Start a Business Smoothly

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Know the Simple Steps for Starting Your Business Right

Owning your own business is right up there with apple pie and baseball as an American pastime. In order to assure that your business succeeds beyond the initial desire and thrill of fulfilling a dream, you must take the time to develop a comprehensive plan and gain the advantage of having all pertinent information in place before you begin your venture.


We can help you avoid becoming another failed business statistic. With our help, you will identify and avoid the common mistakes many new business owners make. We will help you build a business plan for success, as well as provide financial management services to meet your needs.

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Steps to starting your business right…


  • Prepare a business plan and determine your initial capital needs.
  • Identify your current resources, as well as sources of start-up capital and your borrowing capacity.
  • Review potential business structures in terms of tax advantages and portability in case you need to relocate.
  • Plan for financial management of your business by selecting accounting software that fits your projected budget and gaining the hardware necessary to run it.
  • Understand the key components of a Cash Flow Projection and develop one to cover each month of your business for the first year, at least.
  • Learn about the best billing and collection procedures to maximize your cash flow.
  • Research and gain an understanding of employment laws so that you are prepared to comply from the start.
  • Consider a home office for maximizing tax deductions.
  • Prepare and file for all local and state licenses and permits.
  • Gain a Federal Employer Identification Number and set up payroll services and payroll tax filing systems with your first employee.
  • Identify any business insurance needs.
  • Develop a Partnership Agreement. By putting the terms of all business partnerships into writing, you will save a lot of future pain and headache, as well as the potential detriment of your business.


Don’t let this list overwhelm your desire to start a business. Our services were created with small business owners like you in mind.



Call us today to start your business the right way!

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Business Tax Planning Strategies for 2026

By Christopher J. Gelfuso • February 10, 2026
For most business owners, business tax planning feels like something you deal with once a year, usually under pressure, and right before a deadline. That mindset is expensive. After more than 10 years as a CFO consultant and tax strategist, and previously serving as an IRS agent, I’ve seen the same pattern over and over: businesses don’t overpay taxes because the rules are unclear, they overpay because they’re reacting instead of planning. Real tax planning isn’t about loopholes, it’s about aligning how your business operates, pays people, invests, and grows with the tax code working for you instead of against you.
Person's hand using a calculator, notebook and laptop in background.

Guide to Long-Term Capital Gains Tax in California

By Christopher J. Gelfuso • February 9, 2026
If you’re a California business owner, investor, or entrepreneur, capital gains tax isn’t just a line item it’s a strategic risk. I’ve spent over a decade helping business owners navigate capital gains planning, and one thing is consistent: most people dramatically underestimate how much California takes. Unlike the federal system, California does not reward long-term investing with lower tax rates. That single fact changes how you should think about exits, portfolio rebalancing, and real estate decisions. This guide breaks down how long-term capital gains tax works in California in 2025, where business owners get burned, and what you can do to keep more of what you earn.
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4 Year End Tax Strategies for East Los Angeles Businesses

By Christopher J. Gelfuso • February 8, 2026
Before I dive into some year end tax strategies East Los Angelesbusiness owners can and should be making, I want to address some rumors and misinformation about the SALT workarounds that are available to some of our clients (though not all). Essentially, 22 states (as of this writing) have enacted legislation that enables business owners operating in a partnership or S-corp to deduct their state and local taxes (SALT) beyond the 10K cap that exists on federal returns. These are the states that currently provide this workaround in some measure: