Argo Books Guides
Guides for small businesses.
Plain-language guides for people who do their own books: getting invoices out the door, scanning receipts and tracking expenses, the bookkeeping basics for your trade, and picking software that fits without overpaying.
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Invoicing
- How to invoice clients: a step-by-step guide How to invoice clients without missing anything: what to charge, what to put on the invoice, when to send it, and how to get paid on time.
- How to send an invoice for free How to send a professional invoice for free, step by step: what to include, how to get paid faster, and which free tools actually work.
- What to include on an invoice What to include on an invoice: the 9 fields every invoice needs, plus extras for products, taxes, regulated countries, and bonus fields for faster pay.
- Invoice numbering: best practices Invoice numbering best practices: how to pick a starting number, format your invoice IDs, avoid gaps, and keep a clean trail your accountant can follow.
- Net 30 vs Due on Receipt: which to use Net 30 vs Due on Receipt explained in plain language. When to use each, how to write the term on the invoice, and what to set as your default.
- Late fees: when and how to charge them Late fees on invoices, in plain language: what is a reasonable rate, when to start the clock, what to put on the invoice, and when to waive the fee.
- Tax on invoices: country guide Tax on invoices by country: how sales tax, GST, HST, and VAT work in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and India, and how to set the rate in the generator.
- How to follow up on unpaid invoices How to follow up on unpaid invoices without scaring off a good client: a six-step sequence with sample emails, phone scripts, and a final-notice template.
- What to do when a client does not pay A calm, step-by-step plan for when a client hasn't paid the invoice. What to send on day 1, day 8, day 22, day 45, and what to do at day 60 and beyond.
- Recurring invoices: when to use them Recurring invoices in plain language: when they fit, when they don't, the two patterns to run them, the terms to include, and the common mistakes.
- Free vs paid invoicing tools: an honest comparison When a free invoice generator is genuinely enough, when paid software pays for itself, and how to pick between the main options on the market.
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Receipts & Expenses
- How to track business expenses without spreadsheets A simple system for tracking business expenses without a spreadsheet: what to record, how to capture receipts, and how to be ready at tax time.
- Best free AI receipt scanner apps in 2026 The free receipt scanner apps that actually read receipts well, what each one limits on the free plan, and how to pick one for taxes and expenses.
- Small business tax deductions you might be missing (2026) The business tax deductions small businesses most often miss, the difference between an expense and an asset, and how to keep records that hold up.
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Bookkeeping
- Small business bookkeeping basics: a beginner's guide Bookkeeping basics for a new small business, in plain language: what to track, how to start, cash vs accrual, and a simple monthly routine that works.
- Bookkeeping for contractors: a simple guide A plain guide to contractor bookkeeping: tracking jobs, materials, mileage, and subcontractors, and getting ready for tax time without the stress.
- Bookkeeping for freelancers: a practical guide A plain guide to bookkeeping for freelancers: separate accounts, irregular income, chasing invoices, home-office deductions, and setting aside tax.
- How to do bookkeeping without an accountant A practical playbook for doing your own bookkeeping: a simple system, the tools that help, what to still hand an accountant, and when to hire one.
- Bookkeeping for rental businesses: a simple guide A plain guide to rental bookkeeping: deposits vs income, tracking which items earn, maintenance costs, depreciation, and getting ready for tax time.
- Bookkeeping for online sellers: a practical guide Bookkeeping for online sellers on Etsy, eBay, Shopify, and Amazon: fees, payouts that don't match sales, inventory, sales tax, shipping, and returns.
- Inventory tracking for small businesses: a simple guide A plain guide to inventory for small businesses: cost of goods sold, stock value, reorder points, shrinkage, and what it all means for your taxes.
- Bookkeeping for photographers: a simple guide A plain guide to bookkeeping for photographers: handling deposits, pricing per shoot, gear deductions, travel costs, and setting tax money aside.
- How to forecast cash flow for a small business A plain method for forecasting small business cash flow: the four inputs you need, why timing decides everything, and where doing it by hand falls apart.
- How to forecast your revenue and predict next month's sales How to forecast your small business revenue: three simple methods, how to use last year as a baseline, and how to tell if your forecast is any good.
- How to spot seasonal trends in your business Most businesses have a hidden busy-and-slow rhythm. Here is how to find your seasonal pattern in your own numbers and plan around it instead of being surprised.
- Free cash flow forecast template (and when to outgrow it) Build a free cash flow forecast template in Excel or Google Sheets today: exactly what to include, how to fill it in, how to keep it current, and when to switch.
