# Vuuv

> Vuuv is an all-in-one business app for freelancers, landlords, small businesses, contractors, online sellers, and creators. It combines bookkeeping and tax reports (Schedule C, Schedule E, 1099s) with invoicing and e-signatures, online payments and rent collection, GPS mileage tracking, a CRM, and Projects with job costing for contractors; it connects to banks and marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Patreon. Built by Vuuv Software LLC.

This file indexes Vuuv's public marketing pages and its library of plain-English bookkeeping and tax guides. The guides are general information, not tax advice.

## Product

- [All-in-One Software for Small Business & Real Estate](https://vuuv.co/): All-in-one business software for small business and real estate. Bookkeeping and taxes, invoicing, CRM, job costing, bank sync, and GPS mileage. Free 30-day trial.
- [How Vuuv works: AI bookkeeping, GPS mileage, tax reports in one app](https://vuuv.co/how-it-works): A walk-through of every Vuuv feature: receipt scanning, GPS mileage tracking, bank sync, invoicing, Schedule C/E/1099 generation, rent collection, and Vuuv AI. Built for freelancers, landlords, and small business owners.
- [Pricing](https://vuuv.co/pricing): Simple, transparent pricing for Vuuv, the all-in-one business app. Free Plus plan, Pro at $12/mo, Elite at $18/mo. Start with a 30-day free trial.
- [Vuuv Support - Contact Us and Get Help](https://vuuv.co/support): Get help with Vuuv. Email support, common questions, and guides for connecting your bank, Amazon, eBay, and more.
- [Vuuv Merch](https://vuuv.co/merch): Official Vuuv merch: hats, mugs, a water bottle, and a sticker. Some of them have accounting jokes on them. All of them are made and shipped by Printful.
- [Compare Vuuv to other bookkeeping and tax apps](https://vuuv.co/compare): See how Vuuv compares to QuickBooks, FreshBooks, Wave, Xero, Hurdlr, Keeper, MileIQ, TurboTenant, Stessa, Baselane, HoneyBook, and more. Side-by-side feature comparisons.
- [Double-Entry Accounting Software for Small Business](https://vuuv.co/double-entry): Vuuv runs a full double-entry ledger under the hood, so your books always balance. Get an automatic chart of accounts, general ledger, trial balance, balance sheet, and cash flow statement without posting a single journal entry by hand.

## Who Vuuv is for

- [Expense Tracking Software for Freelancers & Independent Contractors](https://vuuv.co/freelancers): Simple bookkeeping software for freelancers and 1099 contractors. Track income, expenses, and mileage. Generate Schedule C tax reports and quarterly estimates automatically. Save hours and maximize deductions.
- [Rental Property Accounting Software for Landlords & Real Estate Investors](https://vuuv.co/real-estate): Track rental income, expenses, and generate Schedule E tax reports automatically. Manage multiple properties, collect rent online via ACH, and track depreciation. Perfect for landlords, Airbnb hosts, and real estate investors.
- [Simple Bookkeeping Software for Small Business Owners](https://vuuv.co/small-business): Easy bookkeeping software for small business owners. Track income, expenses, and mileage. Generate profit & loss reports and stay tax-ready. Simpler than QuickBooks. No accounting degree required.
- [Amazon Seller Bookkeeping Software - Automated IRS Tax Prep](https://vuuv.co/for-amazon-sellers): Connect your Amazon Seller Central account and Vuuv imports every sale, fee, refund, and adjustment from SP-API. Automatic Schedule C categorization, 1099-NEC generation, and a year-end tax packet for your CPA.
- [eBay Seller Bookkeeping Software - Automated IRS Tax Prep](https://vuuv.co/for-ebay-sellers): Vuuv connects to your eBay account and imports every sale, fee, refund, and payout, already categorized for Schedule C. Start free, no credit card needed.
- [Patreon Creator Bookkeeping & Tax Software](https://vuuv.co/patreon): Connect Patreon and Vuuv imports every paid pledge automatically. Track creator expenses, generate Schedule C and 1099s, and hand your CPA a year-end tax packet. Built for podcasters, artists, video creators, writers, and musicians.
- [Construction Job Costing & Project Accounting Software](https://vuuv.co/projects): Projects by Vuuv: native job costing, change orders with e-signature, retainage, AIA-style progress bills, subcontractor compliance with lien waivers, and project-level P&L. Built for construction, not bolted onto generic accounting. 30-day free trial. No credit card required.
- [CRM Software for Service Businesses](https://vuuv.co/crm): Vuuv CRM: sales pipeline, follow-ups, public booking page, AI-assisted email, and automation playbooks, built into the same app as your invoicing, estimates, and books. One app, one bill. Included with Pro and Elite. 30-day free trial.

## Features

- [Mileage Tracker App: Automatic GPS Mileage Tracking for Taxes](https://vuuv.co/mileage-tracking): Free mileage tracker app that automatically logs business trips with GPS. Generate IRS-compliant mileage logs for maximum tax deductions. No manual entry required.
- [Expense Tracking Software for Small Business](https://vuuv.co/expense-tracking): Track business expenses, scan receipts with AI, and catch deductions you might otherwise miss. Smart expense categorization, bank sync, and IRS-ready reports for small businesses.
- [Schedule C Tax Software - Generate IRS-Ready Reports](https://vuuv.co/schedule-c): Stop dreading Schedule C. Vuuv automatically organizes your self-employment income and expenses into IRS categories so you can generate tax-ready Schedule C reports quickly.
