Starting a business comes with a seemingly endless list of things you have to figure out. Choose a name. Buy a domain. Open a bank account. Get an EIN. Figure out accounting. Maybe build a website. Maybe convince your family that, yes, this is actually going to work. And somewhere in that pile
10 Tax Tips for Sole Proprietors
Being a sole proprietor is one of the simplest ways to start a business. You don't have to create a separate corporation, issue yourself a paycheck, or maintain a complicated corporate tax structure. But "simple" doesn't mean "hands-off" when it comes to taxes. As a sole proprietor, your
Can Your Business Buy a Car? How Entrepreneurs Should Finance and Deduct a Business Vehicle
At some point, a lot of entrepreneurs reach the same realization: “I'm driving to see clients constantly. I think I actually need a car for the business.” Maybe you're visiting customers, traveling between job sites, meeting prospects, hauling equipment, or simply putting a ridiculous number
How to Increase Customer Retention and Get More Repeat Purchases
Getting a new customer is exciting. Getting that same customer to buy from you again is often much more valuable. Businesses can spend a significant amount of money on advertising, promotions, salespeople, and other customer-acquisition efforts just to convince someone to make their first
Beyond Profits: Cultivating Care for Your Business and Bottom Line
The world of business can often feel transactional, focused almost entirely on revenue, expenses, and the elusive bottom line. And yes, financial success matters. A business that can't make money eventually becomes a very expensive hobby. But caring for your business is about more than maximizing
When Should Your Small Business Add Another Service?
There is a particular moment in every small business owner's life when a customer asks: "Do you guys also do ______?" Sometimes the answer is easy: "No, that's not what we do." But eventually, you hear the question enough times that you start wondering whether you're leaving money on the
537 Installment Sale Trusts for Commercial Real Estate: Strategy vs. Scrutiny
When commercial real estate property owners in the Seattle and Puget Sound area prepare for a major exit, capital gains taxes are often the biggest hurdle to preserving net proceeds. Between federal capital gains, depreciation recapture, and Washington’s local real estate excise taxes (REET), an
Unincorporated Business Tax (UBT) Guide
The unincorporated business tax (UBT) remains a crucial consideration for businesses operating as sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies (LLCs) taxed as partnerships, and trusts in specific localities. This levy, imposed at the local level rather than federally, applies to