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Steven M. Ellard, CPA

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Brewster, MA
Steven M. Ellard, CPA

Steven M. Ellard, CPA is a one stop back office provider of tax preparation, accounting, bookkeeping, Our goal is to make life easier for you and your company.

We are a local business that offers a variety of financial services that are affordable. Let us help your business become more profitable. We have an experienced team of CPAs and professional staff that will handle your year round back office paperwork allowing you to concentrate on what you do best-managing your business.

05/07/2026

🎯 A lot of business owners chase revenue.

More clients. More sales. More growth.

But more revenue doesn’t always mean more money in your pocket.

We’ve seen businesses grow fast and still feel tight on cash.

The goal is take-home profit.

This breaks that down:
https://www.stevenmellardcpa.com/guides/how-a-cpa-helps-you-take-home-more-profit/

05/05/2026

We usually see business owners fall into one of two camps.

They either overcomplicate how they pay themselves…
or they do not think about it at all.

In reality, there are only a few ways to structure it. The key is choosing the one that actually fits your business and tax situation.

And getting that wrong can cost more than people expect.

If you want a clear breakdown of what makes sense and when, this walks through it:
https://www.stevenmellardcpa.com/bookkeeping/how-much-to-pay-yourself/

05/01/2026

🧾 Most people think a CPA = tax prep.

Filing returns. Looking back. Checking boxes.

But the real value is in tax planning.

That’s where you actually change what you owe instead of just reporting it.

And that difference can be bigger than people expect.

If you’ve only experienced tax prep, this is worth a read:
https://www.stevenmellardcpa.com/guides/how-a-cpa-helps-you-take-home-more-profit/

04/28/2026

Most people try to figure out their salary by looking at revenue.

But that is not where we start.

We start with personal expenses.

What does it actually cost you to live each month? That number tells you a lot about what your business needs to support.

From there, you build something that is sustainable.

If you have never approached it this way, this will change how you think about it:
https://www.stevenmellardcpa.com/bookkeeping/how-much-to-pay-yourself/

04/23/2026

📈 Revenue goes up… but your income doesn’t.

That’s a frustrating place to be.

And it usually means something underneath isn’t working right. Pricing, costs, or how money is flowing through the business.

More revenue should lead to more take-home. If it’s not, it’s worth digging into.

This explains why that happens:
https://www.stevenmellardcpa.com/guides/more-profitable-cape-cod-business/

04/15/2026

🚨 Reminder: Q1 estimated tax payments are due today.

Every year, we see the same thing happen.

A business owner assumes taxes are something you deal with once a year…
then gets caught off guard when the IRS expects payments throughout the year instead.

That’s how estimated taxes work. It’s a pay-as-you-go system, and missing a quarter can lead to penalties, even if you catch up later.

If you’ve ever been unsure how this works or whether you’re paying the right amount, this guide walks through it in plain terms:
https://www.stevenmellardcpa.com/guides/2026-guide-to-paying-estimated-taxes/

04/03/2026

The 3-part test changing Cape Cod payroll. 📊

You need extra hands for the summer rush, right?

So you call the new hire an independent contractor. It's easier. No payroll setup, no headaches, and you save hours of paperwork.

Just hand out a 1099 at the end of the year and call it a day.

We see this all the time with Cape Cod businesses trying to keep things moving during peak season.

Here's the problem: Massachusetts doesn't see it that way. ⚠️

The state has a strict three-part test to determine if your worker is legally an employee or actually a contractor.

If you're directing their daily tasks, if their work is central to your operation, they're an employee. Period.

And getting this classification wrong? The penalties will wipe out everything you thought you saved.

That temporary shortcut just became a massive financial liability.

We help business owners build predictable payroll systems long before the summer crowds arrive. We set up the proper infrastructure so you can hire seasonal help legally and efficiently.

Want the full breakdown of Massachusetts' three-part test? We wrote about it here: https://www.stevenmellardcpa.com/bookkeeping/employee-vs-contractor-cape-cod-business/

03/31/2026

Estimated taxes don’t send reminders… ⏰

but the IRS still expects them on time.

Here are your 2026 quarterly tax deadlines 👇
📅 April 15, 2026
📅 June 15, 2026
📅 September 15, 2026
📅 January 15, 2027

Miss one, and you could be looking at penalties… even if you pay everything later.

That’s the part most people don’t realize.

Estimated taxes are “pay as you go” 💸

Not “pay when you file”

If your income isn’t being withheld automatically (business owners, contractors, side income, etc.), this applies to you.

A simple calendar reminder now can save you a headache later.

03/26/2026

Hiring your first employee feels like growth. 📈

Until you realize…
You’re not just paying a salary anymore.

You’re now responsible for:
Payroll taxes 💸
Workers comp 🛠️
Unemployment
Compliance 📋

Most business owners budget for wages.

Very few budget for everything else.

And that’s where things get tight.

What most people don’t think about is this:
You’re committing to paying someone consistently… even when business slows down.

Especially on Cape Cod, where seasons change everything.

Before hiring, it’s worth asking:

Can my business support payroll not just today, but 6–12 months from now?

Because hiring isn’t just a growth decision.
It’s a responsibility that continues long after the excitement wears off.

03/23/2026

You can’t manage what you don’t measure.

A lot of small business owners rely on instinct. And instinct matters.

But when margins tighten or cash flow shifts, instinct alone isn’t enough.

Here are the small business KPIs we encourage every Cape Cod business to track:

📈 Revenue Growth
Are you actually moving forward, or just staying busy?

💰 Gross Profit Margin
Are you pricing correctly after direct costs?

📊 Net Profit Margin
What do you actually keep after everything is paid?

💵 Cash Flow
Can you cover payroll, vendors, and taxes when they’re due?

⏳ Accounts Receivable
Are customers paying on time?

📉 Operating Expense Ratio
Are costs creeping up quietly?

🧾 Tax Liability as a % of Income
Are you planning ahead, or heading for a surprise?

You don’t need dozens of metrics. You need the right ones, reviewed consistently.

If you want help building a KPI framework that fits your business, we’re here to help.

03/19/2026

📊 The real cost of hiring on Cape Cod isn't what most business owners expect.

Most local business owners budget for an hourly rate when they make their first hire.

They multiply twenty dollars by forty hours and assume the math is complete.

Then the actual bills start arriving.

Workers compensation premiums hit the bank account.
Unemployment insurance requirements appear in the mail.
The employer portion of payroll taxes quietly drains the operating reserves.

The hardest moment arrives when winter revenue drops but payroll commitments stay the same.

Here's what actually happens: for every dollar in wages, you need to budget another 15-25% for employer costs.

That's F**A taxes (7.65%), unemployment insurance (varies by state), and workers comp (depends on your industry risk level).

A $20/hour employee doesn't cost $800 a week. It's closer to $920-$1,000 once you factor in the actual obligations.

💡 We break down the full math in our guide on employee costs vs contractor arrangements. Click the link in bio to read more.

Address

2759 Main Street/PO Box 2241
Brewster, MA
02631

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://www.stevenmellardcpa.com/

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