Financial Operations Insights, Guides, and Tools
ASC 740 for Cannabis Operators: What You Need to Know About Income Tax Accounting (and How to Avoid Costly Surprises)
Cannabis tax accounting is a complicated business; there’s no question about it. Part and parcel of this undertaking is adherence to ASC 740, which ensures that companies report their taxes accurately and in accordance with the relevant standards.
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.
Internal Controls for Life Sciences Startups: The “Pre-Audit” Checklist
Life sciences startups are typically not laser-focused on anything beyond innovation and their current projects, and finding the funding they need to keep it all going. However, without proper internal controls and SOPs, compliance and regulatory approvals may be challenging.
The Benefits of Fractional Bookkeeping Services for Cannabis Companies
Despite all signs that point to a booming cannabis industry, operators are constantly challenged to stay profitable in this highly regulated environment. Margins are tight, and meticulous accounting and tax planning are essential to ensure compliance, maximize deductions, and minimize the tax burden.
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.
High-Level Guidance: How Cannabis Business Coaching Can Elevate Your Operation and Your Profits
If you are thinking about launching a cannabis business—or looking for ways to improve your current operations—cannabis business coaching can help you in many ways. Coaching delivers niche expertise and insight into what makes a cannabusiness profitable, helping you develop the mindset and best practices you need to succeed.
Clinical Trial Accruals: How Finance Teams Avoid Quarter-End Surprises
Clinical trials are complex endeavors, often spanning years and rarely aligning with a company’s accounting periods. And therein lies the challenge: how do finance teams accurately track trial accrual and avoid nasty surprises when closing out the quarter? When the numbers don’t line up, there is a distinct ripple effect in financial statements, and investors and decision-makers will undoubtedly feel the consequences.
Dispensary Bookkeeping Done Right: Stay Compliant, Maximize Deductions, and Know Your Numbers
The cannabis business may be booming, but profits are always tight—thanks in no small part to the rigors of IRC 280E. Despite cannabis’s legal status in almost every state, it is still classified as an illegal substance, meaning that cannabis companies can’t deduct “normal” business expenses, like payroll, security, and marketing—virtually any expense that can’t be attributed to cost of goods sold (COGS).
Tax Accounting for Cannabis Businesses: Navigate 280E, Maximize Deductions, and Stay Audit-Ready
The cannabis industry is booming, but success does not happen without considerable sacrifice. Proper tax accounting practices are essential to ensure you maximize allowable deductions under IRC 280E and have audit-ready books.
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).
Bookkeeping Mistakes That Cost NJ Dispensaries Thousands
Cannabis operators in New Jersey are enjoying rapid growth at the moment. But when business is good, it’s easy to let day-to-day processes, like bookkeeping, get pushed to the back burner. And that would be a massive mistake.
Cannabis Accounting 101: How to Stay Compliant, Reduce Risk, and Maximize Profits
Cannabis operators are challenged at every turn. Regulatory and tax compliance are essential to business continuity, but stringent requirements often come at a cost. Considering the limitations placed upon the industry by IRC 280E, which prevents cannabis businesses from deducting even the most basic business expenses at the federal level, margins are tight (a gross understatement). To ensure success in this challenging environment, operators must apply diligence with their accounting to stay compliant, minimize risk, and maximize profits.
A Local Guide to Southern California Cannabis Taxes: What LA, San Diego, and Riverside Dispensaries Need to Know
Cannabis dispensaries in Southern California have unique tax concerns. In addition to federal taxes and the onerous burdens of IRC 280E, they must maintain separate accounting for state taxes to maximize deductions, while adhering to local cannabis tax legislation that varies significantly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Today, we’ll discuss California cannabis taxes, with a particular focus on Los Angeles, San Diego, and Riverside dispensaries, and how local retail taxes can impact their accounting.
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.
What Investors Want to See in Your Cannabis Financials
Raising capital in the cannabis industry isn’t just about a good pitch deck and solid vibes. Investors are digging into your financials, and they’re bringing sharp pencils. Whether you're prepping for a seed round, Series A, or strategic partnership, your financial readiness is what builds trust and opens wallets.
How to Prepare for a CDTFA Audit: Tips for SoCal Cannabis Retailers
The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) oversees state-level taxation, licensing, reporting, and compliance for California cannabis businesses. Since cannabis companies are under extreme scrutiny at the best of times, it pays to keep your books in order, file and pay your taxes on time, and ensure your business licenses are up to date to avoid issues if and when an audit comes your way.
Cannabis Bookkeeping for SoCal Dispensaries: Avoid Common Mistakes That Trigger Audits
Cannabis dispensaries in Southern California face numerous challenges. Although running a business can be profitable, state, local, and federal regulations create an incredibly complex landscape. Adding to that, you’re operating in a saturated and highly competitive market, where banking options are limited and costly, and just about every aspect of the business is high risk. The last thing you need is an IRS audit.
The Budget Process: A Step-by-Step Guide for Marijuana Businesses
Budgeting is critical to business success – perhaps even more so in the cannabis industry as operators grapple with tight margins, regulation, and stringent taxation. Budgeting enables better decision-making and helps business owners establish and track progress toward financial goals. Suffice it to say that with a firm grip on your budget, you’ll be on the road to financial stability in no time.
Budgeting vs. Forecasting: What is the Difference?
Budgets and forecasts are integral to efficient business financial planning. Each process supports decision-making, helping you plan for the future and align strategy to business goals.