Handling Negative Online Reviews of Your Business

Here are some ideas on handling those pesky online business reviews. The best defense is a great offense. You don’t have to address negative reviews if you never have them in the first place. Proactively identify possible negative experiences and encourage customers to respond directly to you to resolve their issues. Know your dissatisfied reviewer. Before responding,…

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Tips to Protect Yourself From Tax Scams

Too many people downplay the threat of identity theft because it hasn’t been witnessed or experienced firsthand. This false sense of security can leave you exposed, especially during tax season. Here are some tips to keep your identity safe from scammers: 1. Be naturally suspicious. Understand that there are people out there trying to get…

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Taking a Home Office Deduction: A Great Tax Reduction Idea, If Done Right!

Cloud-based applications, extensive communication channels, and other new technologies make it easier to run your business out of your home. If you qualify, many home business expenses are deductible. Think you might qualify? You must first pass these tests. Trade or business use test. To qualify for business use of your home you must use…

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It’s Your Money. Get it Back NOW!

According to Credit Karma, over $40 BILLION of unclaimed property is currently being held by state governments. That’s a staggering amount of money – enough to buy half of the National Football League franchises. Not included in that figure is property sitting with federal agencies and other organizations. So what exactly is unclaimed property and…

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Don’t Let a Disaster Derail Your Business

With the recent frequency of hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods and wildfires, it’s worth reviewing ideas to ensure your business can survive if it faces its own disaster. Here are some steps you can take to create a disaster plan for your business: Identify your exposure. The first step is to conduct an evaluation of your…

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Time to Launch Your Tax Strategy

Consider conducting a final tax planning review now to see if you can still take actions to minimize your taxes this year. Here are some ideas to get you started. Assess your income. Begin by determining how your income this year will compare to last year. Then apply any tax implications this income change may…

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Get Your Small Business Off The Rocks

Every small business eventually hits a rough patch. It’s easy to get discouraged when it happens. But look at the upside: you have infrastructure in place, you have existing customers and most importantly, you have the hard-won experience of knowing what works and what doesn’t. With that in mind, here are some ideas to get…

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Tax-Free Income

Yes, that’s correct, there are some forms of income you receive that may be tax-free. Here is a list of ten common sources of tax-free income. Gifts. Gifts you receive are not taxable income to you. In fact, they are not subject to gift tax to the person giving the gift as long as the…

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Donate Stock to Lower Your Tax Burden

Donate Stock to Lower Your Tax Burden

  With U.S. equity valuations near historically high levels, now might be an opportune time to take advantage of the tax benefits of donating long-term appreciated stock to a qualified charity. Directly donating a winning stock you’ve held for at least one year provides greater tax benefits than writing a check to your favorite cause.…

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4 Tips To Landing Your Dream Home In A Seller’s Market

Dream Home in Sellers Market

It’s a tough time to buy a house. With high prices and low supply, homebuyers have to tackle the buying process differently than they would in a flat or down market. Here are some suggestions to landing your dream home in our current real estate market. Be nimble, be flexible. Try to investigate new listings…

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