January 31, 2019
Gaming Companies Need Strategic Options in a Shifting Market
The gaming industry is undergoing seismic shifts that are disrupting existing business models. To succeed in this fast-changing environment, companies need to be able to recognize their challenges and evaluate their strategic options objectively. The Fortnite Effect One main disruptor is the explosive success of the game Fortnite, which is transforming the industry with, among …
January 30, 2019
What the New Section 83(i) Guidance Means for Your Company
In December 2018, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued new guidance under Notice 2018-97 to clarify some of the provisions of Code Section 83(i). Based on companies’ current practices, we believe that the new guidance will make more companies “ineligible corporations,” which may be a relief more than anything else. Background Passed as part of …
January 15, 2019
Year-End Accounting, Planning and Preparation
It’s that time of the year where you need to close out your year-end processes and plan for the new year. There are a lot of moving pieces, so to help keep you on track, here are 6 topics we recommend keeping in mind: 1. Due Dates According to our experts, these 5 key dates …
January 7, 2019
How to Hire Your First Employee
I’m not gonna lie: Hiring your first employee takes a lot of paperwork. But that paperwork, as much as it pains you, is worth doing. You risk big fines if you misclassify an employee as a freelancer/contractor, for example, or pay someone under the table. So what does hiring require? There are two main things …
November 26, 2018
3921 and 3922 Statements
It’s that time of year again to start thinking about tax reporting for CY 2018. If you have issued Incentive Stock Options (ISOs) to employees and/or have an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), your company will need to prepare 3921 and 3922 statements and related filings under Section 6039. For ISOs, you need to file …
October 26, 2018
Paying Overtime: Face the Facts
Overtime is perhaps the most misunderstood area of payroll statutes, simply because it’s not as straightforward as a rational person would assume. The requirements are, to any sane business owner, seemingly insane. Noncompliance can cost you. And just because you’re a cool, casual and flexible boss doesn’t mean you’re not at risk. Here are some …
October 9, 2018
Ways to Keep Employees From Jumping Ship in a Hot Job Market
The August unemployment rate was 3.9%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and job creation continues to thrive. There are more job openings than employers can find workers to fill them. So if your employees hadn’t previously been thinking of leaving their positions for another job, they might be now. Even if they are …
October 7, 2018
Best Practices for Background Checks
Hiring new personnel is a critically important job in any business or organization, and screening job candidates has become an increasingly significant step in the hiring process. As an employer, you should use employment background checks to your best advantage and take steps to avoid putting yourself at risk, particularly when it comes to an …
October 3, 2018
State and City Paid Sick Leave Laws for 2018
Ever since San Francisco led the charge in 2007, many states and cities have followed suit to mandate paid sick leave for employees working within those jurisdictions. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act does not require employers to provide paid time off benefits, but as states and cities pass their own laws and ordinances, keeping …
September 25, 2018
Why You Really Shouldn’t Pay “Under the Table”
Thinking of paying someone cash or wages off the books? Just don’t. For starters, you can’t take the tax deduction if you don’t have the expense properly documented. And, it’s illegal. These are good reasons for compliance, but many employers are still tempted to ignore the rules. Here are some common excuses for not putting …