Unpacking the future of small business.

Small business operations have evolved significantly over the past five years. From the rise of AI and automation to the vast expansion of e-commerce and digital payments, there have been seismic shifts in how small businesses run. Tack on the evolving trade environment, with its potential impacts on tariffs and supply chains, and things become even more complex.

These changes impact many areas of a business, especially finances. The US Treasury Department found that the majority of small business owners have reported financial hardship due to higher prices on goods, services, and wages.

An unpredictable economic landscape has been a major concern for small business owners for years. According to the US Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Small Business Update, inflation and regulatory uncertainty are top worries for business owners across the country.

Small businesses are grappling with rising prices and high interest rates that impact borrowing costs and access to capital. To adapt, businesses are implementing an array of strategies. Research has found the top actions growing businesses are taking include bolstering cash buffers amid elevated uncertainty and paying down existing debt.

Resilience, however, also continues to be a cornerstone for small business leaders in 2025.  41% of small businesses nationally identify as being in “growth mode.”

Many small businesses find that flexibility and speed play a huge role in navigating ever-changing environments. 

Do you need an LLC?

 Why get one? It offers some legal protections for your personal assets from business liabilities.

Despite the slew of courses promising to walk you through the complicated process, or companies offering to do it all for you (for a fee), you can do it yourself. So, based on my own experience of going legit while spending the least amount of money possible, here’s my guide—you can use the savings to pay your friend for a cool logo.

How to get started

You can usually register an LLC through your Secretary of State’s website for a fee (in most states, it’s under $200).

To file, you’ll need to choose a registered agent, which is the official person or entity that accepts your mail (especially any legal docs), with a physical address that will be published online. It varies a little by state, but you have a few options:

• Be your own agent, list your home address, and hope you never have a disgruntled customer.
• Be your own agent and list your office, studio, or a room in a big, gorgeous former licorice factory that you use to build elaborate cardboard props as your address.
• You can also pay a group like Northwest Registered Agent $125 a year to be your agent.

Other resources to help run your side biz

I applied for an employer identification number (EIN), which is a federal tax ID for businesses, so I don’t have to list my SSN on every form. It’s free.

You may also want some business insurance. I have a pretty standard business owner’s policy that costs $100/month and will pay for a new sewing machine if someone robs me.

If you don’t already, start tracking your spending (I just use a Google Sheet; no need to be fancy!) so you can write all of that off via a Schedule C on next year’s taxes. To learn more, I took an artist-specific tax workshop from Triangle Art Works that cost me $27 but saved me way more.

But my best investment…was joining my local chamber of commerce. They offer a discount for independent artists (who pay $100/year) and host 1 billion actually good mixers and events full of business owners who know way more than I do about navigating local and state regulations.

Side hustles are becoming much more common.

Side hustles have become more than just a way to pick up some extra cash to get yourself a little treat—more people believe they need them just to survive.

According to a survey from Lending Tree, 44% of Americans have a side hustle, and 43% of those earning extra income are doing so to cover their living expenses. A different survey, from Bankrate, found that 32% of side hustlers believe they will always need that extra income to get by, while 16% want to one day turn the side hustle into their main hustle.

For most, the extra monthly income they generate isn’t much. According to Bankrate data:

When it comes to the side grind, 71% of people—and 80% of GenZers—make $500 or less. And 19% of overall respondents reported taking home between $501 and $2,000.

Then there are the ultimate hustlers: Nine percent of respondents said they make more than $2,000 monthly from their extra work.

What’s everyone doing?

The best-paying side jobs are mostly web-based, like website designer and video editor. Drop-shipping, driving for ride-hailing apps, delivery driving, and even recording voiceovers are among the most popular hustles.

Experts recommend finding work that takes advantage of specialized skills you already have.

Are side hustles a privilege?

The image of a side hustler is that of someone making a few extra bucks to cover expenses, but research shows most people acquiring part-time cash are often already well-off.

According to a survey from Side Hustle Nation, 40% of 2,333 respondents with a side hustle have household incomes of at least $100,000.

