Starting a business is exciting. Choosing a name, finding your first customers, and making your first dollar can feel like huge milestones. But before most entrepreneurs can officially operate, they need to decide how to structure their business. For many small business owners, freelancers,
How to Handle Health Insurance When You’re Self-Employed
One of the biggest adjustments when you leave a traditional job is losing employer-sponsored health insurance. For self-employed individuals, that responsibility shifts entirely onto you, and it can feel expensive, confusing, and easy to get wrong. The good news is that there are multiple options
Strategies to Minimize Capital Gains on the Sale of Your Business
Selling a business is often the result of years -- sometimes decades -- of hard work. It can also trigger one of the largest tax events of your life. Without proper planning, a significant portion of your sale proceeds can be lost to taxes. The good news: with the right strategies in place before
Is That Startup Note a Strategy or a Sham?
In the competitive business landscape, business owners are constantly looking for an edge. Whether you are scaling a SaaS startup in South Lake Union or managing a growing medical practice in Kirkland, the goal is always the same: keep more of what you earn. However, there is a fine line between
The MBA Reimbursement Dilemma: Is Your Startup’s Education Assistance Plan Audit-Proof?
For many Seattle tech founders, the line between "building a business" and "getting an education" often blurs. We frequently see SaaS founders in the South Lake Union or Bellevue ecosystems who transition directly from an MBA program into a high-growth C-Corp. The question is: Can your startup
Is the ROBS Strategy Too Good to Be True?
TL;DR: ROBS is a high-risk, high-maintenance strategy. It is great for entrepreneurs who have $500k in a 401(k) but $0 in the bank and need to buy a franchise. For a profitable business like yours, an S-Corp usually offers the best balance of tax savings and "sleep-at-night" security. High-Stakes
How Small Businesses Can Acquire New Clients
"If a man can make a better mousetrap, the world will make a beaten path to his door." -Ralph Waldo Emerson Most business owners know the three classic pillars of client acquisition: outreach, advertising, and word of mouth. They matter (and they work), but they aren’t the whole picture. As
Can a W2 Employee Deduct Phone & Internet Because of Job Requirements?
No, you cannot deduct your personal phone (or home internet), even if your employer requires you to use your own phone for work calls. Here's why and when the rare exceptions apply. Why It’s Usually Disallowed for W-2 Employees Before 2018, unreimbursed employee expenses (such as using your