Small Business Tax Savings Podcast

How to Set Up an LLC in 2026 for Free (Step by Step)

Thinking about forming an LLC in 2026? In this episode, Mike breaks down how to set up an LLC step by step, what “free” really means, state filing costs, common mistakes to avoid, and why an LLC can act as an insurance policy for future S Corp tax savings. Perfect for new and growing business owners who want clarity without the confusion. If you want a clean, simple business setup that protects you now and gives you flexibility later, this episode gives you the roadmap without the legal confusion. 👉 Get the Free Tax Savings Starter Kit Built for Small Business Owners: https://www.taxsavingspodcast.com/starterkit 🚀 Book your free demo call today! Click here or visit: https://taxelm.com/demo/ [https://taxelm.com/demo/] Chapters (01:00) Why Form an LLC in 2026 The 3 core reasons business owners form LLCs. Liability protection, credibility, and flexibility for future tax planning. (02:10) Why an LLC Is an Insurance Policy for an S Corp How an LLC allows you to elect S Corp status later and why sole proprietors do not have that option. (03:00) What “Free” LLC Setup Really Means State filing fees, unavoidable costs, and what online “free” services actually do. (03:55) The Step-by-Step LLC Setup Process Choosing a business name, selecting a registered agent, drafting an operating agreement, filing with the state, getting an EIN, and opening a business bank account. (06:05) The Biggest LLC Mistakes Business Owners Make Why not using the LLC, mixing funds, missing renewals, and following bad internet advice cause legal and tax issues. (07:40) Bonus Tips to Strengthen Your LLC Operating agreements, separating finances, tracking expenses, and setting up bookkeeping the right way. (08:30) When to Consider an S Corporation $50,000 in profit is a common tipping point and how an LLC makes the transition easier. (09:00) Final Takeaway How to use an LLC to protect yourself today while setting up smarter tax planning for the future. Podcast Host: Mike Jesowshek, CPA – Founder and Host of Small Business Tax Savings Podcast Join TaxElm: https://taxelm.com [https://taxelm.com] 🚀 Visit:  https://www.TaxSavingsPodcast.com [https://www.taxsavingspodcast.com]  🚀 Check Out TaxElm: https://taxelm.com/ [https://taxelm.com/] 🚀 Join our Free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/taxsavings/ [https://www.facebook.com/groups/taxsavings/] 🚀 YouTube: www.TaxSavingsTV.com [http://www.taxsavingstv.com] 👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH You can Tweet @MJesowshek with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes. We want to thank you personally for tuning in 🙏 🙌LEAVE A REVIEW If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps more business owners find the show ⭐ 🎙 ABOUT THE PODCAST The Small Business Tax Savings Podcast is your go-to resource for cutting-edge tax strategies to help entrepreneurs legally slash their tax bills. Hosted by Mike Jesowshek, CPA, this show breaks down complex tax topics into clear, no-fluff insights so you can keep more of your hard-earned money.

Welcome to 2026: Make These 4 Financial Moves Right Now

If you are already behind on your taxes in January, there are four tax tasks you cannot skip. In this episode, we break down the four financial tasks every business owner needs to complete in January to start 2026 clean and organized. Mike explains why unfinished bookkeeping leads to missed deductions and unnecessary stress, how to properly review your financials, and why most tax issues begin long before filing season. We also cover the importance of creating a simple financial summary document, meeting the January 31 1099 deadline, and building a proactive tax plan early in the year instead of scrambling in December. If you want 2026 to be more profitable and less stressful, this episode shows you exactly where to start. 👉 Get the Free Tax Savings Starter Kit Built for Small Business Owners: https://www.taxsavingspodcast.com/starterkit [https://www.taxsavingspodcast.com/starterkit] 🚀 Book your free demo call today. Click here or visit: https://taxelm.com/demo/ [https://taxelm.com/demo/] Chapters (00:37) Close Out 2025 Before You Move Forward Why unfinished bookkeeping follows you into the new year. (01:00) How to Review Your Books the Right Way What to check in your income statement and balance sheet for accuracy. (02:55) How to Organize Tax Documents Properly Why storing receipts and records now saves stress later. (03:50) The Financial Summary Document Every Owner Needs A simple snapshot that shows assets, liabilities, and insurance in one place. (06:36) Why Advisors Love This One Document How it leads to better advice, faster decisions, and smarter planning. (08:00) The January 31 1099 Deadline Who needs a 1099, who does not, and what payments count. (11:07) Implementing Tax Strategies Throughout the Year Why spreading strategies across the calendar leads to real savings. (13:24) The Bottom Line for a Strong 2026 Clean books, clear visibility, timely filings, and a tax plan that works. Podcast Host: Mike Jesowshek, CPA – Founder and Host of Small Business Tax Savings Podcast Join TaxElm: https://taxelm.com [https://taxelm.com] 🚀 Visit:  https://www.TaxSavingsPodcast.com [https://www.taxsavingspodcast.com]  🚀 Check Out TaxElm: https://taxelm.com/ [https://taxelm.com/] 🚀 Join our Free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/taxsavings/ [https://www.facebook.com/groups/taxsavings/] 🚀 YouTube: www.TaxSavingsTV.com [http://www.taxsavingstv.com] 👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH You can Tweet @MJesowshek with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes. We want to thank you personally for tuning in 🙏 🙌LEAVE A REVIEW If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps more business owners find the show ⭐ 🎙 ABOUT THE PODCAST The Small Business Tax Savings Podcast is your go-to resource for cutting-edge tax strategies to help entrepreneurs legally slash their tax bills. Hosted by Mike Jesowshek, CPA, this show breaks down complex tax topics into clear, no-fluff insights so you can keep more of your hard-earned money.

