# Melton Bookkeeping and Accounting Services ## Posts - [Is That Business Lunch Really Tax Deductible? What Business Owners Need to Know in 2026?](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/business-meals-tax-deduction-2026/): Is that business lunch really tax deductible? Not every meal purchased with a business credit card qualifies. Learn the 2026 IRS rules for business meals, employee lunches, overnight travel, and entertainment expenses, with practical examples for contractors and small business owners. - [How Much Does Bookkeeping Cost in Springfield, Missouri?](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/bookkeeping-cost-springfield-mo/): How much does bookkeeping cost in Springfield, MO—and what can it cost to put it off? Learn what affects monthly pricing and how neglected or inaccurate books can lead to costly cleanup, cash flow problems, and extra stress at tax time. - [8 Signs Your Business May Need a Bookkeeper](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/8-signs-your-business-may-need-a-bookkeeper/): When you first start a business, doing your own bookkeeping may make perfect sense. - [QuickBooks Online Classes and Locations: What Are They and When Should You Use Them?](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/quickbooks-online-classes-and-locations-what-are-they-and-when-should-you-use-them/): QuickBooks Online Classes and Locations are tracking tools that help you measure different parts of your business. - [Should You Make A Year-End Business Purchase For The Tax Deduction?](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/year-end-business-purchases/): Thinking about making a year-end business purchase for the tax deduction? Before you spend, consider whether your business actually needs it, can afford it, and whether buying now really makes financial and tax sense. - [Offering Trump Account Contributions to Employees? Here's What They Need To Know](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/trump-account-employee-benefit/): Employees want to know what the company is giving them. - [Your Client Wants to Offer Trump Account Contributions: Now What Happens in Payroll?](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/trump-account-payroll-contributions/): A business owner calls and says: “I want to give my employees $1,000 for their kids' Trump Accounts. - [1099 Rules Are Changing for 2026: What Small Business Owners Need to Know](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/1099-changes-for-2026/): Beginning with payments made in 2026, the IRS has increased the minimum reporting threshold for certain payments from $600 to $2,000. - [Before Your Business Starts Contributing to Employees' Trump Accounts, Read This](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/trump-account-employer-contributions-section-128/): Thinking about contributing to Trump Accounts for your employees? IRC Section 128 may allow up to $2,500 per employee to receive favorable tax treatment, but employers need to understand the written-plan, eligibility, contribution and nondiscrimination rules first. - [Trump Accounts: Who Qualified, The $1000 Contribution, and How They Work](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/trump-accounts-how-they-work/): You may be hearing quite a bit about Trump Accounts. - [You're More Than A Number: Why Connection Matters In Accounting](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/accurate-small-business-bookkeeping/): We don't settle for "technically, the job is done" when we know something could be better. - [Sometimes the Back Road Is the Better Road: Your Business Goals Should Be Your Own](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/small-business-goals-guide/): A few days ago, I traveled from Marshfield, Missouri, where I live, to Strafford, a small town nearby. - [Small Business Fraud Prevention: 7 Ways to Protect Your Business](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/small-business-fraud-prevention/): Small business fraud prevention doesn't require a large accounting department or complicated procedures. - [Is Your Chart of Accounts Helping Your Business or Hurting It?](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/is-your-chart-of-accounts-helping-your-business-or-hurting-it/): One of the first things I review when taking on a new QuickBooks Online cleanup project is the client's Chart of Accounts. - [Should Contractors Elect S Corporation Status Right Away?](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/should-contractors-elect-s-corporation-status/): One of the most common questions I hear from new contractors is: "Should I elect S Corporation status?" - [Misusing Undeposited Funds in QuickBooks Online (3rd article in the series)](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/misusing-undeposited-funds-in-quickbooks-online-3rd-article-in-the-series/): If you've ever opened Undeposited Funds in QuickBooks Online and wondered why there's a balance sitting there that you can't explain, you're not alone. - [QuickBooks Mistake #3: Understanding Undeposited Funds (And How to Avoid Duplicate Income)](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/quickbooks-mistake-3-understanding-undeposited-funds-and-how-to-avoid-duplicate-income/): If you've ever opened Undeposited Funds in QuickBooks Online and wondered why there's a balance sitting there that you can't explain, you're not alone. - [8 Lessons on Running A Successful Small Business](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/running-successful-small-business/): Every July, I watch Shark Week—and every July, I cheer for the seal. Somewhere between those breathtaking great white shark breaches, I realized there are powerful lessons every small business owner can learn about preparation, strategy, resilience, and long-term success. Here are eight business lessons inspired by Shark Week. - [Why Reconciling Your Bank and Credit Card Accounts Every Month Is One of the Most Important Bookkeeping Tasks](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/most-important-bookkeeping-tasks/): Many small business owners believe that if their bank accounts are connected to QuickBooks Online, their bookkeeping must be accurate. - [Why Mixing Personal and Business Finances is a Costly Bookkeeping Mistake](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/why-mixing-personal-and-business-finances-is-a-costly-bookkeeping-mistake/): As