Fast Company surveyed 1,500 people between 18 and 35 with a side hustle and found that most reported their existing financial situation as “comfortable.”

But for others, side hustles can be a way of AI-proofing your income if your profession leaves you vulnerable to being replaced by a scab robot. Though automation is already encroaching on some side gigs, like ride-hailing (thanks to driverless cars) and creative work (AI-generated art and letters), others seem more insulated from those threats, like the trades or tutoring.

There’s also no shortage of AI-based side hustles. Per NetCredit’s analysis of data from the freelance marketplace Fiverr, the top AI side hustles pay $44.50 per day. It’s not much, but it shows your future robot masters that you’re an ally.

Big picture: With the cost of living continuing to rise, 26 million more Americans are expected to join the side-hustle economy by 2027.

Your Brand Is Your Promise

If your brand reflects real expertise and genuine care, clients won’t see you as spam they’ll see you as a trusted advisor.

And if fear of judgment is holding you back, lean into it.
That fear means you care about your reputation and how you show up.
Use it to sharpen your message, not silence it.

You can lead with heart and still play offense and you should.

The best in this game don’t freeze when it’s time to reach out. They move with intention, respect, and confidence.

If you’re stuck feeling like outreach is a chore or a risk, know this: the way forward is through service, presence, and clear intention.

Keep showing up,

Momentum

 

Summer is not a sabbatical.

1. It is a wide-open window while most of your competition is snoozing. Use it or lose it.

2. Discipline now means freedom later.
   You do not have to grind forever. But Q2 is the time to build momentum so Q4 does not punch you in the mouth.

3. Focus is a weapon.
   And summer is when most people drop theirs. Do not be most people.

4. Comfort sells you on coasting.
   But comfort does not write paychecks. Momentum does.

Do not waste it.

 

1. Leverage is the difference between busy and free.
   If your business only works when you do, it is not a business. It is a trap.

2. You do not need more time. You need a smarter model.
   The right systems and the right people change everything.

3. You can struggle for years, or you can shortcut the game in days.
   But only if you get in the right room and listen.

4. Most people miss opportunity because they are too busy to notice it.
   You still have time to notice. Do not waste it.

Most people fear what they don’t understand.

 

1. That fear keeps them stuck. Don’t be like them.

2. Real security comes from skill, speed, and proximity.
   Not a job title or a padded resume.

3. The old playbook is dead.
   You need new tools, new conversations, and new rooms. Or you’re done.

Your energy is an asset.

 

1. Not all loyalty is real.
   Some people are loyal to your access, not your vision. As soon as the benefits stop, so does their support.

2. Takers rarely show up obvious.
   They look helpful. Friendly. Harmless. That’s the trap. They are slowly replacing your growth with their needs.

3. Every yes you give them is a no to yourself.
   Time, energy, favors, calls, intros. It all adds up. And none of it builds your business.

4. You are not selfish for protecting your time.
   You are strategic. Your energy is an asset. You don’t owe it to everyone who shows up asking for a piece of it.

It’s not about how hard you work.

 

1. You don’t get bonus points for doing it the hard way.
   The market only rewards execution, not effort.

2. Confidence grows faster when you’re not the smartest in the room.
   Smart people stretch you. That’s a good thing.

3. It’s not about how hard you work.
   It’s about how fast you adjust and execute.

Every year, small business owners overpay thousands in taxes.

 

Why?

Because they wait too long to plan.

They miss deductions.
They avoid strategies that sound too aggressive.
And they think tax savings only happen during tax season.

But real tax planning happens NOW.

In 60 seconds, you’ll learn:

How real tax strategy works (and why your CPA might not be doing it)
5 proactive ways to reduce your tax bill by $10K–$50K per year
The step-by-step blueprint we use with our clients with no upfront cost.

Tap into this free resource now.

Real momentum comes from proximity.

 

1. Isolation is expensive.
   Just because you can figure it out alone doesn’t mean you should.

2. Real momentum comes from proximity.
   Being around operators who already solved what’s slowing you down is the real cheat code.

