These tax tips can help new business owners find success
Starting a business can be very rewarding. It can also be a little overwhelming. From business plans to market strategies, and even tax responsibilities…there are many things to consider. Here’s what new business owners can do to help get off to a good start.

• Choose a business structure. The form of business determines which income tax return a business taxpayer needs to file. The most common business structures are:
  • Sole proprietorship: An unincorporated business owned by an individual. There’s no distinction between the taxpayer and their business.
  • Partnership: An unincorporated business with ownership shared between two or more people.
  • Corporation: Also known as a C corporation. It’s a separate entity owned by shareholders.
  • S Corporation: A corporation that elects to pass corporate income, losses, deductions, and credits through to the shareholders.
  • Limited Liability Company: A business structure allowed by state statute.
• Choose a tax year. A tax year is an annual accounting period for keeping records and reporting income and expenses. A new business owner must choose either:
  • Calendar year: 12 consecutive months beginning January 1 and ending December 31.
  • Fiscal year: 12 consecutive months ending on the last day of any month except December.
• Apply for an employer identification number. An EIN is also called a federal tax identification number. It’s used to identify a business. Most businesses need an EIN.
• Have all employees complete these forms:
  • Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification
  • Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate
• Pay business taxes. The form of business determines what taxes must be paid and how to pay them.

Taxpayers interested in starting a business can find information for some industries on the Industries/Professions Tax Centers webpage. Each state has additional requirements for starting and operating a business. Prospective business owners should visit their state's website for info about state requirements.

More information:

• Small Business Admiration’s 10 steps to start your business.

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Direct from the Small Business Administration Website, 10 Steps to starting your business. Even if you have started you business, this is a great review to make sure your ducks are in a row.

1. Conduct market research
Market research will tell you if there’s an opportunity to turn your idea into a successful business. It’s a way to gather information about potential customers and businesses already operating in your area. Use that information to find a competitive advantage for your business.
Learn more

2. Write your business plan
Your business plan is the foundation of your business. It’s a roadmap for how to structure, run, and grow your new business. You’ll use it to convince people that working with you — or investing in your company — is a smart choice.
Learn more

3. Fund your business
Your business plan will help you figure out how much money you’ll need to start your business. If you don’t have that amount on hand, you’ll need to either raise or borrow the capital. Fortunately, there are more ways than ever to find the capital you need.
Learn more

4. Pick your business location
Your business location is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Whether you’re setting up a brick-and-mortar business or launching an online store, the choices you make could affect your taxes, legal requirements, and revenue.
Learn more

5. Choose a business structure
The legal structure you choose for your business will impact your business registration requirements, how much you pay in taxes, and your personal liability.
Learn more

6. Choose your business name
It’s not easy to pick the perfect name. You’ll want one that reflects your brand and captures your spirit. You’ll also want to make sure your business name isn’t already being used by someone else.
Learn more

7. Register your business
Once you’ve picked the perfect business name, it’s time to make it legal and protect your brand. If you’re doing business under a name different than your own, you’ll need to register with the federal government, and maybe your state government, too.
Learn more

8. Get federal and state tax IDs
You’ll use your employer identification number (EIN) for important steps to start and grow your business, like opening a bank account and paying taxes. It’s like a social security number for your business. Some — but not all — states require you to get a tax ID as well.
Learn more

9. Apply for licenses and permits
Keep your business running smoothly by staying legally compliant. The licenses and permits you need for your business will vary by industry, state, location, and other factors.
Learn more

10. Open a business bank account
A small business checking account can help you handle legal, tax, and day-to-day issues. The good news is it’s easy to set one up if you have the right registrations and paperwork ready.
Learn More
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​Please remember that GLM can help you through each steps of the process. Your accountant can and should guide you through this and help you set yourself up in each step that benefits you the most.

Thursday, July 18, 2019    10am- Noon

​If you're brand new to QuickBooks or a novice, then it is a perfect class for you. If you've been using QuickBooks for less than 2 years, you'll most certainly learn lots of interesting tips, tricks, and workarounds to help you be more effective. This class is perfectly suited for business owners, spouses of business owners, office receptionists, secretaries, office managers, sales and administrative professionals, bookkeepers and anyone who uses QuickBooks as part of their business.