a CPA, one of the most common bookkeeping mistakes I see is business owners mixing personal and business finances. - [Why Every Business Owner Needs a Strong Professional Team](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/why-every-business-owner-needs-a-strong-professional-team/): As a business owner, you wear many hats. - [How Often Should I Review My Financials? (Bookkeeping & Accounting Guide)](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/how-often-should-i-review-my-financials-bookkeeping-accounting-guide/): The short answer is—more often than you probably are. - [The Hidden Story In Your Numbers: Why Your WIP Schedule Matters More Than You Think](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/the-hidden-story-in-your-numbers-why-your-wip-schedule-matters-more-than-you-think/): What is a work-in-progress (WIP) schedule for contractors, and how important is it? - [The $92,000 Mistake Sitting in Undeposited Funds](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/the-92000-mistake-sitting-in-undeposited-funds/): It’s not unusual for me to open a set of books and find something unexpected. - [Why Do You Keep Preaching At Me About Accurate Books?](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/why-do-you-keep-preaching-at-me-about-accurate-books/): If you run a business, accurate books aren’t just “nice to have.” They directly affect how much money you keep, how confident your decisions are, and how stressful tax season becomes. - [What To Do When Your Bookkeeper Or Accountant Is Retiring](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/what-to-do-when-your-bookkeeper-or-accountant-is-retiring/): If your bookkeeper has shared that they are planning to retire, you may be wondering what this means for your business. - [Understanding Reasonable Compensation For S Corporation Owners](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/understanding-reasonable-compensation-for-s-corporation-owners/): If you’re an officer-owner of an S corporation, it’s crucial to recognize how the IRS views your compensation. - [Why Setting Up Bank Feeds In QuickBooks Online Is Essential For Your Business](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/why-setting-up-bank-feeds-in-quickbooks-online-is-essential-for-your-business/): Are your bank feeds connected in QuickBooks Online? - [February NewsLetter](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/february-newsletter/): February is the month to clean up what was missed, get organized, and start planning ahead before tax season peaks. - [Costly Bookkeeping Mistakes Businesses Made in 2025](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/costly-bookkeeping-mistakes-businesses-made-in-2025/): As we look back on 2025, it’s evident that even the smallest bookkeeping error can have significant consequences. - [TRANSFORM YOUR BUSINESS WITH A SHIFT IN YOUR MONEY MINDSET!](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/transform-your-business-with-a-shift-in-your-money-mindset/): Many business owners believe that growth is solely a result of working harder, increasing sales, or introducing new offerings. ## Pages - [Bookkeeping and Accounting in Bolivar, MO](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/bookkeeping-and-accounting-in-bolivar-mo/): I provide bookkeeping and accounting in Bolivar, MO and across Polk County for owner operated businesses that need their QuickBooks cleaned up and kept accurate. - [Bookkeeping in Nixa MO](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/bookkeeping-in-nixa-mo/): I provide bookkeeping in Nixa, MO and across Christian County, working with small business owners who need their QuickBooks cleaned up and kept accurate. - [Small Business Bookkeeping Services in Missouri](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/small-business-bookkeeping-services-in-missouri/): I provide small business bookkeeping services in Missouri from Marshfield, serving Springfield and southwest Missouri in person and the rest of the state remotely. - [Bookkeeping Services Springfield MO](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/bookkeeping-services-springfield-mo/): Melton Bookkeeping and Accounting Services provides monthly bookkeeping for small businesses in Springfield, Missouri and the surrounding area. - [Resources](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/resources/): Can’t find exactly what you need? - [QuickBooks Diagnostic](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/quickbooks-diagnostic/): Your books are in QuickBooks, but something feels off. - [Tax Dropoff Meeting for Tax Prep ](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/tax-dropoff-meeting-for-tax-prep/): Pick a time to bring your tax documents in — or to come collect your finished return. It's a quick handoff, not a long meeting. - [Quickbooks Cleanup](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/quickbooks-cleanup/): Get your books fixed the right way. No guesswork, no shortcuts just clean, reliable numbers you can trust. - [Pricing](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/pricing/): Simple, transparent pricing for small businesses in Marshfield, Springfield, and across Southwest Missouri. - [Blog](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/blog/) - [Newsletter](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/newsletter/) - [Services](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/services/): At Melton Bookkeeping and Accounting Services, I offer various bookkeeping services, accounting services and tax preparation for businesses and individuals. - [Contact](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/contact/): Need help with your books? Let's talk. Call me at (417) 630-0057. - [About](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/about/): Running a business is hard enough—your finances shouldn’t add to the stress. - [Home](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/): If you’re a small to mid-size business in Marshfield, MO, Springfield, MO, or the surrounding areas of Southwest Missouri, you need accurate bookkeeping and dependable accounting services you can trust. - [Privacy Policy](https://meltonaccountingservices.com/privacy-policy/): Suggested text: Our website address is: https://meltonaccountingservices.com. [comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)