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Payroll, invoicing, and bookkeeping guides

Practical, plain-language guides for small business owners running payroll, paying contractors, sending invoices, and keeping the books.

Small business owner reviewing payroll on a laptop at a desk

How to Run Payroll for a Small Business: A Practical Guide

A clear, step by step walk through of running payroll for a small business, from setting up employees and pay schedules to filing taxes on time.

8 min readRead guide
Invoice, calculator, and pen laid out on a wooden desk

Small Business Invoice Template: What to Include and How to Send It

The fields every small business invoice needs, why each one matters, and how to send invoices in a way that gets you paid on time.

6 min readRead guide
Calculator resting on a stack of tax forms and financial documents

Payroll Tax Calculator 2026: Federal, State, and FICA Rates Explained

What every payroll tax calculator has to get right in 2026: federal brackets, Social Security and Medicare rates, and state withholding basics.

7 min readRead guide
Two people shaking hands over a signed contract on a desk

How to Pay Independent Contractors: 1099s, Direct Deposit, and Reporting

Paying independent contractors is not the same as running payroll. Here is what you need to collect, how to pay, and what to file at year end.

6 min readRead guide
Group of coworkers meeting in a modern office common area

Employee vs Contractor: How to Classify Workers Correctly

The legal test that separates employees from contractors, why misclassification is expensive, and how to make the call before the first payment.

7 min readRead guide
Open ledger book alongside a laptop and a coffee cup on a desk

Double-Entry Bookkeeping for Small Business: A Practical Introduction

What double-entry bookkeeping is, why every serious business uses it, and how to read the books once they are set up.

8 min readRead guide
Paystub document sitting on a desk next to a laptop and a pen

What Is a Paystub? Every Field Explained for New Employers

A field-by-field guide to what a paystub shows, why each number matters, and how to give employees the paystub they actually need.

6 min readRead guide

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Payroll, Invoicing & Bookkeeping Guides | Swift Paybooks