Work With Us
December 2024 update: Wait list now open for new clients! This close to the end of the year, we pause onboarding to focus on year-end tax planning for our existing clients, then circle back to our wait list in early spring 2025 to bring on new clients. We will extend your Tax Year 2024 returns and get them filed in the summer or fall. Submit our Quick Questionnaire (linked below) to start the conversation with our onboarding specialist and get on our wait list.
If you're new to The Business Guides, we're a CPA firm that works only with small business owners, primarily S-Corporation owners -- or S-Corp curious business owners -- that are based in and do most of their business in Washington State. Our team specializes in small business income taxes, so our clients get up-to-date expertise and guidance.
We are a QuickBooks-centric firm. We are not a reseller of this popular bookkeeping software, but we can help you decide on a suitable plan and set it up for your needs, or refer you to local freelancers who can do this and more.
For those transitioning to the S-Corp taxing status, we offer wrap-around support for your first year as an S-Corp, including filing your S-election form with the IRS and a 1:1 consultation to understand how the tax-saving benefits apply to your situation.
Interested in working with us? The first step is to complete our Quick Questionnaire, which is linked further down on this page, next to the photo of the laptop. But we want you to understand a few things first, so read on...
Got a business? Great, read on.
Your business might involve just you, or multiple shareholders and dozens of employees. You might be an owner-employee of an S-Corporation, a partner in a Partnership, or a sole proprietor who is focused on growth and profitability and plans to transition to the S-Corporation business model. The majority of our clients have S-Corporations -- we feel that is where we can provide the most value.
Our team of financial professionals takes a proactive approach to guiding business owners year-round. Yes, we prepare and file your federal taxes -- syncing the returns of the business and the business owner(s) for maximum tax efficiency -- and we strongly encourage tax planning, suggesting final payroll and withholding amounts, and enabling you to make tax-efficient decisions on retirement plan contributions and big purchases before the calendar year is over.
At our highest level of service, we offer quarterly meetings with our team. How would it feel to have expert eyes on your year-to-date Profit & Loss Statement and advice on when to make capital investments, hire employees, or max a retirement plan? We build a relationship with you over time, really getting to know you and your business and your goals and dreams.
WHO WE DON'T SERVE:
• Non-clients. Sorry, we do not have the capacity to provide one-off consultations for business owners who are not ongoing tax clients.
• Sole proprietors (with or without an LLC) filing their business activity on a Schedule C of their personal tax return who are not focused on growing their business into the S-Corporation business model.
• Owners of C-Corporations.
• Owners of multi-state corporations, or those with multi-state revenue reporting requirements.
• Those whose sole business activity is rental real estate.
• Those who have self-directed IRAs or 401ks, which hold real estate, private loans, precious metals, etc., instead of mutual funds/stocks/bonds.
• Married couples who file separately on a regular or ongoing basis.
• New entrepreneurs just thinking about starting a small business. If your business idea is in the dreaming or planning stages, check out the resources in our section below on Just launching. Then circle back to us when you are contemplating the S-Corporation business model.
BASE PRICES FOR AN ANNUAL CONTRACT FOR TAX YEAR 2024:
Includes end-of-year tax planning consultation, tax return preparation for the business and owner's household synced for tax efficiency, IRS audit protection & IRS correspondence services for these returns, and up to 60 minutes of 1:1 time with our team each year via email exchanges, phone calls or meetings. This is our signature "No Worries" customer service for your questions, anytime. We take federal taxes off your plate and are on your business team!
• S-Corp or Partnership return & one owner's personal return: $2,425 or $202/mo.
If there are multiple owners, at least one of the business owners must be an individual client.
The base price for a Schedule C business & the owner's personal return is about half of the S-Corp/Partnership price.
Prices are higher for state returns, additional schedules, foreign account reporting, complex investment sales, K-1 preparation for non-client owners, etc. We review your most recent tax return in preparing our pricing proposal.
Our basic tax service package includes:
• Federal (and state, if applicable) income tax returns for owner(s) and business.
• Tax return delivery meeting to explain your return before you sign.
• Year-end Tax Planning Review, with delivery meeting to discuss recommendations in your Tax Plan Report (optional but recommended for S-Corp owners).
• IRS correspondence services and audit protection (it's like insurance for communications with the IRS: we respond on your behalf).
