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Financial insights that help your business thrive
Stay informed with practical guidance on accounting, taxes, and business finances. Our blog delivers actionable insights from experienced CPAs who understand the challenges facing professional services and hospitality businesses throughout Tumwater, Aberdeen, and the East Phoenix metro area.
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Spring cleaning your home: turning physical clutter into financial return
Most households are sitting on more idle capital than they realize - it's just tied up in closets, garages, and storage rooms. This article reframes spring cleaning as a financial exercise, exploring how unused possessions carry real costs, how clutter limits flexibility, and how a focused decluttering effort can convert dormant assets into liquidity, tax-efficient giving, and a simpler estate.
Which retirement plan is best for a self-employed owner: SEP, SIMPLE, or Solo 401(k)?
A practical guide to using a SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, or solo 401(k) strategically, covering contribution limits, deadlines, employee rules, tax planning, and when each plan makes the most sense.
Performance reviews that work: a better approach to feedback, accountability, and results
Performance reviews have a reputation for generating awkward conversations and little real change, but the problem isn't the concept itself. It's that most businesses run them in ways that guarantee they won't work. This article breaks down the common structural failures in traditional review processes and offers a practical, straightforward approach to building a system that improves accountability, reduces costly turnover, and provides leadership with better information for decision-making.
Avoid tax surprises: set up proper withholding now
Think your tax refund is just "extra money"? It might actually be a sign that your withholding is off, and that the IRS has been holding your money all year. This quick read breaks down how to fix that now, so you’re not stuck with a surprise bill (or a missed opportunity) next April.
From hellos to handshakes: Tips to turn trade show conversations into contracts
For many businesses, conferences and trade shows represent an essential marketing and sales activity. These events offer valuable opportunities to generate leads, build relationships, and increase brand visibility. However, without a clear follow-up strategy, even the most promising conversations can fail to convert into meaningful business opportunities. Here are some tips on how to approach follow-up in a more structured and results-driven way.
The summer staffing playbook: Mastering summer workforce planning
For many businesses, summer brings a welcome change of pace, but it can also introduce operational challenges. Employee vacations, shifting workloads, and the arrival of seasonal hires or interns can create both opportunities and strain. Organizations that plan ahead for summer staffing are far better positioned to maintain productivity and provide better continuity of customer service, despite seasonal staffing ebbs and flows. Here are a few practical ways to approach summer staffing and internship programs more strategically.
Healthcare costs for the self-employed in 2026: strategies for rising premiums
With the expiration of expanded ACA subsidies in 2026, self-employed professionals are facing significant premium increases with no employer to share the burden. While healthcare costs are rising, strategic planning can help reduce your total cost. The key is treating healthcare like any other business expense - strategically, proactively, and with tax efficiency in mind.
When unequal cash creates unequal risk: disproportionate distributions in S-corps
Disproportionate distributions in S corporations can trigger unintended tax consequences and even loss of S status. Learn where the risks arise and how strategic planning can preserve compliance while achieving unequal economic outcomes.
Why estate taxes aren’t the only inheritance-related costs to consider
Estate planning discussions often focus on the federal estate tax exemption, but most families face different challenges when transferring wealth. Probate fees, state-level taxes, capital gains exposure, and administrative complexity can all erode inheritances - even for estates well below the federal threshold. A comprehensive estate plan addresses these hidden costs, not just headline tax numbers.
Your HSA isn’t a debit card: building a tax efficient healthcare reserve
Most people use their HSA like a medical debit card, but the account is capable of much more. With a rare triple tax advantage and flexible reimbursement rules, the HSA can serve as a powerful long-term healthcare reserve. Read on to learn how to make the most of it.
The truth, well told: How to prepare financials for lenders or investors after tax season
If you’re planning to seek financing, attract investors or expand your operations, after tax season is the ideal time to prepare financial statements that present a clear picture of your business’s performance. Here are some tips from our team on how to compile reports to offer you and your financial partners a solid basis for business assessment as you plan your next growth cycle:
Expanding the talent pool: Why employers should shift focus from degree requirements to skills-based training
For decades, a college degree has been a signal of qualification for hiring managers, immediately connoting a baseline of knowledge, discipline, and capability on the part of the applicant. But as labor markets tighten, technology evolves, and workforce expectations shift, that indicator is increasingly fading in relevance. Forward-thinking employers are beginning to see value in embracing a different approach to hiring, prioritizing skills over degrees.
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