Strategy · Reasonable Comp · Entity Structure · §199A
Strategic tax planning that pays for itself.
Tax preparation files what happened. Tax advisory changes what’s about to happen. We identify the elections, restructurings, and timing moves that bend your effective tax rate before the books close — and price every engagement so projected savings exceed our fees.
What’s included
Strategy that compounds.
A typical advisory engagement covers entity structure, comp, retirement, and the highest-leverage strategies for your situation — with quantified savings estimates before you sign.
- Quarterly tax planning sessionsLiving strategy, not annual archaeology — we adjust as your year unfolds.
- Entity structure analysisLLC vs S-Corp vs C-Corp; election timing, late S-Corp elections (Form 2553), F reorganizations when appropriate.
- Reasonable compensation studiesDocumented benchmarks for S-Corp owner-employees that hold up under examination.
- Multi-year tax projections3–5 year horizon. Identifies bracket arbitrage opportunities and election sequencing.
- §199A QBI optimizationSSTB analysis, threshold management, aggregation elections, W-2 wage and UBIA planning.
- Augusta Rule (§280A(g))Substantiated home-rental strategies for closely-held businesses.
- Accountable plansProperly structured employee expense reimbursement to convert post-tax to pre-tax dollars.
- Retirement plan structuringSolo 401(k), SEP, SIMPLE, defined benefit and cash balance plans — matched to your business model and savings target.
- State tax planningIndiana, Illinois, multi-state nexus, residency planning, PTE elections.
- Real estate strategiesCost segregation, real estate professional status (REPS), short-term rental loophole, 1031 sequencing.
Who this is for.
S-Corp owners taking distributions but unsure whether their reasonable comp is defensible; founders deciding between LLC, S-Corp, and C-Corp structure; high-W-2 earners with side businesses; real estate investors evaluating REPS qualification or cost segregation; entrepreneurs whose preparer files but doesn’t strategize. Most of our advisory clients earn $250K–$5M in business income.
How it works
From conversation to compounding savings.
Discovery
A free 45-minute strategy call. We listen, review your last return and entity structure, and surface the largest opportunities. If we can’t see savings that exceed our fee, we’ll tell you.
Engagement & Diagnostic
Engagement letter with quoted scope. We pull your last 2–3 years of returns, financial statements, and entity docs and complete a current-state diagnostic.
Strategy Memo
A written plan: prioritized strategies, quantified savings, multi-year projection, action timeline. You see the math and know our fee is dwarfed by the projected return before you commit further.
Implementation & Quarterly Review
We execute — entity changes, plan adoptions, comp documentation, election filings — then meet quarterly to adjust as the year unfolds.
Pricing.
Advisory engagements scale with the complexity of your situation and the size of identified savings.
If we can’t identify projected savings that materially exceed our fee, we won’t take the engagement.
$2,500engagements · from
Every project is priced so the tax liability savings and financial clarity exceed the cost of our fees.
“Your guidance this year was always clear, strategic, and refreshingly jargon-free. I have nothing but highly positive things to say about your services to any prospective clients.”
FAQ
Common questions.
How is tax advisory different from tax preparation?
Tax preparation is reactive — we file what already happened. Tax advisory is proactive — we identify what to do differently before the year closes. Most of our advisory clients see the engagement pay for itself in the first year through better entity structure, comp planning, retirement structuring, or accountable plan implementation.
When should I start tax planning for the year?
Q1 if possible. Many of the highest-ROI strategies (S-Corp election timing, retirement plan setup, accountable plan adoption, entity restructuring) require action well before year-end. We do quarterly planning so adjustments compound.
What’s a reasonable compensation study and why does it matter?
For S-Corp owners, the IRS requires owner-employees to take “reasonable compensation” before distributing the rest as flow-through. Setting it too low triggers audit risk and reclassification; too high overpays self-employment-equivalent taxes. A formal study documents the position with defensible benchmarks.
Can you work with my existing CPA or tax preparer?
Yes — though most clients consolidate over time. Initially we often advise alongside an existing prep relationship. After 1–2 cycles, the value of integrated prep + planning usually leads to consolidation.
What does $2,500 starting actually cover?
A scoped advisory engagement: typically a current-state analysis, multi-year projection, entity structure recommendation, and 2–4 prioritized actionable strategies with quantified savings estimates. Larger clients with more complexity scale up.
How is the value-based pricing structured?
We quote engagements against the projected dollar value of identified savings — both immediate and multi-year. If we can’t identify savings that materially exceed our fee, we won’t take the engagement. The math is transparent before you commit.
Related services
What pairs with advisory.
Tax Preparation
Strategy without execution is theory. Most advisory clients move their preparation to us after the first cycle.
Explore tax prep →Fractional CFO
Live financials, KPI dashboards, and cash visibility — the operational foundation that makes tax strategy possible.
Explore fractional CFO →IRS Notice Assistance
Aggressive but defensible positions sometimes draw attention. We handle correspondence and exam if it comes.
Explore notice help →What is your tax bill costing you in unrealized opportunity?
The first conversation is free, candid, and useful — even if you don’t hire us.
Schedule Your Free Strategy Session