What we do

  1. Work from primary sources

    For requirements, we link to the agency, statute or code that governs them. For platform instructions and print preparation, we use official documentation and the relevant provider's specifications. A provider's instructions describe its service; they are not evidence that its product is better than another. Where we summarise, the source is one click away.

  2. Say when something varies

    Most of what we cover is set locally. Where a requirement differs by state, county or city, we say so and point you at the body that decides, rather than giving a national answer that is wrong in half the country.

  3. Date what is time-sensitive

    Thresholds and rates change. Where a figure moves, we say to check the current number rather than printing one that will quietly go stale.

  4. Correct things properly

    When we get something wrong we fix the page rather than quietly deleting it.

Marketing recommendations and examples

Suggestions about audiences, messages and channel choices are editorial judgement. We explain the tradeoffs and distinguish those suggestions from documented requirements. Printer specifications and platform features vary; check the instructions for the service you use.

Worked campaigns and calculations are clearly labelled as hypothetical. They illustrate a decision or calculation, not a business's results or a forecast. We do not guarantee leads, sales, search rankings or a return on marketing spend.

What we will not do

Not on this site

  • Scores, star ratings, grades or tier lists
  • Claims to have tested, trialled or benchmarked a product
  • Invented statistics, survey results or counts
  • Described methodology for work that did not happen
  • Guarantees about search rankings or approval outcomes

What we do instead

  • Plain editorial judgement, in words, with reasons
  • Links to primary sources so you can verify
  • Explicit uncertainty where rules genuinely vary
  • Ranges and "check current figures" rather than false precision
Why this page exists

A great deal of small-business content online carries invented authority - scores with no scoring, rankings with no ranking, and methodology sections describing tests nobody ran. It is persuasive and it is worthless. We would rather say plainly what we know and where it came from.

Commercial relationships

Where we have a commercial relationship with anything we mention, we disclose it. Our current position is set out on the disclosure page, and it is kept accurate rather than aspirational - if the position changes, that page changes.

This is general information

Nothing here is legal, tax, accounting or insurance advice. We write for owners trying to understand what applies to them, which is a different job from advising on a specific situation. For decisions with real consequences, check with the agency or a licensed professional in your state.

Telling us we got it wrong

Corrections are welcome and we would rather have them than not. If you can, include the page, what is wrong, and the jurisdiction you are in - local rules are exactly where a general guide is most likely to drift.

Found an error?

Tell us what is wrong and where you are, and we will check it against the source.

Report a correction