Form 1120: Step-by-Step C-Corporation Tax Return Guide
Who Must File Form 1120, Filing Deadlines, and Estimated Tax Payments, Form 1120-W.
How to File Form 8027: Employer's Annual Information Return of Tip Income
The records behind it, and what allocation means for staff.
How to File Form 8082: Notice of Inconsistent Treatment or Administrative Adjustment Request
Whether to file, what follows, and what supports the position.
How to File Form 8606: Nondeductible IRA Contributions
Why it matters in years with no tax, and the pro-rata trap.
How to File Form 8801: Credit for Prior Year Minimum Tax
What Is Form 8801, Who Can Use Form 8801, and Why Form 8801 Matters More After TCJA 2017.
How to File Form 8804: Partnership Withholding Tax (Section 1446)
How the return, the statements and the payments fit together.
What we write about
Eight topics we come back to
Pick a topic and the library above filters to it.
Bookkeeping
Clean books, reconciliations, chart of accounts and month-end close.
Accounting
Close process, financial statements, cash against accrual, and reporting that gets used.
Tax
Preparation, planning, entity choice, deductions, quarterly estimates and the IRS forms behind them.
CFO
Forecasting, cash flow, fundraising readiness and the executive roles founders confuse.
Payroll
Withholding, payroll taxes, W-2s and 1099s, and multi-state teams.
Metrics
The ratios and statements that tell you what is actually happening in the business.
Software
QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite and the tools that feed them.
Business Finance
Entity formation, banking, budgeting, funding and getting the finances in order.
Would You Rather We Just Did It?
Reading about reconciliation is useful. Not having to do it is better.