Tools & Resources for Small Business Owners

The industry standard for small business bookkeeping. Integrates with hundreds of apps and makes year-end handoff to your CPA seamless. What most of my clients use.

A clean, well-designed alternative to QuickBooks. Popular with accountants and bookkeepers, and a solid option for service-based businesses that want a modern interface.

Free accounting software that works well for solo practitioners and very small businesses just starting out. Great if you're not ready to invest in paid software yet.

Capture receipts and expenses with your phone camera. Makes tracking deductible expenses almost effortless — especially useful for therapists with home office and mileage expenses.

Practice management software built specifically for mental health professionals. Handles scheduling, notes, billing, and insurance — pairs well with dedicated bookkeeping for a complete picture.

Simple, well-designed payroll for small businesses with employees or contractors. If you're issuing W-2s or need 1099s tracked, Gusto keeps everything organized in one place.

A practical system for managing your business cash flow by allocating income into purpose-driven accounts. One of the most useful books I've seen for service business owners who struggle with the "feast and famine" income cycle.

A no-nonsense guide to the financial metrics that actually drive profit in a small business. More technical than Profit First but very grounded — great if you want to really understand your numbers.

Official IRS resources for small business owners and self-employed individuals — estimated taxes, deductions, forms, and guides. Dry reading, but authoritative and free.

Free business plan templates, financial statement guides, and cash flow worksheets from SCORE. Especially useful if you're trying to wrap your head around financial statements for the first time.

A growing category of books written specifically for therapists and counselors on building financially sustainable private practices. Worth searching for recent titles in this space — the field has matured significantly.

Practical, jargon-free articles on bookkeeping basics, tax deductions, cash flow, and small business finances. One of the better free resources online for business owners who want clear explanations.

Step-by-step walkthroughs of QuickBooks Online features straight from Intuit — how to reconcile accounts, run reports, set up chart of accounts, and more. Start here if you're new to QBO.

One of the best independent QuickBooks Online educators online. Hector's videos are clear, thorough, and practical — useful whether you're learning QBO yourself or just want to understand what your bookkeeper is doing.

Tax and business education for self-employed individuals and small business owners. Great for understanding the big picture of how bookkeeping connects to your taxes and overall business strategy.

Free foundational lessons on balance sheets, income statements, debits, credits, and accounting principles — taught in plain language with zero assumptions about prior knowledge.

Reviews and how-to videos covering accounting software, payroll tools, and small business finance decisions. Useful for comparing platforms before committing to one.

The starting point for understanding your tax obligations as a self-employed person or small business owner — quarterly estimated taxes, Schedule C, deductions, and more.

Federal resources for small businesses — financing options, business licenses, contracting opportunities, and free local assistance through SBDC offices around the country.

Free mentoring from experienced business professionals, plus free templates, workshops, and webinars. A great resource if you're building your practice and want real-world guidance beyond the numbers.

Resources specifically for psychologists in private practice — including billing guidance, coding resources, and business of practice materials. Relevant for psychologists navigating the intersection of clinical work and business ownership.

The National Association of Social Workers offers resources for LCSWs and other licensed social workers in private practice — including liability insurance and practice management guidance.

If you need additional QuickBooks support beyond bookkeeping — or want to find a local CPA familiar with QBO — this tool connects you with certified QuickBooks ProAdvisors.