RCG

11/06/2024

Year-end is in two months. Time to knock some things off your to-do list so you can lock in every possible tax benefit for your business.

🟥 Collect Social Security Numbers or EINs from contractors now for 1099-NECs (file electronically if you have 10 or more).
🟥 Get payroll done—pay yourself, your spouse, and even your kids as employees by Dec 31.
🟥 If you’re starting a business or putting real estate into service, make it official to lock in deductions.
🟥 Set up your retirement plan now, even if you’re not funding it yet.
🟥 Put an accountable plan in place to reimburse work expenses tax-free.
🟥 Stack up charitable donations to maximize deductions every other year if you’re close to itemizing.
🟥 Catch your books up. You don't want to go into tax season money blind.
🟥 Register with FinCen.gov if you have a business entity—the deadline is Jan 1, 2025, and there are fines if you don't comply.

Some of these moves are essential to finish the year strong. Plus, it'll feel satisfying to check those tasks as done.

11/05/2024

Today's your day to wait in long lines, fill in tiny bubbles with tiny pencils, and get an "I voted" sticker reward.

Worth it? 💯
This is your opportunity to make your voice heard.

11/04/2024

Job-hopping is this CEO's big red flag for hiring. What's yours?

Raising Cane's co-founder and CEO Todd Graves says he doesn't want to see evidence of frequent job-hopping on a candidate's resume. Here's why.

11/01/2024

“Great leaders constantly ask questions.” - Vanessa Nornberg, CEO of Metal Mafia

Why? Because questions spark innovation. They encourage exploration. And they open you up to the possibility of failure.

How? By relentlessly challenging the status quo. By developing the quality of curiosity until it becomes your sixth sense.
✳️ "Why did one of my most loyal customers leave a less-than-pleasant review?"
✳️ "What’s missing in our company culture?"
✳️ "How are my customers' needs evolving?"

If you don’t fear failure, your team won’t either.

10/31/2024

No matter who wins the presidential election next week, let's lay out the impact of each client's tax plans on your wallet.

With a Trump administration...
🍁 Extended TCJA provisions = lowered income tax brackets, maintaining the higher standard deduction, reduced taxes for business owners (think QBI) and corporations
🍁 Taxes on Social Security benefits would end entirely.
🍁 Overtime hours worked would not be taxed.
🍁 A 10-20% tariff would be imposed on most imported goods -- a 60% tariff on goods specifically from China.

With a Harris-led administration...
🍁 Increased child tax credit (from $2,000 to $3,600 for younger children; up to $6000 for a baby’s first year)
🍁 First-time homebuyer down payment assistance (aka $25,000 tax credit)
🍁 The deduction for small business startup costs would jump from $5,000 to $50,000
🍁 Medicare taxes bumped up to 5% for those who make more than $400,000 annually
🍁 Raised corporate income tax rate (from 21 to 28%)
🍁 Raised capital gains tax (from 20 to 28%) for those who make 1 million or more annually.

We're here in your corner to help guide you through, no matter the outcome.

10/30/2024

Anyone who's built a business has walked the delicate line of knowing when and how to add the right people to the team. When you've poured your heart and soul into building something from the ground up, it can be hard to trust others to handle it as you would.

As you think through this, remember:
1️⃣ There really is strength in numbers. People have different gifts, and no one person has all the talent needed to cover all the bases. Take an honest look at what are *not* your strengths, and look for someone who can fill those.
2️⃣ Screen people to make sure they are team players. You're not looking for a one-man show to add to your production.
3️⃣ Growth can be painful, but remember the end result is good. If you find the right people, the growing pains of trusting someone else with your work very well may skyrocket your success.

10/29/2024

The mental shift from "doer of the task" to "promoter of your business" is vital if you plan on growing your business to the level of your dreams.

A large number of small business owners in America do not make the mental jump from, "I do 'X' for a living" to "I market my business for a living."

Business owners, you're more than doers. You're a client acquisition specialist, a client retention master, a maximizer of total client value.

This is important to get straight NOW, in the final quarter of 2024.

10/28/2024

As the person in your corner who might be one of the only ones asking you these questions...
❓What happens to your business if the building next door catches on fire?
❓Are you prepared for the next hurricane, tornado, or hail storm?

Every business needs to prepare for these eventualities. DO YOU HAVE A PLAN? If not, let’s get you one...

10/25/2024

What are some ways an employer could make the pivot from remote work to in-office work more palatable for employees?

They're paying for parking and gas or transit, coffee and lunch, breakfast or dinner on some days, and for some, childcare.

10/24/2024

Do you really need to follow up with customers after a 🤑sale? It often doesn't yield immediate results (where's that instant gratification?!).

But following up is actually 🔑 key to effective sales because it shows your customers that they ❤️ matter to you even beyond the sale.

🙌🏻 Thank them for their business, 🤝 make sure their needs are met, and ❓ask open-ended questions about their experience. A quick ☎️ phone call or thank you email can go a lot further than you might think.

10/23/2024

Did you know that 73 percent of consumers said they would switch brands if they feel a company doesn’t care about them?

If your current sales strategies are causing perceived indifference in your customers, they need a facelift (and fast).

One practical way you can demonstrate that kind of care is to get to know your customers.

When you really understand them, their pains and frustrations, and their needs, you’ll unlock the power of RESONATING with them. Instead of saying, “Here’s our product,” you’ll be saying, “Here’s the solution you’ve been waiting for.”

Practical ways to do that:
👍🏾 Send out surveys to gather real feedback.
👍🏼 Analyze your customer service interactions to identify common concerns.
👍🏻 Watch for trends on social media that your audience cares about.