Bulletproof your deductions for 2025 with written policies, smart use of §179 vs. bonus depreciation, and an accountable plan that keeps reimbursements tax-free—and audit-ready.

Ditch annual wish lists for a 12-week operating system that actually ships. One outcome, three levers, a five-line scorecard, and a weekly cadence designed to raise margins fast—without burning out your team.

Take control of Q1 cash with a four-bucket system that funds owner pay, taxes, profit, and operations—before the spending starts. Weekly sweeps, simple rules, and micro-pushes to turn lumpy revenue into steady, drama-free cash.

Reward real results without wrecking margins. This guide shows you how to build a profit-based bonus pool, use spot bonuses for measurable wins, deploy non-cash rewards people actually value, and stay compliant on overtime and taxes—so recognition lands and your P&L stays intact.

Stop selling hours. Package outcomes people actually want with Good–Better–Best tiers, tight scope, “January Jumpstart” prepaid offers, and add-ons that boost perceived value—not time—plus renewal scripts to lock retention before Dec 15.

Stop letting “one quick thing” steal your holidays. This guide shows you how to publish clear hours and SLAs, define true emergencies with an escalation path, use respectful “we’re closed” scripts, and re-onboard big projects in January—so clients feel supported and your team actually rests.

Collect W-9s now or bleed time and penalties in January. This straight-shot guide shows you how to scrub your vendor list, handle card/TPSO exceptions, hit every 1099 deadline, avoid backup withholding traps, and automate the chase so filing is painless.

Stop treating Small Business Saturday like a photo opp. Run a 30-day plan with weekly themes and partners, education nights that sell, a stamp card that drives January bookings, and PR angles local media will actually cover—so foot traffic turns into repeat revenue.

Want to tie sales to real impact without legal landmines? This guide shows you how to name the nonprofit, state the donation math, lock down contracts, and meet state rules—so your giveback builds trust and revenue instead of risk.

A big December means nothing if January starves. This guide shows you how to pre-sell Q1 packages, handle gift cards and breakage right, spin up subscriptions, and run a weekly pipeline ritual—so your holiday surge becomes a calm, funded Q1.

December exposes weak cash systems. This no-BS playbook shows you how to build a 13-week cash forecast, collect faster without torching relationships, negotiate seasonal terms, fund payroll and taxes weekly, and use your LOC like a pro—so you hit January with money and momentum, not panic.

Running a business is hard enough—don’t donate profits to penalties. This no-BS checklist shows exactly what to send, when it’s due, and who it applies to. Know your thresholds (mini-COBRA vs COBRA at 20+, ALE at 50+), lock in your plan doc + SPD, SBCs, and HIPAA notices, and hit the real deadlines: 1095-C/B, RxDC (June 1), PCORI (July 31), Form 5500/SAR, Part D (before Oct 15), and the Gag Clause attestation (Dec 31). Templates included, rollout plan ready.

Unlimited PTO sounds modern. Accrued feels safe. Here’s the no-BS breakdown of what actually works for small teams: how to write a policy people use, prevent abuse, and dodge legal landmines. We cover when unlimited wins vs. accruals, CA/CO/MA payout rules, why “unlimited” must be truly non-accruing, and how to keep sick leave compliant. Steal plug-and-play clauses, approval standards, and a rollout checklist to launch a clean, defensible PTO plan this quarter.

Stop begging employees to join the 401(k). Make it automatic. This blunt guide shows small employers the exact defaults that work—6% auto-enroll, +1% escalation to 10%, QDIA TDFs—and match formulas that lift savings without blowing budget (QACA safe harbor, stretch matches, true-up). We cover student-loan matching, sidecar emergency savings, LTPT eligibility, and the tax credits that pay for it. Steal the rollout checklist and turn your plan into a retention engine this quarter.

Small team? You can offer real maternity and paternity leave without wrecking cash flow. This guide breaks down job protection vs pay, shows how to stack state PFML and short-term disability with your own top-ups, and walks you through Section 45S credits, leave reserves, and simple coverage plans. Get two plug-and-play policy templates, a 10-minute decision flow, and a rollout sequence you can run this quarter. Build leave that retains and a culture people won’t leave.

QSEHRA or ICHRA? This no-BS guide gives small employers a side-by-side comparison with 2025 numbers that matter: QSEHRA caps ($6,350/$12,800), ICHRA affordability at 9.02%, HSA compatibility, and class rules. You’ll get a simple 4-step selection flow, budgeting tips, and a clean rollout checklist (notices, MEC/individual coverage, opt-out/PTC). If you’re under 50 FTE or scaling across states, you’ll know exactly which path fits—and how to launch it without drama this quarter, with clarity and confidence.

Picking PPO, HMO, or HDHP shouldn’t feel like roulette. This plain-English guide shows small employers how networks actually work, where costs hide, and which plan your people will use without complaining. You’ll get a simple decision path, two-plan setup that avoids confusion, and a quick rollout checklist. We cover provider fit, pharmacy traps, out-of-network risks, and when to pair HDHP with an HSA. Read it, pick your path, and launch with confidence this quarter.

Confused about HSAs and FSAs? This no-BS guide shows small employers exactly when each account wins, what it really costs, and how to roll it out without tripping compliance. You’ll learn the cleanest setups (HDHP + HSA + limited FSA vs Traditional + Health FSA), how to avoid HSA-killing FSA mistakes, what to budget, and the communication plan that gets real employee use. Read it, pick your path, and launch this quarter.

Stop 1099 chaos. This no-BS guide shows you how to lock down W-9s before payment, tag payment methods so card/app transactions flow to 1099-K (not your 1099-NEC), hit the January 31 deadline, use IRIS e-file when you have 10+ returns, and trigger 24% backup withholding when TINs are missing. I’ll walk you through B-Notice steps and the real penalty math ($60/$130/$330, $660 for intentional disregard) so fees never hit your books. Includes a 30-day clean-up sprint, a one-page “No W-9, No Pay” policy, and a monthly vendor checklist you can run in under an hour.