Financial Planning for Business Owners

3 min read

September 11, 2026

Running a business means making financial decisions all the time. The challenge for many business owners is thinking beyond the decision in front of you and understanding how it could impact the way your business operates today and in the future.

That’s where thoughtful financial planning can make a real difference. Is an S-Corp election actually right for your business? How can you make sure you have enough cash on hand to cover upcoming expenses? And what can you do now to build a business that’s healthier, more profitable, and easier to sell? These are the kinds of questions a financial planner in the Network can help you work through with the full picture in mind.

Taxes, cash flow, business structure, and long-term business value don’t happen in isolation. A decision in one area affects it all. In this collection of advisor insights, you’ll learn how to think more strategically about your business finances and make decisions that support both the business you’re running today and the options you want to have tomorrow.

Advisor Insights ↘

Is an S-Corp Right for You? The Hidden Math Behind the 15.3% Tax Savings

By Neil Krishnaswamy, CFP®, Krishna Wealth Planning LLC

If you’re a small business owner scouring the internet for tax advice, you may have come across something like this: “Once your LLC makes $50,000, elect S-Corp status and instantly save 15.3% on payroll taxes!”
The problem is that such advice treats business entity selection as a simple binary switch rather than a multi-variable feedback loop. As a former engineer, I often see things as the latter (for better or worse).

This is a somewhat technical piece aimed at business owners and financial advisors. However, it can also be helpful if you’re considering starting a small business. The information below becomes particularly practical when you own a profitable small business.

I’ll present a framework I personally found useful when deciding to make the S Corp election for my own financial planning practice. While I’ve long been aware of the general rules, what really hit home during a deeper dive is that optimizing in one corner of the tax code can create leaks elsewhere. What the right balance is for me may not be right for you.

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How to Use Cash Flow Forecasting to Avoid Surprise Shortfalls in Your Small Business

By Christopher Stroup, CFP®, MBA, EA, Silicon Beach Financial

If you ask most small business owners what keeps them up at night, cash flow usually lands near the top of the list.

Not profitability. Not taxes. Not growth.

Cash flow.

And that makes sense.

A business can be profitable on paper and still run into serious financial stress if cash is not available when bills come due. Payroll, rent, vendor payments, tax deposits, software subscriptions, loan payments, and owner compensation all require one thing: actual cash in the bank.

That is why cash flow forecasting for small businesses is one of the most valuable financial habits an entrepreneur can build.

At Silicon Beach Financial, we often see business owners who are brilliant at generating revenue but have never built a system to consistently forecast liquidity. They know sales are strong. They know money is coming in. But they cannot confidently answer one simple question:

“Will I have enough cash 30, 60, or 90 days from now?”

If the answer is unclear, forecasting can help.

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How to Build a Business You Can Sell

By Michael Reynolds, CFP®, Elevation Financial LLC

Not everyone starts a business planning to sell it. Some of you have no interest in an exit at all, and that's fine.

But stick with me, because the work that makes a business sellable is the same work that makes it healthier, calmer, and more profitable to run right now. Even if you never sell, you win.

I speak from experience here. I started a marketing agency in college and ran it for about 23 years, first with a couple of partners and later on my own. Eventually, another agency acquired it in a strategic buy, and that whole process taught me a lot about what actually drives value in a business.

I've also helped other owners get their businesses ready to sell. So what follows is a practical look at what makes a company worth buying, and why those same qualities are worth building regardless of your plans.

Focus on Scaling From the Start

Start small but think big.

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Good Financial Reads is an XYPN publication that brings together insights from fee-only financial advisors across the country, helping make financial planning topics more approachable, understandable, and actionable.

Whether you're navigating a major life change, building wealth, planning for retirement, or simply looking to make more informed financial decisions, our contributors share practical guidance drawn from their real-world experience helping clients every day.

The best part? It's completely free. Our advisors believe financial education should be accessible to everyone, regardless of age, income, or assets.

And if you're looking for personalized guidance beyond what you read here, you can connect with a fee-only financial advisor through our Find an Advisor portal to find a professional who aligns with your goals, values, and financial needs.

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