Health premiums are rising this year, and as a result employers may start to shift more costs onto their workers.

The annual premium for an employer-sponsored family health plan is $26,993 this year, on average, up 6% from 2024, according to a report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). The average annual premium for a single-coverage health plan comes in at $9,325, a 5% YoY uptick, according to KFF’s estimate.

Workers bear about 16% of the premium cost if they’re on single coverage plans, while those enrolled in family coverage plans pay more than one-quarter (26%) of their premium, on average.

To combat this, many business owners are now looking into a cafeteria plan.

A Section 125 plan, also known as a cafeteria plan, is a benefit program offered by employers that allows employees to choose from a variety of benefits, some of which can be paid with pre-tax dollars.

The Section 125 plan is a written document that allows employees to choose between different benefits offered by their employer. 

It allows employees to pay for certain benefits, like health insurance premiums, using pre-tax dollars, reducing their taxable income. 

Employees, their spouses, and dependents can all benefit from Section 125 plans. 

Here is how it works:

Employers set up the plan, outlining the benefits offered and how employees can choose them. 

Employees can then choose which benefits they want, often including options like health insurance, dependent care, and other qualified benefits. 

The employer deducts the cost of the chosen benefits from the employee's paycheck before taxes, allowing the employee to pay for these benefits with pre-tax dollars. 

Benefits Include:

Tax Savings: Employees pay fewer federal, state, and local income taxes, as well as Medicare and Social Security taxes, by using pre-tax dollars for benefits. 

Flexibility: Employees can choose benefits that best fit their needs and preferences. 

Potential for Employer Benefits: Employers can use Section 125 plans to attract and retain employees, as well as potentially reduce their own taxable income. 

Compliance: Employers must ensure the plan complies with IRS regulations. 

Communication: Clear communication with employees about the plan is crucial to ensure understanding and participation. 

Adminstration: Setting up and administering a Section 125 plan can made easier by visiting Business Refund (CPAs & tax preparers welcome)

In essence, a Section 125 plan provides a flexible and tax-advantaged way for employees to pay for certain benefits, while offering potential benefits to employers as well. 

A true sales system creates predictable, repeatable results.

It’s an engine for growth that doesn’t depend on any single person.

And it stands on three core pillars.

1. Speak the Buyer’s Language

Your reps need to stop talking about your product and start talking about the customer’s problems.

This means deeply understanding their world, their challenges, and the outcomes they desire.

When your team speaks this language, trust is built instantly.

2. Define the Path to Success

Don’t make your reps guess what "good" looks like.

Show them.

Give them a clear, documented process for what they need to do every day, week, and month to be successful. This is the blueprint for hitting their number.

3. Hold Them Accountable

A great plan is useless without execution.

You need to consistently hold your reps accountable to following the process and hitting their leading indicators and their quota.

These three pillars are the foundation of a high-growth sales organization. And they need to be built directly into your team's operating system.

Excuses feel good in the moment, but....

 

1. The best people are busy, but they still show up.
   The fact that you are busy is the very reason you must get in the right room.

2. If you want results this year, you cannot wait until next year to start.
   Growth does not happen by accident.

3. Excuses feel good in the moment, but cost you forever.
   Nobody remembers why you missed the opportunity. They only see that you did.

4. The right strategies are worthless without the right people.
   Community and accountability are what keep you executing.

Something To Reflect On

 

1. Winners show up, even when it is inconvenient.
   If you only make time when it is comfortable, you will stay exactly where you are.

2. Success is built in the decisions nobody else wants to make.
   While others choose distractions, winners choose discipline.

3. Momentum compounds faster than excuses.
   Every time you say yes to growth, the next opportunity comes quicker.

4. Your calendar tells the truth.
   You either make time for what matters or admit it does not matter to you.

Who are you choosing to be today?

People hear “brand” and immediately think of fonts, logos, content calendars, or social media strategy. But if that’s all you think it is, you’re missing the point.

Your brand is not what you post. 

Your brand is who you are when no one is watching. 

It’s how you carry yourself in hard conversations. 

It’s the confidence you step into when things get messy. 

It’s the standard you refuse to drop, no matter the pressure.

Here’s the truth: strategy will get you noticed, but identity is what makes you magnetic.

People are drawn to consistency. They are drawn to certainty. They are drawn to someone who knows who they are and shows up that way every single time.

That means your brand is not just a marketing decision, it’s a personal one.

You are either choosing to be intentional about how you show up, or you are letting the world decide for you.

So here’s the question only you can answer:

Who are you choosing to be today?

Because your brand will follow that choice, for better or worse.

Keep building,

Tax deductions for restaurant expenses now need to be claimed promptly!!

 

Tax laws can change, and what is deductible this year might not be in the next. It's essential to stay updated on any legislative changes that could affect your ability to claim these deductions.

Claiming deductions can have significant implications for your overall cash flow and financial planning. By claiming them sooner, you can potentially reduce your tax liability sooner, benefiting your financial situation.

Regularly claiming deductions helps maintain accurate records. Keeping up with expenses makes it easier to gather necessary documentation and receipts when filing taxes.

And since tax laws and deadlines vary by country and region. There may be a specific time frame to claim deductions, especially if they relate to specific tax provisions or programs.

What to do when cash flow is tight and expenses feel out of control..

 

A $9 subscription service that when cash flow is tight and expenses feel out of control, is the partner that finds what others miss. We go beyond surface-level savings to dig deep—uncovering hidden tax credits, eliminating unnecessary fees, optimizing benefit programs, and streamlining employer costs. Every dollar we recover goes straight back to your bottomine.  

Business Refund