Better Books

Better Books You’ve built the income, now make it work smarter!

Better Books helps high-earning real estate investors & entrepreneurs proactively reduce taxes, make strategic financial decisions, & build lasting wealth, with tax strategists who think beyond the books.

10/06/2026

She was already taking the deduction. She just wasn’t getting nearly as much from it as she could have been.

When this real estate investor came to us for tax planning, one of the first things Chris noticed was that the tax basis on her rental properties was extremely low.

That mattered because her basis directly impacted the amount available for depreciation.

After correcting the basis and pairing it with a cost segregation study, the difference was significant: roughly $70,000 refunded in year one, with another $37,000 expected from losses carried forward into year two.

Around $110,000 in total.

And it started with knowing which number to look at.

Tax basis is one of the 7 financial numbers every business owner and investor should know that Chris breaks down in this week’s episode of the Know Your Numbers Podcast.

Drop PODCAST below and we’ll send you the full episode. 🎙️



real estate tax strategy | rental property tax planning | tax basis | cost segregation study | real estate depreciation | depreciation deductions | tax planning for real estate investors | rental property taxes | real estate investor CPA | tax savings strategies | financial numbers to know

One of the worst times to discover a tax-saving opportunity? After the deadline to use it has already passed.That’s the ...
10/02/2026

One of the worst times to discover a tax-saving opportunity? After the deadline to use it has already passed.

That’s the problem with waiting until tax season to start thinking about taxes.
By then, you’re looking backward at decisions that have already been made.

Q4 gives business owners an opportunity to look forward instead.

What has your income actually looked like this year?
What expenses are coming?
Are there investments or business decisions you’re already considering?
Are there year-end tax planning opportunities that deserve a closer look before December 31?

We created the Q4 Tax Savings Playbook to help you work through those questions while there’s still time to act.

Inside, you’ll find:
→ October, November + December tax planning checklists
→ 7 tax moves to consider before December 31
→ A 3-key element action plan

It’s practical, completely FREE and designed to help you walk into year-end with a plan instead of waiting until tax season to find out what you could have done differently.

Drop "PLAYBOOK" below and we’ll send you your free copy.



Q4 tax planning | year-end tax planning | tax savings for business owners | business tax strategy | tax planning checklist | small business taxes | proactive tax planning | year-end business checklist | tax deductions for business owners | entrepreneur finances | CPA for entrepreneurs | December 31 tax deadline

10/01/2026

$7 million in revenue sounds like a wildly successful business… until you look at what’s left.

Revenue gets a lot of attention.

It’s the number business owners celebrate.
The number that gets shared when talking about growth.
The number that can make it feel like the business is doing really, really well.

But revenue alone doesn’t tell you whether your business is actually profitable.

We’ve worked with businesses generating millions in revenue while their profit told a completely different story.

That’s why knowing your numbers matters.

Your revenue, profit, profit margin, break-even point, cash flow and runway all tell you something different about the financial health of your business. Knowing how those numbers work together can change the way you make decisions.

This week on the Know Your Numbers Podcast, Chris is breaking down 7 financial numbers every business owner should know.

Drop PODCAST below and we’ll send you the full episode. 🎙️

BusinessGrowth

business financial health | business profit margin | revenue vs profit | business owner finances | financial numbers for business owners | business profitability | cash flow management | break-even revenue | financial strategy for entrepreneurs | CPA for business owners | growing a profitable business

Having a CPA and having a tax strategy aren’t necessarily the same thing.A lot of successful business owners assume that...
09/30/2026

Having a CPA and having a tax strategy aren’t necessarily the same thing.

A lot of successful business owners assume that because someone prepares their return each year, they’re also looking ahead for planning opportunities.

Sometimes they are.
Sometimes that simply isn’t the service you hired them for.

Tax preparation is largely about accurately reporting what already happened.

Proactive tax planning means having conversations throughout the year about what’s happening in your business, what’s changing, and what’s coming next.

Maybe...
Revenue has grown significantly.
You’re buying another property.
You’re considering a major investment.
Your entity structure hasn’t been revisited in years.
Or you already know there are substantial expenses coming in 2027.

Those are conversations worth having before your tax return lands on someone’s desk.

If you’re not sure whether you have a tax strategy, think about the conversations you’re having with your CPA. Are you only talking when documents are due, or are you discussing decisions while there’s still time to make them?

Filing is required. Strategy is intentional.

Looking for a tax partner who helps you think ahead, not just report what already happened? Drop “BETTER” below and we’ll send you the link to schedule a consultation with the Better Books team.



proactive tax strategy | tax planning for business owners | CPA tax planning | year-end tax planning | tax strategy for entrepreneurs | real estate investor taxes | high-income tax planning | strategic tax planning | business wealth strategy

09/29/2026

Making more money doesn’t automatically mean you have to keep paying more in taxes.

One of our clients operates a multi-7-figure business in the salon supply industry. As part of their broader tax strategy, we worked with them through the buildout of a warehouse that could eventually qualify for depreciation deductions once it was placed in service.

The profit from their businesses is being paired with those depreciation benefits to help reduce their overall tax burden.

This is what we mean when we talk about tax strategy.

It’s looking at the business you’re building, the investments you’re already considering and the opportunities available to make smarter decisions before the year is over.

Want to hear more strategies business owners should be considering in Q4?

