ZenStrategies Advisory Group

ZenStrategies Advisory Group Strategic accounting, tax planning, and CFO guidance for growing businesses. Learn more: www.zenstrategies.net

Aurora, OH + Hilton Head, SC

We help you understand your numbers, make better decisions, and grow with confidence.

Your first IRS notice feels super scary, but you don't have to deal with it all alone! Even if we're not the ones who pr...
06/22/2026

Your first IRS notice feels super scary, but you don't have to deal with it all alone!

Even if we're not the ones who prepared your tax return, our experts can help you understand what the notice means and what needs to happen next.

For ZenStrategies' clients, we're already familiar with your return, what was reported, and the facts behind it, so we're not starting from scratch!

The worst thing you can do when it comes to an IRS notice is to ignore it. You're just kicking the problem down the road, and that's how penalties start to really stack up.

So yes, we can help you navigate things if a scary IRS notice finds its way to your mailbox!

Mixing business with marriage? Running your business with your spouse can be a real dream (or an actual nightmare with t...
06/18/2026

Mixing business with marriage?

Running your business with your spouse can be a real dream (or an actual nightmare with the IRS if you don't follow the rules).

Small business owners like to do this because your spouse can get paid AND it's a business tax write-off, but here's what you need to know before you do it:

Your spouse actually needs to be doing real, meaningful work in your business.

That comes with setting them up on payroll, tax withholdings, and all the fun HR paperwork (W-4, I-9, you know the drill).

And their salary?

It needs to align with market rates! You shouldn't be paying your spouse the big bucks if you wouldn't pay that to an employee (who isn't related to you) in a similar role.

It's also best practice to document their job description, expected work hours, and responsibilities.

"Hey, quick admin thing! Could you send me your completed W-9 for my records? Thank you!" That's it. That's the text! If...
06/16/2026

"Hey, quick admin thing! Could you send me your completed W-9 for my records? Thank you!"

That's it. That's the text!

If you're paying contractors (like a virtual assistant or social media manager), you may need to issue them a 1099-NEC.

To do this, you need their legal name and taxpayer ID... which comes from their W-9.

Ideally, you should get a new contractor's W-9 as part of your onboarding process before you ever pay them (but trust us, as small business accountants, we know this isn't always how it works in practice).

If they hesitate or ask why, just let them know it's an IRS requirement for businesses with contractors!

Small business owners, my best tax advice is to make sure your business is set up to work *for* you, not cost you money ...
06/12/2026

Small business owners, my best tax advice is to make sure your business is set up to work *for* you, not cost you money in the background.

It all starts with your entity! The IRS treats sole proprietorships, LLCs, and S corporations differently from a tax perspective, so the "best" setup is going to depend on your unique business.

I also want to make sure you have a solid bookkeeping system in place that's actually capturing all of your income and expenses.

And finally, I think you should be working with an accountant who understands the ins + outs of your business. There's a big difference between generic tax prep and a strategy based on the common expenses, credits, and pain points for your industry!

Here's what made the difference in this restaurant owner's tax bill:1️⃣ We adjusted their entity structure and compensat...
06/10/2026

Here's what made the difference in this restaurant owner's tax bill:

1️⃣ We adjusted their entity structure and compensation (distributions + salary).

2️⃣ They maxed out their contributions to their SEP IRA to reduce their taxable income and save for retirement.

3️⃣ They accelerated purchasing new kitchen equipment to increase their deductions for the year.

Tax planning throughout the year is the key to making sure you don't pay too much in April!

IMO: It's double-checking that you're tracking your mileage (the right way). You don't want to be recreating records fro...
06/08/2026

IMO: It's double-checking that you're tracking your mileage (the right way).

You don't want to be recreating records from old texts + your Google Calendar in December...

Getting a tracking app, like MileIQ, is worth the fee!

It automatically tracks your miles, plus you can mark whether your trip was for business or personal.

Don't wait til your accountant asks for your mileage log next April; start tracking things right today!

PS -- If your business is an S-Corp, be sure you have an accountable plan in place before you start reimbursing for mileage. Not sure what that is or why it's important? Call us!

06/06/2026

Wait, so you've been waiting to hire a business accountant because of the cost...

Even though my whole job is to help you keep more of what you make...

AND you get to write my fees off?!

Sit with that for a sec, then click our link in bio when it's sunk in!

Tax season has a not-so-funny way of exposing every single weak spot in your business.When your books are behind, tax se...
06/05/2026

Tax season has a not-so-funny way of exposing every single weak spot in your business.

When your books are behind, tax season gets even less fun...

Your return gets extended.

The bill from your accountant has a painfully high line item for "reviewing a shoebox of receipts".

And it's nearly impossible to be sure you've captured every write-off.

We help small businesses like yours get their books cleaned up, caught up, and handled going forward so that you don't dread tax season anymore!

So if tax season humbled you, clicking the link in our bio might just be the solution.

Here's the 4 things you need to do if you forgot to extend (and file) your tax return:→ File your return ASAP.This sound...
06/04/2026

Here's the 4 things you need to do if you forgot to extend (and file) your tax return:

→ File your return ASAP.

This sounds kinda self-explanatory, but the sooner you file, the more you can minimize your late filing penalties.

→ Pay what you can, even if it's not the full amount.

Paying a portion of your tax bill is better than paying nothing at all from a penalties perspective.

→ Set up a payment plan (if needed).

If you're struggling to pay your tax bill, you might be able to work something out with the IRS if you're otherwise in good standing.

→ Ask about penalty relief.

If it's your first time running into penalties, you may qualify for a First Time abatement. It could also be worth looking into a reasonable cause relief in the right situation.

A bonus 5th step? Call us, and we'll help you get your taxes sorted and navigate any IRS notices.

Address

45 N. Chillicothe Road , Suite 10
Aurora, OH
44202

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 2pm

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