For many business owners, choosing a successor is the most challenging task related to succession planning. Owners of family-owned businesses, who may have multiple children or other relatives to consider, particularly tend to struggle with this tough choice.
Brand Audits Can Help Companies in a Variety of Ways
A strong brand can help boost revenue, while a weaker one may reduce sales opportunities and stifle growth.
Like many business owners, you’ve probably spent considerable time and energy crafting your company’s brand. Doing so has likely involved coming up with a memorable business name and logo, communicating with customers in a distinctive manner, and, above all, building a solid reputation in your market.
Why an LLC Is Perfect for Your Small to Medium Business
Choosing the right business entity is a crucial decision for any business. The entity you pick can affect your tax bill, your personal liability, and other issues. A limited liability company (LLC) is an attractive choice for many businesses. It can be structured to resemble a corporation for owner liability purposes and a partnership for federal tax purposes. This duality may provide the owners with several benefits.
Make Business Succession and Estate Planning Inseparable
If you’re a business owner, your company is likely your most valuable asset. To ensure it survives after you’re gone, you first need a succession plan that will provide a smooth transition of the business to one or more of your children (assuming you want to keep it in the family). In addition, you need an estate plan that effectively addresses the tax impact of transferring your ownership interests to the next generation.
Strategic Planning for Businesses Needs to Include Innovation
When the leadership teams of many companies engage in strategic planning, they may be inclined to play it safe. And that’s understandable; sticking to strengths and slow, measured growth are often safe pathways to success.
Tax Secrets: Optimizing Business Website Expenses
Most businesses have websites today. Despite their widespread use, the IRS hasn’t issued formal guidance on when website costs can be deducted.
However, there are established rules that generally apply to the deductibility of business expenses and provide business taxpayers launching a website with some guidance about proper treatment. In addition, businesses can turn to IRS guidance on software costs. Here are some answers to questions you may have.
Be Aware of the Tax Consequences of Selling Business Property
You should understand the tax implications if you’re selling property used in your trade or business. There are many complex rules that can potentially apply. To simplify this discussion, let’s assume that the property you want to sell is land or depreciable property used in your business, which you have held for over a year.
Closing a Business Involves a Number of Tax Responsibilities
While many facets of the economy have improved this year, the rising cost of living and other economic factors have caused many businesses to close their doors. If this is your situation, we can help you, including taking care of various tax responsibilities.
The Importance of Buy-Sell Agreements for Co-owned Businesses
Are you buying a business that will have one or more co-owners? Or do you already own one fitting that description? If so, consider installing a buy-sell agreement. A well-drafted agreement can do these valuable things:
- Transform your business ownership interest into a more liquid asset,
- Prevent unwanted ownership changes, and
- Avoid hassles with the IRS.
Vroom Vroom: What Businesses Should Know about Sales Velocity
Owning and running a company tends to test one’s patience. You wait for strategies to play out. You wait for materials, supplies, or equipment to arrive. You wait for key positions to be filled. But, when it comes to sales, how patient should you be? A widely used metric called “sales velocity” can help you decide.