Articles on tax, bookkeeping, and Florida compliance for construction firms and contractors. https://strategic.accountants/blog/ 2026-04-13T00:00:00.000Z https://strategic.accountants/img/logo-512.png Ian Atkinson Baker https://strategic.accountants/blog/2026-tax-deadlines/ 2026-04-13T00:00:00.000Z

A practical 2026 tax calendar for business owners: entity return dates, estimated payments, payroll reminders, and the deadlines most likely to affect cash flow and penalties.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/personal-vehicle-to-business-use/ 2025-09-24T00:00:00.000Z

If you run a Florida construction or specialty contractor company ($1M–$5M in revenue), the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) creates a powerful, cash-flow-friendly deduction in 2025.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/100-bonus-depreciation-2025/ 2025-09-17T00:00:00.000Z

Here is some good news if you run a construction or contractor company in Florida doing $1M to $5M in annual revenue: If you plan to buy equipment, vehicles, computers, or tools, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) restored 100% bonus depreciation for most business property.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/job-costing-construction/ 2025-09-10T00:00:00.000Z

Job costing tracks every dollar tied to a project, so you know each job's real cost and profit. For construction firms and contractors in Florida, this is essential. It helps you price confidently, control labor and materials, and prevent profit leaks as jobs move from estimate to close-out.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/cash-flow-statement-contractors/ 2025-09-03T00:00:00.000Z

What is the Statement of Cash Flows? The Statement of Cash Flows helps you answer the questions, "Where did my cash come from?" and "Where did it go?"

https://strategic.accountants/blog/cash-vs-accrual-tax-impact/ 2025-08-27T00:00:00.000Z

Florida construction businesses face unique accounting challenges -particularly when managing taxes and cash flow. One of the most critical decisions construction firms must navigate is using cash or accrual accounting methods. Each approach has distinct benefits and implications, especially at tax time.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/cash-vs-accrual-accounting/ 2025-08-20T00:00:00.000Z

Choosing the proper accounting method is a big decision when starting your Florida construction or contracting business. Your choice will shape how you track income and expenses, interpret your profits, and even file taxes. In this post, we'll walk through: - What are cash and accrual accounting are - The benefits of each method - When it makes sense to use one over the other - A simple example comparing both methods in action

https://strategic.accountants/blog/supper-money-meal-deduction/ 2025-08-13T00:00:00.000Z

As a Florida construction or trades business owner, we know that one or more of your team members may have to stay late on a job site or take care of a customer emergency. Providing meals for these dedicated employees isn't just a nice gesture—it's also an excellent opportunity to enjoy a valuable tax benefit.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/overtime-tax-deduction/ 2025-08-06T00:00:00.000Z

If you're running a construction or contractor business in Florida - whether based in Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Jacksonville, or anywhere else - you may have heard of the newly passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). While most headlines have focused on tax cuts and family credits, a provision directly affects your workforce: a new tax deduction for overtime pay.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/1099-reporting-update/ 2025-07-30T00:00:00.000Z

We work with many construction firms and contractors throughout Florida. If you are in the construction or trades industries, chances are you pay other contractors! Here's some good news.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/self-rental-shop-tax-strategy/ 2025-07-22T00:00:00.000Z

Does your business own a shop or warehouse? Check to see if you might be able to turn that company‐owned shop or warehouse into a tax advantage!\n\nIf you own the building your business works out of and lease it to your own company, you can often set yourself up for substantial tax savings.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/new-tax-bill-explained/ 2025-07-11T00:00:00.000Z

The recent tax bill includes helpful deductions for small business owners—and avoided scheduled individual rate increases. Here is what to know about expensing, Section 179, QBI, and individual breaks.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/small-business-internal-controls/ 2025-06-03T00:00:00.000Z

Cash is convenient for trades businesses—and risky. Why separation of duties, daily deposits, and clear spending rules protect your money, team, and peace of mind.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/improve-cash-flow/ 2025-05-16T00:00:00.000Z

You do not need a CFO or a fancy dashboard—just a repeatable weekly or monthly rhythm to see cash in, cash out, and what to do when you are short.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/hurricane-milton-tax-relief/ 2024-10-14T00:00:00.000Z

IRS disaster relief for Hurricane Milton in declared Florida areas: extended filing and payment deadlines, payroll and excise rules, and how casualty losses work on Form 4684.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/what-is-job-costing/ 2024-09-16T00:00:00.000Z

