Section 1374 Built-In Gains Tax: The Five-Year Window That Catches C-Corp to S-Corp Conversions
When a C corp converts to an S corp, Section 1374 imposes a 21% corporate tax on appreciated assets sold within 5 years.
#small-business
Small Business
Financial management strategies and tools for small business owners
Section 263A UNICAP Rules: How Small Manufacturers and Resellers Decide Which Costs Hit the P&L Now vs. Sit in Inventory
Section 263A UNICAP forces producers and resellers to attach indirect costs — rent, supervisor wages, depreciation — to inventory rather than expense them. This guide covers the 2026 $32M small-business exemption, the simplified production and resale methods, Form 3115 and the 481(a) adjustment, and the personnel-allocation mistakes that draw IRS attention.
Section 45B FICA Tip Credit: How Restaurants and Salons Recover Employer Payroll Tax with Form 8846
Claim the Section 45B FICA tip credit with Form 8846 to recover 7.65% of employer payroll tax on tips above a $5.15/hour floor.
Section 6166 Estate Tax Deferral for Closely-Held Businesses: The 14-Year Installment Election in 2026
How executors of closely-held business estates use IRC Section 6166 to defer federal estate tax across 14 years at a 2% rate, with the 2026 inflation-adjusted $1.94M base, the 35% eligibility test, election mechanics, and the acceleration events that kill the deferral.
Self-Funded vs Level-Funded vs Fully-Insured Health Plans: How Small Employers Cut Premium Costs Without Taking on Catastrophic Claim Risk
A funding-model guide for small employers comparing fully-insured, level-funded, and self-funded group health plans, with the math on stop-loss coverage, ERISA fiduciary exposure, Form 5500 filings, and when each model actually saves money.
Wyoming vs. Delaware vs. Nevada LLC in 2026: Asset Protection, Privacy, and Annual Costs Compared
A 2026 comparison of Wyoming, Delaware, and Nevada LLCs across real annual costs ($110–$600), charging-order statutes, single-member protection, anonymity rules, and the foreign-qualification trap that erases out-of-state savings.
The 13-Week Rolling Cash Flow Forecast: A Direct-Method Guide for Small Businesses
A practical playbook for building a 13-week rolling cash flow forecast using the direct method—how to model receipts, disbursements, and weekly variance so small businesses spot liquidity gaps four to twelve weeks before they hit.
The Accountable Plan: How S-Corp Owners Reimburse Themselves Tax-Free for Home Office, Mileage, and Travel
An IRS-compliant accountable plan lets S-Corp owners reimburse home office, 72.5¢/mile, internet, and travel tax-free, converting personal spending into
Cyber Insurance for Small Businesses in 2026: MFA Requirements, Ransomware Coverage, and Premium Benchmarks
S&P forecasts a 15–20% rise in cyber insurance premiums for 2026 after a 126% jump in ransomware incidents. A guide to the controls underwriters now require, typical small business pricing ($1,000–$7,500 for $1M of coverage), and the exclusions behind the 40%+ claim denial rate.
FTC Non-Compete Rule Withdrawn: How Employers Should Adapt to the State-by-State Patchwork in 2026
On February 12, 2026, the FTC removed its 2024 non-compete ban from the Code of Federal Regulations, but pivoted to case-by-case Section 5 enforcement and consent orders against employers like Rollins. With California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and other states tightening their own rules, a single national non-compete template is now a compliance hazard. This guide maps the state landscape and lays out a five-step plan for employers.
Series I Savings Bonds in 2026: An Inflation Hedge for Personal and Business Cash Reserves
At the May 2026 reset, Series I Savings Bonds pay a 4.26% composite rate — a 0.90% fixed rate locked for 30 years plus a 3.34% annualized inflation rate — with state-tax exemption and a $10,000-per-SSN annual cap. A practical guide to where I bonds fit in personal and small-business cash strategy, including LLC entity-account stacking, the 12-month lock and 5-year penalty, and the education-exclusion rules.
Key Person Life Insurance and Section 101(j) Compliance
Key person life insurance pays the company, not the family, when a founder, rainmaker, or specialist dies. IRC Section 101(j) makes the death benefit taxable unless written notice and consent are completed before the policy issues — a step most small businesses skip, turning a $1M tax-free benefit into roughly $600K–$700K after tax.