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Small Business Nov 11, 2026 6 min read
The Year-End Checklist Every Small Business Should Run in November
Payroll, contractor info, equipment purchases and clean books — get ahead of January's filing rush.
January is one of the busiest filing months of the year for small businesses: W-2s, 1099s and fourth-quarter payroll reports all land at once. The owners who breeze through it did their homework in November.
Payroll and contractors
- Confirm employee names, addresses and Social Security numbers for W-2s.
- Collect a W-9 from every contractor you paid this year — before you need to file 1099s.
- Record any bonuses or fringe benefits that need to run through payroll.
Books and purchases
- Reconcile every bank and credit card account through October.
- Review outstanding invoices and write off truly uncollectible ones.
- Plan any equipment or vehicle purchases with us first — timing can affect your deduction.
- Count inventory if your business carries stock.
Owner items
Review your own estimated payments, retirement contributions and, for S-Corp owners, whether your salary is reasonable. These decisions shape your personal return as much as the business return.
