Business Tax Strategy
Tax · 101
Tax Strategy Basics —
What Most Business Owners Miss
Tax preparation is what your CPA does in March. Tax strategy is what you do in January — choosing entities, retirement plans, deductions, and structures that will lower next year's bill before it's due. Most business owners overpay because they only think about taxes after the year is over.
Average annual savings from proactive tax strategy
For a profitable business owner making $200K-$500K who switches from reactive prep to proactive planning. Higher-income owners save proportionally more — six and seven figures aren't unusual for owners doing $1M+ in profit.
Three buckets where business owners overpay
Entity structure
Sole proprietor vs LLC vs S-Corp vs C-Corp — they tax differently. The wrong choice can cost a six-figure earner $10K-$30K a year in unnecessary self-employment taxes alone.
Retirement plans
Most owners use a basic IRA (limit $7K). A Solo 401(k), SEP IRA, or Defined Benefit Plan can shelter $60K-$300K per year. That's federal + state taxes you don't pay this year, growing tax-deferred for decades.
Deductions and structures missed
Home office, vehicles, retirement plans for family members, Augusta Rule, HSA, accountable plans, cost segregation on real estate. Each one is worth thousands. Most owners use 3 of 20+ available.
CPA vs Tax Strategist
Your CPA prepares returns. A tax strategist designs the year. Most CPAs aren't paid to find savings — they're paid to file on time and avoid mistakes. The two roles complement each other; you need both. The strategist plans; the CPA executes.
Five strategies we work on directly
Everything above is planning. These five are specific programs already written into the tax code, and they are what most profitable businesses are leaving on the table. Each one has its own page.
Research and Development Tax Credits
If your team solves technical problems, improves a process, or builds something that did not exist before, you may already be doing the work this credit was written for.
Cost Segregation Studies
Your building is depreciating over 39 years by default. An engineering study moves the parts that are not really structure onto 5, 7 and 15 year schedules and pulls the deduction forward.
179D Energy Efficiency Deduction
A per-square-foot deduction for efficient commercial buildings, new or retrofit. Architects and engineers who design for public owners can be allocated it too.
Work Opportunity Tax Credit
Up to $9,600 in federal credit per qualifying hire. You are already hiring. The screening question and a 28-day filing window are the whole job.
Self-Insured Medical Reimbursement Plan (ProfitGuard Plus)
A Section 105 structure that lowers the employer's payroll tax and raises employee take-home pay, with no change to the health plan itself.
We work alongside the people you already pay
We are not here to replace anybody. Most of this work runs through partnerships with the firms already touching your payroll and your return: payroll processors, PEOs, health benefits brokers, CPAs and tax strategists. Your payroll company keeps running payroll. Your CPA keeps filing. We handle the piece in the middle that neither one is paid to go find.
If you are one of those firms, the same door works the other way. We bring your clients a savings conversation you do not have to staff, and you stay in the loop the whole way.
See who we partner withGet a strategy review
We'll review your entity, deductions, retirement plan, and structure — and show you what changing them would save next year.
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Sources
Educational content only. Tax strategy depends on your specific situation — always consult a licensed CPA or tax attorney before implementing.