About Start Small Guide

Start Small Guide publishes plain-English answers to the questions people ask when they start earning on their own: what to track, what’s deductible, when estimated taxes are due, whether to form an LLC, how to write a plan, how to invoice a customer and how to market without breaking the rules. Each guide answers one question, and answers it in the first paragraph.

How guides are written

• Answer first. The opening paragraph gives you the answer. The rest of the page adds the detail.
• Official sources. Tax and legal facts come from the agencies that set the rules, such as the IRS, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Federal Trade Commission, and every guide links to its sources.
• Dated and current. Tax figures change every year. Guides say which tax year a number applies to and are updated when the rules change.

Not tax or legal advice

Start Small Guide is general information for U.S. readers, not tax or legal advice. Your situation and your state’s rules matter, so check with a tax professional or attorney before making a decision that depends on them.

Recommendations

Some guides recommend an app when it fits the topic. Descriptions of an app come from its official App Store listing. Some of the apps recommended here are made by the people who publish this site.

Corrections

If something on this site is out of date or wrong, email [email protected] and we’ll fix it.