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12 Apr

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If you’re a contractor who’s always working but never feels paid, this is for you.

Posted by Janet Mercer

April 12, 2026

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Jobs are coming in. Crews are busy.Yet somehow:• Payroll is stressful• Taxes are a scramble• You pay yourself last — again That’s not a work ethic problem.It’s a cash flow system p

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12 Apr

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For contractors, retirement planning isn’t about age.It’s about tax control.

Posted by Janet Mercer

April 12, 2026

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Every extra dollar you earn can lose 35–45% to taxes without planning. The right retirement structure can dramatically reduce that—now, not decades from now. Basic plans help a lit

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12 Apr

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Many contractors overpay taxes simply because they don’t understand timing.

Posted by Janet Mercer

April 12, 2026

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Cash vs accrual accounting isn’t about complexity—it’s about when income and expenses hit your tax return. Under cash accounting, you’re taxed when money is received.Under accrual,

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12 Apr

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If your construction business makes money but never has cash, more sales won’t fix it.

Posted by Janet Mercer

April 12, 2026

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That’s the trap. As revenue grows, expenses grow faster—crews, equipment, overhead, and payroll all expand to match income. Profit gets treated like leftovers, and in construction,

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12 Apr

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An IRS audit isn’t about whether you’re a good person.It’s about whether your numbers look believable.

Posted by Janet Mercer

April 12, 2026

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Contractors face higher audit risk because deductions are larger, records are messier, and cash flow moves fast. Even legitimate expenses can become problems if documentation is we

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12 Apr

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Most contractors don’t get in trouble with the IRS because they’re dishonest.They get in trouble because they guess.

Posted by Janet Mercer

April 12, 2026

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If you’re running a construction business, no one is withholding taxes for you. That means the IRS expects you to pay as you earn—quarterly. Miss those payments and you don’t just

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12 Apr

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🚧 Contractors: The “inventory rule” can actually SAVE you taxes (when you use it right).

Posted by Janet Mercer

April 12, 2026

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If you’re buying materials in bulk — lumber, wire, pipe, fixtures, flooring, cabinets, roofing — you might be sitting on a big tax opportunity. Here’s the key: Inventory isn’t an e

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12 Apr

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🚧 Contractors: Stop getting smoked by quarterly tax penalties.

Posted by Janet Mercer

April 12, 2026

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If you’ve ever hit April and thought…“Wait… I owe HOW much?!”or“Why did the IRS penalize me when I paid my taxes?!” Here’s the truth: as a contractor, nobody is withholding taxes f

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12 Apr

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🚧 Contractors with a C-Corp: Stop putting your truck & equipment inside the company.

Posted by Janet Mercer

April 12, 2026

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Here’s a strategy more contractors should know (and do correctly): Personally own the asset… and lease it to your corporation. That can include:✔️ work truck✔️ trailer✔️ skid steer

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12 Apr

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🚧 Contractors: If your bookkeeping is a mess, your profits are too.

Posted by Janet Mercer

April 12, 2026

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You can build anything…but if your numbers aren’t tracked, your business will bleed money and you won’t even know where it’s going. Contractor finances get messy FAST: ✔️ deposits

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12 Apr

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🚧 Contractors: Should You Have an LLC? (The Real Answer)

Posted by Janet Mercer

April 12, 2026

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If you’re a construction contractor still operating under your personal name… or worse… as a “side hustle” with no business structure… You’re playing financial Russian roulette. Be

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12 Apr

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📌 Contractors: The “One Source of Truth” Fix That Stops Chaos Before It Starts

Posted by Janet Mercer

April 12, 2026

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If you’re running jobs off:📲 texts🗒️ notebooks📌 sticky notes📁 random photos🧾 scattered paperwork …it might feel manageable… Until it’s not. Because the real problem isn’t effort —

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12 Apr

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Contractors: The S-Corp “Loss Write-Off” Advantage Nobody Explains Simply

Posted by Janet Mercer

April 12, 2026

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Most contractors think S-Corps are only about:💰 “Saving self-employment tax.” But here’s a different benefit that can matter a LOT—especially in early years or big equipment years:

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12 Apr

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🟣Contractors: S-Corp “Reasonable Salary” Can Make or Break Your Tax Savings

Posted by Janet Mercer

April 12, 2026

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Everyone wants an S-Corp for one reason: 🟣to reduce self-employment tax But here’s the part contractors mess up: 🟣You can’t just pay yourself $20K and call the rest “distributions.

