Practical guides for Montana small business.
Straight-talk articles on bookkeeping, payroll, tax planning, and running the finances of a small business in Montana. Written by the team at Marlow Accounting.
All articles
57 articlesYear-End Tax Planning Checklist for Montana Business Owners
The moves that meaningfully reduce your tax bill have to happen before December 31. Here's the year-end checklist we run for every Montana planning client.
Read the articleTax Prep for Montana Ranchers and Agricultural Businesses
Agricultural tax rules include unique tools — income averaging, Schedule F, weather-related deferrals, and Section 179 on livestock and equipment.
Read the articleBookkeeping for Airbnb and Short-Term Rentals in Montana
Short-term rentals mix real estate rules with lodging rules. Here's how to keep books and pay taxes correctly in Montana.
Read the articleAccounting for Montana Construction Contractors
Construction accounting is different from every other industry. Here's the version Montana contractors need to know.
Read the articleOpening a Business Bank Account: What You Need
Opening a business bank account takes 30 minutes if you show up with the right documents. Here's the list.
Read the articleEIN, State Tax ID, and Business Licenses in Montana
A new Montana business needs a federal EIN and, depending on activity, several state and local IDs. Here's what's actually required.
Read the articleHow to Start an LLC in Montana (Step-by-Step)
Forming an LLC in Montana is fast and inexpensive. Here's the exact sequence and what to do in year one.
Read the articleOpportunity Zones: What They Are and Why They Might Matter to You
Opportunity Zones offer a way to defer — and potentially eliminate — federal tax on capital gains by reinvesting into a Qualified Opportunity Fund. Here's how the three tax benefits work and the rules you need to know.
Read the articleKey Financial KPIs Every Small Business Should Track
You don't need 50 KPIs. You need the right 8. Here's the shortlist for a Montana small business.
Read the articlePricing Your Services for Profitability
Most service businesses underprice. Here's how to price so the top line actually turns into bottom line.
Read the articleCash Flow Forecasting for Seasonal Montana Businesses
Seasonal Montana businesses live and die on cash flow timing. A 13-week rolling forecast is the difference between confidence and panic.
Read the articleUnderstanding Your Balance Sheet
The balance sheet answers a different question than the P&L: not 'how did we do?' but 'where do we stand?' Here's how to read it.
Read the articleReading Your Profit & Loss Statement
The P&L is the single most important business report. Here's how to read it like an owner, not an accountant.
Read the articleDo I Need a CPA for My Small Business? An Honest Answer
Short version: most small businesses don't need a CPA. Here's the honest breakdown of when you actually do — and what to hire instead when you don't.
Read the articleWhen to Hire a Fractional CFO
Fractional CFO help usually pays for itself once revenue crosses $1M or the owner stops being able to answer 'what should we do next?' quickly.
Read the articleEnrolled Agent vs CPA in Montana: Which Do You Actually Need?
Enrolled Agents and CPAs both prepare tax returns and represent clients before the IRS. For most Montana small businesses, an EA covers everything you actually need — usually at a lower cost.
Read the articleHow Much Does a Bookkeeper Cost in Montana?
Most Montana small businesses pay between $300 and $900 per month for professional bookkeeping. Here is what drives the price and what you should expect for it.
Read the articleMontana Payroll Taxes Explained (UI, Withholding, Workers' Comp)
Every Montana employer owes state withholding, unemployment insurance, and workers' comp on top of federal payroll taxes. Here's what each one is and how much it costs.
Read the articleMigrating from Spreadsheets to QuickBooks
Moving from spreadsheets to QuickBooks is a chance to fix years of drift. Here's how to do it cleanly.
Read the articleCash vs Accrual Accounting for Montana Small Businesses
Cash basis is simpler and defers tax; accrual gives you a real picture of profit. Here's when Montana business owners should use each — and when the IRS forces the choice.
Read the articleHow to Fix Uncategorized Transactions in QuickBooks
Hundreds of uncategorized transactions in QuickBooks? Here's how to clear them fast and prevent them from coming back.
Read the articleW-2 vs 1099: How to Classify Workers in Montana
Misclassifying an employee as a 1099 contractor is one of the most expensive mistakes a Montana business can make. Here's how the tests actually work.
Read the articleHow Often Should You Reconcile Your Business Bank Account?
Monthly reconciliation is the standard for a reason — it catches errors, fraud, and missing income before they become tax problems.
Read the articleQuickBooks Online Setup Guide for New Businesses
Set up QuickBooks Online correctly on day one and you save hundreds of hours (and thousands of dollars in cleanup) later.
Read the articleLLC vs S-Corp for Montana Small Business Owners
For most profitable Montana LLCs earning more than $50,000 in net profit, an S-corp election can save $3,000–$15,000 per year in self-employment tax. But the election is not automatic — and it is not always the right move.
Read the articleQuickBooks Online vs Xero: Which Is Right for a Montana Business?
QBO wins on ecosystem and accountant familiarity in Montana. Xero wins on price and clean UI. Here's how to choose for your business.
Read the articleHow to Run Payroll for Your First Employee in Montana
Hiring your first employee in Montana requires four registrations, a handful of forms, and a payroll system. Here's the exact order.
Read the articleCommon QuickBooks Cleanup Mistakes
Every messy QuickBooks file has the same patterns. Here are the ones we fix constantly — and how to avoid creating them in the first place.
