Going Out on Your Own: Entity Types and Accounting Methods

Overview

You could pay $0 for this course!

Starting a business is tough! There are lots of decisions to be made and things to think about. You may feel like you have a great idea. You have done your marketing research, developed a prototype, and even looked at locations for your new office. Then it dawns on you.. What type of entity do I need to be? Is there really an advantage to choosing one entity type over the other? In this class, we will dig into the differences between entity types - from taxes to liability. We will also look at the advantages and disadvantages of different methods of accounting. Whether you are a small business owner looking to start something new or a practitioner looking to expand your client advisory services, this course is the one for you!

This course qualifies for reimbursement through the state’s Workforce Training Express Fund. Firms/companies with fewer than 50 staff can be reimbursed up to 100% of the cost of training and firms/companies with 50-100 employees can be reimbursed up to 50% of the cost of training. You must register for the course and apply for reimbursement through the Workforce Training Express Fund website a minimum of three weeks prior to the start of the course. The course code for this program is C-12957. To learn more, click here or contact Julia Ekelund at jekelund@masscpas.org.

Highlights

Financial planning pyramid What to consider when picking an entity Single member LLC vs. sole proprietorship Corporations - S vs. C Double taxation

Prerequisites

None

Designed For

Small business owners, CPAs, and financial advisors who want to understand the advantages and disadvantages of different entity types and accounting methods

Objectives

Identify differences in how business entity types are taxed for income tax purposes Recognize how personal financial planning for a business owner is related to financial planning for a flow-through entity business Identify how S-Corporations are taxed for self-employment tax purposes Recognize double-taxation and when it applies Identify when a transaction should be recorded on the accounting records under the cash method Recognize when income is recognized and an expense must be accrued on the accounting records under the accrual method Identify what account should not appear on the financial records if the accrual method is being used

Preparation

None