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

Add LinkedIn video to your social strategy.

Video is one of the best ways to stand out on social media, and video on LinkedIn is no exception with video uploads increasing 45% year-over-year. According to The 2024 Social Media Content Strategy Report, 66% of consumers say short-form videos are the most engaging type of in-feed content.

And with LinkedIn incorporating short-form video into its platform, and growing at twice the rate of other formats, you should take it as a sign to add video to your LinkedIn marketing strategy. From educating people on your products and services to sharing quick thought leadership takes, now’s the time to lean in and start experimenting.

That business return your CPA filed? It's not showing you what you could have saved.

It's showing you what happened.

Past tense. Done deal. Money already gone.

And buried in those numbers are dozens of missed opportunities:

• Deductions you didn't take 
• Credits you didn't claim 
• Strategies you didn't implement 

Your last return isn't a victory — it's a cautionary tale for this year.

The business owners who pay the least in taxes? They don't wait until next April to think about it.

They plan now.

They examine their business across: 

• Retirement contributions 
• Cost Seg tudies
• R&D strategies 
• Industry-specific deductions 
• Real-time tax law changes
• New Local, County, State & Federal Programs

Want to make sure this year doesn't end the same way? 

Have your CPA (or you) use the free 60-second online calculator to answer three simple questions to see the poissible thousands of dollars you are entitled to!!

She did!!

What can a R&D study do for you? https://go.screenpal.com/watch/cTX2cMnF8IX

Wondering what to post on LinkedIn?

 

According to The 2024 Social Media Content Strategy Report, the #1 way social users want brands to show up on LinkedIn is by sharing educational product information. That could mean:

• A short carousel breaking down a new feature release
• A text post with data-backed insights from your product team
• A short video showing how customers use your product in real life

How often should you post on social media?

 

Post too much and you risk overwhelming your audience (and your team). Too little and you might miss timely opportunities or slip off their radar.

So what’s the “right” cadence? Research shows that scaling back your publishing volume can create room for more unique, high-value content. And before people hit “follow,” they care more about originality and how you interact with them, over how many times you post.

Posting less a power move that gives you room to create more meaningful, resonant content. It help you focus your efforts, prioritize channels that matter most and build a social media plan that works for your goals.

As far as how many times to post on Instagram, 1-2 times a day is the average. But this can vary by company size. For example, enterprise brands post 54% more than mid-size companies, likely because they have more resources to support this volume.

For Facebook, the industry average is five posts per day, which is a high bar for most. To hit that volume sustainably, consider building a repurposing workflow. Turn one video into a text update, an image quote and a short clip. Also mix in curated content and user-generated posts to lighten the load.

LinkedIn? It has evolved from a strictly business bulletin board into a place where professional updates meet personal reflection. It’s now a platform where employer branding, thought leadership and genuine community building all live side by side.

Most brands post no more than once per day, and 91% of LinkedIn creators publish at least once every three days. Two to five posts a week strikes the right balance. It’s enough to stay visible without oversaturating your audience.

What to post? The #1 way social users want brands to show up on LinkedIn is by sharing educational product information. That could mean:

• A short carousel breaking down a new feature release
• A text post with data-backed insights from your product team
• A short video showing how customers use your product in real life

X (Twitter) Their fast-moving feed still rewards timeliness, but that doesn’t mean you need to post constantly. In 2022, brands averaged three to four Tweets a day. Now the industry average is just two. You also don’t need to add too many bells and whistles to your content here. X’s conversational, “stream of consciousness” nature makes it an easy place to create lighthearted posts without sacrificing your voice or brand persona.

Pinterest is where people go to dream big, plan little joys and collect ideas that make life better. Knowing this, it’s no surprise that the 2024 Social Media Content Strategy Report revealed that 51% of all social users say Pinterest feels more positive than other platforms. Among Gen Z, that number rises to 60%. Focus on the content itself. A single, high-quality, fresh Pin can keep driving traffic for months, so the emphasis should be on creating content worth saving and sharing—not hitting a high volume.

Traffic jam?

Traffic from generative AI-powered links to retail websites has surged in recent months, up 4,700% in July, according to the latest data from Adobe.

“We’re seeing the momentum increase each month; we’re seeing the growth continue to scale,” Vivek Pandya, lead analyst at Adobe Digital Insights, told us. The surge, Pandya added, is being driven by consumer trust in the links shared by generative AI-powered platforms like Claude, Perplexity, and ChatGPT, among others being tracked by Adobe.

“We also ran a survey—in addition to the Adobe analytics platform data that’s informing the traffic spikes that we’re observing—and there, the consumers are saying that they really trust the links we see,” he said. “More than 90% of them trust the responses they’re given from these LLM [large language models] and that’s what’s really driving the surge.”

Adobe, which analyzed chat services and AI-powered browser experiences, spotted the first big wave of generative AI-driven traffic to US retail sites during the holiday season. In 2024, from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, clicks from AI sources jumped 1,300% YoY—and on Cyber Monday alone, visits spiked 1,950%. While still small compared with channels like paid search or email, the surge marks a significant shift.

Give before you get.

 

1. Capital flows to confidence.
   If people trust you, they’ll back you. If they don’t, nothing else matters.

2. Your network should solve problems you can’t Google.
   Money, tax, law, health, connections — the right people close the gap instantly.

3. Give before you get.
   The fastest way to grow relationship capital is to invest in others first.

Your ceiling.

 

1. Your biggest asset isn’t money. It’s trust.
   If people can count on you, the opportunities never stop.

2. Speed matters.
   The right network moves faster than any bank or institution.

3. Relationships compound.
   One introduction turns into ten more when you show up with value.

4. Your circle is your ceiling.
   If you want bigger plays, get around bigger players.

How many $$$ in Cash Flow Tension costing your company?

At $9, this finds “IRS Guaranteed Method” $$$ 82% of the time? Did you get PPC or ERC money a couple of years back?

This is way better and faster, much faster. ALL Businesses are eligible...

The Big Beautiful Bill passed on July 4th, 2025. Now the IRS is “Legally Obligated” to write you a cash check before this ends by Dec 30th 2025.

Now learn how other business owners quickly and easily have gotten their “Retroactive Deduction Checks” already for 2022-2024?

All at NO COST in 60 seconds. Click here

Businesses Set to Benefit From Landmark New Federal Law

Through new legislation passed by Congress and the swift action of Larry Potter, a local business owner, thousands of businesses are about to receive one of the most significant tax windfalls in decades.

 

On July 4, 2025, the President signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21) into law — a sweeping reform that quietly restored and expanded several powerful business tax incentives. These changes give business owners a rare opportunity to unlock large, immediate cash benefits that were previously phased out or restricted.

 

Who Benefits

 

Commercial Property Owners

The law restores 100% bonus depreciation for qualifying building improvements made between 2023–2028. This means lighting, flooring, HVAC, signage, and other interior components can be fully deducted in the first year rather than depreciated over 39 years.

For many property owners, this translates into hundreds of thousands — even millions — in immediate tax deductions, improving cash flow and freeing up capital to reinvest back into their business.

 

Employers in Key Industries

The bill reinstates full R&D expensing, reversing the previous requirement to amortize costs over five years. Businesses can now deduct qualified research and development expenses all at once in the year they occur.

Many companies don’t realize they already do R&D — industries like manufacturing, software development, farming, engineering, food production, and other process-driven sectors often qualify. This change can double or triple tax benefits for manufacturers, software developers, and other innovators.

 

Employers in Hospitality & Service

The bill creates a new federal income tax deduction of up to $25,000 for employees’ tips and expands the FICA Tip Credit, allowing employers to recapture payroll taxes they pay on tips.

Restaurants, salons, and other service-based businesses can keep more of their earnings while their employees benefit as well. In some cases, this results in annual credits exceeding six figures.

 

Why this matters now

Many of these provisions are retroactive, allowing businesses to go back to 2023 and claim missed deductions and credits. Others apply for a limited window between 2025–2028, creating a unique opportunity to capture value before the window closes.

While the incentives are generous, the rules can be complex. Determining which assets qualify for bonus depreciation, what counts as R&D, or how to properly calculate tip credits requires careful review.

“It’s very favorable, but the details matter,” said a GMG spokesperson. “Businesses that act quickly can capture substantial benefits, but it’s not something to navigate alone.”

 

Expert support

Larry Potter has been appointed the national Incentive Specialist, working in partnership with Growth Management Group (GMG) — a national firm with over 19 years of experience securing specialized tax incentives for businesses across the country.

 

Together, they’re helping US businesses analyze their properties, operations, and payroll to uncover cash that’s often hidden in the tax code.

 

Below is a simple online tool they’ve developed to help determine eligibility and estimate potential savings.

You can check your status now using the online tool, or reach Larry Potter directly at Lgpotter33@gmail.com

The fastest way to lose their attention.

 

Most overcomplicate their content. They worry about the right format, the best time to post, or how to stand out in a crowded feed. But the truth is, the biggest mistake when auditing content is much simpler than that. Too often, the focus is on the themselves, not the reader. Every post is filled with “I” and “me,” while the audience is left searching for where they fit into the story. That’s the fastest way to lose their attention. If you want your content to attract instead of repel, you need to flip the script. Speak to them—their frustrations, their struggles, their goals. Show that you understand what they’re facing and that you can help solve it. The best part? This is a shift you can make right now. Read your next post before you hit publish and ask yourself: Am I writing to showcase myself, or am I writing to connect with them? Will this help someone feel seen, or will it feel like self-promotion? The difference is subtle, but it changes everything. When people feel understood, they lean in. They trust you. And trust is what turns followers into clients. Your brand is not about spotlighting yourself. It is about building a bridge between your expertise and their needs. Make that shift, and you will notice the results.

How employers can save up to $6,480 for each employee with health insurance.

Using a Section 125 Cafeteria Plan, employees can pay for certain benefits with pre-tax dollars, potentially reducing their taxable income. This can lead to tax savings on the premiums for employer-sponsored health plans.

To calculate the cost using a Cafeteria Plan, consider the following steps:

1. Annual Premium: The average annual premium for a family health plan is approximately $27,000.

2. Pre-Tax Advantage: If the premium is deducted from the employee's paycheck before taxes, the employee saves on federal income tax, Social Security tax, and Medicare tax.

3. Tax Bracket Consideration: The actual savings depend on the employee's tax bracket. For example, if an employee is in a 24% federal tax bracket, the savings would be significant.

Example Calculation

• Annual Premium: $27,000
• Tax Savings (assuming a 24% federal tax rate):
  • Tax savings = $27,000 * 0.24 = $6,480
• Net Cost to Employee:
  • $27,000 - $6,480 = $20,520

Conclusion

The cost to the employee using a Section 125 Cafeteria Plan could effectively be lower than the full premium cost due to tax savings. In this example, the net cost would be approximately $20,520, depending on the individual's tax situation.

For a precise calculation, it's advisable to consult with a tax professional or benefits specialist to consider all variables, including state taxes and specific deductions.