Wemu Blog
Running a small business, the local way
Guides, comparisons, and compliance how-tos for small businesses in the Philippines, Australia, and the United States. Written by the team building Wemu.
STP Phase 2: the complete 2026 guide for Australian small businesses
Single Touch Payroll Phase 2 rolled out across every Australian business with employees — yet most small operators are still getting it wrong. Here's what changed, what the ATO wants, and how to stay compliant without hiring a second bookkeeper.
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Schedule C for small business: the 2026 IRS filing guide
If you're a sole proprietor or single-member LLC in the US, Schedule C is how you tell the IRS what your business did this year. Here's the line-by-line guide — plus the deductions most first-time filers miss.
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The best Square alternative for Australian service businesses
Square is the default for Australian cafés and salons because it's easy to start with. It also plateaus fast — service-business bookings are an afterthought, processing fees add up, and STP integration is paid extra. Here's the better fit.
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Wemu vs Square: the honest comparison for US service businesses
Square built the default US POS. It's also stuck between two worlds — good enough for retail, thin for service. If you take bookings, run a team, or need real payroll, the gap between Wemu and Square is bigger than Square's marketing admits.
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How to file BIR Form 2550M: the monthly VAT guide for small businesses
Every VAT-registered business in the Philippines owes BIR Form 2550M by the 20th of the following month. Here's the plain-English version — deadlines, penalties, line-by-line, and how to draft it in under a minute.
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The best Shopify POS alternative for appointment-based businesses
Shopify POS is beautiful for e-commerce with a pickup counter. It's not for a salon, a spa, a clinic, a gym, or a studio. If you're an appointment-based business on Shopify POS, here's what to use instead.
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How to set up Afterpay for your small business in Australia (2026)
Afterpay drives 20–30% higher average order values and reaches a customer demographic that wouldn't otherwise shop with you. Setting it up as a small business is straightforward — if you know which of the three routes to take.
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The best Fresha alternative for Philippine salons and clinics
Fresha is a great product — built for London and LA. Run a salon in Manila, Cebu, or Davao and the gaps add up fast: no GCash, no BIR receipts, support timezones that don't overlap yours. Here's what to use instead.
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GCash for small business: the complete 2026 setup guide
GCash now handles over 77 million users in the Philippines — more than half the population. If you run a business here and don't accept it, you're leaving money on the table. Here's how to set up GCash properly in 2026.
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The best POS system for small businesses in the Philippines (2026)
Finding a POS that supports GCash, issues BIR-compliant receipts, and doesn't charge you US-level fees is harder than it looks. We ran six systems through the same Manila café test. Here's what actually works.
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How to open a coffee shop in Manila: the 2026 guide
Manila's third-wave coffee scene is still expanding, but the bar has gone up. Rent in Poblacion is 2× pre-pandemic, BIR enforcement is tighter, and you need a digital-first ops stack from day one. Here's what it actually takes.
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