How to Use a Donor-Advised Fund to Reduce Taxes

donor-advised fund to reduce taxes strategy for business owners

Using a donor-advised fund to reduce taxes is becoming one of the most effective ways for business owners to structure charitable giving. Most business owners give to charity every year. But very few structure their giving in a way that meaningfully reduces their tax bill. If you want to use a donor-advised fund to reduce […]

Monthly vs Quarterly Payroll for S Corps | IRS Rules Explained

S Corp Payroll Timing: Monthly vs Quarterly

Monthly vs Quarterly Payroll for S Corps | IRS Rules Explained Monthly vs quarterly payroll is not a preference question. It’s a compliance decision that affects cash flow, penalties, and audit risk. Running payroll once a year to save on paperwork, paying yourself randomly when cash feels tight, or not realizing you’re quietly waving a […]

How to Pay Yourself as an LLC Owner in 2026

How to Pay Yourself as an LLC Owner in 2026

How to Pay Yourself as an LLC Owner in 2026 If you’ve formed an LLC, you’ve probably asked this question already. How do I actually pay myself? Paying yourself the wrong way can create IRS issues, messy books, and missed tax savings. Paying yourself the right way keeps your finances clean and helps you understand […]

The 10 LLC Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Business in 2026

LLC mistakes business owners should avoid in 2026

The 10 LLC Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Business in 2026   Forming an LLC is easy. Running it correctly is where most business owners get into trouble. Every year, we see the same LLC mistakes show up again and again. These LLC mistakes don’t come from bad intentions, they come from missing guidance. These […]

January Tax Checklist for Small Business Owners: 4 Steps to Start 2026 Right

January tax checklist for small business owners

January Tax Checklist for Small Business Owners January is when most tax problems quietly begin. Not because business owners do nothing, but because they move forward without closing the year behind them. Unfinished bookkeeping, missing documents, rushed decisions, and no clear tax plan all create problems that show up months later when it is harder […]

1099 Rules for Small Business Owners: Who Needs One, Deadlines, and Penalties

1099 rules for small business owners explained, including filing requirements, deadlines, and penalties

Every January, small business owners trying to follow 1099 rules for small business owners run into the same confusion. Who needs a 1099? Which form do I send? What’s the deadline? What happens if I missed something? 1099s are one of those tax requirements that feel simple until they suddenly aren’t. And when they’re done […]

The Biggest Tax Planning Mistake Business Owners Will Regret in 2026

Tax planning mistake business owners make with self-directed retirement accounts

The biggest tax planning mistake business owners make is assuming tax strategy happens automatically. This tax planning mistake shows up when business owners know the rules but never implement them correctly, especially with retirement tax planning and self-directed IRAs. Many business owners believe their tax planning is handled because they have discussed deductions, entity structure, […]

Top Tax Mistakes New Business Owners Make and How to Avoid Them | Q&A

tax mistakes new business owners make

Tax mistakes new business owners make are almost always preventable. Most first-year entrepreneurs do not realize how 1099 income works, when an LLC matters, how Schedule C affects their taxes, or how deductions like the home office and Augusta Rule actually apply. These early misunderstandings lead to higher tax bills, missing deductions, and avoidable IRS […]

Small Business Year-End Tax Planning: The Ultimate 2025 Guide

S Corp year-end tax checklist for small business owners showing required payroll, deductions, and December 31 deadlines.

Small business year-end tax planning is your last chance to lock in major savings before December 31. This guide covers the S Corp steps, deductions, AGI strategies, and timing rules that matter now. Before December 31, your small business year-end tax planning should focus on…   The Three Things Every S Corp Owner Must Do […]

How to Write Off Equipment | Bonus Depreciation and Section 179 Explained

bonus depreciation, Section 179, equipment tax deductions, business depreciation

Are you quietly losing money every time you buy equipment?  Not because of your purchase, but because you’re using the wrong deduction method? Most business owners assume they have to depreciate items slowly, but they don’t. The rules are much more flexible than people think. With the new 100% bonus depreciation, updated Section 179 limits, […]