Smart Business BLOG

Made for sharp business minds—who want clarity, not clutter.

From compliance and payroll to planning for growth, we break down complex topics that shape the decisions behind how you run, invest in, and grow your business.

Smarter business starts here.

Join for the insights. Stay for the “oh, that actually helped.”

Maintaining accurate business records is crucial for maximizing deductions.

Denied Deductions for Inadequate Business Records

In order to claim a deduction, the federal tax law requires that you provide evidence for a trade or business expense. This means you must show the...

Strategies for Small Business Sustainability

Strategies for Small Business Sustainability

In the realm of business ownership, the perennial questions of "What can I deduct?" and "How can I save money?" reverberate through boardrooms and...

Save huge on taxes when you sell your business with the Section 1202 Exclusion.

Section 1202 Exclusion: Save Huge on Taxes When Selling Your Business

Your business means the world to you. You’ve fostered it from the beginning, working tirelessly to make sure that it has every opportunity for your...

End of the year financial planning is critical for a successful new year.

End of the Year Financial Planning

Over the last several weeks, we’ve laid out how you can plan for growth and staffing at the end of the year. Now, we’re going to give you the final...

Year End Staff Planning for Small Business Growth

Year End Staff Planning for Small Business Growth

This is part II in our series on how to create meaningful year-end planning for your small business. This week’s focus? How to plan for staffing...

Create a plan for business growth at the end of the year.

Small Business Growth Planning for the End of the Year

Growing your small business should be one of your primary goals, especially early in your business’s lifecycle. Understanding how to do that requires...

Year-end planning for small businesses should start in October.

Year End Planning for Small Businesses

Why next year needs to start now Most small businesses start planning for the new year in January. The only problem? You’re already behind. STARTING...

Hiring: Employee or Independent Contractor?

Hiring an Employee vs Hiring an Independent Contractor: What a CPA wants you to know

Hiring an employee or an independent contractor isn’t as simple as you’d think. In fact, there are real world implications for misclassifying a...

Deliver an amazing experience at your restaurant to attract repeat customers and get better reviews.

How to get better restaurant reviews: deliver an ‘amazing experience’

For the last few months we’ve been delivering you (pun intended) a series of articles on how to create an atmosphere conducive to meeting the goals...

Profit First is a game-changer for small businesses.

Profit First is hard work. Here’s why your small business should implement it anyway.

Let’s get this out of the way first – Profit First IS NOT a “set it and forget it” solution. If you’re looking for a hands off solution to your...

Market your restaurant without breaking the bank.

Marketing for Restaurants: Where to Start

As a restaurant owner, you know that the BEST marketing is great food and service. For the purposes of this article, we’ll assume that you have that...

With the right process, converting to QuickBooks Online can be a smooth transition.

Converting from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online: What does the process look like?

So you’re finally making the plunge, after years of using QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT), you’re switching to QuickBooks Online (QBO). That’s a great...