Blog

You didn’t start your business to feel like a full-time firefighter 🚨 You had a vision. Freedom. Flexibility. More time with your people. Maybe even mid-week naps and regular massages. Now? You’re dodging surprise tax bills, guessing what’s “safe” to spend, and praying next month isn’t another financial rollercoaster. BUT… The problem isn’t your ambition. It’s that no one taught you how to design your business around your personal goals.…  Read more

There’s something uniquely stomach-churning about the phrase “tax season,” isn’t there? Just hearing those words can make your shoulders tense up and your mind race through all the receipts you might have misplaced, the deductions you probably missed, and that nagging question: “Am I doing this right?” If you’re a family business owner, tax stress hits differently. You’re not just worried about your personal taxes; you’re carrying the weight of…  Read more

What is Tax Planning for Business? When I talk about tax planning for business, I’m not talking about just filing a return every April. Filing is about looking backward—reporting what already happened.  Planning is about looking ahead—setting up your financial systems, structures, and decisions in a way that minimizes your tax liability and maximizes your opportunity for growth. In my 35 years of experience running Marlandale, I’ve seen businesses transform…  Read more

Ever opened your accounting software and instantly felt that knot in your stomach? Maybe you’ve caught yourself wondering if you missed a deduction or if some massive tax bill is quietly waiting to sneak up on you. If so, you’re not alone. Many entrepreneurs believe tax strategy is something only the ultra-wealthy need, like, “I’ll worry about that when I’ve got a yacht” kind of thinking. But here’s the real…  Read more

The holidays have past and we are all settling back into our routines.   Tradition dictates that we make a new years resolution.   As we go through the month of January, we are busy preparing 1099’s for our client’s subcontractors.   This is a frustrating process for us because client’s never get the W-9’s up front and then need to chase people down to get them well after the fact.   This is…  Read more

This week’s COVID-19 updates Many of us are adjusting to a new normal of staying home as much as possible, and finding ways to work remotely, if that’s an option. Federal and state governments are putting together financial resources to support small business, and many other organizations are doing what they can to help business owners keep the lights on and maintain sanity during these strange days. Here are some…  Read more

On average, small business owners spend 10 hours each week recording, organizing, and processing financial transactions – everything from accounts receivable and payable, to employee payments, expense receipts and supplier invoices. While the process may be time-consuming (and tedious!), effective bookkeeping is the foundation of sound financial management – which in turn, is the lifeblood of your business. Feeling overwhelmed by mountains of paperwork and complex calculations? Here are three…  Read more

Keeping track of sales, earnings, expenses, and purchases is fundamental to the overall health and sustainability of your business. Effective bookkeeping produces the data you need to evaluate your current practices, anticipate challenges, and set attainable future goals. But despite their proven importance, many business owners dread and avoid accounting tasks. In fact, 40% of surveyed entrepreneurs claim that bookkeeping is one the worst parts of running a business! Wondering…  Read more

Want to avoid paying more than you should come tax time? Or a frantic last minute search for missing financial records? New business owners have a lot on their plate, and can easily lose track of an approaching tax deadline or financial data needed to submit their return. Organization is key when preparing for tax time. As is taking advantage of the many tools and resources out there to support…  Read more