Notes on running a business.
Practical guidance on cash flow, accounting, and the decisions that come with running a business.
Articles — Page 8
Startup Tax Planning After a Priced Round
Closing a priced round triggers immediate tax obligations and long-term planning opportunities most founders miss. This guide covers QSBS eligibility, 83(b) elections, 409A timing, state nexus, and the actions to take in the first 90 days after funding closes.
Agency Pass-Through Costs & Reimbursed Expenses: Complete Guide
Pass-through costs and reimbursed client expenses are one of the most mishandled areas of agency accounting. Here's how to track, record, and bill them correctly — without distorting your margins.
Year-End Tax Checklist for Marketing Agencies
A practical year-end tax checklist for marketing agency owners — covering pass-through ad spend, contractor classification, S-corp compliance, retirement contributions, and the deadlines that close permanently on December 31.
Tax Planning for Marketing Agencies With Contractor Teams
Contractor-heavy marketing agencies face unique tax risks: misclassification exposure, deferred revenue timing, quarterly estimate gaps, and entity structure decisions. This guide covers the key levers — verified against 2026 IRS guidance — so you pay only what you legally owe.
Agency Profitability Dashboard: 7 Metrics to Review Monthly
Most agency founders track revenue and miss the numbers that actually drive profit. Here are the 7 metrics your monthly profitability dashboard must include — and the three questions every review should answer.
Project vs Retainer Profitability for Agencies: CFO Guide
Project and retainer pricing have fundamentally different profit mechanics. This guide breaks down the margins, cash flow dynamics, and hidden costs of each model — and how to find the right mix for your agency.
Paid Media Retainer Pricing: A Cost & Scope Framework
Build a paid media retainer from delivery costs, capacity, and scope. Compare fixed-fee and percentage-of-spend models with an illustrative margin example.
Utilization vs. Realization Rate: 2026 Agency Benchmarks
Utilization tells you how busy your team is. Realization tells you how much of that work actually turned into revenue. Most agency founders track one and ignore the other — here's what both metrics reveal about your profitability, and the benchmarks to aim for in 2026.
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