- Bookkeeping for cleaning companies: a simple guide A plain guide to cleaning business bookkeeping: recurring clients, supplies, mileage, paying cleaners, and getting ready for tax time without the stress.
- Bookkeeping for food trucks: a simple guide A plain guide to food truck bookkeeping: tracking daily cash sales, food cost and spoilage, fuel and permits, staff pay, and protecting thin margins.
- Bookkeeping for landscapers: a simple guide A plain guide to landscaping bookkeeping: job costing, the seasonal cash-flow swing, equipment and mileage, paying crew, and getting ready for tax.
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Spreadsheets & Importing
- How to convert an Excel spreadsheet to accounting software How to convert an Excel spreadsheet to accounting software step by step: tidy your sheet, export it, import with column mapping, and check the totals match.
- How to move from spreadsheets to bookkeeping software A calm migration plan for moving from spreadsheets to bookkeeping software: when to switch, how to get your data out, what to import, and how to verify it.
- How to import bank transactions from CSV into accounting software How to import bank transactions from a CSV into accounting software: download a statement, understand the columns, map them, categorize, and match the total.
- How to turn a spreadsheet into a profit and loss statement How to turn a spreadsheet into a profit and loss statement step by step: list income, group expenses, total each side, and read your real profit.
- Excel bookkeeping template vs accounting software An honest head-to-head of an Excel bookkeeping template vs accounting software: cost, setup, automation, error risk, reporting, and when each one wins.
- Why your bookkeeping spreadsheet stops working Why your bookkeeping spreadsheet stops working: rising volume, silent formula slips, version chaos, missing receipts, painful tax time, and the fix for each.
- Excel vs accounting software for small business Excel vs accounting software for small business: an honest comparison of cost, learning curve, automation, error risk, and when each one is the right call.
- Is it OK to do bookkeeping in Excel? Is it OK to do bookkeeping in Excel? An honest yes with caveats: what is legal, what you must get right, the real risks, and when to move on.
- Google Sheets bookkeeping: pros and cons Google Sheets bookkeeping pros and cons: free, cloud, and shareable, but no bank feeds and weak audit trail. Honest guidance on who it actually suits.
- Free bookkeeping spreadsheet templates: what to use and how to set one up A practical guide to free bookkeeping spreadsheet templates: what a good one contains, the exact columns to use, where to find them, and how to set one up.
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Choosing Software
- Best free accounting software for small business The free accounting software worth using for a small business, what each one limits on the free plan, and how to tell when free stops being enough.
- Free accounting software for Canadian small businesses The free accounting software that actually works in Canada: GST, HST and PST handling, CAD reporting, and CRA-ready records, with honest trade-offs for each.
- Best QuickBooks alternatives in 2026 The strongest QuickBooks alternatives for small businesses, what each one does better, where each falls short, and how to pick the right replacement.
- Is QuickBooks worth it for a small business in 2026? An honest answer to whether QuickBooks is worth it for a small business: where it earns its price, where it's overkill, and a clear worth-it-if verdict.
- QuickBooks price increases: how much it has gone up, and why QuickBooks prices have risen roughly 50 to 90 percent in five years depending on the plan. See the price history, why it keeps climbing, and your options.
- Cash flow forecasting software: do you need it, and what to look for When a spreadsheet stops keeping up: what cash flow forecasting software adds, native vs add-on vs all-in-one, and how to pick the right tool for your business.
- Best invoicing software for small business The best invoicing software for small businesses, what each option does well, where it falls short, and how to pick the right one for how you bill.
- Predictive analytics for small business: is the "AI" actually real? Nearly every tool claims to be AI-powered. Here is what predictive analytics genuinely is, the real methods behind it, and how to tell a real forecast from a slogan.
- QuickBooks Desktop discontinued: what it means and your options QuickBooks Desktop is being wound down. What Intuit has stopped selling, the support end dates, what stops working, and your real options including a free local alternative.
- How much does accounting software cost in 2026? What accounting software actually costs in 2026: free tiers, entry and mid plans, the hidden fees to watch for, and what to expect to pay by business size.
- Cheapest accounting software for the self-employed (2026) The cheapest accounting software for self-employed people and sole proprietors, free tiers first, with honest trade-offs and how to pick what actually fits.
- One-time purchase vs subscription accounting software One-time purchase vs subscription accounting software: what each really costs, the trade-offs in updates and lock-in, and why a free tier can be the middle ground.
- Accounting software for people who hate accounting Dread bookkeeping? Here is what makes accounting software actually painless, what to ignore, and how to set up a near-zero-effort system you will keep up with.