• Ongoing and year-round access to the tax, accounting, and business strategy advice you need.
The Business Guides' modern, paperless experience includes:
• Cloud-based client portal for secure file transfer and storage of your data and tax returns.
• Secure and convenient e-filing and DocuSign.
• Online payment portal, accepting credit cards and bank transfers.
• Client e-newsletter with timely information.
• Educational conference calls, webinars, virtual office hours, and events with our team.
TIMING:
December 2024 update: Wait list now open for new clients! This close to the end of the year, we pause onboarding to focus on year-end tax planning for our existing clients, then circle back to our wait list in early spring 2025 to bring on new clients. We will extend your Tax Year 2024 returns and get them filed in the summer or fall. Submit our Quick Questionnaire (linked below) to start the conversation with our onboarding specialist and get on our wait list.
To get you filed on time, our internal deadlines for receiving your complete tax data are:
• February 15th for S-Corps & Partnerships (for filing deadline of March 15th)
• March 18th for Schedule C businesses (for filing deadline of April 15th)
• August 15th for S-Corps & Partnerships (for extension filing deadline of September 16th)
• September 15th for Schedule C businesses (for extension filing deadline of October 15th)
Through March 15th, we prioritize tax preparation for S-Corps and Partnerships and their owners. Schedule C business owners that submit complete data by March 18th are filed between March 18th and April 15th. We file all other returns by the extension deadlines. (See our Due Dates page for more info and any year-specific changes to the above filing dates.)
Take the first step and get your questions answered:
We're happy to have a complimentary consultation to discuss your current and future tax and financial needs as a business owner, and see if working together is a fit.
To inquire about a consultation, first tell us a bit about your business with our Quick Questionnaire.
New clients of The Business Guides are generally at this stage of their business:
• You've outgrown your current tax preparer's expertise and are seeking more proactive advisors.
• You're ready to hire professionals to take key tasks off your plate, knowing your time is better spent on your business.
• You're making good money and want to be more profitable and more tax-efficient (perhaps you're considering S-Corp taxing status). Or you're at the start of your business journey with a proven product or concept, and willing to invest in business and tax advice to get you there.
• You've prioritized your business bookkeeping, hiring a freelance or staff bookkeeper, or educating yourself on this critical task. You use accounting software (QuickBooks is most common in our practice, and we love the collaborative potential of QuickBooks Online) and run reports to monitor your business performance. *
* Good books are a prerequisite for working with The Business Guides. Need a bookkeeper? Contact us for our list of referrals.
If you're just launching your business...start here.
If you're at the very beginning of your entrepreneurial journey, with basic questions on how to set up your business, get grounded with these start-up resources.
• Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship (CIE)
Serves Jefferson, Clallam, Skagit, Island, and North Snohomish counties. Provides 1-on-1 advising and other support to help you start a business and get it ready to grow. Many free services, including the 4-week, live Start Simple Course to help you quickly “kick the tires” on your business idea. Course graduates qualify for ongoing counseling with a business advisor.
• Economic Development Council (EDC) Team Jefferson
For Jefferson County businesses. Get relocation assistance. Access free business counseling through the Small Business Development Center, or get hooked up with a business mentor through SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives). Take their popular 10-week business planning course. Check out their step-by-step guide to starting a business in Jefferson County.
Before applying for your business license, review their "Road Map" for opening a business in the state of Washington. Their Small Business Guide covers all the bases for planning, opening, running and closing your business. If you have a question, it's probably answered here, in their easy-to-navigate website.
A compilation of resources, programs and services for starting (or growing) a business in Washington State. Provided by our Department of Commerce. Their Business Startup Playbook is filled with links and the steps required to start and operate a business in the state, in a fun, easy-to-read, football-themed format.
Headquartered in Seattle and serving Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska, with an emphasis on traditionally underserved populations – entrepreneurial low/moderate income earners, women, people of color, veterans, immigrants and members of the LGBTQ community. Runs the Washington Women's Business Center (WBC) and the Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC). Access to coaching, classes and capital for small businesses, with lots of free resources.
• U.S. Small Business Administration
This federal agency has national and local offices and is tasked with administering federal loans and grants. Check out their comprehensive review of business structures in choosing yours. There are dozens of free, on-demand courses in their Learning Center.
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