- [Schedule E Tax Software for Rental Property Owners](https://vuuv.co/schedule-e): Automate your Schedule E tax reporting with Vuuv. Track rental income, expenses, and depreciation for all your properties. Generate accurate Schedule E reports in minutes for residential, vacation, and commercial rentals.
- [Free Invoice Software for Small Business](https://vuuv.co/invoicing): Create professional invoices in seconds. Send estimates for e-signature, convert to invoices, and get paid online via credit card or ACH. Free invoice templates with Stripe integration.
- [Online Rent Collection for Landlords](https://vuuv.co/rent-collection): Collect rent automatically with ACH and card payments. Recurring billing, tenant portal, automatic bookkeeping. Zero platform fees. ACH: 0.8% capped at $5.
- [Vuuv AI - Smart Bookkeeping Intelligence](https://vuuv.co/ai): AI-powered expense categorization, receipt scanning, duplicate detection, audit protection, and tax optimization. Powered by Google Gemini 2.5 Flash. Your data is never used to train any model. The free Plus plan includes 5 lifetime AI receipt scans; full Vuuv AI is on Pro and Elite.
- [Integrations](https://vuuv.co/integrated): Connect your bank, eBay, Stripe, and more to Vuuv for automated bookkeeping. See all available and upcoming integrations.

## Comparisons

- [Vuuv vs QuickBooks: A Simpler $12/mo Alternative](https://vuuv.co/compare/quickbooks): Save $300 or more per year vs QuickBooks. Vuuv includes GPS mileage tracking, receipt scanning, Schedule C and E, and rent collection in every Pro plan. Free 30-day trial, no credit card.
- [Vuuv vs Stessa: Real Estate Bookkeeping Plus Side Income](https://vuuv.co/compare/stessa): Stessa is rentals-only. Vuuv handles your rental properties AND your freelance, W-2, or side business in one Schedule C plus Schedule E workflow. Plus GPS mileage and receipt scanning built in.
- [Yes, Vuuv Has Built-In GPS Mileage Tracking. Switch from Baselane.](https://vuuv.co/compare/baselane): Baselane doesn
- [Vuuv vs Xero: Built for Self-Employed, Not Accountants](https://vuuv.co/compare/xero): Xero is powerful accounting software for businesses with bookkeepers. Vuuv is built for freelancers, landlords, and contractors who want bookkeeping that runs itself, with GPS mileage, receipt scanning, and rental tools Xero lacks.
- [MileIQ Just Tracks Miles. Vuuv Tracks Miles + Books Your Whole Business.](https://vuuv.co/compare/mileiq): Why pay $9.99/mo for mileage alone? Vuuv
- [Wave Doesn't Track Mileage. Vuuv Does, for Less.](https://vuuv.co/compare/wave): Wave
- [Vuuv vs FreshBooks: Unlimited Clients, Real Estate, Tax Tools](https://vuuv.co/compare/freshbooks): Vuuv has no billable-client caps, real estate tools, and tax-ready reports that FreshBooks lacks, from $12/month with a free plan. FreshBooks limits Lite to 5 clients and Plus to 50. Compare both.
- [Vuuv vs QuickBooks Self-Employed: A Stable Alternative](https://vuuv.co/compare/quickbooks-self-employed): QuickBooks Self-Employed is closed to new signups and has no double-entry ledger or balance sheet. Vuuv gives you real bookkeeping from $12/month, with a free plan.
- [Vuuv vs TurboTenant: Bookkeeping Built In, Not Bolted On](https://vuuv.co/compare/turbotenant): With Vuuv, double-entry bookkeeping is included in the paid plan. With TurboTenant, accounting is a separate per-unit add-on on top of its leasing plan. Compare features and total cost.
- [Vuuv vs Keeper: Bookkeeping vs Tax Filing](https://vuuv.co/compare/keeper): Keeper finds write-offs and files your taxes. Vuuv handles invoicing, payments, and full bookkeeping. See where each fits and why people use both.
- [Vuuv vs Hurdlr: Bookkeeping, Mileage, and Tax Tools](https://vuuv.co/compare/hurdlr): Both track mileage, expenses, and estimated taxes. Vuuv adds real estate tools, deeper invoicing, and a full web app for $12/mo. Hurdlr Pro is $200/year. Compare side by side.
- [Vuuv vs HoneyBook: Bookkeeping vs Client Workflows](https://vuuv.co/compare/honeybook): HoneyBook handles proposals, contracts, scheduling, and client payments but does no bookkeeping or tax reports. Vuuv does the accounting and tax side. See how they compare.
- [Vuuv vs Seller Ledger: Bookkeeping Compared](https://vuuv.co/compare/seller-ledger): Seller Ledger is marketplace-native bookkeeping with a Schedule C report. Vuuv adds invoicing, payments, mileage, real estate, and projects from $12/month. Compare both.

## News

- [Newsroom](https://vuuv.co/news): The latest news, product updates, and insights from the Vuuv team.
- [Vuuv CRM Is Here](https://vuuv.co/news/vuuv-crm-launch): A built-in CRM brings sales pipeline, contacts, follow-ups, a public booking page, AI-assisted email, and automation playbooks into the same app that already handles your invoicing, estimates, projects, and books. Included with Pro and Elite.
