As we move through 2025, construction businesses are navigating a mix of challenges and fresh opportunities. A steady economic rebound, higher levels of government investment, and rising demand for infrastructure, housing, and commercial development are driving growth...
MKR Blog
Tax Pitfalls of Venmo, PayPal, and CashApp: What the IRS Wants You to Know in 2025
If you use Venmo, PayPal, or CashApp to accept payments for freelance work, side gigs, or online sales, you’ll want to pay close attention to this year’s tax changes. New tax rules are making it harder to fly under the radar, even if you only earn a few thousand...
SBA Launches New Initiative to Accelerate Small Business Growth and Revitalize U.S. Manufacturing
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has introduced a new program as part of its 'Made in America' initiative to boost domestic manufacturing and help small businesses expand. The initiative focuses on two critical areas: cutting regulatory red tape and...
Professional Services Trends 2025: How AI and Automation Are Driving Profitability and Growth
The professional services industry is undergoing a significant transformation in 2025, driven by rapid advancements in AI and automation. As firms seek greater efficiency, enhanced decision-making, and improved client service, AI-powered solutions are reshaping how...
Missed Quarterly Tax Payments? How to Avoid Penalties and Fix Your Situation Now
If you're self-employed or earn income without tax withholding, you’re likely required to pay quarterly estimated taxes. Missing these payments can result in penalties and interest charges from the IRS, but don’t panic—you have options to correct the situation and...
Proven Strategies to Set Your Small Business Up for Success in 2025
Running a small business in 2025 presents both challenges and opportunities. To stay ahead of the competition, you must adopt a proactive approach to planning and execution. By focusing on the following strategies, you can set your business up for success this year...
Proven Strategies to Help Small Businesses Looking to Grow
For small businesses, growth is both a challenge and an opportunity. To navigate this journey successfully, entrepreneurs should rely on practical strategies that ensure sustainable growth. Here are some proven approaches to help your small business thrive. Control...
How Trump’s Return to the White House Could Impact Small Businesses
As the United States prepares for a second Trump presidency, small business owners are paying close attention to the policies that could shape their future. Trump’s economic priorities, including tax reform and deregulation, will echo those from his first term. Here’s...
New SBA Rule: How Small Businesses Can Refinance Debt and Improve Cash Flow
The Small Business Administration (SBA) recently announced significant changes to its 504 Loan Program. This program has traditionally been a vital resource for small businesses seeking long-term, fixed-rate financing, and earlier this month, the SBA introduced a rule...
This Valuable Tax Break for Businesses is Set to Expire Soon. Here’s What to Know.
A crucial tax benefit for businesses is on the verge of expiring. The Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction, a significant component of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), is set to end on December 31, 2025. Read on as we go over how this deduction works and how its impending expiration could affect small businesses.
Construction Outlook 2026: Key Risks and Growth Opportunities for Business Owners
The construction industry enters 2026 facing both persistent headwinds and emerging opportunities. Rising material costs, ongoing labor shortages, and policy uncertainty continue to challenge business owners. But at the same time, there’s an undercurrent of guarded...
What Small Business Owners Need To Focus on To Increase the Value of Their Business
When it comes to increasing the value of a small business, focusing on top-line growth won’t give you the whole picture. Revenue alone doesn’t always equal value, and a bigger business isn’t always a better one. If your long-term goal is to build a valuable business...
How Tariffs Are Affecting Construction Costs
The Trump administration enacted new tariffs on lumber and kitchen cabinets, adding pressure to construction budgets. The tariffs apply a 10% duty on softwood lumber and a 25% levy on imported kitchen cabinets. By 2026, the cabinet tariff is set to double to 50%. As a...
More Americans Are Tapping 401(k)s for emergencies. Here’s When a Hardship Withdrawal Is and Isn’t a Smart Move
More Americans are turning to a 401(k) hardship withdrawal to cover urgent and unexpected expenses. By the end of 2024, about 5% of employees had taken a hardship withdrawal from their 401(k) accounts. That’s more than double the 2% who did so in 2018. With inflation,...
How the Government Shutdown Affected Small Businesses
When the federal government shuts down, businesses across the nation feel the effects, especially for those that rely on federal programs, work directly with federal agencies, or operate near government properties. This article explains how government shutdowns affect...
How to Grow Your Money When Savings and CD Rates Drop After Rate Cuts
When the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates, it’s good news for borrowers and consumers, but not so much for savers. The Fed’s recent quarter-point rate cut is a reminder that the annual percentage yields (APYs) on savings accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs)...
Trump’s Pfizer Deal Signals Relief for Drugmakers Facing Tariff Threats
A recent deal between the Trump administration and Pfizer is signaling hope to the pharmaceutical industry. Under Trump's Pfizer deal, Pfizer gets an exemption from pharmaceutical-specific tariffs if the company invests in domestic manufacturing. This key deal is...
Tax Changes Under the One Big Beautiful Bill: Nontaxable Income, Gift Limits, and Overtime Deductions
President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) introduced several tax changes designed to boost take-home pay and simplify the tax code. Some major adjustments include nontaxable income, gift limits, estate tax exemption, and overtime deductions. Here’s a look at...
Smart Business Strategies to Prepare for Economic Downturns
Economies always run in cycles, which means that, at some point, inevitably, there will be a downturn. And the best time to prepare for an economic downturn is before things start to take a tumble. In this article, we’ll go over strategies you can use to keep your...
Succession Planning for Professional Services Practices: Preparing to Sell, Merge, or Pass the Firm to the Next Generation
What happens when it’s time to step back from running your professional services firm? Is there a clear path for the future of your business? In this article, we’ll go over how to create a solid succession plan, whether you’re looking to sell, merge, or pass the firm...