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12 Apr

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🚧 Top 10 Tax Deductions Every Construction Contractor Should Be Taking (Keep more of what you earn 💰)

Posted by Janet Mercer

April 12, 2026

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Most contractors don’t overpay taxes because they make too much…They overpay because they miss deductions they’re legally allowed to claim. Here are 10 big ones to double-check in

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12 Apr

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If you spend $𝟯𝟬𝟬 on a holiday gift basket for a referral partner…

Posted by Janet Mercer

April 12, 2026

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The IRS says you can deduct… ✔ $𝟮𝟱. Not $250. Not “most of it.” 𝗧𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘆-𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀. 😑 And believe it or not, this threshold has been in effect and unadjusted for inflation since 1

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Most contractors don’t realize this, but you’re uniquely positioned to dominate the BRRRR strategy.

Posted by Janet Mercer

April 12, 2026

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BRRRR = Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, RepeatAnd if you’re in construction, you already control the hardest part: the rehab. Here’s why contractors have a built-in edge 👇 🔨 BUYYou se

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12 Apr

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🚧 Contractors: Your Truck Might Be Creating a Hidden Tax Write-Off (or Tax Bill) 🚧

Posted by Janet Mercer

April 12, 2026

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If your company reimburses you (or your employees) for business mileage, read this carefully. Most contractors assume: “I get reimbursed for mileage, so the vehicle is personal and

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12 Apr

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🚧 Contractors: Three Quiet IRS Changes That Can Affect Your Cash Flow in 2026 🚧

Posted by Janet Mercer

April 12, 2026

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The IRS just finalized rules tied to SECURE 2.0, and while they sound “retirement-focused,” they matter more to construction business owners than you might think. Here’s what to kn

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12 Apr

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If you own a construction company, you’ve probably put personal money into the company at some point. Payroll was due, materials needed to be purchased, or a client payment was delayed.

Posted by Janet Mercer

April 12, 2026

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What many owners overlook is that how you structure that money matters. An owner loan and a capital contribution are very different, and each comes with distinct advantages and tra

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12 Apr

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🚧 When Construction Deals Fail: The Tax Fallout

Posted by Janet Mercer

April 12, 2026

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Contractors often spend real money trying to buy:• Another construction company• A specialty trade shop• A competitor with crews & equipment When the deal dies, the big question is

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12 Apr

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🦺 Work Clothes & Tax Deductions for Contractors

Posted by Janet Mercer

April 12, 2026

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Quick IRS rule:👉 Work clothes are not deductible unless they’re not suitable for everyday wear. ❌ Not deductible:Jeans, hoodies, T-shirts, flannels, Carhartt jackets, everyday boot

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12 Apr

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1031 Exchanges for Contractors & Builders

Posted by Janet Mercer

April 12, 2026

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If you’re a contractor or builder selling real estate and paying capital gains tax, there’s a good chance you’re overpaying. A 1031 exchange lets you sell investment or business pr

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12 Apr

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Construction Contractors: Stop Drowning in Travel Receipts

Posted by Janet Mercer

April 12, 2026

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If you run a construction company, you already know the pain:🚧 Crews on the road🏨 Hotels, meals, incidentals🧾 Lost receipts and messy expense reports There’s an IRS-approved shortc

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12 Apr

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If you’re a home builder, real estate developer, or manufactured home producer, there’s a powerful federal tax credit which will be expiring soon.

Posted by Janet Mercer

April 12, 2026

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The Energy Efficient Home Builder Credit (IRC §45L), a federal tax credit worth up to $5,000 per home or apartment unit. With passage of the OBBBA, this credit expires for homes ac

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