In the season finale of the Fish Food podcast, we're wrapping things up with a recap of the last 12 episodes plus a special call-to-action for our listeners and supporters as we start creating brand new episodes for you to dive into this Fall!   Brought to you by: @switchandboard

 

As small business owners let's keep it real — when you have unique ideas that seem crazy to the outside world, entrepreneur life can feel lonely and isolating.   Our next guest has set out to eliminate this by building a community of creators and entrepreneurs in the DMV who come together to connect and share resources with each other!   We think she's created the blueprint for how small business owners can work together as a collective, so dive into this episode, featuring Takia Keys of Creative Lab DC and learn about:  

• The most common mistakes creatives make when starting a business.
• Why it's important to realize that no one can take care of your passion like you can.
• Why you need good people around you to help you think critically about your ideas and next steps.

  If you are a business owner at any stage, you'll definitely want to take a listen. After you do, tell me what you think!   Brought to you by: @switchandboard

So you've just found out that your hobby can actually make you extra money — congrats! Now, how do you know when it transitions from being a hobby to a full-blown business?   In this week's episode, we're breaking it down for you so  you can find out:   The difference between hobby and business income. How the IRS determines if you're running a hobby or a business. How deductions and expense tracking work for each income type. Whether you're a blogger, painter, or simply love creating handmade goods for friends and family, this episode is for you! 

So you've heard that registering as an LLC makes your business official but what does it really mean? How does it impact your business tax-wise and what are the advantages of choosing this entity for your small business? In this week's episode, we're pulling from the Little Fish community to dive into one of the most highly-requested topics and will break down the basics like: -How to start an LLC in your state. -What tax preparation looks like as an LLC. -The advantages of an LLC over other entities.  

As an entrepreneur, running a financially healthy business is the goal, so part of achieving this lies within making sure that you aren't underreporting income or overstating deductions and have the evidence to back it up if the IRS comes calling! In this episode, we're making sure you're covered by diving into: • Why you should track income and deductions as you go. • Why you should save all supporting documents. • How to keep all of your records both digitally and manually. • How to properly prepare estimates when records aren't available

When presenting your business to the world and showing up competitively in today's market — eye-catching, high-quality imagery is a must! That's why partnering with a dynamic, visual creative like our next guest who specializes in photography and styling for beauty, wellness, and lifestyle brands, will help you elevate your narrative and stand out from the crowd. In this episode, featuring Tamera Darden of Darden Creative, we're diving into: • Why you should never put the cost of service above quality and consistency. • Why there's nothing wrong with doing something DYI-style until you can invest in a quality service provider. • How taking risks can do wonders for your confidence as a small business owner.

If you are a business owner at any stage, you'll definitely want to take a listen. After you do, tell me what you think! Brought to you by @switchandboard Books Big Magic - Elizabeth Gilbert You are a Badass - Jen Sincero You are a Badass at Making Money - Jen Sincero Big Idea Food  - Marlena Banks Purpose Driven Life - Rick Warren Girl, Stop Apologizing - Rachel Hollis Girl, Wash Your Face - Rachel Hollis Photography Inspo @WhatShe Pictures - www.instagram.com/whatshepictures/ Photography Business Mastermind dardencreative.com/photography-business-mastermind

The Fish Food podcast is curated each week with small businesses in mind so this time, we're pulling from the Little Fish community to dive into one of the most highly-suggested topics — retirement! From business newbies and solopreneurs to established businesses with teams ranging from 2-100, we've covered everything you need to know about account types, contribution limits, deadlines and more! Notes are highly suggested, so grab a pen and paper and dive in below!  

It's a scary prospect - your taxes are signed, sealed, and delivered and you think you're good to go. But then… a letter arrives. How do you handle communications from the IRS after your tax return has been filed. On this episode, we talk through why it might not be as bad as you think, how to gather the information necessary to resolve the request, and how to take care of any remaining tax or penalties due after you have responded to the assessment. If you've ever received a request from the IRS based on a tax return filing and wondered what to do next, this one is for you.

If tax season seems to sneak up on you and even thinking about the tax process leaves you frustrated, confused, or having daydreams about fleeing the country -- you'll want to dive into this week's episode where I break down some simple steps you can take throughout the year to make your next tax date considerably less stressful!   In this week's episode, we're diving into:

• What financial terms like estimated taxes, tax deductions, and penalties really are and what they mean for you throughout the year.
• What percentage of your profit you should be saving for federal and state taxes.
• The three things to stay on top of year around to ensure a seamless tax season & so much more!

  Estimated Federal Payments: www.irs.gov/payments Estimated State Payments: google "your state" + "office of tax & revenue" or "estimated tax payments"  

In this episode, featuring Michelle Burgess of Burgess Law LLC, we're diving into:

• The areas you should focus on legal-wise as a creative,
• The pros and cons of using online contract builders.
• Why you should absolutely have second eyes when filing a trademark and so much more!

     

It's one of the most often questions asked from small business owners: what taxes do I owe and when? Take a few minutes to listen to tax basics for entrepreneurs, including discussion of the proper forms, common deductions, and when to include income and expenses.