Finance for US small business owners: pick a task, follow the map

Running a small business in the US means federal tax, state rules, payroll and filing dates, and most of the guidance is written for tax professionals. Each Route Map takes one thing an owner has to get right and lays it out as a short series of stops, in the order you will actually meet them.

Every stop links to the official source, usually the IRS, and shows the date we last checked it, so you can see the rule is current before you act on it.

Route Maps are general information, not personal advice. State rules vary, so if your situation is unusual, talk to your CPA or tax adviser.