Business services
Chris’ job is to help your business succeed, grow, and prosper for the long haul. You can rest easier — and save time and money — when you have trustworthy expert advice. Here are some of the services Chris offers for businesses:
Tax compliance
Tax laws change constantly. Chris stays up to date with changes, so you can be in compliance and also plan ahead for future changes. Tax time is once a year, but tax planning should be an ongoing activity. Chris will ensure you pay what you owe, but no more — whether you have a sole proprietorship, a start-up, or an established corporate entity.
Business structure advice
Sole proprietorship? Partnership? S Corporation? C Corporation? Who should be a partner in your LLC? What’s the most tax-advantaged way to pay yourself? Should you incorporate? These are important questions for new businesses, of course. But established companies should revisit these issues periodically. It could be time to restructure, especially if you are growing quickly or are looking to add a partner or bring in fresh capital. Chris is deeply versed in the financial pros and cons of the various business structures in Oregon. He will take time to listen to your circumstances and explain the implications of each option.
Financial planning
Sometimes you can get so busy running your business day to day, you don’t have time to do adequate big-picture financial planning. That’s a mistake. Chris can help you analyze your budget, expenses, payroll, sales, and tax burden so you can save money. And he can often point out growth opportunities and help you make smart investments to increase revenue and profits and minimize taxes. He is a trusted adviser on all your business’s financial matters.
Cash flow & budget analysis
Understanding your cash flow and writing a solid, workable budget can be overwhelming. But then, just hoping for the best isn’t a good strategy. Chris can help you develop a solid plan to manage your cash, so your business has better liquidity and more profitability. He can also help you find places to reduce costs, and to avoid common business mistakes (he has seen many mistakes over the years). He can then advise you in an ongoing way, to make sure you stay on track and to revisit and adjust the plan when things change.
Startup planning
If you are thinking of launching into a new business, there are a million things to think about. Whether you have investors, or are going to bootstrap it yourself, you need help and expert advice so you can focus on the meat of the business you want to build. Chris can help with questions about business structure, tax planning, how to pay yourself, etc. But he can also help you create a sky-view plan, so you can stay on top of everything.
Sales, acquisitions & mergers
If you are looking to sell your business, or buy one, or merge your company with another, having a trusted and experienced professional is essential. The last thing you want to do is pay too much when you buy — or sell for too little. Chris has handled many such transactions over his career and can analyze the deal for you, look at the books of all the parties, and give you sound advice on what is a fair price. He can also help you determine the best way to make a transaction for tax purposes.
Succession plans
So you have built a successful business! But you are starting to think about retiring, or perhaps you just worry what will happen to the businss if something happens to you. You need a succession plan. Like many other types of business planning, it pays to get help from someone with experience and skill. Chris can help you through this process, and help get you to a place where you can have peace of mind.
Business coaching
Running a business is what he does every day. If you ever feel like the profit you are seeing from your business doesn’t quite justify how hard you are working, and you are wondering what you are doing wrong, it might be time for some business coaching. Chris isn’t only a CPA and an investment adviser. He has been a business owner himself for many years, both in partnerships with others and on his own. So this isn’t just theory for Chris. He can help you understand business best-practices, become more profitable in the present, and also plan for a more secure future.
Closing a business
If you have decided to shut down a business that you have been running, you should plan carefully. You may have liabilitis or debts. You may need or want to pay severence to employees. There are tax implications. There is a lot to consider. Chris can help you through this process while avoiding costly mistakes.
I’ve worked with Chris for years and he is always looking out for his clients. I have a business and consider him to be an important partner in my success. I highly recommend him!
Jo-Ann Z., Eugene, Oregon