Lighthouse Business & Risk Solutions

Lighthouse Business & Risk Solutions We assist small business owners with our accounting services and business consulting. We want to be

🎯 TAX TIP TUESDAY 🎯Real estate investors: Bonus depreciation and recent tax changes.Bonus depreciation lets you deduct 1...
06/30/2026

🎯 TAX TIP TUESDAY 🎯

Real estate investors: Bonus depreciation and recent tax changes.

Bonus depreciation lets you deduct 100% of the cost of certain business property in the year you place it in service. For real estate investors, this applies to personal property (appliances, furniture, fixtures) but not the building itself.

Recent tax law changes have extended these benefits, but they're set to phase out. If you're planning property improvements or renovations, timing matters.

This is advanced tax strategy that requires planning. Let's talk about your properties. (706) 495-2107

📊 TAX TIP TUESDAY 📊Small business owners: Accounting method—cash vs. accrual.How you record income and expenses matters....
06/23/2026

📊 TAX TIP TUESDAY 📊

Small business owners: Accounting method—cash vs. accrual.

How you record income and expenses matters. Most small businesses use the cash method (record when money comes in or goes out). But if your business is larger or more complex, accrual accounting might be required or beneficial.

Accrual means you record income when earned and expenses when incurred, even if cash hasn't changed hands. This gives a more accurate picture of profitability but is more complex.

The IRS has rules about which method you must use. Let's make sure you're using the right one. (706) 495-2107

🔨 TAX TIP TUESDAY 🔨Contractors: Meal and entertainment deductions—what's deductible?Meals and entertainment expenses can...
06/16/2026

🔨 TAX TIP TUESDAY 🔨

Contractors: Meal and entertainment deductions—what's deductible?

Meals and entertainment expenses can be deductible, but the rules changed. As of 2018, meals are 50% deductible (with some exceptions for 2021-2022). Entertainment is generally NOT deductible anymore.

Here's what matters: meals while traveling for business, client meals, and team meals at business meetings can be deductible. But you need to track them and document the business purpose.

Many contractors leave money on the table because they don't track these expenses. Start now. (706) 495-2107

Confused books to confident decisions in months. One local contractor came to us overwhelmed, unsure if his business was...
06/11/2026

Confused books to confident decisions in months.

One local contractor came to us overwhelmed, unsure if his business was even profitable. Three months later, he’d uncovered hidden cash flow—and realized he was underpricing by 20%.

Want to see what clarity can do for you? Reach out for a free consult today. 🌟

Real estate investors: missing this tax break? Most overlook property-specific expenses that add up fast. What if you co...
06/10/2026

Real estate investors: missing this tax break?

Most overlook property-specific expenses that add up fast. What if you could lower your tax bill with just a few tweaks?

Let’s talk about the #1 deduction most investors miss. Ready to see what you qualify for? Call Lighthouse Business and Risk Solutions today. 💡

🏡 TAX TIP TUESDAY 🏡Real estate investors: Opportunity Zone investments—new tax benefits.Opportunity Zones are designated...
06/09/2026

🏡 TAX TIP TUESDAY 🏡

Real estate investors: Opportunity Zone investments—new tax benefits.

Opportunity Zones are designated areas where you can invest capital gains and defer (or eliminate) taxes on those gains. If you've had a recent property sale and owe capital gains tax, an Opportunity Zone investment could be a game-changer.

You defer taxes on the original gains, and if you hold the investment long enough, you may eliminate taxes on the new gains entirely.

This is a complex strategy that requires careful planning, but for the right investor, it's powerful. Let's explore if it makes sense for you. (706) 495-2107

BOOKKEEPING TIP: The Depreciation Deduction Most People Ignore 📉You bought equipment for $10,000. You deducted it all in...
06/05/2026

BOOKKEEPING TIP: The Depreciation Deduction Most People Ignore 📉

You bought equipment for $10,000. You deducted it all in year one.

But the IRS says: Not so fast. That equipment will last 5 years. You need to depreciate it.

Depreciation is one of the most powerful deductions. And most business owners don't understand it.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:
You buy equipment for $10,000 with a 5-year useful life.
Each year, you deduct $2,000 (depreciation).
Over 5 years, you deduct the full $10,000.

But here's the power: You get to deduct it over time, even though you paid for it upfront.

WHAT QUALIFIES:
✓ Equipment
✓ Vehicles
✓ Furniture
✓ Buildings (residential property is 27.5 years, commercial is 39 years)
✓ Computers & software

WHAT DOESN'T:
✗ Land
✗ Items under $2,500 (usually)
✗ Inventory

Real example: A contractor bought $50K in equipment. Without proper depreciation tracking, they deducted it all in year one. With proper depreciation, they spread it over 5-7 years, smoothing their tax liability.

This is why we track fixed assets carefully. Because depreciation is real money.

Are you tracking depreciation? Or leaving money on the table? Comment "DEPRECIATION" or DM us.

💰 TAX TIP TUESDAY 💰Small business owners: Retirement plan contributions and tax savings.Did you know you can reduce your...
06/02/2026

💰 TAX TIP TUESDAY 💰

Small business owners: Retirement plan contributions and tax savings.

Did you know you can reduce your taxable income AND save for retirement at the same time? If you're self-employed or a business owner, you have options: SEP-IRA, Solo 401(k), or SIMPLE IRA.

Each has different contribution limits and rules. A Solo 401(k) can let you contribute up to $69,000 per year (2024 limits). That's real tax savings.

The key: set up your plan before December 31 to contribute for the current year. Don't wait.

Let's talk about which retirement plan works best for your situation. (706) 495-2107

BOOKKEEPING REALITY: The Owner Draw Mistake That Confuses Everything 🤷You took $5,000 out of your business account for p...
05/29/2026

BOOKKEEPING REALITY: The Owner Draw Mistake That Confuses Everything 🤷

You took $5,000 out of your business account for personal use. You recorded it as an expense.

Now your profit is understated. Your accountant is confused. Your numbers are a mess.

Here's the issue: OWNER DRAWS ARE NOT EXPENSES.

An expense is money you spend to generate business income. An owner draw is money you're taking out of your own business.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU RECORD IT WRONG:
✗ Your profit looks lower than it actually is
✗ Your accountant has to fix it at year-end
✗ Your financial statements are inaccurate
✗ You can't see your real profitability

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:
✓ Record owner draws as a draw (liability reduction)
✓ Don't record them as expenses
✓ Track them separately
✓ Only deduct actual business expenses

This is especially important if you're a sole proprietor or partnership. Because owner draws directly affect your equity.

Example: A business owner thought they made $30K profit. Turns out, $12K of that was owner draws. Real profit? $42K. Huge difference.

If you're not sure how your owner draws are recorded, that's a red flag. Comment "OWNER DRAW" or DM us for a review.

💼 TAX TIP TUESDAY 💼Contractors: Equipment purchases and Section 179 deductions.Need new equipment? Here's a tax break: S...
05/26/2026

💼 TAX TIP TUESDAY 💼

Contractors: Equipment purchases and Section 179 deductions.

Need new equipment? Here's a tax break: Section 179 allows you to deduct the full cost of certain equipment purchases in the year you buy them, instead of depreciating over several years.

This means if you buy a new truck, tools, or machinery, you can deduct the entire cost immediately and reduce your taxable income for the year.

The catch: there are limits and rules about what qualifies. And timing matters—you want to plan these purchases strategically.

Let's talk about your equipment needs and how to maximize your deductions. (706) 495-2107

Address

Evans, GA

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 5:30pm
Thursday 9am - 5:30pm
Friday 9am - 1pm

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