Fee-only financial advisors for small-business owners, self-employed, and freelancers.
Small-business owners face a compressed version of the whole wealth-planning problem: retirement vehicles (solo 401k vs SEP vs cash-balance), entity choice (S-corp reasonable salary, LLC tax elections), health insurance, disability, and irregular income smoothing. Generalist advisors miss SEP-to-solo-401k rollover advantages, QBI deduction optimiza
What our matched specialists handle
- Solo 401k vs SEP IRA — which is right now that I'm earning more?
- Should I add a cash balance plan to my solo 401k?
- S-corp reasonable salary — what's defensible without IRS trouble?
- QBI deduction — how do I optimize around the threshold?
- Irregular income — how do I smooth contributions across up and down years?
- I'm going from W-2 to 1099 — what's the whole to-do list?
Tools & guides
Small Business Retirement Plan Selector
Compare Solo 401(k), SEP-IRA, SIMPLE, and Cash Balance based on your income and savings goals.
S-Corp Reasonable Salary Calculator
Find the IRS-defensible salary range for your role, and see exactly how much you save in FICA taxes vs. a sole-prop structure.
QBI Deduction Optimizer
Find out if the Section 199A phase-out is erasing your deduction — and how retirement contributions can recover it.
Small Business Financial Planning Guide
Detailed framework — rules, tradeoffs, and common mistakes.
Self-Employed Health Insurance Guide 2026
COBRA vs. ACA Marketplace vs. HDHP + HSA — and how to deduct 100% of your premiums under § 162(l).
W-2 to 1099 Transition Checklist
Going independent? The complete financial to-do list: SE tax, quarterly estimates, solo 401k setup, entity choice, and more.
Cash Balance Plan for Self-Employed Owners
How to stack a cash balance plan on top of a solo 401(k) for $150K–$330K+ in annual deductions. 2026 limits by age, costs, and setup timeline.
Irregular Income Retirement Calculator
Solo 401(k) vs SEP IRA when income swings year to year. See your 2026 max contributions by income level and which plan wins for variable earners.
Quarterly Estimated Taxes Guide 2026
Due dates, safe harbor rules, SE tax calculation, and cash-flow strategies to avoid underpayment penalties. Includes how retirement contributions reduce your quarterly payments.
LLC vs. S-Corp: When the Switch Saves Money
The S-corp election isn't right for everyone. See the break-even math, reasonable salary requirement, QBI interaction, and California franchise tax trap — with 2026 numbers.
How to Pay Yourself as an LLC Owner (2026)
Owner's draw, guaranteed payment, W-2 salary, or distribution? Your LLC's tax election determines the right method — and the wrong one can cost you thousands in unnecessary FICA or trigger an IRS audit. Includes a FICA comparison calculator and retirement plan contribution analysis.
Solo 401(k) Rules and 2026 Contribution Limits
How the solo 401(k) works, who qualifies, 2026 limits by income level, Roth option, IRA pro-rata trap, and when to stack a cash balance plan on top.
Disability Insurance for the Self-Employed
Own-occupation vs. any-occupation, how much coverage to buy, the retirement-plan income documentation trap, and why routing DI through your S-corp provides no tax advantage over an individual policy.
SEP IRA 2026: Limits, the 20% Rule, and When It Beats a Solo 401(k)
Max $72,000 in 2026 with an October deadline — no year-end election required. See how SEP IRA compares to a solo 401k at every income level, the pro-rata trap, and when simplicity wins.
SIMPLE IRA for Small Business 2026
The plan for businesses with employees: $17,000 employee deferral, 3% employer match, no discrimination testing. Why SIMPLE IRA can cost 80% less than a SEP IRA once you have staff — and the 2-year rollover trap to know.
Self-Employed Tax Deductions 2026: Complete Guide
Every above-the-line deduction available to business owners — retirement plans, health insurance, HSA, home office, vehicle, Section 179, QBI — with a worked example at $300K income.
S-Corp Payroll Setup for Owner-Employees
How to pay yourself correctly from your S-corp: salary vs. distributions, Form 941 quarterly filings, W-2 deadlines, health insurance reporting, and how your salary level caps your solo 401(k) employer contributions.
Self-Employed Tax Calculator 2026
Enter your 1099 income and get an instant estimate of your SE tax, federal income tax, and total tax burden — plus see exactly how a solo 401(k) or SEP IRA reduces your bill with a real-time slider.
Backdoor Roth IRA for High-Income Self-Employed (2026)
Earning over $168K (single) or $252K (MFJ)? Direct Roth contributions are phased out. Learn the backdoor Roth strategy — and the SEP IRA pro-rata trap that makes it nearly worthless unless you roll your SEP into your solo 401(k) first.
Safe Harbor 401(k) for Small Business 2026
When you have employees and need more than a SIMPLE IRA: safe harbor design eliminates ADP/ACP discrimination testing so the owner can max out at $24,500 + catch-up. Three designs compared — basic match, enhanced match, non-elective — with cost breakdown vs. SIMPLE IRA.
