Hey there entrepreneur!
Finally, you can feel empowered over your money and tax situation while sneaking in a few laughs in the process. Maximize is the FUN + FREE newsletter that brings you tax-saving, money-boosting, life-enhancing insights straight to your inbox every week.
The Blog
What would you do with an extra $28,000?
What would you do with an extra $28,000? That’s the amount of tax savings I found for my client at the end of last year. Right in time before it became too late. Your situation is probably a lot like hers. Keep reading. My client is a coach in the DEI space. And...
Taxes, fines, and penalties…oh my
Let’s talk about something fun… tax problems! Totally kidding… Taxes are about as complicated as it gets, but if you don’t at least try to understand them (or get an Accountant for that!) then you are in BIG trouble. You have enough on your plate with your business,...
How to beat entrepreneur block
Quick business update for you : We are now accepting clients for August & September and you get the chance to apply early! Obih Collective provides proactive, done-for-you accounting tax services on an ongoing basis. This is our specialized, high-touch service we...
Business vs. Personal Finances 💵
Finances are a rollercoaster of decisions. It’s overwhelming and the wrong turn can cost you big time. I’m here to help! Let’s talk about the personal finance versus business dollar dilemmas. Should I separate my personal and business finances? YES. But the truth is,...
How to get the most value from your accountant
We’ve talked about dealing with unresponsive clients. It’s frustrating and feels disrespectful. Unfortunately, I see it all the time as a CPA. Taxes are intimidating and people put them off until the last minute. The truth is, when you’re unresponsive and fail to...
How to deal with unresponsive clients
Tell me if this story sounds familiar… You have a long time client who is notorious for never responding to emails. Deadlines are approaching and you need action items from them. You send an intentional email… Topped with deadlines and instructions! And then…...
Ok, normally I hate small talk, but high ass gas prices are just a shared frustration these days… Unless you are one of the motivated badasses that walks or bikes everywhere, you’ve probably been victim to those ugly prices. But a girl’s gotta get to where she needs...
Life advice from your CPA?
Trust. That’s what it’s all about when it comes to forming a tight community, both inside and outside of work. I started this email list over 4 years ago. Many of you have been rocking with me since the beginning. Your trust in me to be one of your go-to resources for...
5 tax fears and why they aren’t actually scary
Alright… we know that taxes aren’t most people’s definition of “fun”, they can be a major source of anxiety. I’m constantly hearing business owners stress about their taxes and talk about the IRS like they have a personal vendetta against them… But that is (rarely)...
Hot Takes on How to Work from Anywhere Successfully
Let’s talk about hybrid work trips… When you take a trip with a goal to enjoy pleasure without changing up your work schedule. Whether it was sparked by the pandemic or you’re just a badass who owns an online business… We have all been rethinking how we structure our...
Quarterly Estimated Tax Payments 101
🚨Second Quarter Estimated Tax Payments are due June 15!! Are you prepared to meet that deadline?? 🚨 Working for yourself has so many benefits. The freedom of being a business owner cannot be understated. But, of course, there are some trade-offs. I wouldn’t trade the...
Why learning is part of the entrepreneur equation
When was the last time you learned something new? When was the last time you sat down to watch a class + take notes? If your answer is “I can’t remember” then it is time to change that. Here are 4 reasons why learning is an essential part of the entrepreneur...
4C’s to hacking productivity
It's that time of year!! Spring is underway and Summer is right around the corner. The weather is at least 70 and whenever you take a break from your computer you’re wondering how you can get outside into the sun. The great thing about the work from home (WFH) shift...
How to keep track of your deductions
Back again with your post-tax season money moves! I've talked a few times about reflecting on your tax experience this year to pave the way for ease and flow or the next tax season. Do you feel you maximized your tax deductions and why? The best way to do that is by...
How to become your accountant’s favorite client
Having a good accountant on your team is invaluable. Your business's finances are not to be f***ed with so it's important you have a trustworthy guide to navigate you through it. Are you still doing your bookkeeping and taxes yourself? You might want to read...
4 Signs it’s time to hire a CPA
Alright small business owner, it’s time for some reflection. Be honest with yourself… How was tax season for you? Did you have a hard time organizing your documents? Did you feel overwhelmed, confused, or lost? If you felt any of those things… It might be time to hire...
How to better prepare for next tax season
Congratulations! You’ve filed and paid your taxes (I mean… hopefully, unless you filed an extension)! First, let’s do a little happy dance! Celebrate that taxing chore being DONE. But don’t relax too much just yet… The preparation you do after the end of a tax season...
Pros and cons of filing an extension
You should know by now that personal, C-corp, and single-member LLC tax returns are due on April 18… If you don’t then I have not been doing my job as your trusted Tax Chick. 😂 Ain’t no shame if an extension is needed! Check out last week’s blog for foundational gems...
Why You Might Need to File an Extension
Personal, C-corp and single-member LLC tax returns are due April 18th… Does this apply to you?? If you’re anything like me, Q1 FLEW by. I feel like those deadlines that were SO far away are hitting me in the face. Just like that, Q2 is here and those deadlines are...
That time I hired my first full-time employee
It was May 2021. That time I hired my first full-time employee. This was the biggest move I've made for my business and myself so far. I’m diving into my hiring process and how I reached this pivotal CEO step. Because you may be on the fence with hiring. This may...
