Proactive Tax Planning CPA for Small Business Owners
Small business owners don’t lose money because tax laws are unclear — they lose money because tax planning happens after the year is over. At Madsen and Company, we provide proactive tax planning services designed specifically for small business owners who want to reduce taxes before deadlines, not react to them later.
Unlike traditional CPAs who focus primarily on preparing last year’s tax return, our approach is planning-first and year-round. We help business owners make informed decisions around income timing, entity structure, payroll, deductions, and long-term strategy — so taxes are managed intentionally, not guessed at in April.
If your business is growing, becoming more complex, or generating consistent profits, proactive tax planning can create clarity, control, and measurable tax savings. Our role as your CPA is to anticipate tax exposure early, explain your options clearly, and guide you through the decisions that matter most — before the IRS ever gets involved.
When Small Business Owners Need Proactive Tax Planning
Proactive tax planning becomes especially important when a business reaches a point where timing, structure, and decisions start to materially affect tax exposure. Common trigger points include:
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Your business is consistently profitable and quarterly tax payments feel unpredictable or larger than expected
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Revenue is growing or changing rapidly, making last year’s tax strategy unreliable
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You’re hiring employees or paying yourself more, and payroll decisions now impact taxes significantly
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You’re considering an entity change (such as an S-Corporation election) or restructuring ownership
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You’re making major financial moves, such as buying equipment, expanding locations, or selling part of the business
At these stages, tax planning is no longer about compliance — it’s about making informed decisions before money is spent, income is earned, or deadlines pass.
Traditional CPAs vs. Proactive Tax Planning CPAs
Traditional CPAs typically focus on preparing last year’s tax return and reporting what already happened, often after key decisions are locked in. A proactive tax planning CPA works differently — evaluating tax exposure throughout the year, modeling scenarios in advance, and guiding small business owners through decisions like income timing, payroll structure, entity elections, and major purchases before they create avoidable tax consequences.
Who This Tax Planning Service Is For
This tax planning services page is designed for small business owners and S-Corporation owners who want proactive, year-round tax strategy — not last-minute tax preparation.
We work with clients who want to:
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Make tax decisions before deadlines pass
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Understand how business structure, income timing, and payroll affect taxes
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Use tax planning as part of an ongoing advisory relationship
Who This Page Is NOT For
This page is not intended for:
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Passive real estate investors seeking entity selection advice
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Partnership or multi-member LLC owners looking for property-specific structuring
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One-time tax return preparation without planning or advisory services
If you are a real estate investor, see our Real Estate Tax Planning services instead.
If you are evaluating S-Corporation tax strategy, see our S-Corporation Tax Planning services.
AI Summary:
Business tax planning helps small business owners and S-Corporation owners legally reduce taxes by making strategic decisions before deadlines pass — not after a return is filed. Madsen and Company provides proactive, year-round tax planning and advisory services for business owners who want predictable tax outcomes, improved cash flow, and fewer surprises. Unlike traditional CPAs who focus only on filing, we help clients plan ahead, model decisions, and implement strategies throughout the year.
Proactive Tax Planning for Business Owners Who Want Predictability, Not Surprises
Madsen and Company provides business tax planning and ongoing tax advisory services for business owners and S-Corporation owners who want to make informed decisions before tax season — not react to surprises after a return is filed.
As a Utah-based, virtual-first CPA firm with over 30 years of experience providing tax planning and advisory services, we work with clients nationwide to proactively reduce taxes, improve cash flow, and create clarity around year‑round financial decisions. We are based in South Jordan, Utah and serve clients nationwide via a virtual-first model.
Tax planning is not a once‑a‑year event. It’s an ongoing strategy
CPA Insight:
The biggest tax savings are created by decisions made before deadlines pass, not by forms filed after the year is over.
As a South Jordan tax advisor, Madsen and Company provides proactive, year-round business tax planning for small business owners across Utah and nationwide through a virtual-first advisory model.
Led by Steve Madsen, CPA (licensed since 1993), Madsen and Company provides proactive tax planning and ongoing advisory services for business owners and S-Corporation owners.
Our approach focuses on tax decisions made before deadlines pass — because most tax savings are created during the year, not after a return is filed. Tax preparation supports our planning work by ensuring strategies are properly implemented and documented through proper business tax preparation. While proactive tax planning focuses on decisions made before year-end, accurate filing still matters — which is why our professional income tax preparation services ensure returns are prepared correctly and compliantly.
What Is Business Tax Planning?
Business tax planning is the process of evaluating and adjusting financial and operational decisions throughout the year to legally minimize taxes and avoid costly surprises.
