Returning Value Blog

Financial statements tell a powerful story about your business. However, they can seem like an overwhelming collection of figures without proper analysis. Financial benchmarking studies can help you identify historical trends, pinpoint areas for improvement, and forecast future performance with greater confidence.

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.

In 2025, global merger and acquisition (M&A) volume is expected to surge to the highest level in four years, according to Reuters. M&As require thorough due diligence to minimize risks and maximize long-term value. Some business combinations fail to achieve expected results due to financial missteps, overlooked liabilities, and integration challenges.

Across industries, the last year has been challenging for U.S. companies. Uncertainty around the election, steep inflation, and high interest rates have introduced instability and financial pressures that have taken their toll on the business landscape.

Businesses in certain industries employ service workers who receive tips as a large part of their compensation. These businesses include restaurants, hotels, and salons. Compliance with federal and state tax regulations is vital if your business has employees who receive tips.

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.

Owners’ equity is the difference between the assets and liabilities reported on your company’s balance sheet. It’s generally composed of two pieces: capital contributions and retained earnings. The former represents the amounts owners have paid into the business and stock repurchases, but the latter may be less familiar. Here’s an overview of what’s recorded in this account.

As a small business owner, managing health care costs for yourself and your employees can be challenging. One effective tool to consider adding is a Health Savings Account (HSA). HSAs offer a range of benefits that can help you save on healthcare expenses while providing valuable tax advantages. You may already have an HSA. It’s a good time to review how these accounts work because the IRS has announced the relevant inflation-adjusted amounts for 2025.

As of Wednesday, 12/3, a federal judge in Texas issued a ruling suspending (temporarily) enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) nationally.  The CTA created the Beneficial Owner Information (BOI) filing requirement for businesses. This ruling is not a repeal but a temporary stay of enforcement.

If you own a growing, unincorporated small business, you may be concerned about high self-employment (SE) tax bills. The SE tax is how Social Security and Medicare taxes are collected from self-employed individuals like you.