Financial Operations Insights, Guides, and Tools
Transfer Pricing Basics for Life Sciences: Intercompany R&D, IP, and Cost Sharing Overview
Transfer pricing applies to multinational life sciences companies and covers cross-border transfers of goods, services, IP, patents, and trademarks, as well as R&D and manufacturing. As one of the most significant tax risks a life sciences company will face, meticulous documentation is essential, and pricing strategies must align with market conditions to ensure compliance.
Can You Deduct Biohacking Devices as a Business Expense? What the IRS Looks For
Biohacking is a growing segment in the longevity industry, and one that clinics tend to invest heavily in. New tools and technologies are entering the market at a rapid pace, and many clinics waste no time jumping on the next new trend. In this industry, differentiation is the name of the game, and providing what clients are looking for adds massive value to the bottom line.
QSBS for Life Sciences Founders: Section 1202 Basics and Pitfalls
The decision to structure as a C-corporation (C-corp) is common in the biotech sector, especially for firms seeking venture capital funding. VCs favor C-corporations because the structure protects them and provides various tax benefits, including the Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) exclusion under Section 1202 of the federal tax code.
Pass-Through vs. C-Corp for Biotech Startups: Tax Pros, Cons, and Investor Expectations
Biotech firms face unique challenges, especially at the startup stage. Heavily reliant on investment, it’s critical to choose the right corporate and tax structure from the outset, as making changes later on can be costly and complicated, and may impact your ability to attract investment and grant funding.
R&D Credit vs. Section 174: How They Work Together in Life Sciences
Life sciences companies, especially pre-revenue startups, are inordinately impacted by taxation. On the one hand, the R&D credit provides significant tax relief, covering up to 25% of qualified expenses; on the other hand, Section 174 requires some costs to be amortized over a period of years.
Section 174 Domestic R&E Expensing in 2025: What’s Changed and How You Can Benefit
Section 174 reform under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) was a major turning point for companies heavily invested in R&E. As of the 2025 tax year, R&E expenses can be claimed immediately rather than being capitalized and amortized over several years.
Startup Accounting for Biotech Companies: What to Set Up in the First 90 Days
The first 90 days of any startup are the most critical. The decisions you make at this early stage can streamline engagement with investors and regulators, allowing you to focus on your mission without diverting unnecessary time and resources to accounting.
Life Sciences Tax Planning: A CPA Guide for Biotech, MedTech, and Pharma
The life sciences, biotech, MedTech, and pharmaceutical industries are among the most highly regulated industries. Companies in this niche contend with heavy compliance burdens, rapid-fire regulatory changes, and must always be ready for an audit or enforcement, often without advance notice.
How to Choose an Entity for a Longevity Clinic (LLC vs S-Corp vs C-Corp)
Launching a startup can be complex! You want to set your business up for long-term success, but sometimes it’s hard to envision what things will look like in the years to come. One of the most critical decisions you’ll make is choosing the right legal structure for your business. Your choice here has far-reaching implications for the company’s future, fundraising, taxes, and growth strategy.
How Multi-License Cannabis Operators Can Simplify Tax and Entity Management
Cannabis is one of the most regulated and complex industries in the United States. No matter what entity structure you choose, tax compliance coupled with federal and state regulatory hurdles will keep you on your toes!
Tax Planning for Longevity Businesses: A CPA’s Checklist for Owners
Longevity businesses are a diverse and growing niche that straddles multiple industries, including healthcare, technology, and research. It includes biotech startups, supplement brands, wellness clinics, medspas, digital health platforms, and personalized healthcare, and as such, each requires a tailored approach to accounting and taxation.
Pass-Through Entities in the Cannabis Industry: Structure Smart, Stay Compliant, and Save on Taxes
Structuring a cannabis business as a pass-through entity is—at least on the surface—an excellent way to reduce the tax burden for cannabis businesses. When a company is structured this way, it is not subject to federal income tax as the tax burden is passed on to the owners, who report the income on their personal returns and pay the applicable taxes, avoiding double taxation.
What a Sample Cost Segregation Report Looks Like—and Why It Could Save Your Cannabis Business Thousands
Cannabis businesses are constantly challenged by federal and state tax laws that limit business deductions and over-inflate taxable revenue. Cost segregation is a tax-planning strategy that enables any cannabis business that has purchased new real property or has expanded or remodeled existing real estate to reduce taxes, increase cash flow, and accelerate depreciation, effectively deferring federal and state taxes payable.
Section 174 for Life Sciences: How to Treat R&E Costs and Plan for Cash Taxes
We must understand that Section 174 is a cash tax issue, not just a compliance change. Clinical costs are often more exposed than you might think, and foreign research activity can dramatically increase taxable income and inflate liabilities.
280E vs. Your Bottom Line: How to Minimize the Damage Legally
Every cannabis operator knows only too intimately the woes of IRC 280E. This tax rule prohibits legitimate cannabis businesses from deducting normal and customary business expenses like rent, utilities, payroll, marketing, and office equipment, or any business expense, unless it can be attributed to the cost of goods sold (COGS).
Choosing the Right Business Structure: A New York CPA’s Guide for Cannabis Entrepreneurs
The cannabis industry in New York is both challenging and rewarding. Startup costs can be high, but choosing the proper business structure strategically can be the key to maximizing profitability, reducing your tax burden, and streamlining operations. In this guide, we’ll explore what cannabis entrepreneurs and their financial teams need to know about structuring a business for success in New York State.
Unlocking Potential with 280E Assets for Cannabis Business Exits
While cannabis companies may be restricted in many ways, leveraging certain assets can help to recover costs and potentially reduce tax liability.
ESOP for Cannabis: A Hot Exit Strategy with Misleading Tax Claims
A few of my clients have mentioned receiving emails about Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) for cannabis companies, touting it as a strategy to pay no federal or state taxes. This statement is hugely misleading as you can’t avoid tax—it can only be deferred, meaning you’ll have to pay eventually. That being said, ESOP is an excellent exit strategy… with a few caveats.