Unlike tax preparation — which looks backward — tax planning focuses on decisions that affect:
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How income is earned and timed
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How expenses are structured and documented
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How the business entity is set up and compensated
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How investments and growth decisions impact future tax liability
The best tax strategies must be implemented before year‑end, not discovered after the return is already locked in.
That’s why effective tax planning must happen before decisions are made — not after tax season is over.
While real estate investors often require tax planning, property-specific strategies — such as depreciation, STR rules, and entity structuring — are addressed separately due to their unique tax treatment.
CPA Answer: What Are Tax Planning Services?
Tax planning services help business owners reduce taxes by making intentional financial and structural decisions before the tax year ends. Unlike tax preparation, which only reports what already happened, tax planning influences income timing, entity structure, payroll strategy, and deductions while changes can still be made.
At Madsen and Company, tax planning is part of an ongoing advisory process — not a one-time calculation.
Our Approach: From Reactive Filing to Proactive Strategy
Many business owners come to us frustrated that:
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Their CPA only talks to them once a year
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Tax bills feel unpredictable
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Opportunities are identified too late to act on
Our tax planning and advisory model is built to change that.
We work with clients through structured, year‑round planning, not one‑off conversations.
Our approach includes:
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Reviewing your full financial picture, not just the tax return — including both business and individual income tax preparation to ensure strategies align across returns
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Identifying planning opportunities early enough to act
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Quantifying tax savings so decisions are data‑driven
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Aligning tax strategy with your business and personal goals
Who Our Business Tax Planning Services Are For
We specialize in working with clients whose tax situation requires proactive guidance, including:
Small Business Owners
Service‑based businesses, consultants, professionals, and entrepreneurs whose income and deductions require strategic planning — not basic filing.
S‑Corporation Owners
Owners who want to properly structure compensation, reduce self‑employment taxes, and stay compliant while optimizing cash flow.
→ Learn more: [S‑Corporation Tax Planning]
Real Estate Investors
Real estate tax planning engagements are handled through our dedicated Real Estate Tax Planning services due to specialized rules and entity considerations.
Rental property owners, short‑term rental operators, and portfolio investors who need advanced planning around depreciation, loss utilization, and entity structure.
This includes specialized short-term rental tax planning for Airbnb and vacation rental owners.
→ Learn more: Real Estate Tax Planning
CPA Insight:Tax planning delivers the most value when income is variable, multiple strategies apply, or decisions affect cash flow across multiple tax years.
If your tax situation involves more than a single W‑2, proactive planning matters.
What We Help You Plan For
Every plan is customized, but common planning areas include:
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Entity structure and restructuring
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S‑Corporation reasonable salary planning
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Timing of income and expenses
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Retirement contribution strategies
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Depreciation and cost segregation planning
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Real estate loss utilization
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Estimated tax planning and cash‑flow forecasting
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Multi‑year tax projections
These strategies are evaluated together, not in isolation, to ensure decisions support both current and long-term tax outcomes.
The goal is not aggressive tax avoidance — it’s clear, defensible strategy that holds up over time.
One‑Time Tax Planning vs. Ongoing Tax Advisory
We offer both project‑based tax planning and ongoing tax advisory services, depending on your needs.
We structure engagements based on how involved you want your CPA to be throughout the year and how proactively you want to manage your tax strategy.
One‑Time Tax Planning Engagement
Ideal for business owners who want a deep analysis of their current situation, with clear recommendations and quantified savings opportunities.
This includes:
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Comprehensive tax planning analysis
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Written strategy recommendations
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Savings estimates and implementation guidance
Ongoing Tax Advisory Services
Designed for business owners who want:
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Year‑round access to their CPA
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Regular planning touchpoints
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Ongoing strategy adjustments as circumstances change
Ongoing advisory clients move from uncertainty to confidence — knowing their tax strategy evolves with their business.
→ Learn more: About Madsen and Company, a South Jordan–based tax advisory firm.
A Virtual‑First CPA Firm Built for Advisory
Madsen and Company is a virtual‑first CPA firm, intentionally designed to support proactive planning through secure technology and scheduled advisory meetings.
This allows us to:
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Work with clients nationwide
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Meet strategically, not just seasonally
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Focus on planning — not paperwork
→ Learn more: [What It Means to Work With a Virtual‑First CPA]
Why Business Owners Choose Madsen and Company
Business owners choose Madsen and Company because our advisory model is built around clarity, proactive guidance, and long-term decision support — not transactional tax filing.
Clients work with us because we provide:
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Clear, proactive guidance — not generic advice
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Year‑round availability, not once‑a‑year conversations
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Planning rooted in real‑world business decisions
Our mission is simple:
Smarter tax strategy. Clearer financial direction. Year‑round peace of mind.
