In this episode, we dig into a real C-corporation case where lifestyle and ledgers didn’t match.

What started as a routine audit of a small nursery turned into a full breakdown of how personal spending hides inside business books — and how that creates the kind of red flags the IRS can’t ignore.

From buried luxury car upgrades…
To inflated “miscellaneous” expenses…
To an owner who meant well but misunderstood the rules…

This case became a perfect example of why perception matters just as much as documentation. You’ll hear how misclassified vehicle expenses unraveled into reasonable compensation issues, what the IRS looks for in a lifestyle mismatch, and why “my accountant should’ve caught that” isn’t a defense.

This episode teaches the number one lesson most small-business owners never hear:
Your books tell a story — make sure it matches the life you’re living.

New episodes drop every Saturday.

When twenty audit cases landed in my IRS inbox on the same morning, I thought the first one would be easy — a simple review of charitable contributions. But the moment I hit “Join Meeting,” everything changed.

Episode 1 pulls you inside my very first real audit: the nerves, the unexpected twists, the missing substantiation, and the moment I realized that numbers never tell the whole story — people do.

You’ll hear how a routine Schedule A deduction turned into a lesson I carried for the rest of my career. And you’ll learn what really raises red flags, how evidence shapes outcomes, and why fairness and empathy don’t always fit neatly inside procedure.

This is the audit that set the tone for everything that came after.

Audit After Hours is a moody, narrative mini-series revealing the human side of IRS audits — real cases, real red flags, and what the IRS actually sees behind the scenes.

Bookkeeping isn’t a once-a-year event—it’s a habit.

In the Zero Fluff Books season finale, former IRS agent and bookkeeper Lauren Twitchell shares how to stop the catch-up chaos and finally keep your books clean all year long.

You’ll learn:
✅ Why year-end marathons never work (and what to do instead)
✅ How a 15-minute monthly check-in can change everything
✅ Five-minute micro-habits that keep your numbers fresh
✅ Simple ways to stay consistent—even when life gets busy

This is the wrap-up every small business owner, Etsy seller, and tradesperson needs before tax season hits.

Clean books. Less stress. Zero Fluff.

🎧 Tune in and start your new bookkeeping habit today.

“Cash or accrual?” It sounds like accountant-speak, but it’s one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make for your small business.

In this episode of Zero Fluff Books, former IRS agent and bookkeeper Lauren Twitchell breaks it down in plain English:

✅ The real difference between cash and accrual (and why it’s simpler than you think)
✅ Why most small shops, Etsy sellers, and tradespeople can stick with cash basis
✅ When the IRS or lenders might require accrual
✅ How to choose the right method for your business—without overcomplicating it

Whether you’re selling at markets, running a small trade, or managing your first Etsy shop, you’ll walk away with clarity and confidence about how your books really work.

Clean books. Less stress. Zero Fluff.

Your Profit & Loss Statement isn’t just an accounting report—it’s your business’s monthly health check. In this episode of Zero Fluff Books, we break down the P&L in plain English so you can finally understand what your numbers are really saying.

Lauren (former IRS agent turned bookkeeper) walks you through:

• How to read the top line (income) and avoid common recording mistakes

• What your expense categories reveal about your habits

• Why “net profit” isn’t the same as cash in the bank

• Three key questions your P&L should answer every month

  
  

Whether you’re an Etsy seller, food vendor, or tradesperson, this episode will help you turn your P&L from a mystery into your most powerful business tool.

Clean books. Less stress. Zero Fluff.

🎙️ Listen now and learn how to stop guessing—and start leading your business with clarity.

Inventory isn’t just stuff on a shelf—it’s cash waiting to become profit. In this episode of Zero Fluff Books, former IRS Agent Lauren Twitchell breaks down how to track inventory, separate supplies from materials, and calculate your true Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) without expensive software.

You’ll learn:

• The real difference between supplies and inventory (and why the IRS cares).

• Simple tracking systems using bins, labels, and spreadsheets.

• How to calculate COGS to uncover your real profit margin.

• When it’s time to upgrade from spreadsheets to tools like Craftybase or QuickBooks.

Whether you’re an Etsy seller, food vendor, or tradesperson—this episode will help you clean up your books, stop the leaks, and protect your profit.

🎧 Tune in, take notes, and bring order to your materials once and for all.

Still tossing receipts into a shoebox and promising to “deal with them later”?

It’s time to stop the chaos.

In this episode, former IRS agent Lauren Twitchell breaks down the real reason receipts matter — and how to organize them without losing your mind. You’ll learn why paper piles lead to panic, how digital systems save time, and what the IRS actually looks for when reviewing your expenses.

✅ Why the “shoebox method” doesn’t work anymore
✅ Paper vs. digital: what the IRS really accepts
✅ Simple cloud storage hacks using Google Drive or Dropbox
✅ The truth about “ordinary and necessary” expenses
✅ How to build a foolproof expense log for peace of mind

Whether you’re an Etsy seller, food vendor, or tradesperson, this episode will help you go from clutter to clarity — so your receipts stop being stress and start being proof.

Stop guessing — start reconciling. In this episode, former IRS agent and bookkeeper Lauren Twitchell breaks down what “reconciliation” really means in plain English and why it’s the heartbeat of clean, accurate books. Learn how to catch hidden errors, duplicate charges, missing deposits, and platform fees before they snowball — and how monthly reconciliation keeps you IRS-ready and stress-free.

✅ What reconciliation really is (no jargon)
✅ Step-by-step monthly check in Excel or QuickBooks
✅ Real-world examples for Etsy sellers, food vendors, and tradespeople
✅ How reconciliation protects you from fraud, errors, and tax-time panic

Zero Fluff Books is growing! For months, this podcast has been about no-nonsense bookkeeping education you can actually use. But today, I’m pulling back the curtain to share a big update: Zero Fluff Books is officially expanding into hands-on Bookkeeping Cleanup, ongoing support, and brand-new Audit Support Services.

In this bonus episode, I share why I made this pivot after leaving the IRS, what audit support actually looks like in real life, and how these services can take the stress and guesswork out of keeping your books clean—or responding to an IRS notice.

Whether you want to DIY your books or you’re ready for backup, this is your sneak peek into the future of Zero Fluff Books.

Your Chart of Accounts isn’t just accountant jargon—it’s the backbone of your bookkeeping. In this episode of the Zero Fluff Books Podcast, Lauren breaks down how to create and use a Chart of Accounts that actually works for your small business.

We’ll cover:

• Why categories matter for Etsy sellers, tradespeople, and side hustlers

• How to set up a simple Chart of Accounts with 10–12 categories (not 50!)

• Common mistakes that turn clean books into spaghetti messes

• The one action step you can take this week to finally get clarity

  
  

No jargon. No fluff. Just a straightforward system to help you see where your money goes, make smarter decisions, and run your business with confidence.

👉 Perfect for Etsy sellers, tradespeople, food vendors, and solopreneurs ready to get control of their books.