Drop PODCAST below and we’ll send you the full episode of the Know Your Numbers Podcast. 🎙️



tax strategy for business owners | real estate tax strategy | depreciation tax strategy | year-end tax planning | Q4 tax planning | business tax deductions | real estate depreciation | multi seven figure business | tax planning for entrepreneurs | business owner finances | CPA for entrepreneurs

There’s still plenty of 2026 left to make smart decisions before year-end, but some of those decisions need to happen so...
09/25/2026

There’s still plenty of 2026 left to make smart decisions before year-end, but some of those decisions need to happen sooner rather than later.

Maybe it’s looking at an investment you’ve been considering, deciding whether an expense belongs in 2026 or 2027, or simply getting a clearer picture of where your income and cash flow are likely to land by December 31.

These are the conversations worth having now, while you still have options.

We’re digging into year-end planning in the latest edition of The Strategic Advantage, including what business owners should be paying attention to over the next few months.

Want to catch up?
Drop “ADVANTAGE” below and we’ll send you the latest edition, along with the link to sign up for future issues.



year-end tax strategy | year-end tax planning | tax planning for business owners | proactive tax strategy | business cash flow | entrepreneur finances | CPA for entrepreneurs | wealth strategy for business owners | small business tax planning | year-end financial planning

09/24/2026

You elected S Corp status to save on taxes… but no one told you what to do next.

We see this more often than you’d think.

A business owner is told an S Corp could be a smart tax move, the election gets filed, and then… they’re left to figure out how to actually operate one on their own.

One of the biggest things that gets missed? Paying yourself a reasonable salary.

Your S Corp tax return specifically reports wages paid to officers of the company. So if you’re an owner working in the business and that number is $0 because you haven’t been paying yourself a reasonable salary, it can be a sign that your S Corp isn’t being operated the way it should be.

In this episode of the Know Your Numbers Podcast, Chris breaks down what S Corp owners need to know about reasonable salary, payroll and the year-end deadlines that matter.

Already an S Corp — or wondering if you’re doing it right?

Drop PODCAST below and we’ll send you the episode. 🎙️



S Corp reasonable salary | S Corp tax strategy | S Corp payroll | S Corp mistakes | tax planning for business owners | year-end tax planning | Q4 tax planning | small business taxes | business tax strategy | CPA for entrepreneurs | entrepreneur finances

The most expensive tax mistakes happen when good businesses get busy and tax planning gets pushed to the bottom of the l...
09/23/2026

The most expensive tax mistakes happen when good businesses get busy and tax planning gets pushed to the bottom of the list.

You’re focused on growing revenue, serving clients, managing your team… and it’s easy to overlook the systems that help you protect more of what you’re already earning.

Quarterly tax planning helps you stay ahead of what’s coming so you’re not scrambling when a deadline hits or surprised by a tax payment you weren’t prepared for.

If that’s something you want to get better at this year, this is your LAST CHANCE to grab our FREE Quarterly Tax Calendar.

It lays out the important tax dates and deadlines business owners need to know so you can plan ahead instead of playing catch-up.

Drop “CALENDAR” below and we’ll send you a copy so you can stay ahead of the important dates and deadlines still to come this year.



quarterly tax payments | tax planning for business owners | estimated taxes | business cash flow | entrepreneur finances | CPA for entrepreneurs | tax deadlines | profitable business | financial strategy

09/22/2026

You’re running out of time to make strategic tax moves for 2026.

One Better Books client saw just how significant proactive planning can be.

Through a cost segregation study on a property they already owned, Better Books was able to identify an additional $111,000 in deductions, with an estimated $33,000–$40,000 in tax savings.

Cost segregation can allow qualifying components of a property to be depreciated on a shorter timeline rather than treating the entire building the same way for depreciation purposes.

And this time of year, the details matter.

In Episode 159 of the Know Your Numbers Podcast, Chris breaks down what real estate investors need to know about cost segregation, year-end deadlines, and some of the timing mistakes that can keep you from getting the tax benefits you expected.

December 31 will be here quickly. If real estate is part of your tax strategy this year, now is the time to know what options are available to you and what may need to happen before year-end.

🎙️ Comment PODCAST and we’ll send you the full episode.



cost segregation | real estate tax planning | real estate investor taxes | depreciation strategy | bonus depreciation | Q4 tax planning | year-end tax planning | real estate tax strategy | proactive tax planning

“Spend it before December 31 so you can write it off.”It’s advice business owners hear all the time around year-end, but...
09/19/2026

“Spend it before December 31 so you can write it off.”

It’s advice business owners hear all the time around year-end, but spending money you don’t need to spend just for the deduction usually isn’t much of a strategy.

That doesn’t mean you should automatically wait on every expense, either.

If you already know you’ll need new equipment, technology, services, or other business expenses in early 2027, it may make sense to move some of those purchases into 2026. You were going to spend the money anyway, but the timing of that expense could matter.

This is where looking at your numbers before the year ends becomes important.

What does income look like this year?
What expenses are coming early next year?
What purchases are already part of the plan?
And would moving any of them forward make sense for your business and your tax strategy?

There’s a big difference between buying something because you heard you could “write it off” and intentionally timing an expense your business actually needs.

The write-off shouldn’t drive the decision. Your strategy should.

Before you move a 2027 expense into 2026, make sure the numbers support the decision. Talk with your tax advisor now, while there’s still time to plan.

Looking for a tax partner who helps you think ahead, not just file what already happened? Drop “BETTER” below and we’ll send you the link to schedule a consultation.



year-end tax planning | business tax deductions | 2026 tax strategy | year-end business expenses | proactive tax planning | entrepreneur tax strategy | business owner taxes | strategic business spending

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