You don't need any prior experience in QuickBooks or accounting. This is designed for people who are trying to decide if QuickBooks are for them and their business, people new to QuickBooks or have been using it for a short period of time. You don't need a computer as this class is not hands on. We've learned that people are able to learn so much more when they're focused on listening to the instructor.
​
The workshop will be held in the conference room in the Lower Level of our building:

300 N. Martingale Rd.,
Lower Level Room 80
Schaumburg, IL 60173
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If you don't own a copy or subscription, no problem. Learn if it is right for your business and if it is, you can buy at half price though GLM.

Thursday, July 18, 2019    10am- Noon

​If you're brand new to QuickBooks or a novice, then it is a perfect class for you. If you've been using QuickBooks for less than 2 years, you'll most certainly learn lots of interesting tips, tricks, and workarounds to help you be more effective. This class is perfectly suited for business owners, spouses of business owners, office receptionists, secretaries, office managers, sales and administrative professionals, bookkeepers and anyone who uses QuickBooks as part of their business.

You don't need any prior experience in QuickBooks or accounting. This is designed for people who are trying to decide if QuickBooks are for them and their business, people new to QuickBooks or have been using it for a short period of time. You don't need a computer as this class is not hands on. We've learned that people are able to learn so much more when they're focused on listening to the instructor.
​
The workshop will be held in the conference room in the Lower Level of our building:

300 N. Martingale Rd.,
Lower Level Room 80
Schaumburg, IL 60173
​
If you don't own a copy or subscription, no problem. Learn if it is right for your business and if it is, you can buy at half price though GLM.

Any business that has been in business for more than 2 years with 25 or more employees in Illinois will need to facilitate the Illinois Secure Choice program for its employees. Illinois is in the process of considering appropriate enforcement actions should such actions be needed to enforce the mandate. 

Unless –
An employer-sponsored retirement plan includes a plan qualified under Internal Revenue Code sections 401(a) (including a 401(k) plan), qualified annuity plan under section 403(a), tax-sheltered annuity plan under section 403(b), Simplified Employee Pension plan under section 408(k), a SIMPLE IRA plan under section 408(p) or governmental deferred compensation plan under section 457(b). It does not include payroll deduction IRAs.
 
Employers with fewer than 25 employees are exempt and do not need to participate in the Program.
“Employee” means any individual who is 18 years of age or older, is employed by an Employer, and who has Wages that are allocable to Illinois during a calendar year under the provisions of Section 304(a) (2)(B) of the Illinois Income Tax Act. An Employee includes both part-time and full-time employees.
“Employer” means a person or entity engaged in a business, industry, profession, trade, or other enterprise in Illinois, whether for profit or not for profit, that (i) has at no time during the previous calendar year employed fewer than 25 employees in Illinois, (ii) has been in business at least 2 y

• An employer employing 100 to 499 employees: 7/1/2019
• An employer employing 25 to 99 employees: 11/1/2019

 
Automatic enrollment means that following notification, employers will enroll eligible employees in Illinois Secure Choice unless employees have elected to opt out of the program. It is a Roth IRA and The default savings rate is 5% of gross pay
 
There are no employer fees, and employers are not required to contribute to the program.
 
There is an ongoing fee which is paid as a percent of your assets under management. This fee for each investment option is approximately 0.75% of assets per year ($0.75 for every $100 saved), and it pays for the administration of the program as well as the operating expenses charged by the underlying investment funds in which the program’s portfolios are invested. The fee is computed daily and netted from the assets in an investment option. Investment returns are credited to saver accounts ‘net of’ this cost.

The standard account option for savers will be a Roth IRA. The income limits for Roth IRA savers are set by the federal government. For 2019, the limits are $137,000 for a single tax filer and $203,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly. Beginning in 2019, Illinois Secure Choice will offer a traditional IRA account as an electable choice.

GLM can help get you set up. There are ways you can do it and not have to learn any new software, or learn the basics of QuickBooks and allow us to set you up. You can learn more at this Blog: ​http://www.glm-accounting-bookkeeping.com/blog--podcast/just-getting-accounting-started 

Core ValuesIntegrity- Requires that we possess and steadfastly adhere to high moral principles and professional standards.
 
