Returning Value Blog

As 2025 winds down, business owners and managers are ramping up their planning efforts for the new year. Part of the annual budgeting process is identifying ways to lower expenses and strengthen cash flow. When cutting costs, think beyond the obvious, such as wages, benefits, and employee headcount. These cutbacks can make it harder to attract and retain skilled workers in today’s challenging labor market, potentially compromising work quality and productivity. Here are three creative ideas to help boost your company’s bottom line — without sacrificing its top line.

You shouldn’t rely on gut instinct when making major business decisions, such as launching a new product line, investing in new equipment, or changing your pricing structure. Projecting the financial implications of your decision (or among competing alternatives) can help you determine the right course of action — and potentially persuade investors or lenders to finance your plans. One intuitive tool to consider for these applications is breakeven analysis.

Today, many organizations rely on cloud-based tools to store and manage data. However, the costs to set up cloud computing services can be significant, and many business owners are unsure whether the implementation costs must be immediately expensed or capitalized. Changes made in recent years provide some much-needed clarity to the rules.

The qualified business income (QBI) deduction, which became effective in 2018, is a significant tax benefit for many business owners. It allows eligible taxpayers to deduct up to 20% of QBI, not to exceed 20% of taxable income. It can also be claimed for up to 20% of income from qualified real estate investment trust dividends.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) includes a number of beneficial changes that will help small business taxpayers.Perhaps thebiggest and best changes are liberalized rules for depreciating business assets. Here’s what you need to know.

A bill in Congress — dubbed The One, Big, Beautiful Bill — could significantly reshape several federal business tax breaks. While the proposed legislation is still under debate, it’s already sparking attention across business communities.

Even well-run companies experience down years. The federal tax code may allow a bright strategy to lighten the impact. Certain losses, within limits, may be used to reduce taxable income in later years.

The key to success is to be thoroughly prepared. Succession will happen within families, but it is not always certain that it will be accomplished strategically. Succession planning calls for deliberate preparation, and it requires time— typically years or even decades—as well as forethought, commitment, diligence, and adaptability.

When it’s time to consider your business’s future, succession planning can protect your legacy and successfully set up the next generation of leaders or owners. Whether you’re ready to retire, you wish to step back your involvement or you want a solid contingency plan should you unexpectedly be unable to run the business, exploring different succession strategies is key.Here are five options to consider, along with some of the tax implications.

Running a small business often requires periodic cash infusions, and knowing how to secure the right funding can determine whether your business succeeds or struggles. Let’s explore the three primary types of funding available to small businesses: debt, equity, and hybrid financing.