- [Vuuv Adds Stripe Sync So Stripe Sellers Can Skip the Manual Bookkeeping](https://vuuv.co/news/vuuv-stripe-sync): Already taking payments through Stripe? Connect your account to Vuuv and your sales, refunds, fees, payouts, and disputes show up in your books on their own. Stripe fees come out, so the income matches what hits your bank.
- [Vuuv Launches Amazon Seller Central Solution to Automate Bookkeeping for E-Commerce Businesses](https://vuuv.co/news/vuuv-amazon-seller-integration): New solution syncs sales, fees, refunds, and order data directly into Vuuv
- [Vuuv Merch Is Here](https://vuuv.co/news/vuuv-merch-launch): Official Vuuv branded merchandise is now available. Hats, mugs, a water bottle, and a sticker, all priced under $25.
- [Tax Doc Checklist: Never Miss a Document at Tax Time Again](https://vuuv.co/news/tax-doc-checklist): A simple, cross-platform checklist that tracks which tax documents you
- [eBay Seller Integration: Sync Your Sales, Fees, and Payouts Automatically](https://vuuv.co/news/ebay-seller-integration): Connect your eBay seller account to Vuuv and let sales, fees, refunds, and payouts flow into your books automatically. No more manual reconciliation.
- [E-Signatures Are Here: Get Leases and Estimates Signed in Minutes](https://vuuv.co/news/e-signatures-signwell): Send lease agreements and estimates for legally-binding e-signature, right from Vuuv. No printing, no scanning, no third-party apps.
- [Introducing Vuuv Drive: GPS Mileage Tracking That Runs Itself](https://vuuv.co/news/vuuv-drive-mileage-tracking): Automatic trip detection, IRS-compliant logs, and a deduction calculator, starting at free. Meet the easiest way to track business miles.
- [Accept Payments Online: Stripe Connect Is Live in Vuuv](https://vuuv.co/news/stripe-connect-online-payments): Collect rent, send invoices with pay-now links, and set up recurring ACH payments, all without leaving Vuuv.
- [Connect Your Bank: Automatic Transaction Import Is Here](https://vuuv.co/news/plaid-bank-connections): Link your bank accounts and credit cards to Vuuv for automatic transaction imports. No more manual data entry or CSV uploads.

## Articles

- [Bookkeeping & Tax Guides](https://vuuv.co/articles): Plain-English articles on bookkeeping and taxes for freelancers, small businesses, and landlords. Schedule C, mileage, 1099s, deductions, and more.
- [SEP IRA vs Solo 401(k): Which One Lets You Save More?](https://vuuv.co/articles/sep-ira-vs-solo-401k): Both let a self-employed person stash money for retirement and cut this year
- [eBay Seller Bookkeeping: Reading Past the Payout](https://vuuv.co/articles/ebay-seller-bookkeeping): Your eBay payout already had the fees taken out, which is exactly why it makes for terrible bookkeeping. Here is how to record gross sales and fees separately, handle inventory, and make sense of the 1099-K and marketplace sales tax.
- [How Much Should You Set Aside for Taxes When You're Self-Employed?](https://vuuv.co/articles/how-much-to-set-aside-for-taxes): No employer is withholding for you anymore, so the job is yours. Here is the simple rule of thumb, the three taxes you
- [Section 179 vs Bonus Depreciation: Writing Off Equipment the Year You Buy It](https://vuuv.co/articles/section-179-and-bonus-depreciation): Normally you
- [Amazon Seller Bookkeeping: Why Your Deposits Are Not Your Sales](https://vuuv.co/articles/amazon-seller-bookkeeping): The number Amazon deposits in your bank is not what you sold. Fees, refunds, and ad spend come out first. Here is how to keep books that match reality, handle inventory and sales tax, and make sense of the 1099-K.
- [Bookkeeping for Patreon Creators: Reading Past the Payout](https://vuuv.co/articles/bookkeeping-for-patreon-creators): That monthly Patreon deposit already had the fees taken out, which makes it terrible bookkeeping. Here is how to record gross pledges and fees separately, handle the 1099-K, and set aside for the self-employment tax nobody withholds for you.
- [Patreon Google Sheets Integration: Getting Your Earnings into a Spreadsheet](https://vuuv.co/articles/patreon-google-sheets-integration): Patreon has no built-in Google Sheets integration, but your numbers can still get there. Here are the CSV exports, the Zapier route, what each one misses, and the point where a spreadsheet stops being enough.
- [Owner's Draw vs Salary: How to Pay Yourself](https://vuuv.co/articles/owners-draw-vs-salary): How you take money out of your own business depends on how it is taxed. Here is the difference between an owner
- [Do Freelancers Need a CRM?](https://vuuv.co/articles/do-freelancers-need-a-crm): CRM sounds like enterprise software a solo freelancer would never need. But the real question is whether you
- [Per Diem Rates Explained for the Self-Employed](https://vuuv.co/articles/per-diem-rates-explained): Per diem is a flat daily travel allowance that can spare you from saving every meal receipt. But the rules for the self-employed have a catch on lodging. Here is how to use it correctly.
- [What the IRS Actually Wants in a Mileage Log](https://vuuv.co/articles/mileage-log-requirements): A mileage deduction is only as good as the log behind it. Here is exactly what each trip entry needs, why a log you rebuild in April gets thrown out, and how to keep records that survive an audit.