The 1099 Rules Every Small Business Owner Needs to Know Before January 31

Are you still guessing when it comes to 1099s? Most business owners are. And every January, that confusion turns into stress, penalties, and last-minute cleanup that could have been avoided. In this episode, Mike Jesowshek breaks down everything small business owners need to know about 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC forms, who needs one, who doesn't, the deadlines and the penalties that add up fast.  If you want January to feel calm instead of chaotic, this episode gives you the clear rules and simple process to get compliant without overthinking it. 👉 Get the Free Tax Savings Starter Kit Built for Small Business Owners: https://www.taxsavingspodcast.com/starterkit 🚀 Book your free demo call today! Click here or visit: https://taxelm.com/demo/ [https://taxelm.com/demo/] Chapters (01:00) What is a 1099? Mike explains how 1099s work, why the IRS requires them, and how they are used to match income across businesses and contractors. (02:12) 1099-NEC vs 1099-MISC Which form applies to contractors, which applies to rent, and why mixing them up creates problems. (03:30) The Real 1099 Deadlines Why January 31 matters, how weekends affect filing dates, and what business owners must send and file by the deadline. (04:55) IRS Penalties That Add Up Fast Late filing penalties, intentional disregard penalties, and how missing multiple forms can quickly turn into thousands of dollars owed. (06:40) Who Actually Needs a 1099 The $600 cumulative rule, common misunderstandings, and why splitting payments does not avoid filing requirements. (08:20) Common Exceptions Most Owners Miss When corporations, payment processors, foreign contractors, employees, and personal payments do not require a 1099. (10:15) Why Credit Card Payments Change Everything How payment processors issue 1099-Ks and why that removes your filing obligation. (11:30) The 4-Step Process to File 1099s Correctly Collect W-9s, prepare the forms, send copies to recipients, and file with the IRS the right way. (13:05) The Biggest 1099 Mistakes Why missing W-9s and messy bookkeeping cause late filings and penalties every year. (14:45) How Software Simplifies the Entire Process Why e-filing tools save time, reduce errors, and make year-over-year filing easier. (15:40) The 2026 Rule Change Every Business Owner Should Know The new $2,000 filing threshold, inflation adjustments, and how this change affects future planning. Podcast Host: Mike Jesowshek, CPA – Founder and Host of Small Business Tax Savings Podcast Join TaxElm: https://taxelm.com [https://taxelm.com] 🚀 Visit:  https://www.TaxSavingsPodcast.com [https://www.taxsavingspodcast.com]  🚀 Check Out TaxElm: https://taxelm.com/ [https://taxelm.com/] 🚀 Join our Free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/taxsavings/ [https://www.facebook.com/groups/taxsavings/] 🚀 YouTube: www.TaxSavingsTV.com [http://www.taxsavingstv.com] 👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH You can Tweet @MJesowshek with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes. We want to thank you personally for tuning in 🙏 🙌LEAVE A REVIEW If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps more business owners find the show ⭐ 🎙 ABOUT THE PODCAST The Small Business Tax Savings Podcast is your go-to resource for cutting-edge tax strategies to help entrepreneurs legally slash their tax bills. Hosted by Mike Jesowshek, CPA, this show breaks down complex tax topics into clear, no-fluff insights so you can keep more of your hard-earned money.

Merry Christmas and Thank You for Listening!