3. Strategy without speed is just a slow death.
   You need fast feedback and people who push you — not just plans in a notebook.

4. Rooms change results.
   When the standard is high, you rise — fast.

The Tax Deadline Is Coming Up Fast—Act Now!

 

It’s been the most eventful month for tax policy so far this year, with big changes that could impact your next return, your retirement, and even your business deductions.

🚨 Here’s what’s new:

🏛️ The “Big Beautiful Bill” Is Here: The House passed a sweeping tax proposal last July 4th. That means:

✅ $4,000 extra deduction for seniors (65+) 

✅ Bigger Child Tax Credits

✅ Permanent 20% QBI Deduction for small businesses

✅ 100% bonus depreciation makes a comeback

✅ IRS Direct File program could be scrapped within 30 days

30+ New Programs For US Businesses!!

What is not success?

 

1. The loudest man in the room is usually performing
   Real power moves in silence

2. You can be fit and still broken
   Wealthy and still empty

3. You don’t need to impress the world
   You need to lead the people you love

4. Success without family, peace, and purpose
   Is not success

Become more intentional about what you permit into your heart.

 

Every day, countless messages bombard the guardhouse of your heart through social media, advertising, music, conversations, and thoughts. Each one knocks, demanding entrance and residence. What you allow in will inevitably flow out in your words, actions, and attitudes.

 

Today, you can become more intentional about what you permit into your heart. Before consuming media, ask: "Will this build me up or tear me down?" Before engaging in conversations, consider: "Will these words strengthen my relationship with God or weaken it?"

 

Remember, a heart crowded with worldly influences has little room for God's truth to flourish. When you guard your heart with diligence, you create space for all that God wants to give you

What most cold emails miss!

 

Most cold emails fail because they skip this one step: Pre-message validation.

Before sending, ask:

• Is this truly relevant to this persona?
• Is there a reason now for it to be the right time to reach out?
• Will this be something they’ve never heard before?

You don’t need a better subject line.

You need a better reason to send the email in the first place.

Fear in disguise.

 

People respect progress more than perfection. Execution creates momentum. Ideas don’t. Your data will always tell the truth. Your excuses never will. Most of your delays are fear in disguise.  Call it what it is and move anyway.

Tax-smart investing strategies.

To ensure that you keep more of your hard-earned money, here are some tax-smart investing strategies to consider that won’t require a deep dive into the tax code:

1.     Utilize tax-advantaged accounts

Take advantage of tax-advantaged accounts like 401(k)s, IRAs, and HSAs. Contributions to these accounts can reduce your taxable income, allowing your investments to grow tax free or tax-deferred.

2.     Hold investments for the long term

Capital gains from investments held for over a year are typically taxed at a lower rate. Long-term investing can help you minimize the tax impact on your gains.

3.     Tax-efficient funds

Consider investing in tax-efficient funds, such as index funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs). These investments often generate fewer capital gains distributions, reducing your tax liability.

4.     Tax-loss harvesting

Offset capital gains by selling investments that have declined in value. This strategy can help you reduce your overall tax liability.

5.     Diversify your holdings

Diversification can help you manage risk, but it can also be tax smart. By having a mix of investments, you can choose which assets to sell in a way that minimizes taxes.

6.     Stay informed

Tax laws change, and being aware of these changes can help you make informed investment decisions. Consult a tax professional for answers to any tax-related questions you may have.

7.     Consider some municipal bonds in your portfolio.

Interest income from municipal bonds is often tax free at the federal level and sometimes at the state level. These bonds can be a tax-efficient addition to your portfolio.

8.     Charitable giving

Donating appreciated assets to charity can be a tax-efficient way to support your favorite causes. You may be able to deduct the fair market value of the assets and avoid capital gains taxes.

9.     Estate planning

Have a well-thought-out estate plan to minimize the tax impact on your heirs. Proper estate planning can help preserve your wealth for future generations.

10.  Consider permanent cash value life insurance

Having permanent cash value life insurance, such as a whole life policy, can provide several tax advantages that can help grow and protect what you have acquired.