It’s not too late to reduce your tax bill
It’s not too late to cut your 2021 tax bill!!! You heard that right. Pay your future self and reduce your tax bill simultaneously. We’re talking about IRAs - Individual Retirement Accounts. There are many types of IRAs but today we are focused on...
Why You May Need to File an Extension
Maximize is back with another crash-course in need-to-know tax info for entrepreneurs! Filing an Extension 101 Certain business tax returns including S-Corporations and Partnerships are due March 15th. Did you procrastinate and won’t be ready to file in time? Good...
Itemized vs. Standardized Deductions
We are in the thick of, yet again, another unusual tax season. In the last few years, there has been new tax law impacting what deductions you are eligible to take. Today on Maximize, I’m giving you an overview of itemized vs. standardized deductions. ...
No new friends
Hot take: I’m not taking on a single new client until May. This will be a new norm in my business model: we don’t take on new clients between the busy months of December through April. I know what you are thinking…. Chika, that’s bat shit crazy! How...
Self-Employment Tax 101
You’re here because you’re a small business owner. You’ve decided to take your career into your own hands, which is HUGE! You’re already part of our Maximize community, which means you’re all ears for the tax talk. Today I’m dropping a few gems about a topic that can...
LLC or Sole Proprietorship – Which is right for me?
Alright y’all… I KNOW this is a topic you’ve been curious about because I get asked about it ALL the time. Unless you’re a tax professional, the differences between each type of business entity can feel like a foreign language. However, it’s essential you do your...
12 Tax Deductions for the self-employed
When you first start your business you’re thinking… How am I going to make money? Who are my clients? How will I market? Will I hire? You’ve got enough questions filling your brain, you aren’t thinking about your tax moves right from the start. Lucky for you, that’s...
2022 Tax Season: How to prepare
I’ve received a ton of questions about this upcoming tax season. For many reasons, 2021 was a sh*t show and this tax season is on theme with that. 2022 tax filing season will be the THIRD one since the pandemic began… where has the time gone!??? This tax season is...
Eat out!
You gotta eat. Now you can write it off. Completely. Dining out is one of the simplest, most fulfilling pleasures in life. No dishes, no grocery shopping, no clean-up… and let’s be real, it likely tastes better than your own cooking. When you are running a business...
❗️❗️ DUE JANUARY 18 ❗️❗️
🚨🚨Quarterly Estimated Tax Payments for Q4 2021 are due January 18🚨🚨… Are you prepared?? Read below for everything you need to know to avoid paying penalties. Working for yourself has so many great benefits. The freedom of being a business owner cannot be understated....
Office-in-Home Tax Deductions: Here’s what you need to know
The world has shifted… Working from home is now more common than not. The days of in-office work Monday through Friday seem like they may never return (which I’m not complaining about… I mean come thru sweat pants!). First of all, let me insert my disclaimer:...
My wins, challenges, and lessons learned over the last year
Today I’m getting vulnerable. Usually, I’m here with tax tips and small business hacks, but not today... My Executive Assistant, Lucy, and I sat down recently to reflect on the year. With 2022 insight, it was time to look back on the year. Here’s what she asked me,...
7 Steps to get you ready for Tax Filing Season 💰
It’s that time of year… TAX TIME! Doesn’t matter if you love it or hate it, you have to deal with it. If you don’t you’ll be in deep. Taxes are enough to make most people anxious. But fear not, a little advance work will save you time, money, and sanity. Do you know...
Top 5 tax fears and how to stop them
Alright… we know that taxes aren’t most people’s definition of “fun”, they can be a major source of anxiety. As we come to the end of the year, you might be feeling similar. It’s time to let go of that fear with some core understanding. Here are 5 common tax fears...
Comparison will kill you
It’s that time of year… time to reflect on the good, the bad, and the ugly. Whether it's Thanksgiving or the end of the year, this is the time you think. I am thankful for so much this year. Big moves were made professionally and personally, I’m sure you feel the...
Corporate burnout turned self-made CEO
Before we get into the juicy goodness, let me take a minute to give you your flowers. I am so grateful for you. Maximize has allowed me to talk about topics that are important to me. This newsletter has been a way to drop knowledge I wish I knew when I started my...
3 Easy Things to Outsource Today
As much as you wish you could… You can’t do it all on your own. Sometimes you have to fight that entrepreneur stubbornness and GET SOME HELP. Take it from me, in the beginning, stages of my business I tried to cut costs wherever I could. While being tight on your...
Most Common IRS Tax Problems
Let’s talk about something fun… tax problems! Totally kidding… Taxes are about as complicated as it gets, but if you don’t at least try to understand them then you are in BIG trouble. You have enough on your plate with your business, you definitely don’t want to be...
The Introverted Entrepreneur: How to Strike a Balance
Is it possible to have a flourishing social life and be a dedicated entrepreneur?? 100% But it takes true intention… Balancing your business and social life looks a little different for everyone. I think it heavily depends on if you’re an introvert or an extrovert....
Dating as an Entrepreneur 🌹
It’s time to get down to the real business… Dating as a female business owner. Dating isn’t exactly easy for anyone, but when you are already married to your business it complicates things. Here are some themes I’ve noticed in dating as an entrepreneur: (These are...