- [Estimate vs Invoice: What's the Difference and When to Send Each](https://vuuv.co/articles/estimate-vs-invoice): An estimate says here
- [Business Mileage vs Commuting: Which Drives Are Deductible?](https://vuuv.co/articles/business-mileage-vs-commuting): Commuting is never deductible, but business miles are, and the line between them trips up a lot of self-employed people. Here is the rule, the home-office exception, the temporary work location test, and how to log it right.
- [Sole Proprietor vs LLC vs S Corp: Which Is Right for Your Business?](https://vuuv.co/articles/sole-proprietor-vs-llc-vs-s-corp): These three labels get mixed up constantly, partly because they answer two different questions. Here is what each one actually does for your liability and your taxes, and the profit level where an S corp election starts to pay off.
- [Airbnb Bookkeeping: Tracking Short-Term Rental Income](https://vuuv.co/articles/airbnb-bookkeeping): Short-term rentals look like regular rentals with more turnover, but the bookkeeping has twists. Your payout is net of fees, your income may not land on the form you expect, and occupancy taxes are their own thing. Here is how to keep the books on an Airbnb or VRBO.
- [Tax Deductions Freelancers Forget to Claim](https://vuuv.co/articles/freelancer-tax-deductions): Most freelancers overpay because they only deduct the obvious stuff. Here are the write-offs people leave on the table every year, from the self-employed health insurance deduction to the 20 percent QBI break, in plain English.
- [Bookkeeping for Landlords: A Plain-English Guide](https://vuuv.co/articles/bookkeeping-for-landlords): Rent comes in, the mortgage goes out, you pocket the difference. The books tell a more complicated story. Here is how to track each property, handle deposits and deductions, and have your Schedule E mostly filled in before tax season.
- [Quarterly Estimated Taxes: How They Work and How to Pay Them](https://vuuv.co/articles/quarterly-estimated-taxes): If you are self-employed, the IRS wants its cut four times a year, not just in April. Here is who has to pay estimated taxes, the 2026 due dates, the safe-harbor rule that keeps you penalty-free, and how to actually send the money.
- [How to Read a Cash Flow Statement](https://vuuv.co/articles/how-to-read-a-cash-flow-statement): You can be profitable and still run out of cash. The cash flow statement shows why. Here are its three sections, why profit isn
- [The QBI Deduction (Section 199A), Explained](https://vuuv.co/articles/qbi-deduction-explained): The qualified business income deduction can knock up to 20 percent off the profit from your business before tax, and a 2025 law made it permanent. Here is who qualifies, the income thresholds for 2026, and the rules for service businesses.
- [Charging Late Fees on Invoices: How to Do It Right](https://vuuv.co/articles/charging-late-fees-on-invoices): A late fee only works if you set it up correctly and within the law. Here are the common structures, why it must be agreed up front, how state usury caps limit your rate, and when to actually charge it.
- [Schedule C vs Schedule E: Which One Do You File?](https://vuuv.co/articles/schedule-c-vs-schedule-e): Business income and rental income go on two different tax forms, and mixing them up can cost you. Here is how to tell Schedule C and Schedule E apart, with the self-employment tax difference that matters most.
- [Twitch Streamer Taxes: What You Owe on Subs, Bits, and Sponsorships](https://vuuv.co/articles/twitch-streamer-taxes): Subs, bits, donations, ads, and sponsorships are all taxable, even if it started as a hobby. Here is what counts as income, the hobby-versus-business line, and what a streaming business can deduct.
- [The Best Way to Track Mileage for Taxes: App vs Logbook vs Spreadsheet](https://vuuv.co/articles/best-way-to-track-mileage): At 72.5 cents a mile for 2026, business driving is a big deduction and a commonly botched one. There are three ways to keep a log: paper, spreadsheet, or an app that tracks the drive for you. Here is how they stack up and what the IRS actually requires.
- [How to Fill Out Schedule C: A Step-by-Step Guide for the Self-Employed](https://vuuv.co/articles/how-to-fill-out-schedule-c): A plain-English walkthrough of IRS Schedule C, part by part. What goes on each section, the deductions people miss, and the mistakes that cost the self-employed money.
- [How to Track Business Expenses Without a Shoebox of Receipts](https://vuuv.co/articles/how-to-track-business-expenses): Every receipt you can
- [Who Gets a 1099-NEC? A Plain Guide for Small Businesses](https://vuuv.co/articles/who-gets-a-1099-nec): If you paid contractors this year, you may owe them a tax form. Here is who gets a 1099-NEC, who is exempt, the credit-card exception that catches people, and the January 31 deadline.
- [Deposit vs Retainer: What's the Difference for Freelancers?](https://vuuv.co/articles/deposit-vs-retainer-for-freelancers): Freelancers use deposit and retainer interchangeably, but they are two different arrangements. Here is what each one means, how to invoice them, when to use which, and why both are taxable the moment the money lands.
- [How to Read a Profit and Loss Statement](https://vuuv.co/articles/how-to-read-a-profit-and-loss-statement): A P&L answers one question with numbers: did the business make money or lose it? Once you know where to look, it tells you that in ten seconds and why in two minutes. Here is how to read one, line by line, without an accounting degree.
- [Business Meals and Travel: What You Can Actually Deduct](https://vuuv.co/articles/meals-and-travel-deductions): Business meals are 50 percent deductible, travel away from home is mostly fully deductible, and entertainment is gone. Here is how to tell the difference, what records to keep, and what changed for 2026.