11.  Consult a professional

When in doubt, seek the guidance of a tax professional or financial professional who can help tailor your investment strategy to your specific financial situation.

 

When investing, it’s important to keep an eye on the tax implications of your decisions. Utilizing both taxable and tax-advantaged accounts allows you to take advantage of the benefits of both. Employing tax-smart strategies that help you maximize your investment returns and keep more of your money in your pocket can sometimes be tricky, however. So don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our financial professionals who can help you make the right decisions for yourself and your family.

What is a taxable account?

 

A taxable account is one in which typical IRS tax rules apply. Some examples of taxable accounts include:

• Checking accounts
• Savings accounts
• Money market accounts
• Brokerage accounts

For these types of accounts, you are expected to pay taxes on any interest, dividends, or capital gains that your investments generate, in the year in which you earn them.

 

What are capital gains?

Capital gains are profits earned from the sale of an asset such as a stock, a bond, or something tangible like a house. The taxes levied on capital gains vary, depending on how long you hold the asset prior to selling, with “short-term” capital gains applying to assets held for less than a year and “long-term” capital gains applying to assets held for a year or more.

For interest, nonqualified dividends, and short-term capital gains, you are typically charged your normal income tax rate. Long-term capital gains and some qualified dividends typically have a lower tax rate. The government does this to encourage long-term investment, so it's usually in your best interest to carefully choose your investments and hold on to them.

 

Here are some scenarios in which you might use a taxable account:

• Short-term savings account that you may add to, or take from, on a regular basis—such as an emergency fund, or if you’re saving for a car, etc.
• Saving for retirement if you’ve exceeded contribution limits for nontaxable retirement accounts.

 

What is a tax-deferred account?

A tax-deferred account is one in which taxation on any investment growth is deferred until money is taken out of the account. Some accounts allow contributions that are deductible in the current tax year. In that case, the entire withdrawal is subject to taxes. In some accounts, the contribution is made with after-tax money and only the growth portion of the withdrawal is subject to taxes. Some examples of tax-deferred accounts include:

• Individual retirement accounts  (traditional and Roth IRAs)
• Deferred annuities
• 401(k) plans

 

What does tax-deferred mean?

Tax-deferred status refers to investment earnings—such as interest, dividends, or capital gains—that accumulate tax free until the investor takes constructive receipt of the profits. Accounts with tax-deferred status are also commonly referred to as being tax-advantaged.

 

Taxable vs. tax-advantaged

While the returns on your investments are important, what’s perhaps more relevant is how much you get to keep after taxes. Small amounts can add up over time, so choosing the right asset allocation to maximize your returns is a strategy in and of itself. Diversifying your investments across different tax treatments also helps to give you more flexibility when you start drawing from your savings in retirement since you don’t know what the tax rate will be in the future.

To give you some idea, here are some common investments associated with taxable or tax-advantaged accounts.

Taxable brokerage accounts are typically taxed at a normal rate, but provide greater flexibility and liquidity^* (i.e., fewer restrictions), and are commonly used to invest in:

• Stocks
• Index funds
• Exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
• Mutual funds that pay qualified dividends
• Surplus retirement savings (if you’ve maxed out your tax-advantaged retirement savings accounts)

Tax-advantaged accounts typically have more restrictions, but provide greater tax advantages and are ideal for:

• 401(k) plans
• IRAs

However, if all your money is in your 401(k) or IRA and you do not hold investments in both types of accounts, you can simply focus on choosing the appropriate investments for your needs. Ideally, you’d want to work with a financial professional who can help you determine the right asset allocations according to your goals, risk tolerance, and time frame.

Does this business actually work?

 

Most people looking to buy a business focus on surface-level numbers.

They see 500k in profit and think, “I’m in.”

But here’s the question you should be asking first:

Does this business actually work?

Not:

Does it make money right now...

But:

Will it still work once you own it?

That's a completely different question.

Here’s why:

Let’s say the team running it now is all 1099 contractors.

