???
From The Entrepreneurial Mind...So let's recap. The IRS code, which is now over 60,000 pages long and growing every day, is so complex that it costs small business owners thousands of dollars per employee to try and comply. And even though it is so complex that even experts within the IRS cannot give consistent answers to tax questions, we are now paying more taxes to help the IRS increase their enforcement to collect these taxes. And because it is so complex, they had to make rules to assure that rich people could no longer use these rules (created in large part by the IRS and its supporters in the tax industry) to not pay taxes. But now those same rules are really increasing the tax obligation of millions of middle class taxpayers who are just trying to take simple and common legal deductions, such as really high state income taxes and deductions for dependents. And we elected a President and Congress from a party that talks about cutting and simplifying taxes, but when given the opportunity to finally fix this crazy mess, they pass a "simplification" bill that will actually increase the complexity of the system.Say what? I do not write much on taxes, legals, etc (at least not yet) and I am thinking I may not be ready to do so. It seems that the government is going to try and take control of all things good -- including small business -- and that they will do everything they can to make it seem that they are doing something good...make sense? We have touched a few times on legal stuff and there will be a few things that we come up in the next few weeks (as Conversations, Inc - the corporation under which Cafe Evoke resides, enters tax time, etc) but for now, it seems we have much more to worry about. I am trying to learn as much as possible about how to deal with taxes, the government, and the legals. I do not really think I can learn anywhere near what it will take to run this business from books or the net but I will do my best and learn quickly as I go. ~~be bold |
...a thought by Cafe Evoke Coffee Catering at 12/15/2005 07:40:00 PM
Comments on "???"
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Koffee Gypsy said ... (12/17/2005 07:42:00 AM) :
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Palm boy said ... (12/17/2005 09:17:00 AM) :
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Jason Duncan said ... (12/17/2005 04:17:00 PM) :
post a commentI own Steam'n Koffee here in Council Bluffs, Iowa -
After 3 years of doing everything by the books I have become discouraged. Between state - local - and IRS it seems so unfair to us...the little guys...Small Business Owners...we lack in opportunities to survive where the Corporate slide in with fringe benefits. In this era it is tougher to be a Small Business owner.
We don't get much in terms of breaks for bringing a business to the community. There's no corporate incentives/benefits for us such as: State Taxes, local utilities - etc. Heck some even get the land and building supplies offered. Does anyone offer us a break in a strip mall, give us land if we come - or say "here have some tables, chairs, and a few fridges for bringing your business to town? We also pay more for our supplies because we can't order in such "bulk" amounts - oh I suppose there are lots of things you just come to accept and deal with as time goes by. The large corporation chains and businesses really have it made when it comes to getting breaks. We may not bring as many job opportunities but we are often providing something a community needs, it shouldn't be so "narrow". Little guys should get some deals too.
We pay more for our supplies because we are unable to buy such mass quantities like corporate. I have been in business now for practically 3 years and I dread the quarterly tax packet I get from my accountant still :-)
It is hard to overcome some of the depressing expenses, expectations, and struggles we can endure - However here the Small Business community works together to try and cut costs in other departments like advertising :-) We have to pull together sometimes to survive!
Michelle - Owner - Steam'n Koffee
Hey,
all that sounds complicated. Would you be in favor of a flat tax on income?
Michelle,
Thank you for reading A Thought Over Coffee and for taking the time to share your thoughts! I very much understand what you are going through -- although we have not been so lucky as to open our doors yet. You make some very good points about the buying power of small businesses when compared to that of the large corporations.
There are many small business networks that have been created to help combat this problem. one of which is Indie Cafe Alliance which you can join for free. This group of cafe owners go together to buy everything from small wares to espresso machines. You can by at a smaller quatity (what small businesses need) at the price of a large corporation.
I also agree with your points about the help we get from our local governments. There is not much motivating factors that want to bring small business to many communites except that of the entrepreneur. What can we do to change this?
We are pushing the idea of buying local, supporting local, living local (as you mentioned). The best thing we can do as small businesses is to work together -- cross marketing, forming advertising networks, creating synergy.
Thank you again for reading and I hope you continue to come back. I check out your site and it looks like you are doing great things with Steam'n Koffee.