Selling Your Small Business: Tax Planning Guide 2026
Asset sale vs. stock sale, depreciation recapture, personal goodwill doctrine, installment sales, and QSBS §1202 — the decisions that determine how much of your sale price you actually keep. Most of these choices are irreversible once the LOI is signed.
Business Owner Life Insurance: Key Person and Buy-Sell Agreements
Key person insurance protects your business if a critical owner or employee dies. A funded buy-sell agreement determines who owns the business after you're gone — and whether your co-owners can afford to buy out your estate. Includes the Connelly v. US ruling that changed buy-sell structuring for C-corps.
Section 179 & Bonus Depreciation Calculator 2026
OBBBA permanently restored 100% bonus depreciation for equipment acquired after Jan 19, 2025. See your first-year deduction (up to the full purchase price), estimated tax savings, and how much more cash you keep versus spreading the cost over 5–7 years under regular MACRS.
S-Corp Accountable Plan: Tax-Free Expense Reimbursements
S-corp owner-employees can reimburse home office, vehicle miles, phone, and other business expenses completely free of income tax and FICA — but only with a properly structured accountable plan. TCJA eliminated the employee expense deduction for everyone else. See the $16K reimbursement example that saves $5,000+ per year.
Home Office Deduction Calculator 2026
Compare the IRS simplified method ($5/sqft, max $1,500) against the actual expense method for your specific home setup. See which saves you more and estimate your combined federal income tax and SE tax savings — the deduction reduces both layers at once.
Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator 2026
How much do you owe the IRS each quarter? Enter your expected income and deductions — see your payment amounts using both the 90% current-year method and the prior-year safe harbor, plus exactly how much a retirement contribution trims each quarterly check.
QSEHRA and ICHRA: Tax-Free Health Benefits Without Group Insurance
Can't afford group health insurance? QSEHRA lets small employers (under 50 FTEs) reimburse employees tax-free up to $6,450/$13,100 in 2026. ICHRA has no dollar cap and works for any employer size. Here's how to choose between them — and what the premium tax credit interaction means for your employees.
Profit Sharing Plan for Small Business 2026: Cross-Tested & Age-Weighted Designs
Contribute up to $72,000 per year with a fully discretionary employer contribution — and use a cross-tested design to legally give yourself 20–25% of compensation while employees receive only the 5% gateway minimum. Especially powerful for owners age 45–62 with younger employees.
1099 vs. W-2 Employee: Worker Classification Guide 2026
The IRS 3-category test, the true cost of each worker type, and §3509 misclassification penalties. Plus: why hiring your first W-2 employee ends your solo 401(k) eligibility — and what the SECURE 2.0 long-term part-time employee rule means for 2026.
Augusta Rule: Rent Your Home to Your S-Corp Tax-Free (IRC §280A(g))
S-corp and partnership owners can rent their home to the business for up to 14 days per year — the rental income is completely excluded from your personal tax return, and the business deducts the payment. A legally sound, rarely-discussed strategy that can put $2,000–$8,000+ per year back in your pocket.
Best Solo 401(k) Providers 2026: Fidelity vs Schwab vs E*TRADE
All three major brokerages offer free solo 401(k) plans with Roth. The one key difference: only E*TRADE includes participant loans in its standard plan. Need mega backdoor Roth? That requires a custom plan. Here's how to choose.
Pass-Through Entity Tax (PTET): The SALT Cap Workaround for S-Corps & LLCs
OBBBA raised the SALT cap to $40,400 — but it phases out completely above $606K of income, putting high earners back at the $10,000 floor. PTET elections let S-corps and partnerships deduct state income taxes at the entity level, bypassing the cap entirely. Includes a savings estimator and 2026 state-by-state availability.
Business Vehicle Deduction Calculator 2026: Standard Mileage vs. Actual Expense
72.5¢/mile standard rate or actual expense method — which saves more for your vehicle? The calculator handles §280F luxury-auto caps for light cars and §179 + 100% bonus depreciation for heavy SUVs. Includes the key lock-in rule: if you choose actual expense in Year 1, you can't switch back to standard mileage — ever.
Roth Conversion Calculator for Business Owners 2026
Business owners can engineer Roth conversion windows that W-2 employees can't: down years, pre-sale years, the early-retirement income gap before RMDs begin. Enter your 2026 AGI and see how much bracket room you have, what the conversion will cost, and whether it beats deferring to RMD age — with a "fill bracket" button that auto-sets the optimal amount.
Hire Your Spouse in Your S-Corp: Double Your Solo 401(k)
Your spouse is the only W-2 employee who doesn't disqualify you from a solo 401(k). Hire them for real services at a legitimate wage and you get a second full set of contribution limits — potentially adding $39,000–$55,000+ in additional annual retirement savings. Includes a contribution calculator and the payroll steps to set it up correctly.
HSA for Self-Employed 2026: Limits, Strategy & the S-Corp Owner Trap
Self-employed owners get a double tax deduction W-2 employees can't: HDHP premiums deducted under § 162(l) AND HSA contributions deducted on Schedule 1 — up to $4,400/$8,750 in 2026. After age 65 it's a second IRA. S-corp owners have a specific trap around Section 125 cafeteria plans that most miss.
