DENISE STUBBS, CPA

Running a small business is one of those experiences that nobody can fully explain to you before you do it. People try. They tell you it will be hard, it will be rewarding, you will wear a lot of hats. All true. But there is a very specific flavor of chaos and joy that only reveals itself once you are actually in it, invoices open in one tab, coffee going cold in one hand, somehow also trying to fix the wifi.

Many business owners choose their initial structure, sole proprietorship, LLC, S-Corporation, based on what seemed simplest or most appropriate when they started. But businesses grow, income changes, and circumstances shift. The structure that made sense at launch may not be the most advantageous one today. September is one of the best times of year to evaluate whether your business entity type is still working for you, while there's still time to make changes before year-end

If you've worked with a CPA firm before, you probably remember the routine. Drive to the office. Hand over a folder of documents. Wait for a callback. Repeat it all again next year. We built our Franklin, NC firm differently on purpose. As a remote, paperless CPA firm serving clients across western North Carolina, we've designed every part of the process to work around your schedule, not the other way around.

Most business owners don't think about their books until tax season forces the issue. By then, it's a scramble: missing receipts, mystery deposits, and a shoebox of paper that should have been a spreadsheet months ago. Good bookkeeping isn't about paperwork for its own sake. It's what makes your tax return accurate, your deductions defensible, and your life a lot easier if the IRS ever asks a question.

If you operate your business as a sole proprietor, a partnership, an S-Corporation, or an LLC taxed as any of those structures, there is a deduction available to you that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 created and that many small business owners either do not fully understand or are not maximizing. It is the Section 199A qualified business income (QBI) deduction, and at its best, it can reduce your taxable income from self-employment by up to 20%.

Most people don't think about taxes again until it's time to file. But the smartest financial moves of the year don't happen in April, they happen in the months right before it. And here in Franklin, that season is about to begin. Tax planning season typically runs from now through the end of the year, and it exists for one reason: once December 31st passes, most of your options disappear. Why the Timing Matters By the time tax season officially starts, your financial year is

If you run a business in Franklin, you already know what's coming. Once the leaves start turning in the Nantahala and the Smokies, this town fills up. Traffic on Main Street picks up. Parking gets harder to find. For a lot of local businesses, the next couple of months are the busiest and the most profitable of the whole year. That makes late August the right time to get your books in order. Before the rush hits. Before there's no time to look at anything but the register and

If you're self-employed, a business owner, or have income that doesn't have taxes withheld automatically, September 15 is a date worth circling on your calendar. That's when your third quarter estimated tax payment is due.

Western North Carolina is one of the most sought-after short-term rental markets in the Southeast. If you own a vacation rental property, or are thinking about it, the tax picture is more nuanced than most people expect. Here is what every Airbnb and VRBO owner in our area should understand before tax season arrives. The 14-Day Rule: The Line That Changes Everything The tax treatment of a short-term rental depends heavily on how many days you rent it versus how many days you

If you own a business and you also own your home, there is a little-known provision in the tax code that allows you to rent your home to your business for up to 14 days per year and receive that rental income free of federal income tax.

August is just around the corner, which means school supply lists, registration fees, and the first conversations about college costs. It also means an opportunity to make sure you're capturing every tax benefit available to families with children and students.

If you're a self-employed individual or single-member LLC owner and your net profit is consistently above $50,000–$60,000 per year, you may have heard the phrase "S-Corp election." Possibly from an accountant, a business podcast, or a well-meaning friend who recently made the switch.

If you run a vacation rental, a tour outfitter, a mountain retail shop, a restaurant, or any other business that lives and breathes by the tourism calendar, you already know this rhythm better than anyone. What you may not know is that this same rhythm should be driving your tax planning, too, and for most seasonal business owners in western NC, it isn't.

If you own a business structured as an S-Corporation, one of the most important tax decisions you make every year has nothing to do with deductions or deadlines. It's about how you pay yourself. And getting it wrong can cost you, either in unnecessary taxes or an unwanted conversation with the IRS.

June 30 is one of the most underrated dates on the financial calendar. It marks the midpoint of the year, which means you’ve got exactly as much time left to affect your 2026 tax and financial outcomes as you’ve already had. Here’s a practical checklist of six things worth reviewing before July begins. 1. Review Your Withholding Did you get a surprise refund or a surprise balance due in April? Either one suggests your withholding isn’t calibrated correctly. An updated W-4 sub

Father’s Day and this time of year have us thinking about legacy, not just the financial kind, but the kind that shapes how the next generation thinks about money. The financial concepts most parents wish they’d learned sooner aren’t complicated. But they’re rarely taught. Here’s what the research and our experience working with families across Franklin suggest are the most valuable money lessons to pass on. 1. The Difference Between Assets and Liabilities An asset puts money

Homeownership comes with real financial benefits at tax time, but also with a lot of confusion about what’s actually deductible. This guide covers the most important deductions available to homeowners in 2026, along with some common misconceptions that trip people up. Mortgage Interest Deduction For most homeowners, mortgage interest is the most significant deduction available. You can deduct the interest paid on loans up to $750,000 used to buy, build, or substantially impro

If you’re self-employed, a freelancer, or own a small business, one of the most important tax deadlines of the year is coming up fast: June 15, 2026. This is your Q2 estimated tax payment deadline, covering income earned from April 1 through May 31. If you’ve been having a good year, or if you owed money last April, this payment matters more than you might think. Here’s what every self-employed person should understand before June 15. Why Estimated Taxes Exist W-2 employees h

If you’re looking for ways to reduce your tax bill for 2026, retirement accounts are one of the most powerful tools available, and unlike most tax strategies, the window to take action is still wide open.

Every year, millions of Americans file their taxes and are surprised by the result — either a refund that’s bigger than expected or a balance due that wasn’t planned for. In most cases, the culprit is the same: withholding that doesn’t match their actual tax situation.