The Calculated Moves Blog

Playbooks for family businesses that mean to win

Tax, profit, and growth strategy, straight talk from CPAs who actually run a business. 901 articles and counting.

Jul 31, 2026

Government Grants, Tax Credits & SBA Loans for Business Owners in 2026: Your Complete Guide

Discover 2026 government grants, tax credits, and SBA loans to fund your business. Learn how to qualify, where to apply, and why timing matters for investors.

Jul 29, 2026

IRS Mileage Rate Increases to 76¢ Per Mile in July 2026: What Real Estate Investors Need to Know

The IRS mileage rate jumps to 76¢ per mile starting July 1, 2026. Learn how real estate investors can maximize this deduction and properly track business miles.

Jul 29, 2026

IRS Mileage Rate Increases to 76¢ Per Mile in 2026: What Real Estate Investors Need to Know

The IRS mileage rate jumped to 76¢ per mile starting July 1, 2026. Learn how real estate investors can maximize this deduction and properly track business miles.

Jul 17, 2026

QuickBooks vs. Xero: Why Smart Business Owners Are Making the Switch in 2025

Tired of QuickBooks price hikes? Discover why Xero may be the better bookkeeping solution for small businesses and real estate investors looking for financial clarity.

Jul 1, 2026

Owner's Draw vs. Payroll: How to Pay Yourself as a Small Business Owner the Smart Way

Owner's draw vs. payroll: learn how to pay yourself as a small business owner, reduce self-employment taxes with an S corp, and avoid costly IRS mistakes.

Jun 19, 2026

Family Business Exit Strategy: 5 Steps to Sell Smart, Save on Taxes & Protect Your Legacy

Learn the 5 critical steps to a family business exit strategy that maximizes value, minimizes taxes, and protects your legacy. Start planning your exit today.

Jun 2, 2026

Why Your First Hire Should Be an Executive Assistant (Not What You Think)

Most business owners get their first hire wrong. Learn why an executive assistant or virtual assistant should be your first hire to scale faster and build wealth.

May 21, 2026

LLC Operating Agreement: The One Document Every Business Owner Needs Before Launching

An LLC operating agreement protects your ownership, profits, and partnerships. Learn what to include, common mistakes to avoid, and why this document is essential.

Feb 21, 2026

Roth IRA: Smart Strategy or Overhyped Tax Trap?

Before you buy into the “Roth is tax-free forever” hype, consider that paying taxes at your highest rate today on the assumption future rules won’t change may quietly cost you thousands, which is why smart business owners rely on strategy and math, not marketing slogans.

Feb 18, 2026

Cash Back vs Travel Credit Cards for Business Owners | Which Is Actually Better?

If you’re paying hefty annual fees to earn travel points on business expenses, you may be losing thousands in real, usable cash flow compared to simple cash back, and for most business owners, money in the bank today beats “free” flights tomorrow.

Jan 28, 2026

Avoid These 3 Costly Bookkeeping Mistakes Now!

If you think bookkeeping is simple, these three costly mistakes could be quietly draining your profits and increasing your tax bill, and this article shows you how to fix them fast.

Jan 17, 2026

The Right Way to Give Pay Raises in a Small Business

If giving raises feels like a mix of guilt, guesswork, and quiet panic, this article shows how small businesses can ditch time-based pay bumps, reward real value instead, and build a smarter, stress-free raise system that motivates employees and protects profits.