Business

While many businesses have been forced to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some entrepreneurs have begun launching a new small business. Many of these people start out operating as sole proprietors. Here are some tax rules and considerations involved in operating with that entity. The pass-through deduction To the extent your business generates qualified […]

When the Small Business Administration (SBA) launched the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) last year, the program’s stated objective was “to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll.” However, according to federal officials, the recently issued second round of funding has distributed only a small percentage of the $15 billion […]

If your business sponsors a 401k plan, you might someday consider adding designated Roth contributions. Here are some factors to explore when deciding whether such a feature would make sense for your company and its employees. Key differences Roth contributions differ from other elective deferrals in two key tax respects. First, they’re irrevocably designated to […]

Whether you sell directly to the buying public or engage primarily in B2B transactions, building customers’ trust in your website is more important than ever. The events of the past year have taught business owners many important lessons. One of them is that, when a crisis hits, customers turn on their computers and look to […]

On December 27, 2020, The Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 (CAA) was signed into law. The new law enacted Section 2017 of The Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020 (TCDTRA 2020). This Act extends the COVID-19 employee retention payroll tax credit to include wages paid during the period January 1, 2021 to June […]

Using a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis to frame an important business decision is a long-standing recommended practice. But don’t overlook other, broader uses that could serve your company well. Performance factors A SWOT analysis starts by spotlighting internal strengths and weaknesses that affect business performance. Strengths are competitive advantages or core competencies […]

Over the past year, the importance of leadership at every level of a business has been emphasized. When a crisis such as a pandemic hits, it creates a sort of stress test for not only business owners and executives, but also supervisors of departments and work groups. Multigenerational management is key for communication with employees […]

Many business owners generate financial statements, at least in part, because lenders and other stakeholders demand it. You’re likely also aware of how insightful properly prepared financial statements can be — especially when they follow Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. But how can you best extract these useful insights? One way is to view your financial […]

A new year has arrived and, with it, a fresh 12 months of opportunities to communicate with customers and prospects. Like every year, 2021 brings distinctive marketing trends to the table. The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic challenges continue to drive the conversation in most industries. To get more for your marketing dollars, you’ll need […]

The Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) reopened the week of January 11. If you’re fortunate to get PPP loans to help during the COVID-19 crisis (or you received one last year), you may wonder about the tax consequences. Background on the loans In March of 2020, the CARES Act […]