- [Rental Property Depreciation: How It Works](https://vuuv.co/articles/rental-property-depreciation): Depreciation is a landlord
- [The 2026 IRS Mileage Rate Is 72.5 Cents. Here Is How to Actually Claim It](https://vuuv.co/articles/irs-standard-mileage-rate-2026): The 2026 business mileage rate rose to 72.5 cents per mile. It can be one of your biggest deductions, but only if your log would hold up. Here is how the rate works and how to claim it the right way.
- [Depreciation Recapture: The Tax That Surprises Landlords at Sale](https://vuuv.co/articles/depreciation-recapture): Depreciation saves you money every year you own a rental, then quietly hands part of it back when you sell. Here is how recapture works, why it can be taxed higher than regular capital gains, and how to plan around it.
- [Do I Have to Pay Taxes on Side Hustle Income?](https://vuuv.co/articles/side-hustle-taxes): Yes, almost certainly, even if it
- [Rental Property Tax Deductions Landlords Miss](https://vuuv.co/articles/rental-property-tax-deductions): Owning a rental comes with a long list of write-offs, and depreciation alone can wipe out the tax on your rent. Here are the deductions landlords overlook, the repair-versus-improvement trap, and the rules that decide how much of a loss you can actually use.
- [What Is Accounts Receivable? A Plain-English Guide](https://vuuv.co/articles/what-is-accounts-receivable): Accounts receivable is the money customers owe you for work already done. Understanding it is the key to why a profitable business can still run out of cash. Here is A/R, aging, and DSO in plain English.
- [Cash Flow Management for Small Business](https://vuuv.co/articles/cash-flow-management-for-small-business): A business can be profitable on paper and still not make payroll. Profit and cash are not the same thing. Here is why the gap opens, the levers that close it, and how a simple forecast keeps a tight month from becoming a crisis.
- [Tax Deductions for Rideshare and Delivery Drivers](https://vuuv.co/articles/rideshare-and-delivery-driver-taxes): Driving for Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, or Instacart makes you a business owner in the eyes of the IRS. Here is what you owe, the deductions that shrink the bill, and which of your miles actually count.
- [Year-End Bookkeeping Checklist for Small Businesses](https://vuuv.co/articles/year-end-bookkeeping-checklist): The end of the year is when good bookkeeping pays off and bad habits come due. Here is a short checklist to work through before the year closes: reconcile, handle 1099s, run the numbers while you can still act, and build your tax package.
- [Bookkeeping for Personal Trainers: Income, Mileage, and Deductions](https://vuuv.co/articles/bookkeeping-for-personal-trainers): Going independent means you are running a business, not just coaching workouts. Here is how to track income from every channel, what trainers can deduct, and how self-employment tax and quarterlies work.
- [Self-Employment Tax Explained (and How to Lower It)](https://vuuv.co/articles/self-employment-tax-explained): The first year you work for yourself, self-employment tax is the bill nobody warned you about. Here is what the 15.3 percent actually pays for, how it is calculated, and the legitimate ways to bring it down.
- [Do I Need an LLC to Deduct Business Expenses?](https://vuuv.co/articles/do-i-need-an-llc-to-deduct-business-expenses): A myth that costs people money in both directions: that you need an LLC before you can write off business expenses. You do not. Here is what actually makes an expense deductible, and what an LLC really does.
- [Bookkeeping for a Cleaning Business](https://vuuv.co/articles/bookkeeping-for-cleaning-business): A cleaning business has simple economics and easy bookkeeping if you set it up right. Here is how to track income by client, capture deductions like supplies and mileage, and handle 1099s for subcontractor cleaners.
- [Sales Tax Nexus for Online Sellers, Explained](https://vuuv.co/articles/sales-tax-nexus-for-online-sellers): Since the Wayfair decision, you can owe sales tax in states you have never set foot in. Here is what nexus means, when crossing a state
- [Bookkeeping for Etsy Sellers: The Basics Done Right](https://vuuv.co/articles/bookkeeping-for-etsy-sellers): That deposit Etsy sends you has already been through a gauntlet of fees, and the IRS taxes the number before those fees, not after. Here is how to record gross sales, track cost of goods, and handle the 1099-K.
- [Poshmark and Mercari Reseller Taxes: Closet Cleanout or Business?](https://vuuv.co/articles/poshmark-mercari-reseller-taxes): The same 1099-K can mean you owe nothing or quite a bit, depending on whether you are selling your own things at a loss or flipping inventory for profit. Here is how to tell and how to report each.
- [The 1099-K Explained for Online Sellers](https://vuuv.co/articles/1099-k-explained-online-sellers): The 1099-K threshold changed so many times that nobody could keep up. Here is where it actually landed for 2025 and 2026, what the form really means, and why the number on it is almost never what you owe tax on.
- [IRS Audit Red Flags for the Self-Employed (and the Myths)](https://vuuv.co/articles/irs-audit-red-flags-self-employed): Audits are rare, often cited around 0.4 percent, and the things that draw attention are mostly avoidable. Here is how the IRS actually picks returns, the patterns that raise your odds, and why the home office deduction is not the boogeyman.
- [Dropshipping Bookkeeping: Recording Gross Sales, Not the Spread](https://vuuv.co/articles/dropshipping-bookkeeping): Dropshipping bookkeeping trips people up because the money runs through payment processors. Here is how to record gross sales and supplier cost separately, handle the 1099-K, and deal with sales tax that follows you, not your supplier.
