The IRS allows you to take tax deductions for any legitimate expense related to running a rental property. If you own rentals, you can claim expenses in 12 categories spanning everything from interest, to insurance, repairs, and depreciation. However, you must record them, according to IRS guidelines. To fulfill your tax and bookkeeping needs, it’s…
Flipping houses is generally not considered passive investing by the IRS. Tax rules define flipping as “active income,” and profits on flipped houses are treated as ordinary income with tax rates between 10% and 37%, not capital gains with a lower tax rate of 0% to 20%. Taxes on flipping houses will usually include self-employment…
A customer satisfaction survey is a questionnaire that businesses send to shoppers after they have made a purchase or received a service from your business. There are five different situations in which businesses would want to measure customer satisfaction. Each serves a different purpose, so it is important to ask the right questions. Free Customer…
A fiduciary financial advisor is an investment professional who is licensed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or state regulators. Fiduciary advisors are important for clients because they are legally required to put clients’ interests ahead of their own. Using a fiduciary is important if you want an advisor to manage your…
Registering a U.S. federal trademark will likely cost between $225 and $2,000. The trademark cost if you file yourself will cost at a minimum of $225. The trademark cost using an online service will cost around $500. The trademark cost using a trademark attorney will likely cost around $1,500 to $2,000. If you want to…
Zoning laws, also known as zoning ordinances, define 1) what types of land use is allowed for a given area and 2) building regulations such as maximum building size or the need for fire escapes. If you’re starting a business, you need to be familiar with the zoning laws that cover your building and area….
A cooperative, or co-op, is an organization owned and controlled by the people who use the products or services the business produces. Cooperatives differ from other forms of businesses because they operate more for the benefit of members, rather than to earn profits for investors. Cooperative businesses can be as small as a community buying…
A nonprofit organization serves public or mutual benefits and interests. Being a nonprofit does not mean that the organization does not generate profit, but simply that it doesn’t generate revenue for the purpose of harvesting income. They typically serve a scientific, religious, educational, or charitable purpose and, with recognition by the IRS, are tax-exempt. Nonprofits…
