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.
- 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.
- 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 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.
- 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 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.
- 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 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 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.