Small Business AP & Finance Resources
Running accounts payable as a small business owner means wearing a lot of hats. These are the tools, agencies, and references our team actually uses and recommends.
Government & Compliance
IRS.gov
Official source for tax forms, W-9 requirements, contractor rules, and 1099 guidance
IRS W-9 Form
Required from every U.S. vendor or contractor before first payment
IRS 1099-NEC
File for contractors paid $2,000+ in a calendar year (2026 threshold)
SBA (Small Business Administration)
Loans, grants, business guides, and local resource locators
SCORE
Free mentoring from experienced business owners. Especially useful for finance and operations questions
AP & Finance Associations
Small Business Tools (Free / Freemium)
Google Workspace
Shared inbox, Drive folders, and Sheets for AP tracking without dedicated software
Microsoft Excel
AP tracking, aging reports, and vendor logs — the most common small business AP tool
Dropbox
Document storage for vendor contracts, W-9s, and invoice archives
DocuSign
E-signatures for vendor onboarding packets and contracts
Fraud Prevention Resources
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
Report business email compromise (BEC) and wire fraud here immediately after an incident
FinCEN (Financial Crimes Enforcement Network)
Suspicious Activity Reports and AML guidance for financial crime
FTC Business Center
Vendor fraud, impersonation scams, and data security guidance for businesses
Payroll & Contractor Resources
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