- [1099-NEC vs 1099-MISC: Which Form Do You File?](https://vuuv.co/articles/1099-nec-vs-1099-misc): Two forms, similar numbers, constant confusion, made worse by the fact that the rules changed in 2020. Here is the clean line between them, which one your contractors get, and where attorney and medical payments go.
- [Real Estate Professional Tax Status, Explained](https://vuuv.co/articles/real-estate-professional-tax-status): Real estate professional status can make rental losses offset your other income with no cap. Here are the two tests, the material-participation step almost everyone misses, and the short-term rental alternative.
- [The Home Office Deduction: Simplified vs Regular Method](https://vuuv.co/articles/home-office-deduction): The home office deduction is real money the self-employed leave on the table every year, usually out of audit fear that is mostly a myth. Here are the two qualifying tests, who can claim it, and how to pick between the simple method and the one that deducts more.
- [Progress Billing Explained: How to Bill a Long Project in Stages](https://vuuv.co/articles/progress-billing-explained): Waiting until a months-long job ends to invoice means financing the project yourself. Progress billing bills in stages as work gets done. Here is the schedule of values, pay applications, and retainage.
- [Single-Member LLC Taxes: What You Actually Owe](https://vuuv.co/articles/single-member-llc-taxes): Formed a single-member LLC and wondering how it changes your taxes? For most people, not much. Here is what a disregarded entity means, why you still owe self-employment tax, and when an S-corp election makes sense.
- [Hobby vs Business: When the IRS Cares About the Difference](https://vuuv.co/articles/hobby-vs-business-income): If the IRS calls your side activity a hobby, you still pay tax on every dollar of income but you cannot deduct the expenses. Here is how the IRS tells a hobby from a business and how to land on the right side of the line.
- [Bookkeeping for Shopify Sellers](https://vuuv.co/articles/shopify-bookkeeping): Your Shopify payout is not your revenue. Here is how to book gross sales and fees correctly, why you remit your own sales tax, how to track inventory and COGS, and what the 1099-K really means.
- [How to Get Clients to Pay Invoices on Time](https://vuuv.co/articles/how-to-get-clients-to-pay-invoices): Late payments are usually a sign that paying you was too easy to put off, not that a client is broke. Here is how to remove the friction: clear invoices, online payment, deposits up front, and always knowing what is outstanding.
- [Tax Deductions for Real Estate Agents](https://vuuv.co/articles/tax-deductions-for-real-estate-agents): Most agents are self-employed and file Schedule C, so every deduction counts. Here are the big ones, mileage, marketing, dues, and the home office, plus the QBI deduction and the 25 dollar gift trap.
- [Bookkeeping for Hair Stylists: Booth Renter, Employee, or Owner?](https://vuuv.co/articles/bookkeeping-for-hair-stylists): Your taxes hinge on whether you rent a booth, earn commission as an employee, or own the salon. Here is how to track income and tips, what you can deduct, and how the new tips deduction works.
- [How to Write an Invoice That Gets Paid Faster](https://vuuv.co/articles/how-to-write-an-invoice): A clear invoice is the difference between getting paid this week and chasing a client next month. Here is what every invoice needs, what the payment terms actually mean, and the small changes that get money in the door sooner.
- [How to Issue a 1099-NEC to a Contractor](https://vuuv.co/articles/how-to-issue-a-1099-to-a-contractor): Paid a contractor enough this year? You probably owe them a 1099-NEC: 600 dollars or more for 2025 payments, rising to 2,000 dollars for payments made in 2026. Here is who needs one, why you should collect a W-9 first, the two traps that cause double-reporting, and the January 31 deadline.
- [Cost of Goods Sold for Resellers, Made Simple](https://vuuv.co/articles/cost-of-goods-sold-for-resellers): If you buy products to resell, cost of goods sold is the number that turns your sales into real profit on Schedule C. Here is what counts, what does not, and why your unsold inventory is not a write-off yet.
- [How to Deduct Business Startup Costs](https://vuuv.co/articles/deducting-business-startup-costs): Most of what you spend before opening is deductible, but the rules are specific. Here is how the Section 195 startup deduction works, the 5,000 dollar first-year write-off, and the phase-out that surprises bigger launches.
- [Tax Deductions for Photographers: Gear, Studio, and Second Shooters](https://vuuv.co/articles/tax-deductions-for-photographers): Photography is gear-heavy, and gear is where the biggest deductions and mistakes live. Here is what you can write off in full now, what gets depreciated, and how to handle a home studio and contractors.
- [Job Costing for Contractors: A Beginner's Guide](https://vuuv.co/articles/job-costing-for-contractors): Plenty of contractors are busy and still broke, because they know their bank balance but not which jobs actually make money. Job costing fixes that. Here is how it works, in plain language, without the accounting jargon.
- [Business Expense Categories: A Practical Map for Schedule C](https://vuuv.co/articles/business-expense-categories): What bucket does a new laptop go in? Is a client lunch the same as office supplies? Here is a plain map of the expense categories that cover most small businesses, the rule behind every deduction, and the ones people get wrong.
- [Tax Deductions for Truck Drivers (Owner-Operators)](https://vuuv.co/articles/tax-deductions-for-truck-drivers): Whether you can write off your meals, your truck, and your fuel comes down to one thing: employee or owner-operator. Here are the deductions self-employed drivers can claim, including the DOT per diem and the 80 percent meal rule.
