Selling a small to medium-sized business is a complex venture, and many business owners are not aware of the tax consequences.
Small Business Tax Roundup
Due to recent legislation such as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the CARES Act, tax changes affect both individual taxpayers and small businesses. In 2020, the IRS issued several guidance documents and final rules and regulations that clarified several tax provisions affecting businesses. Here are five of them:
Six Tips for Starting Your Own Business
Starting your own business can be an exciting prospect, but there is more to it than simply writing a business plan. Also, if you expect to have employees, there are a variety of federal and state forms and applications that you need to complete to get your business up and running. That’s where a tax professional can help. With this in mind, let’s take a look at what you need to know before you start a new business.
Choosing a Business Entity
When you decide to start a business, one of the most important decisions you’ll need to make is choosing a business entity. It’s a decision that impacts many things—from the amount of taxes you pay to how much paperwork you have to deal with and what type of personal liability you face, and with the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, it’s more important than ever to choose the business entity that benefits your business.
Ask Bob: Should My Business Be an S Corporation? 6 Myths and Facts
CPA Robert Russo Breaks Down the Question: Should My Business Be an S Corp?
Ever since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law in late 2017, the team at Robert P. Russo, CPA has been getting questions about which business entity will allow them to best take advantage of the law. One question that keeps coming up is: should my business be an S corp? We get this question from LLCs and sole proprietorships – even employees wondering if now’s the time to launch that startup.
The answer to “should my business be an S corp”? It depends. There are benefits to becoming an S corporation (taking a distribution of dividends exempt from self-employment tax). But there are also pitfalls – if you don’t follow S corp requirements (take too large a distribution, and you could hear from the IRS).
Exiting a Business: Which Option Is Right for You?
Selecting your business successor is a fundamental objective when planning your exit strategy and requires a careful assessment of what you want from the sale of your business and who can best give it to you.
There are only four ways to leave your business and the more you understand about each one, the better the chance is that you will leave your business on your terms and under the conditions you want. With that in mind, here’s what you need to know about each option:
Small Business Financing: Securing a Small Business Loan
At some point, most small business owners will visit a bank or other lending institution to borrow money. Understanding what your bank wants, and how to properly approach them, can mean the difference between getting a loan for expansion or scrambling to find cash from other sources.
Unfortunately, many business owners fall victim to several common, but potentially destructive myths regarding financing, such as:
Ask Bob: Should I Hire an Accountant or Do Taxes Myself? (7 FAQs)
The big question: Is hiring an accountant to do my tax return really worth it?
At this time of year, we’re all bombarded with ads promoting the simplicity and savings of using online tax software or walk-in tax prep centers. For people with a simple W2 form and maybe an investment account or two, these services will get the job done.
However, there are many situations where hiring an accountant can save you thousands of dollars, help you avoid an audit and fines, and set you up for an even more profitable year ahead. The question is: which category do you fall into?
In our latest edition of “Ask Bob,” we answer frequently asked questions about whether it’s really necessary to hire an accountant, or if you can go it alone. Here’s what Bob had to say…
4 Cash Management Tips for Small Businesses
Cash is the lifeblood of any small business. Here are some tips to help your business maintain a sufficient cash flow to meet its financial goals and run efficiently:
How to Prepare an Effective Business Plan
A business plan is a valuable tool whether you’re seeking additional financing for an existing business, starting a new company, or analyzing a new market. Think of it as your blueprint for success. Not only will it clarify your business vision and goals, but it will also force you to gain a thorough understanding of how resources (financial and human) will be used to carry out that vision and goals.