“Get cash now” is the tag line in an ad offering cash to someone with a structured settlement. It’s also the battle cry for small businesses trying to survive this war against COVID-19. Many small businesses do not have enough cash flow needed to continue, but here are 3 ways to get cash quickly that may just help you through this viral and economic pandemic. Determine which you qualify for, how much you can obtain, and what it will cost you so that you can decide how to move ahead. Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) Overview. This is a direct […]

In a post-pandemic world, business is not as usual. Many things have already changed, and many more changes are poised to occur. As Aldous Huxley implied with his 1932 book, it’s a Brave New World. Recession Yup, the recession is here. There’s unprecedented unemployment. Some businesses are closing for good. Things aren’t going to be good for a while. But there’s a bright side according to some economists (no one knows for sure): It doesn’t look like there will be a depression. The $2.2 trillion stimulus package from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which is the […]

This blog is solely focused on what the CARES Act provides for small businesses. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was signed into law on March 27, 2020, is a $2.2 trillion package to provide relief from the pandemic-triggered economic problems. For small businesses, there are a lot of positive opportunities, from borrowing to tax relief. The CARES Act is massive, so the following is merely the highlights to note. This blog does not include relief for individuals in the form of rebate checks (reflecting a refundable tax credit), increased unemployment benefits, and various tax breaks. […]

The Covid-19 has turned everything upside down. Usually, at this time of the year, businesses are planning on hiring summer interns. Should you do this now? Will companies be back in business by then and need to use interns? What does the law require if you decide to use interns? Will you need summer interns? No one knows for sure yet. Many companies now are just hoping to be open for business. They may not have enough demand to warrant using summer interns. But some businesses may want added help (it depends on the industry, how quickly COVID-19 subsides, where you’re located, and […]

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, so, too, do the actions of Congress to help on the economic front. The previous blog covered IRS relief actions. This blog focuses on relief from Congress. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6021) was signed into law on March 18, 2020. It creates two types of paid leave for certain employees, an employer tax credit, and some relief for self-employed individuals. The measures discussed here are only for small businesses (those with fewer than 500 employees). The measures do not apply to larger employers. Q: Who’s impacted? Small businesses and self-employed individuals face […]

ALERT:  This blog post was updated on Monday, March 23, 2020 — see “Extension of time to file and pay taxes.” In an ongoing series of moves, the IRS and Congress are working to create tax relief for individuals, small businesses, and large corporations impacted by COVID-19. Here are 3 key IRS moves to help taxpayers. In an upcoming blog, I’ll describe more about the tax credits for small businesses that must provide certain paid leave related to COVID-19 as well as other coronavirus-related tax changes. Extension of time to file and pay taxes The IRS announced that the filing […]

With the dramatic cut in the corporate tax rate to 21% by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, there’s been some increased interest in operating as a C corporation (a regular corporation) as opposed to a pass-through entity (a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, and S corporation). C corporations are a business entity formed under state law and taxed in a special way. During the government’s 2018 fiscal year, there were 2,127,673 C corporations (all such corporations are required to file returns regardless of the amount of their income). Just to provide perspective, in the same period, there were […]

Working from home—full time or occasionally—has become the norm for many business owners. It’s been my norm for more than 35 years. And with the advent of the coronavirus, this arrangement—for owners and employees—may become imperative for some period of time. The SBA reports that 60.1% of all firms without paid employees are home-based, as are 23.3% of small employer firms, and 0.3% of large employer firms. Assuming you can work from home (you aren’t barred by zoning laws or homeowner association/co-op board rules) and it’s feasible for your type of work, then take time to make your physical space […]

This is Women’s History Month, which is a great time to consider the impact of women in businesses. According to the 3rd Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs, the U.S. is ranked the best country for female entrepreneurship, followed by New Zealand, Canada, and Israel. So how are we doing? Statistics on women-owned businesses in the U.S. According to Fundera, 40% of all U.S. businesses are women-owned. These businesses generate $1.8 trillion a year (although this is just 4.3% of total private sector annual revenue). Women are continuing to start businesses en masse, with 1,821 new businesses every day. So what’s […]

NOTE: The due dates have been updated since the original publishing date. The April 15 due date for individuals and corporations is now July 15, 2020. The first installment of estimated taxes has changed to July 15, 2020. It’s that time again…tax season. Margaret Mitchell said, “Death, taxes and childbirth! There’s never any convenient time for any of them.” But here we are. Submitting your business income tax return for 2019 goes without saying. This must be done by the applicable due date. (For calendar year businesses: March 16, 2020, for partnerships and S corporations; *April 15, 2020, for C […]