Small Business Tips

Occupational fraud still affects many businesses

The more things change, the more they stay the same. This age-old saying applies to many things, and one of them is fraud perpetrated against businesses by their employees. In fact, occupational fraud cost organizations about 5% of their revenue on average last year, according to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners’ Occupational Fraud 2024: A […]

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DOs and DON’Ts to help protect your business expense deductions

If you’re claiming deductions for business meals or vehicle expenses, expect the IRS to closely review them. In some cases, taxpayers have incomplete documentation or try to create records months (or years) later. In doing so, they fail to meet the strict substantiation requirements set forth under tax law. Tax auditors are adept at rooting

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5 tax breaks on the table: What business owners should know about the latest proposals

A bill in Congress — dubbed The One, Big, Beautiful Bill — could significantly reshape several federal business tax breaks. While the proposed legislation is still under debate, it’s already sparking attention across business communities. Here’s a look at the current rules and proposed changes for five key tax provisions and what they could mean

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Explore SEP and SIMPLE retirement plans for your small business

Suppose you’re thinking about setting up a retirement plan for yourself and your employees. However, you’re concerned about the financial commitment and administrative burdens involved. There are a couple of options to consider. Let’s take a look at a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) and a Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE). SEPs offer easy

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Businesses considering incorporation should beware of the reasonable compensation conundrum

Small to midsize businesses have valid reasons for incorporating, not the least of which is putting that cool “Inc.” at the end of their names. Other reasons include separating owners’ personal assets from their business liabilities and offering stock options as an employee incentive. If you’re considering incorporation for your company, however, it’s essential to

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Small business strategy: A heavy vehicle plus a home office equals tax savings

New and used “heavy” SUVs, pickups and vans placed in service in 2025 are potentially eligible for big first-year depreciation write-offs. One requirement is you must use the vehicle more than 50% for business. If your business usage is between 51% and 99%, you may be able to deduct that percentage of the cost in

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Embrace the future: Sales forecasting for businesses

So, how are sales looking for next year? It’s not a rhetorical question. Your business should be able to look ahead and accurately estimate how its future sales are shaping up. This practice is called sales forecasting, and doing it well is key to better managing your company’s financial performance. Why it’s important Formally defined,

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When can you deduct business meals and entertainment?

You’re not alone if you’re confused about the federal tax treatment of business-related meal and entertainment expenses. The rules have changed in recent years. Let’s take a look at what you can deduct in 2024. Current law The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminated deductions for most business-related entertainment expenses. That means, for example, that

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