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More by Holly Akins

BulletProof Writing Services’ founder, Holly Akins, started off in the business world as a bookkeeper at a small business. She specialized in working with rental property groups, property management companies, and medical practices. During her fifteen years as a bookkeeper, she developed an appreciation for local businesses and individuals who dream big. Holly saw firsthand how her skills can make a difference for start-ups and family-owned businesses. But although she loved the companies and clients she worked with, Holly didn’t love working with numbers all day, every day. After spending the day crunching numbers, Holly would spend all night reading or writing and eventually decided to change careers. However, she still had a heart for independent, local businesses. She still wanted to use her skills to support their missions. And so, the idea for BulletProof Writing Services came to be. Holly founded BulletProof in 2020 as a way to combine the two things she is most passionate about: reading good books and supporting small businesses. Holly was a philosophy major at the University of Richmond and is now a graduate of the Proofreading Academy, the Poynter Institute, and Proofread Anywhere with a certification in general proofreading: theory & practice. She is a member of ACES: The Society for Editing, the Editorial Freelancers Association, the Freelancer’s Union, and Distributed Proofreaders as well as a volunteer contributing proofreader for Project Gutenberg.

Asset Class Life and Recovery Period Reference Sheet

Before rental property owners can calculate their depreciation for the year, they must determine an asset’s class life and recovery period, which are set by the IRS. We’ve put together a table showing common rental property assets and improvements along with their expected lifespans and recovery periods for you to use as a quick-reference guide!

Hiring a Bookkeeper for Your Rental Property Business

You’ve decided it is time to get a bookkeeper for your rental property business – but do you know where to start? It can be a lot to think about, so we’ve put together a guide to hiring bookkeepers for rental property owners.

Exploring Seasonal Rental Income: Put Your Vacation Home to Work

Vacation homes make fantastic seasonal rentals, and the IRS even offers tax breaks to property owners who meet certain requirements. Let’s talk about seasonal rentals, the pros and cons of short-term rentals, and the tax implications that come from renting out your vacation home.

Calculating Your Home Office Deduction

The home office deduction can be complicated, and questions are understandable. What can you include in the deduction? How do you calculate it? Where do you report it? Today we’ll cover the dos and don’ts of the home office deduction so you’ll be ready to file in time for tax day.

Can Rental Property Businesses Take a Home Office Deduction?

Whether or not you can take a home office deduction for your rental property is not an easy question! To help you navigate this gray area, we’ve put together a review of the home office deduction and the questions surrounding it. Why is there a debate? Who qualifies for the deduction? Is taking the deduction worth it? We’ll cover all those and more.

Reporting Rental Income: IRS Red Flags for Property Owners

Calculating revenue is a hot topic for rental property owners, particularly since reporting too little or too much income comes with significant consequences. In this article, we’ll discuss the basics of reporting rental income, ways the IRS can learn about unreported revenue, and the potential results of incorrectly reporting your rental income.

Rental Losses: Deductions, Suspensions, and Exemptions

Rental losses are common in the real estate investment industry, but many investors aren’t sure how to handle them when tax time arrives. To clear up this confusion, today we’re answering the top five questions related to real estate losses.

Small-Scale Property Managers: Right for Your Rental?

As a real estate investor, you may wonder if hiring a property manager is right for you and your rental business. Each situation is unique, so let’s discuss what property managers do, types of property managers, and the pros, cons, and fees associated with management companies.

Auditing Schedule E Income and Expense Categories

Today we are examining the Schedule E’s income and expense categories. When it’s time for you to complete your Schedule E, you’ll be confident that your reportable income is accurate and your deductible expenses are properly categorized.

Beyond Deductions: A Comprehensive Tax-Time Review

Getting your tax return ready for your rental property business can be overwhelming and stressful. We can help you fight that tax-related anxiety, though. REI Hub’s comprehensive five-part review will help you get ready for tax time.

Signs Your Books Aren’t Ready for Tax Time

Rushing through your tax prep for the year comes with risks, so we’ve put together a checklist of accounting red flags. If your records have any of these issues, your books may not be ready for tax time.

How to Create a Budget for Your Rental Property

Knowing how to budget and plan for costs will save you money and stress in the long run. So, we’ve created an eight-step process to help you create, maintain, and use a budget effectively for your rental property business.

7 Myths about LLCs for Rental Properties

An LLC is a great option for many landlords—but maybe not for the reasons you’re thinking. Let’s look at these misconceptions to uncover what the true purpose of an LLC really is.

Do I Need a Cash Reserve for My Rental Property?

Owning rental property comes with a certain amount of risk, and maintaining a cash reserve is the best way to ameliorate that risk. Today we’re covering the basics of cash reserves and savings tips that you can start using immediately.

Journal Entry for Selling Rental Property

When you sell an investment property, you need to create a journal entry to record the transaction. There are many factors to consider, but we’ve provided a sample situation and journal entry as a reference point.

7 KPIs for Purchasing Rental Properties

When you’re looking to invest in real estate, you need to know more about a property than its purchase price and potential rent. Key performance indicators (KPIs) help real estate investors evaluate potential properties for purchase, reduce risk, and maximize profits.

KPIs for Rental Property Owners

Key performance indicators (KPIs) help rental property owners evaluate their properties and increase their revenue and profitability. We’ve put together a list of the seven most important KPIs to help you measure, monitor, and manage your rental properties effectively.

Do You Need Property Management Software?

We’ve all seen the advertisements for property management software, promising to put your real estate investments on autopilot. But does it live up to the hype, and how can you get the most out of it?

Top Five Errors in Rental Property Bookkeeping

There is a lot to keep track of when managing and keeping the books for a rental property investment. Check out our list of the top five bookkeeping errors we commonly see to make sure that you don’t make the same mistakes!

Bookkeeping for an Insurance Claim

Having an insurance policy for your rental property helps offset the costs to repair damage from accidents, vandalism, or natural disasters. But once the insurance company has processed your claim, how do you account for the insurance payment?

Cash Flow Statements for Rental Properties

If cash is king – then you better be familiar with a cash flow statement! Let’s discuss what a cash flow statement is, how it differs from a balance sheet and income statement, and how to read it correctly.

Accounting for House Flips

Whether you’re interested in flipping one property or starting a business dedicated to house flipping, it’s important to have a good accounting system in place!

Accounting for House Hacking

House hacking is a popular way to get started in real estate investing – and for good reason! But since house hacking inherently blends personal and rental costs, there are some implications for your accounting that you should be aware of, especially at tax time.

Rental Property Asset Depreciation

Every rental property investor takes depreciation deductions on their taxes every year, but not every investor knows exactly what that means or where those numbers are coming from. Read on for a primer on rental property depreciation!