What to Watch Out For When Choosing a Tax Preparer

In this guide, we’ll break down what every restaurant owner needs to know about two key tax credits you may be missing. Read on to make sure you’re not leaving money on the table.

You probably have been receiving your refund by direct deposit; but just in case you have not, please read on!

You finally clicked the box to reconcile your bank account in your bookkeeping software when the dreaded alert shows up: “The ending balance does not match.” What do you do? Navigating accounting software, such as QuickBooks and Xero, can be challenging, especially for small business owners who juggle multiple responsibilities. Here are some of the most common mistakes and practical steps you can take to avoid them.

Background Wesley and Janet Young, an Oklahoma couple, owned and operated Pecandarosa Ranch, which combined pecan farming, raising livestock, horse activities, and events. Despite their busy efforts and substantial investment—including building an arena and maintaining a large property—they reported significant financial losses from the ranch for many years. What Happened The Youngs claimed the ranch was a real business, deducting all its losses from their other income on their tax returns. However, the IRS challenged their tax filings, arguing that the ranch wasn’t genuinely run to make a profit. The Tax Court agreed with the IRS and not only denied the loss deductions but also imposed penalties. Key Lessons for Small Business Owners: Show a Real Profit Motive: The court looks at whether your activity is genuinely intended to make money. Things like detailed business plans, budgets, and regular reviews of your finances are strong evidence of a real business motive. Keep Businesslike Records: The Youngs used personal accounts and didn’t keep thorough up-to-date records for the ranch. For your business, use a separate bank account, maintain organized books (using tools like QuickBooks), and track your income and expenses carefully. Separate Fun from Business: If your business involves hobbies or things you enjoy (like sport or farming), be extra diligent. Personal enjoyment is fine, but make sure your operations, spending, and decisions focus on making money—not just having fun. Sustained Losses Are a Red Flag: Reporting losses year after year—especially if you also have outside income—can make the IRS skeptical. Occasional tough years are understandable, but without a clear path to profitability, you may not be able to deduct ongoing losses. Professional Advice is Key, but Not a Cure-All: Relying solely on tax preparers for filing returns doesn’t protect you if your business isn’t run for profit. Get professional advice on how to structure and operate your business before there’s a problem. Bottom Line Simply putting time and money into a business isn’t enough. To protect your deductions, run the operation in a genuinely businesslike way with a clear profit goal, strong records, and regular review of results. Do you need help to make sure you are compliant with IRS regulations and maximizing allowable tax savings? Please contact us to see how KAC Consulting, Inc. can assist! Summary based on Young v. Commissioner, U.S. Tax Court (2025)

If you or your employees are over age 50, you may be making “catch-up” contributions to boost retirement savings. But a key change is coming: for certain employees, those extra contributions will soon be Roth only—and that brings new payroll and tax planning considerations.

Many restaurant owners get into business because they love food, not finances. Without good finances, however, running your dream business becomes stressful and painful.

For many years a family-owned restaurant in Texas had been a cherished destination for both locals and travelers. But after the pandemic, everything changed. Food prices soared, labor costs rose, and fewer customers came through the door. Month after month, the owners watched their net margin slip into the red, losing 1% on every dollar. With each shift, uncertainty grew: not just for the owners, but for everyone on the team. In the restaurant world, when business suffers, everyone feels it, from the kitchen to the dining room. Fewer guests can mean quieter nights, fewer shifts, and smaller tips. But when the restaurant thrives, so do the people who make every meal and every guest experience memorable. That’s when the owners turned to our KAC advisory team for a new way forward

What you don’t know about your books can hurt you—badly.

Accounting tools like QuickBooks and Xero can be incredibly helpful, streamlining tasks such as transaction imports, invoicing, and reconciliation. But blindly relying on them is a risky move. Software can generate duplicate entries, misinterpret transaction data, or misclassify items, leading to inaccurate financials if not regularly reviewed.