Excellence- Requires us to provide clients (both external and internal) with exceptional service and experience.  This means that our work product is of outstanding quality, meets delivery promises and provides value to our clients. 
 
Career Development/Continuous Improvement - Our professionals dedicate themselves to constantly improving client experiences.  As individuals we continuously learn new skills and improve existing skills and competencies.  As accounting, tax and consulting professionals we are committed and dedicated to our clients, the firm, and ourselves.
 
Work/Life Balance – We respect various work/life requirements of our people and strive to be sensitive and flexible to each individual case.  We work with our full time and part time employees to create a win-win arrangement for them and the firm.  We work to live rather than live to work.
 
Client Service – We are committed to providing timely, reliable responses and to nurture the relationship with our clients.  Our goal is to define, measure, understand, manage and improve client expectations and be able to align them with firm core values, goals and regulatory compliance.

​Other successful business owners have told us that one or more of the following are their biggest business concerns. Recently, the GOA (Great O'Hare Association) conducted a survey through it's Business Advocacy Committee asking the same question: Rank Legislative Issues in Order of Highest Concern for You.

GLM askes their clients the following question to learn more about what the business owner is thinking.

Which concern(s) do you have about your business?

• Rising labor costs (Employee)
• Health Insurance
• Workers Comp
• Government Regulations
• Declining Sales (Strategy)
• Taxes (Financial)
• Fighting Fires (Process)
• Tight Cash Flow (Financial)
• Errors, Mistakes, Quality (Process)
• Productivity & Attitude (Employees)
• Equipment Capacity (Equipment)
• Customer Demands (Strategy)
• Not having anyone to talk with (Owner Partner Issues)
• Other:                                                                            

The GOA Survey showed that Taxes is the largest concern (over 45% or those survey choose it) for business owners and GLM clients agree.                                                                                                       

Other successful business owners tell us they have a good relationship with their accounting firm. They indicate this has occurred through a unique process that allows them to spend more time working on other key elements of their job.  They say the result is increased results without increasing the number of hours they work.

Perhaps you may want to see some of the same results in your business. If you do, please contact us.

If you are also looking to stay in the loop on local, state and federal business regulations and taxes, you may want to get involved in the Local Business Association and Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce, the GOA. Learn more at www.theGOA.com 

Special Pricing for “Just Getting Accounting Started”
 
Do it yourself   We charge one time fee      Get QuickBooks for almost 50% off though GLM, Inc.

Accounting Coaching
A personalized coach for your accounting needs, with custom-built support.

• Provide 120 minutes of live coaching and 30 days of email access to your GLM specialist
• Learn bookkeeping the right way
• Set up your online account
• Migrate from another platform
• Review and fix your existing account

Who uses this: It’s for entrepreneurs who want to do their own bookkeeping with confidence. Whether you’re new to accounting software, or have years of experience and want to utilize the software to the fullest extent, we will coach you to succeed.
 
Do it Yourself(ish)  We charge for Set up and Training  Per quarter for check in & reconciliation
Same as above PLUS Quarterly we will:

• Reconcile bank accounts.
• Prepare accurate and timely financial statements.

 
Have us do it       We charge for set up and Training        Per Month fee for Bookkeeping
Same as Above PLUS a dedicated bookkeeper to take care of your monthly financial tasks.

• Categorize transactions
• Reconcile accounts
• Collaborate with your tax accountant
• Consultation on business and review of financial statements and tax matters, quarterly.

 
Set up Corporate Status:              $450 minimum plus “Pass-though” costs to State and Federal
 
Available for all packages above (Quote based on time, Range $75-$200 Quarterly):

• Payroll Check writing
• Prepare Quarterly payroll tax returns and monitor tax deposits.
• Preparation of monthly state sales tax returns and city sales tax returns.

 
Tax Returns:
·         Corporate tax return Preparation: based on time, range $1,200 to $1,900 
·         Personal Tax Preparation: based on time, range $400 to $600
 
Work with you to minimize your fee with us and maximize our service to you
Tom Gosche       630-675-8971     tomg@glmfinancial.com
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