How construction and trades firms track labor, materials, and overhead per job—so you can see true profit, tighten estimates, and price the next project with confidence.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/upcoming-tax-deadlines/ 2024-09-02T00:00:00.000Z

Extension filing for partnerships and S-corps, October 15 for many individuals, and quarterly estimated tax basics—including safe harbors and the IRS withholding estimator.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/increase-profits-part-2/ 2024-08-28T00:00:00.000Z

Part 2: improve gross margin on direct costs, trim overhead, budget weekly, know your break-even, and use cash instead of debt when you can.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/increase-profits-part-1/ 2024-08-14T00:00:00.000Z

Part 1: raise prices with eyes on costs and the market, grow and retain the right customers, and increase average sale size with upsells and bundles.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/emergency-fund-small-business/ 2024-07-31T00:00:00.000Z

A practical habit for trades and construction: automate moving a percentage of collections into a separate reserve so cash crunches do not derail the business.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/business-meal-tax-deduction/ 2024-07-25T00:00:00.000Z

When business meals are 50% vs 100% deductible, fringe-benefit treatment for regular employee meals, and the records that survive an IRS review.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/hvac-plumbing-tax-savings/ 2024-07-01T00:00:00.000Z

Solid books, the right entity choice, and year-round planning—three levers HVAC and plumbing owners use to reduce tax stress and capture legitimate savings.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/break-even-point-hvac-plumbing/ 2024-05-01T00:00:00.000Z

What break-even means for service businesses, how it sets minimum sales targets and budgets, and how it should inform pricing for HVAC and plumbing work.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/hvac-plumbing-tax-planning-tip/ 2024-03-01T00:00:00.000Z

Section 179 expensing and bonus depreciation for equipment purchases—what Florida HVAC and plumbing owners should discuss with their accountant before big buys.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/florida-hvac-sales-tax/ 2024-02-01T00:00:00.000Z

How Florida treats central A/C as a fixture, when the contractor pays tax on purchases vs. charging the customer, and how contract type changes the rules.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/navigating-1099s-a-guide-for-hvac-businesses/ 2023-12-01T00:00:00.000Z

As the end of the year approaches, one thing that may be creeping in the back of the minds of HVAC business owners are the often-dreaded 1099s.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/how-financial-statements-connect/ 2023-06-01T00:00:00.000Z

How the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows connect—and a practical order to review them each month.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/do-i-need-a-bookkeeper/ 2023-05-01T00:00:00.000Z

Time vs. cost, business size, and your comfort with the books—practical factors to weigh before you hire, outsource, or keep DIY bookkeeping.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/what-is-a-cash-flow-statement/ 2023-04-01T00:00:00.000Z

Operating, investing, and financing cash flows—why this report is different from profit, and how to use it with your bookkeeper each month.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/what-is-an-income-statement/ 2023-02-01T00:00:00.000Z

What the profit and loss report shows, how to read it by service or customer, and why percentages and projections make planning easier.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/what-is-a-balance-sheet/ 2023-01-01T00:00:00.000Z

Assets, liabilities, and equity in plain language—plus what to scan each month from cash and A/R to debt and owner draws.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/which-financial-statements-to-review/ 2022-07-28T00:00:00.000Z

The balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows—what each answers and how often to review them.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/small-business-tax-deductions/ 2022-04-01T00:00:00.000Z

Ordinary and necessary expenses in practice: advertising, professional fees, office costs, rent (including home office), and wages—with pointers to IRS Pub. 535.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/business-records-to-keep/ 2022-02-01T00:00:00.000Z

Supporting documents, gross receipts, inventory, and why good records matter for deductions, financial statements, tax filings, and IRS exams.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/what-does-a-bookkeeper-do/ 2022-01-01T00:00:00.000Z

From categorizing transactions and managing receipts to invoicing, bill pay, reconciliation, payroll support, and monthly financials—typical ways a bookkeeper helps you stay organized.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/bookkeeping-basics/ 2021-12-01T00:00:00.000Z

Separate business banking, real bookkeeping software, disciplined receipts and invoicing, and a monthly review of your core financial statements.

https://strategic.accountants/blog/what-is-bookkeeping/ 2021-11-01T00:00:00.000Z

Single-entry vs. double-entry, cash vs. accrual thinking, what bookkeepers typically handle, and why solid books support taxes, audits, and better decisions.