Returning Value Blog

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.

Do you and your spouse together operate a profitable unincorporated small business? If so, you face some challenging tax issues.

For many businesses, accounts receivable (AR) is one of the largest assets on the balance sheet. It represents the cash you’ve earned but haven’t yet collected. Efficient AR management is critical for maintaining healthy cash flow, reducing bad debt, and fueling growth. But a key question often goes unasked: How do your company’s receivables compare to others in your industry? This is where benchmarking comes in.

Are your company’s financial statements keeping up with how people consume information today? We live in a world that scrolls, swipes, and scans. With information coming at us nonstop, most people don’t have the time — or patience — for dense financial reports.

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.

Recent IRS downsizing efforts have posed challenges for taxpayers attempting to resolve issues with the agency. Over recent months, thousands of IRS employees have left the IRS through the administration’s deferred resignation programs, comprehensive layoffs of probationary employees, and retirements.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) contains a major overhaul of an outdated IRS requirement. Beginning with payments made in 2026, the new law raises the threshold for information reporting on certain business payments from $600 to $2,000. Beginning in 2027, the threshold amount will be adjusted for inflation.

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.

Starting a business can be rewarding, but the financial learning curve is often steep. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that one in five new businesses will fail within one year of opening, roughly half will close within five years, and less than a third will survive for 10 years or longer. A common thread in early failures is weak financial planning and oversight.

The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed into law on July 4. The new law includes a number of favorable changes that will affect small business taxpayers, and some unfavorable changes, too. Here’s a quick summary of some of the most important provisions.