Mark a job up 100% and it feels like you just doubled your money. That’s the math every contractor thinks they’re doing, and it’s wrong. That’s because this math focuses on the markup and ignores the margin. Markup and margin seem interchangeable. They’re both percentages and both about pricing. Most people assume they are the […]
Why 2x Markup Does NOT Mean You Doubled Your Money: Markup vs. Margin Read More »
I’ve had a front row seat to many business partnerships over my years as a professional CPA. Some people will tell you that choosing to work with their partner was the best business decision they ever made. Others will tell you it’s the reason they almost lost everything, tangled up in a legal fight, and
Business Partnership – Choose Wisely Read More »
You want to help your daughter with a down payment, or hand a grandkid something real for graduation, and somebody warned you the gift tax is going to take a cut. It won’t. For almost everyone, going over the $19,000 annual gift limit costs exactly nothing in tax. The worst case is an extra form
Married Couples: How to Give More Than $19,000 Without Filing a Gift Tax Return Read More »
QuickBooks Online (QBO) is the accounting software most small businesses use, and for good reason. Bookkeepers use it. CPAs use it. Banks recognize it. Is it perfect? No. But it’s the one everybody speaks fluently, and that makes your life a whole lot easier. But here’s where a lot of business owners get tripped up:
Stop Guessing Which QuickBooks Plan You Need. Start Here. Read More »
Hiring is one of the most consequential decisions in business. Treating it like a necessary inconvenience, posting something fast, hoping for the best, is a good way to miss out on great candidates. If you’re listing jobs with Indeed what you put in a listing up front is often what you get out of it.
Tips to Hire Well with Indeed Read More »
You bought a piece of equipment online, the seller didn’t charge sales tax, and you figured you caught a break. You didn’t. You may still owe the tax. It’s called use tax, and it’s one of the most common reasons an Alabama small business gets hit with a surprise bill during an audit. Here’s what it is, when you owe it, and
Why Your City Wants to See Your Equipment Receipts Read More »
The catered lunch you buy your crew on a long install day has earned you a tax deduction for years. Starting in 2026, that same lunch may be worth nothing on your return. A tax change is coming that affects how businesses deduct meals, snacks, and food provided to employees. Some expenses that were 50%
Your Crew’s Lunch Just Lost Its Tax Deduction Read More »
A lot of small business owners assume that if they’re already paying rent on an outside space, the home office deduction is off the table. That assumption is costing them money. The IRS doesn’t limit you to one place of business. What they care about is something more specific, and once you understand the rule, you may realize you’ve been leaving a legitimate
Your Rented Space Doesn’t Kill Your Home Office Deduction Read More »
There’s a big difference between being busy and making progress. Most business owners work hard. They answer emails at midnight, solve customer problems on weekends, and spend years trying to grow something meaningful. But hard work alone doesn’t guarantee progress. Effort needs focus in a clear direction. Goal setting is the catalyst for that focus.
Goal Setting for Business Owners: Turning Big Ideas Into Real Progress Read More »
Every business owner looks for high-performing employees. They’re easy to spot. They solve problems, handle pressure, improve customer relationships. They’re the people you depend on most. Unfortunately, many businesses unintentionally punish strong performance. They give their best employees more work, more responsibility, and higher expectations without creating enough support. This inevitably leads to burnout if the cycle isn’t interrupted. Burnout isn’t driven by employee weakness
How to Avoid Burnout in Top-Performing Employees Read More »