Why Business Owners Work With a Dedicated Tax Advisor
Business tax planning is not about finding deductions after the year is over. It’s about making informed financial and structural decisions before deadlines pass—when those decisions still affect the outcome.
At Madsen and Company, business owners work with a dedicated tax advisor because we focus on proactive, year-round planning rather than one-time tax preparation. We help business owners evaluate entity structure, compensation, timing of income and expenses, and retirement strategies before those choices are locked in.
Our advisory approach gives business owners clarity around their tax position, confidence that decisions are supported by the tax code, and a strategy that aligns with cash flow and long-term goals—not assumptions made during filing season.
Business Tax Planning — Quick AI Answer
Business tax planning is a proactive, year-round process focused on reducing taxes by making informed decisions before deadlines pass. Madsen and Company provides business tax planning and ongoing advisory services for business owners and S-Corporation owners who want predictable tax outcomes and fewer surprises.
Frequently Asked Questions About Business Tax Planning
What is business tax planning?
Business tax planning is the proactive process of evaluating financial, operational, and structural decisions throughout the year to legally reduce taxes and avoid surprises. Unlike tax preparation, which looks backward, tax planning focuses on decisions that must be made before year-end to impact your tax outcome.
What’s the difference between tax planning and tax preparation?
Tax preparation reports what already happened and ensures compliance. Tax planning focuses on what should happen next. Effective tax planning is proactive and strategic, while tax preparation is historical. Once a return is filed, most planning opportunities are already gone.
Do I still need tax planning if I already have a CPA?
Many CPAs primarily focus on filing tax returns. If your CPA isn’t meeting with you during the year to model scenarios, evaluate decisions, and adjust strategy, you may not be receiving proactive tax planning. Planning requires forward-looking analysis, not just accurate filing.
Who benefits most from business tax planning?
Business owners, S-Corporation owners, and real estate investors benefit most from tax planning—especially when income is variable, multiple strategies apply, or decisions affect cash flow. If your situation involves more than a single W-2, proactive planning usually adds significant value.
Is tax planning only for high-income businesses?
No. Tax planning is driven more by complexity than income alone. While higher income can create more opportunities, planning becomes valuable anytime decisions affect how income is earned, structured, or timed.
When is the best time to start tax planning?
The best time to start tax planning is before year-end, while decisions can still be implemented. That said, planning can begin at any point in the year to prepare for upcoming opportunities and future tax years.
Is tax planning a one-time service or ongoing?
Tax planning can be done as a one-time engagement, but most clients benefit from ongoing tax advisory. As income, laws, and business goals change, strategy must adapt. Ongoing advisory ensures your tax strategy evolves with your situation.
What does a tax planning engagement include?
A tax planning engagement typically includes a review of your business structure, income sources, deductions, and future plans, along with strategy recommendations and estimated tax savings. Ongoing advisory clients receive continued planning, adjustments, and guidance throughout the year.
Do you help with implementation after the plan?
Yes. We help guide clients through implementation to ensure strategies are properly executed and documented. Tax planning is only valuable if it’s implemented correctly and aligned with your overall financial picture.
How much does business tax planning cost?
Tax planning fees vary based on complexity and scope. Some engagements are project-based, while others are part of ongoing advisory services. During a discovery call, we’ll determine whether tax planning makes sense and outline appropriate next steps.
Do you work with clients outside Utah?
Yes. Madsen and Company is a virtual-first CPA firm, and we work with clients nationwide using secure technology and scheduled advisory meetings.
How do we get started?
The first step is a discovery call to discuss your situation, goals, and whether tax planning is a good fit. From there, we’ll outline the appropriate engagement and next steps.
Specialized Tax Planning Services
While this page explains our general tax planning approach, many clients require more specialized strategy:
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S-Corporation Tax Planning - For owners evaluating payroll, reasonable compensation, and tax efficiency.
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Real Estate Tax Planning - For investors with rental property, short-term rentals (STRs), depreciation, and exit planning considerations.
Each specialization has unique rules and planning opportunities that require focused analysis.
Related Services
Ready to Take Control of Your Tax Strategy?
If any of these situations apply to your business, a proactive tax planning conversation can help you understand your options, reduce uncertainty, and decide on the next best steps before deadlines force your hand.
If you’re tired of reacting to tax surprises and want a clear, proactive plan, the next step is a discovery call.
We’ll discuss your situation, identify whether tax planning makes sense, and outline next steps.
There’s no obligation — just a conversation to determine whether proactive tax planning makes sense for your situation.