What seems true, now, is that when the COVID-19 threats have subsided, the ways of life we knew and counted on before the pandemic will not be returning to us in precisely the same ways. We are at the beginning of a new era, and it can still be hard to imagine. In short, this departure from old ways of doing things is not "temporary."

The end of the year is always a busy time for business owners. I tell my clients that tax planning is one of the most important activities to schedule in the last quarter of the year. I know, there are so many competing interests, but there are important business duties that can ensure a successful year when the calendar flips over. Solid year-end tax planning helps you know where you stand in 2019 and how to prepare for 2020.

I help many small businesses with tax planning and filing. Many new entrepreneurs have to decide between an LLC (limited liability company) and a sole proprietorship. The truth is that, although the selection of a business entity is an essential decision, there isn’t one single answer to the question of LLC vs. sole proprietor. The implications for liability and tax status are two of the issues to consider.