How to Find a Fee-Only Financial Advisor for Small Business Owners
What "fee-only" actually means, why it matters more for business owners than W-2 employees, credentials worth caring about, 6 questions to ask before hiring, red flags to avoid, and when you need both a CPA and a financial planner.
Estate Planning for Small Business Owners: 2026 Guide
OBBBA permanently raised the estate/gift exemption to $15M per person ($30M married). But your business is your largest, hardest-to-value asset — and the wrong trust structure can accidentally terminate your S-corp. Covers valuation discounts, annual gifting, QSST vs. ESBT trust rules, and the basis step-up vs. gifting tradeoff. Includes an estate exposure estimator.
How Much Does a Financial Advisor Cost for Small Business Owners?
AUM fees, flat retainers, and hourly rates explained — plus why the 1%-of-AUM model is often the wrong fit for business owners whose wealth is tied up in the business rather than a portfolio. Includes a fee/ROI estimator that shows whether hiring an advisor pays for itself in year one at your income level.
Business Owner Retirement Readiness Calculator 2026
Are you on track to retire from your business? Enter your retirement accounts, annual contributions, and estimated business sale proceeds — see whether your projected assets can sustain your target spending using a 4% withdrawal rate. Includes the business equity layer that generic retirement calculators miss.
C-Corp vs S-Corp 2026: When the C-Corporation Wins
For most service businesses, S-corp wins — FICA savings on distributions, the permanent 23% QBI deduction, and solo 401(k) capacity outweigh C-corp's 21% flat rate once you factor in dividend double taxation. But QSBS §1202 (up to $15M excluded, post-OBBBA), retained-earnings compounding, and VC investment flip the math. Includes an interactive tax comparison calculator.
Small Business Succession Planning: Your Exit Strategy Roadmap
The exit planning guide that starts 5–10 years before the sale: four exit paths (third-party sale, MBO, family transfer, ESOP), business valuation basics, the 10-5-2-1 year planning timeline, and tax strategies that require lead time — QSBS §1202, §1042 ESOP rollover, installment sales. Includes a Succession Readiness Score calculator.
Social Security Planning for S-Corp Owners: The FICA Tradeoff (2026)
Every dollar you cut from your W-2 salary saves FICA taxes now — but reduces your Social Security benefit for life. See the 2026 PIA formula, the 35-year average trap for early entrepreneurs, the Medicare Part A free threshold, and whether delaying SS while converting to Roth beats claiming early. Includes a break-even calculator that shows exactly when the higher salary pays off.
Paying Your Children in Your Business: Tax Strategy Guide 2026
Sole proprietors can pay minor children (under 18) wages with zero FICA on either side — and those wages shift from your 32–37% bracket to the child's $0 effective rate. At $12,000 in child wages, a 32% sole proprietor saves $5,000+ in combined income and self-employment tax. Plus: the child can fund a Roth IRA with their earned income. Includes a tax savings calculator and age-appropriate wage guide.
Year-End Tax Planning Checklist for Self-Employed & Small Business Owners 2026
Most of the highest-value tax moves for business owners expire on December 31 — solo 401(k) deferral elections, Roth conversions, S-corp salary adjustments, Section 179 purchases, Augusta Rule meetings. This checklist covers all 12 time-sensitive actions with a deadline summary table and income-level priority guide.
Can You Borrow From Your Solo 401(k)? 2026 Loan Rules and Calculator
Yes — but only if your plan document allows it. Fidelity and Schwab prototype plans don't support loans; E*TRADE does, and custom plans from MySolo401k or Carry do. Borrow up to $50,000 or 50% of your vested balance, repay over 5 years with quarterly payments. Includes a loan calculator and a clear explanation of what happens if you default — income tax plus 10% penalty on the outstanding balance.
Medicare for Self-Employed Business Owners: Enrollment, HSA Trap & IRMAA Planning
Business owners face Medicare traps W-2 employees don't: the HSA 6-month lookback that creates taxable excess contributions, IRMAA cliffs triggered by the year you sell your business, and S-corp premium deduction rules that require W-2 setup. 2026 brackets: standard $202.90/month, rising to $689.90/month at the top IRMAA tier. Includes an IRMAA calculator.
529 Plan Strategy for Business Owners & Self-Employed (2026)
Business owners have three 529 advantages W-2 employees miss: irregular income that makes superfunding powerful ($95,000 per child in one year with the 5-year election), a FAFSA exclusion that keeps your business equity out of the financial aid calculation, and income control that lets you time large contributions to high-earning years. Covers OBBBA K-12 limit increase to $20,000/year, SECURE 2.0 529-to-Roth rollover rules, and an interactive growth calculator.
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Small Business Advisor Match is a matching service. We connect you with vetted fee-only financial advisors in our network — we don't manage money or provide advice ourselves. Advisors in our network are fiduciaries who charge transparent fees (not product commissions), and we match you based on your specific situation.