Billy Barton-Accountant LLC - North Carolina

09/03/2026

Hiring your first employee is a milestone and also where a lot of trades and home services owners get their first real tax headache.

Common mistakes I see: treating a new hire as a 1099 subcontractor when the IRS would call them a W-2 employee, missing state payroll registrations, or not setting aside enough for employer payroll taxes.

None of these are obvious until they show up as a penalty. Getting the setup right before the first paycheck saves a lot of cleanup later.

If you're about to bring on your first hire, it's worth a 20-minute conversation before you run payroll not after.

Book your free discovery call here: https://calendly.com/bbarton_accountant

09/02/2026

Quick question: if I asked you right now whether your business made money last month, could you answer in under 30 seconds?

If the honest answer is "I'd have to check," you're not alone most trades and home services owners are heads-down running jobs, not staring at spreadsheets.

But not knowing your numbers is expensive. It means pricing guesses instead of pricing with confidence, and finding out you're in trouble months after it started.

You don't need to become a bookkeeper. You just need a simple system that gives you the answer without the guesswork.

Book free discovery call here: https://calendly.com/bbarton_accountant

09/01/2026

Every year, trades and home services business owners get blindsided by a tax bill they didn't see coming not because they did anything wrong, but because nobody walked them through quarterly estimated taxes.

If you're self-employed or running an LLC, the IRS expects payments four times a year, not just once at filing time. Miss that, and the penalty adds up fast on top of what you already owe.

The businesses that avoid this surprise aren't the ones making more money they're the ones planning for taxes year-round instead of every April.

If tax season has felt like a gut punch more than once, it's worth a real conversation about estimated payments before the next deadline.

Book your free discovery link here: https://calendly.com/bbarton_accountant

09/01/2026

Educator Classroom Expense Deduction – Did You Know?

Eligible K-12 teachers, instructors, counselors, principals and aides who pay for classroom supplies out of pocket may deduct up to $350 of qualifying expenses per year. Married couples filing jointly who are both eligible educators may deduct up to $350 each, for a combined maximum of $700.

You do not need to itemize deductions to claim this deduction. Be sure to keep receipts and other records for any classroom expenses you plan to deduct.

08/24/2026

Major Higher Education Tax Credits Now Require Valid SSN – Did You Know?

The American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) and Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC) help many Americans pay for higher education. For eligible students pursuing a degree or other recognized credential, the AOTC can cover up to $2,500 in tuition, required school fees and certain course materials per year. Meanwhile, the LLC can offset up to $2,000 per tax return for qualified education expenses for eligible students taking higher education courses for a variety of reasons.

Beginning with tax year 2026, the taxpayer claiming either the AOTC or LLC (and spouse, if filing jointly) must have a Social Security number (SSN) valid for work in the United States that was issued before the due date of the tax return, including extensions. If the eligible student is not the person claiming the credit (for example, if the student is that person's dependent or spouse), then the student must also have a valid SSN issued by that deadline. Other qualification requirements, such as income limits, remain in effect. A tax professional can help you determine whether the higher education expenses you pay for yourself, your spouse or a dependent qualify for a tax benefit.

04/22/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗜 𝗯𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀?

Start by asking yourself: 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸?

If the breakdown is around task ownership, deadlines, and collaboration, start with project management. If it’s payroll or billable hours, focus on time tracking.

Or, if appointments and staffing are causing the stress, scheduling software will likely give you the fastest operational relief.

A few practical pairings might look like this:
• If you run a growing service business, the best time management software for you might be Asana or TimeTap
• If you own a small creative or consulting firm, you might do well with Trello or Toggl
• If you operate a retail business or restaurant, you might see productivity gains from Clockify or HotSchedules
• If your business is highly customized and process-minded, you might prefer Notion or EverHour

04/22/2026

Common Bookkeeping Mistakes That Make Tax Filing Harder For Raleigh Business Owners

Was tax season tedious? Discover common bookkeeping mistakes that make filing harder and how to turn your books into a powerful tax-saving strategy.

04/21/2026

https://www.wsj.com/tech/silicon-valley-founder-fashion-nvidia-huang-anduril-luckey-musk-tesla-palantir-karp-4d8b9339?st=V9eNC7&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Would you wear one of these if it had your boss's face on it?
A. I love my boss. Of course
B. Absolutely NOT

04/20/2026

Which of these regularly gets in the way of you leading and growing your business?

A. Administrative tasks
B. Dealing with client frustrations
C. Employee issues
D. Keeping track of finances

04/20/2026

How Long Can Employers Keep Employee Records? A Record Retention Guide for Raleigh Small Business Owners

How long can employers keep employee records? Learn the timelines that matter so your small business stays organized and compliant.