Happy Holidays, and thank you. This episode is a personal thank-you to the Small Business Tax Savings Podcast community. We reflect on nearly eight years of the show, including over 400 episodes and more than 1.5 million downloads.  At the core of this podcast is one mission; Helping small business owners pay the least amount in taxes legally, without stress or confusion.   Let’s make 2026 the year you get proactive about tax planning from the start.  If this podcast has helped you in any way this year, there are a few small things you can do to help us continue helping more business owners: - Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen - Subscribe to our YouTube channel - Share this podcast with another business owner - Follow us on social media to stay connected If you’d like to go deeper, you can download our Tax Savings Starter Kit. Inside, you’ll find: - A complete list of common business deductions - Real case studies showing how business owners saved $5,000–$25,000 - Access to a bonus discovery call with our team 👉 Get the Starter Kit here: https://taxsavingspodcast.com/starter-kit/ For business owners who want hands-on help implementing the right tax strategies, we also created TaxElm. It’s designed to guide you step by step, with full access to our team of tax professionals throughout the process. 🚀 Book your free demo call today! Click here or visit: https://taxelm.com/demo/ [https://taxelm.com/demo/] Podcast Host: Mike Jesowshek, CPA – Founder and Host of Small Business Tax Savings Podcast Join TaxElm: https://taxelm.com [https://taxelm.com] 🚀 Visit:  https://www.TaxSavingsPodcast.com [https://www.taxsavingspodcast.com]  🚀 Check Out TaxElm: https://taxelm.com/ [https://taxelm.com/] 🚀 Join our Free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/taxsavings/ [https://www.facebook.com/groups/taxsavings/] 🚀 YouTube: www.TaxSavingsTV.com [http://www.taxsavingstv.com] 👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH You can Tweet @MJesowshek with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes. We want to thank you personally for tuning in 🙏 🙌LEAVE A REVIEW If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps more business owners find the show ⭐ 🎙 ABOUT THE PODCAST The Small Business Tax Savings Podcast is your go-to resource for cutting-edge tax strategies to help entrepreneurs legally slash their tax bills. Hosted by Mike Jesowshek, CPA, this show breaks down complex tax topics into clear, no-fluff insights so you can keep more of your hard-earned money.

The Biggest Tax Planning Mistakes Business Owners Will Regret in 2026 with Mark J. Kohler

Do you really have your tax planning handled? The thing is, many business owners are making a critical mistake that will become even more expensive by 2026. In this episode, Mike Jesowshek, CPA, sits down with Mark J. Kohler to expose the biggest tax planning failure business owners make. Confusing knowing strategies with actually applying them. Mark explains why tax savings disappear at the implementation level, how poor execution creates long-term consequences, and why retirement accounts are one of the most overlooked areas where this mistake shows up. 👉 Get the Free Tax Savings Starter Kit Built for Small Business Owners: https://www.taxsavingspodcast.com/starterkit 🚀 Book your free demo call today! Click here or visit: https://taxelm.com/demo/ [https://taxelm.com/demo/] Chapters (01:02) Why Most Tax Strategies Never Get Implemented Many business owners think they are doing tax planning, but when you look at their tax return, the strategies are missing. (03:05) Tax Strategy vs Tax Compliance There is a major disconnect between tax advisors and tax preparers.  (05:18) What “Self-Directed” Really Means Wall Street uses the term self-directed loosely. Mark explains the real definition and why traditional brokers do not promote it. (07:04) What You Can Invest in With a Self-Directed IRA Real estate, private businesses, lending, crypto, precious metals, and more. Mark walks through the types of investments retirement accounts are legally allowed to own. (09:36) Prohibited Transactions and IRS Red Flags It is not about prohibited assets. It is about prohibited people and personal benefit. (12:02) Can You Be Active in Retirement-Owned Investments You can make decisions, write checks, and structure deals, but you cannot personally perform labor or manage properties. (14:01) Cost and Setup of a Self-Directed IRA Many people assume self-directing requires hundreds of thousands of dollars. (15:52) Employer 401ks vs Self-Directed Plans Why most employer-sponsored 401ks restrict your options and how entrepreneurs can set up plans that allow true self-direction. (18:06) When Self-Directed IRAs Are Not a Good Fit Self-directing requires time, focus, and discipline. Mark explains when investors should wait or choose simpler options. (19:33) How to Get Started the Right Way Education comes first. Mark shares resources, podcasts, books, and next steps for learning before investing. Podcast Host: Mike Jesowshek, CPA – Founder and Host of Small Business Tax Savings Podcast Join TaxElm: https://taxelm.com [https://taxelm.com] 🚀 Visit:  https://www.TaxSavingsPodcast.com [https://www.taxsavingspodcast.com]  🚀 Check Out TaxElm: https://taxelm.com/ [https://taxelm.com/] 🚀 Join our Free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/taxsavings/ [https://www.facebook.com/groups/taxsavings/] 🚀 YouTube: www.TaxSavingsTV.com [http://www.taxsavingstv.com] 👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH You can Tweet @MJesowshek with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes. We want to thank you personally for tuning in 🙏 🙌LEAVE A REVIEW If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps more business owners find the show ⭐ 🎙 ABOUT THE PODCAST The Small Business Tax Savings Podcast is your go-to resource for cutting-edge tax strategies to help entrepreneurs legally slash their tax bills. Hosted by Mike Jesowshek, CPA, this show breaks down complex tax topics into clear, no-fluff insights so you can keep more of your hard-earned money.