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Accounting & ERP Guides, Comparisons, and Tools for Growing Businesses

Still trying to figure out whether QuickBooks, Xero, Zoho, or a full ERP system is the right fit; or whether your current setup just needs to be cleaned up and configured properly? This is where Certum Solutions publishes the guides, comparisons, checklists, and case studies we wish more businesses had before they signed a software contract or hired a bookkeeper. Everything here is written by our own accounting and ERP consulting team for U.S.-based small and mid-sized businesses (roughly $1M–$50M in revenue) evaluating their systems in 2026; not outside contributors guessing at what matters.

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Software Comparisons
Head-to-head breakdowns of QuickBooks, Xero, Zoho, Odoo, and ERP options, built to help you decide, not just compare features.
Free Resource
Free checklists, templates, and calculators you can use today
VIDEO tutorials
Step-by-step walkthroughs recorded inside real QuickBooks, Xero, and ERP accounts.
CASE STUDIES
Real Certum client stories: the problem, the system we implemented, and the result.
Blog
In-depth articles on QuickBooks, Xero, Zoho, ERP, & running the financial side of your business.

Latest from Certum

The newest guides, updates, and breakdowns from our team — covering QuickBooks, Xero, Zoho, ERP, and everything in between.

Blog Magen McLaughlin Blog Magen McLaughlin

Your NC Secretary of State Annual Report Is Due April 15, 2026— Here's What You Need to Know

If you own an LLC or corporation registered in North Carolina, there is a compliance deadline sitting on your calendar that you cannot afford to ignore: April 15, 2026. That is the date the North Carolina Secretary of State requires most business entities to file their annual report, and failing to do it does not just result in a fine. It can result in your business being administratively dissolved. 

We talk to business owners every day who didn't realize this deadline existed, didn't realize it applied to them, or assumed someone else was handling it. This post is our attempt to make sure that is not you. 

Not sure where your business stands? We'll check for you. Get a Free Compliance Review 

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Blog, Video Tutorials Magen McLaughlin Blog, Video Tutorials Magen McLaughlin

QuickBooks Online Advanced: Backup & Restore Has Moved (2026) 

This guide covers the 2026 change Intuit QuickBooks made to the location of the backup and restore feature in QuickBooks Online Advanced. It explains where the feature used to be, where it is now, how to turn it on, how to run both automatic and manual backups, the difference between the three backup types, and how to restore a previous backup.

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Blog Magen McLaughlin Blog Magen McLaughlin

9 Benefits of Inventory Accounting 

For businesses that sell, resell, manufacture, or distribute physical products, inventory typically represents the largest asset on the balance sheet. Yet inventory accounting remains one of the most misunderstood aspects of financial management. 

When inventory systems don't align with accounting platforms, the financial consequences compound quickly: distorted gross margins, inaccurate cost of goods sold (COGS), balance sheet discrepancies, and operational decisions based on unreliable data.

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Video Tutorials, Training & Webinars Magen McLaughlin Video Tutorials, Training & Webinars Magen McLaughlin

How to Use and Manage Receipts in QuickBooks Online 

This guide explains how to capture, attach, and manage receipts in QuickBooks Online. It covers three ways to get receipts into QuickBooks; the mobile app camera, desktop file upload, and team email forwarding. Followed by how to review, categorize, and save each receipt correctly. The guide also covers attaching receipt images directly to transactions for audit purposes. Who is it for? Small business owners, bookkeepers, and office managers who use QuickBooks Online and want a cleaner, more organized system for tracking business expenses. 

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News & Updates, Video Tutorials Magen McLaughlin News & Updates, Video Tutorials Magen McLaughlin

What's New in Odoo 19 E-Commerce? 2026 Feature & Implementation Guide

Odoo 19 e-commerce, released September 2025 with refinements in the January 2026 Odoo 19.1 patch, introduces 10+ significant updates to the Odoo website and shop modules. Key features include a redesigned abandoned cart recovery system (targeting only future carts, not historical ones), click & collect with real-time per-location stock visibility, fully mobile-optimized product comparison, alternative product blocks with custom per-product titles, configurable extra checkout steps, wish list functionality, dynamic product option filtering (with auto search above 20 variants), white-box image magnification, unit-of-measure pricing, and payment method badge display throughout the purchase journey.

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Free Resource Magen McLaughlin Free Resource Magen McLaughlin

2026 Tax Calendar: Key Deadlines for Business Owners

The 2026 tax calendar includes critical deadlines every business owner and individual must track. Key dates include April 15 for individual returns, quarterly estimated tax payments on April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15, 2027, and January 31 for W-2 and 1099 distribution. Remember: extensions don't extend time to pay, just time to file.

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Featured Resources

Our most-requested guides, tools, and breakdowns — picked for businesses actively evaluating software, cleaning up their books, or getting ready to scale.

Printable Resources

Free: Starting a New Business Checklist
Q4 Maximize Profits Checklist
Free: AI In Bookkeeping Start Guide
Landed Cost Profit Calculator
Monthly Bookkeeping Checklist
Free: Bookkeeping Year-End Financial Review Checklist

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