- [Net 30 and Invoice Payment Terms: How to Actually Get Paid on Time](https://vuuv.co/articles/invoice-payment-terms-net-30): The terms you put on an invoice quietly decide when the money shows up. Here is what Net 30 and the rest really mean, which terms get you paid faster, and how to charge a late fee that holds up.
- [How to Fill Out Schedule E for Rental Property](https://vuuv.co/articles/how-to-fill-out-schedule-e): Schedule E is where your rental
- [The Month-End Close Checklist for Small Businesses](https://vuuv.co/articles/month-end-close-checklist): Closing your books monthly turns tax season from a panic into a formality. Here is the eight-step checklist, why reconciliation comes first, and how a monthly close makes year-end almost automatic.
- [Taxes for Content Creators: A Survival Guide](https://vuuv.co/articles/taxes-for-content-creators): If you make money on YouTube, Twitch, Patreon, or sponsorships, the IRS sees you as a business. Here is how that income is taxed, when a hobby becomes a business, what counts as a write-off, and why free product is taxable.
- [Gross Profit vs Net Profit: What's the Difference?](https://vuuv.co/articles/gross-profit-vs-net-profit): Two businesses can both report 200,000 dollars in sales and be in completely different shape. Here is the difference between gross profit and net profit, the margins that go with them, and why the gap matters.
- [How Long Should You Keep Tax Records and Receipts?](https://vuuv.co/articles/how-long-to-keep-tax-records): Throw out the wrong paperwork too early and an audit gets a lot harder. Here are the IRS rules for how long to keep returns, receipts, and records, the cases where you keep them far longer, and why digital is fine.
- [Do You Need an Accountant for Your Small Business?](https://vuuv.co/articles/do-you-need-an-accountant): Hire too much help too early and you waste money. Too little and you lose sleep. Here is what bookkeepers, accountants, and CPAs actually do, what each costs, and the hybrid setup that works for most small businesses.
- [Short-Term Rental Taxes: Airbnb and VRBO Hosts, Read This First](https://vuuv.co/articles/short-term-rental-taxes): Short-term rentals do not play by the same tax rules as a normal lease. Here is when an Airbnb lands on Schedule C instead of E, the 14-day rule that can make rent tax-free, and the strategy hosts love that you should run past a CPA.
- [How to Create a Business Budget That You'll Actually Use](https://vuuv.co/articles/how-to-create-a-business-budget): A budget is just a plan for your money that keeps a good month from turning reckless and a slow one from turning into a panic. Here is how to build a simple one from your real numbers and keep it honest.
- [Passive Activity Loss Rules for Rental Owners](https://vuuv.co/articles/passive-activity-loss-rules): Your rental lost money on paper, so why can
- [How to Accept Credit Card Payments as a Small Business](https://vuuv.co/articles/how-to-accept-credit-card-payments): Accepting cards means getting paid faster, but it comes with fees and a few rules. Here are your options, what processing really costs, when ACH is cheaper, and the surcharging fine print.
- [Standard Mileage vs Actual Expenses: Which Car Deduction Wins?](https://vuuv.co/articles/standard-mileage-vs-actual-expenses): There are two ways to write off a vehicle, and the one you pick in the first year can lock you in. Here is how each method works, what you can stack on top, and which tends to come out ahead.
- [How to Set Your Freelance Rates](https://vuuv.co/articles/how-to-set-freelance-rates): Most freelancers underprice because they never did the math. Here is how to set a rate that actually covers your income goal, your business costs, and the taxes that take a bite before you ever see the money.
- [What Counts as a Business Expense?](https://vuuv.co/articles/what-counts-as-a-business-expense): The rule is simpler than it sounds: ordinary and necessary. Here is what that really means, the everyday costs people wrongly think they can write off, and how to handle the gray areas between meals, mileage, and big purchases.
- [Small Business Bookkeeping: A Plain-English Starter Guide](https://vuuv.co/articles/small-business-bookkeeping): Bookkeeping is not a once-a-year panic, it is a small steady habit. Here is what bookkeeping actually is, how to separate business from personal, what to track, and why reconciling makes your numbers worth trusting.
- [The Self-Employed Health Insurance Deduction](https://vuuv.co/articles/self-employed-health-insurance-deduction): If you pay for your own health coverage and work for yourself, you can likely deduct the premiums right off the top of your income. Here is who qualifies, what premiums count, and the one rule that disqualifies a lot of people.
- [What Is a General Ledger?](https://vuuv.co/articles/what-is-a-general-ledger): The general ledger is the master record of every transaction your business makes, organized by account. Here is how it relates to your chart of accounts, journals, and financial statements.
- [Bookkeeping vs Accounting: What's the Difference?](https://vuuv.co/articles/bookkeeping-vs-accounting): Bookkeeping records what happened with your money; accounting interprets it. Here is where one job ends and the other begins, who does each, and why a small business usually needs both functions.
- [Do You Need an EIN? And How to Get One Free](https://vuuv.co/articles/do-you-need-an-ein): An EIN is the business version of a Social Security number, and getting one is free and fast. Here is who actually needs one, who just benefits from having one, and how to avoid paying for something the IRS gives away.
- [How to Do a Bank Reconciliation (Step by Step)](https://vuuv.co/articles/how-to-do-a-bank-reconciliation): Reconciling is just answering one question: do my books match my bank? Here is the month-end process step by step, including the deposits-in-transit and outstanding-payment adjustments that trip people up.