But after the acquisition, you have to move them to W2s.

Now you’re on the hook for 15% more in employment taxes—plus workers’ comp, insurance, the whole stack.

That 15% doesn’t come from thin air. It comes straight out of your bottom line.

Multiply that across 10 or 20 employees…

And suddenly the numbers that “looked great” start feeling tight real fast.

This is how to actually evaluate a business, not just read the broker's brochure.

Not just how to find your first or next deal...

You need to know how to structure it, how to protect your downside, and how to avoid the traps most buyers walk right into.

The Dollar Recall May Start July 26 — And Most Americans Still Don’t Know

 

A quiet but radical shift in the U.S. financial system is approaching — one that could redefine what it means to “own” your money.

This initiative, called the Central Bank Digital Dollar, is being presented as a modernization.

But beneath the surface, it opens the door to something far more serious:

A system where your savings, your paycheck, your honestly earned dollars — may no longer be fully yours to use.

The framework is already in place — it’s not a future concept, it’s ready to launch. Once activated, access to your funds could depend on conditions, restrictions, or approvals set by those in power.

Europe is already testing similar systems — with reports of delays, limits, and denied transactions on everyday purchases.

This isn’t innovation — it’s control.

Control over your time, your effort… and what you’re allowed to do with what you’ve earned!

What warning signs did you ignore?

 

1. Review one deal or relationship you’re holding onto emotionally.
   Would you still want it if it wasn’t “yours”?

2. Write down your non-negotiables in business.
   Knowing them makes walking away easier.

3. Revisit one past deal that went bad.
   What warning signs did you ignore?

$2.8 billion Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Provider Settlement

Hi, I know this doesn't apply to many of our readers but wanted to share with you nonetheless- not sure if it does apply to your business or to someone you may know. So no worries if it doesn't apply to you, but feel free to share with others!

Filing Deadline: July 29, 2025

Eligibility: Healthcare providers paid by BCBS or Blue Plans from 2008–2024

A landmark class action antitrust settlement addressing claims that BCBS suppressed competition and underpaid providers through its BlueCard Program. If you provided healthcare services, equipment, or supplies to BCBS-insured patients between July 24, 2008, and October 4, 2024, you may be eligible to receive a portion of this historic settlement.

This is your opportunity to claim your share of the settlement fund and benefit from improved BCBS practices.

Eligibility:  most U.S. providers who treated BCBS-insured patients during the settlement period qualify, unless employed/owned by BCBS or exclusively by government entities, or limited to specific services (e.g., prescription drugs, standalone dental/vision).

Payment: Compensation is based on your BCBS reimbursement amounts, adjusted for estimated antitrust impact.

Additional Benefits: BCBS will implement operational improvements, such as streamlined claims processing and transparent decision-making, for five years post-approval.

Claim Deadline: July 29, 2025.

To file a claim today and to secure your portion of the $2.8 billion settlement 

👉 SettlementBillions.org

👉 Watch this bird dance to Elvis on LinkedIn

 

We couldn’t stop laughing.

Imagine this: you're just trying to relax, and some annoying bird keeps tapping your head like it's hitting snooze on life.

Now imagine the look you’d give that bird.

That exact moment was caught on camera — and it’s one of the funniest things we’ve seen all week.

 Watch this bird dance to Elvis on LinkedIn

Warning: may cause spontaneous outbursts of laughter.

Use caution if you’re drinking coffee while watching.

Enjoy the laugh — you’ve earned it.

Audit your circle.

 

1. Make a fast decision today.
   Something small. Build momentum.

2. Audit your circle.
   Who sharpens you? Who slows you down?

3. Commit to finding your next-level environment.
   You cannot build the next version of you in the old room.

Speed

 

1. Speed wins.
   It is easier to course correct when you are already moving.

2. Your circle either challenges you or comforts you.
   Comfort is where dreams go to die.

3. Small rooms create small results.
   Big energy comes from bigger rooms.

4. You grow into new levels faster when the standard around you is higher.
   Get around people who make your goals feel small.