Is this for me?
Yes, if you're weighing a loan, a purchase or sale, a new partner, a family transition, or a cash problem you can see coming. It's also for owners who want a CPA's view before signing something rather than after.
What happens
We start with the numbers you already have, then build a simple projection of the decision: what happens to cash, taxes and the business if you go one way or the other. I write down the options, the tradeoffs and what I'd do, so you can share them with your attorney, your banker or your partners.
Where I help
Cash flow and budgeting
The simplest way to avoid a cash crunch is to see it coming. I build simple cash flow projections you can keep up, so you know where you stand before payroll, tax payments or a slow season hits.
Bank financing
A well-organized loan package tells a lender you've got your house in order. I help with projections, financial statements and personal financial statements so the application holds up to questions.
Buying or selling a business
Recasting the financials so a buyer sees what the business really earns, thinking through deal structure, and making sure the tax side of the sale doesn't surprise you after closing.
Succession and family transitions
One of the hardest parts of running a family business is planning for the day you step back. I help owners think through timing, gifting, buy-sell arrangements and the tax cost of each path, together with your attorney.
Nonprofits
Keeping tax-exempt status means following specific IRS rules every year. I help with the Form 990 filings and the bookkeeping behind them.
Internal controls
Who can write checks, who reconciles the bank, who approves payroll changes. Small businesses get hurt when one trusted person does all three. I'll take an objective look and suggest practical fixes that fit a small staff.
What to bring
Two or three years of financial statements and tax returns, a current balance sheet if you have one, any loan or lease agreement involved, and a plain description of the decision you're facing and when it has to be made.
Common questions
What's the difference between this and just doing my taxes?
Tax work looks back at what happened. Advisory work looks forward: what a decision will do to your cash, your taxes and your options before you make it. A lot of it happens in the same conversations, which is one reason it helps to have one CPA who knows the whole picture.
I'm thinking about selling my business. When should I call?
Earlier than you think, ideally a year or two before. How the deal is structured (asset sale or stock sale, installment payments, what's allocated to equipment versus goodwill) can change the after-tax result a lot, and some options need time to set up.
Do you prepare personal financial statements for the bank?
Yes. Lenders often want one with a loan application or renewal. I'll help you put it together so the numbers are supportable and the format is what the bank expects.
Do you work with nonprofits?
Yes, on the tax compliance side: keeping exempt status in good shape, the annual Form 990 filings, and the bookkeeping that supports them.