- [How to Get a Business Credit Card (Even as a Freelancer)](https://vuuv.co/articles/how-to-get-a-business-credit-card): You do not need an LLC or an EIN to get a business credit card, and having one makes your bookkeeping dramatically cleaner. Here is what you need to apply, why a personal guarantee is normal, and how it pays off at tax time.
- [What Is Retainage in Construction? A Plain Guide for Contractors](https://vuuv.co/articles/retainage-in-construction): Retainage is the slice of every payment that gets held back until the job is done. Here is how it works on both sides, why it wrecks cash flow, how to track it on your books, and what it means at tax time.
- [Are Security Deposits Taxable? What Landlords Get Wrong](https://vuuv.co/articles/are-security-deposits-taxable): A security deposit usually isn
- [Invoice vs Receipt: What's the Difference and Why It Matters](https://vuuv.co/articles/invoice-vs-receipt): An invoice asks for money. A receipt proves it changed hands. Mixing them up causes real problems at tax time. Here is exactly what each one is, when you use it, and why both belong in your records.
- [HSA for the Self-Employed: The Triple Tax Break You Might Be Missing](https://vuuv.co/articles/hsa-for-self-employed): A health savings account is deductible going in, tax-free as it grows, and tax-free coming out. Here is who qualifies, the 2025 limits, and how the deduction works when you are self-employed.
- [The 1031 Exchange Explained: Swapping Property Without the Tax Bill](https://vuuv.co/articles/1031-exchange-explained): Sell an investment property and you normally owe capital gains plus depreciation recapture. A 1031 exchange lets you roll it all into the next property and defer the tax. Here is how the rules and the clock actually work.
- [Debits and Credits Explained (Without the Headache)](https://vuuv.co/articles/debits-and-credits-explained): Debits and credits confuse almost everyone because the words seem backwards. Here is the short, sane version: they just mean left and right, and what they do depends on the account they land in.
- [What Is Cost Basis? A Plain-English Guide](https://vuuv.co/articles/what-is-cost-basis): Cost basis is what you have invested in something for tax purposes, and it decides your gain when you sell. Here is how basis works for equipment, inventory, and real estate, and why depreciation quietly lowers it.
- [What Is a W-9, and When Do You Need One?](https://vuuv.co/articles/what-is-a-w-9): The W-9 is the little form that makes 1099 season painless or miserable. Here is what it collects, why you should get one before you pay anyone, and how it protects you from backup withholding headaches.
- [What Is a Chart of Accounts? A Plain-English Guide](https://vuuv.co/articles/what-is-a-chart-of-accounts): A chart of accounts is just the master list of buckets your business sorts money into. Here is what the five account types are, how they feed your reports, and why a lean list beats a long one.
- [1099 vs W-2: Is Your Worker an Employee or a Contractor?](https://vuuv.co/articles/1099-vs-w2-employee-or-contractor): Calling someone a contractor doesn
- [How to Read a Balance Sheet (Without an Accounting Degree)](https://vuuv.co/articles/how-to-read-a-balance-sheet): A profit and loss statement shows what you earned. A balance sheet shows what your business is actually worth. Here is how to read one in a minute, the equation that holds it together, and the three numbers worth calculating.
- [Double-Entry Bookkeeping Explained (Plainly)](https://vuuv.co/articles/double-entry-bookkeeping-explained): Double-entry bookkeeping is a 500-year-old idea with a simple core: every transaction hits your books in two places so they stay in balance. Here is how it works, how single-entry differs, and which you actually need.
- [Single-Entry vs Double-Entry Accounting: Why Double-Entry Wins](https://vuuv.co/articles/single-entry-vs-double-entry-accounting): Single-entry records each transaction once; double-entry records it twice and keeps your books in balance. Here is how the two methods differ, where single-entry breaks down, and why double-entry is the standard serious businesses and accountants rely on.
- [Do I Need a Separate Business Bank Account?](https://vuuv.co/articles/separate-business-bank-account): Mixing business and personal money is the fastest way to messy books and a shaky audit trail. Here is when a separate account is legally required, when it
- [How Freelancers Can Reduce Their Income Taxes](https://vuuv.co/articles/how-freelancers-can-reduce-income-taxes): Most freelancers overpay because they do not take every deduction they have earned. Here is a plain-language walkthrough of the biggest legal ways to cut your tax bill, from retirement accounts to entity structure.
- [How Small Businesses Can Reduce Their Income Taxes](https://vuuv.co/articles/how-small-businesses-can-reduce-income-taxes): Small business owners pay income tax and often self-employment tax on top of it. Here is a plain-language guide to the biggest legal strategies for cutting that bill, from entity structure to retirement plans to year-end timing.
- [How Real Estate Investors Can Reduce Their Income Taxes](https://vuuv.co/articles/how-real-estate-investors-can-reduce-income-taxes): Real estate comes with some of the most powerful legal tax reduction tools available to any investor: depreciation, cost segregation, the 1031 exchange, and more. Here is how they work and when each one applies.
- [Common Tax Acronyms Explained](https://vuuv.co/articles/common-tax-acronyms-explained): QBI, MAGI, FICA, MACRS, REPS, NOL: tax conversations are thick with abbreviations that professionals throw around as if everyone knows them. Here is what they actually mean, in plain English.