Read the articleChart of Accounts Setup for Contractors
A contractor's chart of accounts should separate direct job costs, indirect job costs, and overhead — or your job margins are meaningless.
Read the articleWhat Triggers an IRS Audit for Small Businesses
Audit rates are low but not zero. Here's what actually raises your odds — and how to stay off the list.
Read the articlePayroll Frequency: Weekly, Bi-Weekly, Semi-Monthly, Monthly
Payroll frequency affects your costs, your employees' cash flow, and your compliance obligations. Here's how the four common schedules compare.
Read the articleSigns Your Bookkeeping Is Behind (and How to Catch Up)
If your books are behind, you're guessing on taxes, missing deductions, and losing negotiating power with lenders. Here's how to tell — and how to catch up.
Read the articleFiling a Final Business Tax Return When Closing an LLC
Closing a business is more than stopping operations. Here's how to file the final tax return and shut down cleanly in Montana.
Read the articleNew Hire Reporting Requirements in Montana
Montana requires employers to report every new hire within 20 days. Here's how to do it and what happens if you don't.
Read the articleBookkeeping for Restaurants in Billings
Restaurant bookkeeping in Montana is different — daily sales entries, tip handling, food cost tracking, and POS integration all matter. Here's what a Billings restaurant needs.
Read the articleS-Corp Owner Payroll: Reasonable Compensation Explained
Reasonable compensation is the single most-audited issue for S-corp owners. Here's how to set a defensible number in Montana.
Read the articleHow to Categorize Business Expenses Correctly
Sloppy expense categorization costs you deductions and clarity. Here's a simple framework that keeps your P&L honest and your Schedule C or 1120-S clean.
Read the articleLate S-Corp Election Relief (Rev. Proc. 2013-30)
Missed the S-corp election deadline? Rev. Proc. 2013-30 gives you up to 3 years and 75 days to file late with reasonable cause.
Read the articleSelling a Home in Montana: Tax Implications
Most home sales are tax-free thanks to the Section 121 exclusion — up to $250k single, $500k married. Here's how to qualify and when you'll owe.
Read the articleTips, Overtime, and Bonuses: Payroll Rules for MT Employers
Montana has its own quirks around tips and overtime. Here's the practical version for employers running payroll in Billings and beyond.
Read the articleMonthly Financial Close Checklist for Small Businesses
A repeatable monthly close is what separates real bookkeeping from a shoebox. Here's the checklist we run for every monthly client.
Read the articleCrypto Taxes: What Montana Investors Need to Know
Every crypto trade is a taxable event. Here's what to report, how to calculate gain, and how to reconcile messy exchange history.
Read the articleK-1s Explained for Montana Business Owners
The K-1 is how pass-through business income lands on your personal return. Here's how to read it and what to do with it.
Read the articleFiling Taxes with Rental Property Income
Rental property income goes on Schedule E — but the real story is depreciation, passive loss rules, and how repairs vs improvements are handled.
Read the articlePartnership vs S-Corp Tax Returns: Key Differences
1065 and 1120-S look similar but treat allocations, distributions, and basis very differently. Here's what matters.
Read the articleSection 179 & Bonus Depreciation for 2026
Section 179 lets you expense qualifying equipment immediately. Bonus depreciation is phasing down. Here's how to think about 2026 equipment purchases.
Read the articleHow Montana State Income Tax Works
Montana consolidated its income tax brackets in 2024. Here's how the current system works and what it means for your return.
Read the articleTax Prep Checklist: What to Bring to Your Appointment
A complete checklist of the documents your tax preparer needs — organized by situation so you only worry about the parts that apply to you.
Read the articleRetirement Plans for Small Business Owners (SEP, Solo 401k, SIMPLE)
Solo 401(k), SEP IRA, and SIMPLE IRA all let you shelter meaningful income from tax. Here's how to choose.
Read the articleStandard vs Itemized Deduction for 2025 Returns
Most taxpayers take the standard deduction now — but for those with mortgage interest, high state tax, or big giving, itemizing still wins.
Read the articleHome Office Deduction: Rules and Common Mistakes
The home office deduction is legitimate and valuable — if you actually qualify and calculate it correctly.
Read the articleForm 1120-S Deadlines and Extensions
The S-corp 1120-S is due March 15 — earlier than personal returns. Miss it and the per-shareholder late penalty adds up fast.
Read the articleBusiness Vehicle Deduction: Mileage vs Actual Expenses
The standard mileage rate is easier; actual expenses can be bigger. Here's how to pick and how not to lose the deduction to bad records.
Read the articleMontana Quarterly Estimated Tax Deadlines (2026)
If you own a business or receive significant non-W-2 income, you owe quarterly estimated taxes to both the IRS and the Montana Department of Revenue. Here are the 2026 deadlines and how to calculate what to pay.
Read the articleAugusta Rule: Renting Your Home to Your Business
The Augusta Rule lets you rent your home to your own business for up to 14 days a year, deduct the rent at the business level, and receive it tax-free personally. Here's how to do it right.
Read the articleHiring Your Kids in a Family Business — Tax Benefits
Hiring your kids in a family business is one of the most powerful tax moves available — if the work is real and the pay is reasonable.
Read the articleHealth Insurance Deductions for Self-Employed Montanans
Self-employed health insurance is deductible above the line — but the rules differ by entity, and S-corp owners have their own procedure.
Read the articleReady to talk?
Call us or schedule an appointment — we'll answer your questions and quote your work up front.