Is Your Business Running You? How Strategic Tax Planning Helps Owners Regain Control

By Missy (Melissa) Dennis, CPA

If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “I need this tax refund just to cover bills this month,” you may already be operating in the danger zone. It’s a trap many business owners fall into without realizing it. Instead of using their business as a tool to build wealth and freedom, they get stuck reacting to immediate pressures—scrambling to cover payroll, juggling tax deadlines, and putting out financial fires.

At FJ & Associates, we see this every day. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to stay in survival mode. With proactive tax and financial planning, you can flip the script. Instead of letting your business run you, you start steering it strategically toward growth, profit, and long-term security.

The Power of Today’s Dollar

One of the most overlooked principles in tax planning is timing. A dollar saved today isn’t just a dollar, it’s the foundation for tomorrow’s growth.

• Inflation and opportunity cost: The money you save in taxes this year has greater purchasing power than the same amount saved years down the road. Put simply, the earlier you capture savings, the more you can do with them.
• Smart reinvestment: Imagine redirecting $20,000 in tax savings into upgrading your equipment, building a retirement portfolio, or marketing campaigns that drive new revenue. Instead of disappearing into monthly bills, those dollars compound into future gains.
• Real-world example: For clients in high tax brackets, we often accelerate deductions and optimize entity structures. The result? Not only do they cut their tax bill by 20% or more, but they also reallocate those funds into opportunities that keep generating returns year after year.

The real win isn’t just paying less tax—it’s about putting every dollar to work for your future.

Warning Signs You’re in the “Danger Zone”

How do you know if your business is running you instead of the other way around? Look for these red flags:

• Relying on tax refunds or savings simply to catch up on monthly expenses.
• Falling behind on payroll withholdings even as revenue climbs.
• Cashing out retirement accounts early to cover short-term needs.
• Constantly reacting to financial surprises instead of planning ahead.

If any of these sound familiar, it’s time to pause and reassess. These habits might keep the lights on today, but they’ll quietly erode your financial stability and your ability to grow tomorrow.

How Strategic CPA Support Helps

The right CPA relationship isn’t just about filing forms once a year. It’s about creating a system of ongoing support and foresight that puts you back in the driver’s seat. Here’s how:

Quarterly and annual planning sessions: Instead of being blindsided by your tax bill, proactive planning anticipates bracket changes, adjusts deductions, and optimizes timing.

Cross-team collaboration: Taxes don’t exist in a vacuum. By aligning bookkeeping, payroll, and CFO-level advisory, we provide a complete financial picture—helping you make better decisions faster.

Technology-driven insights: With AI-powered meeting notes, cloud-based accounting, and virtual planning tools, no detail slips through the cracks. This means you spend less time buried in spreadsheets and more time growing your business.

When you treat your CPA like a partner rather than a vendor, you transform your financial strategy from reactive to proactive.

Recognize early warning signs that you’re slipping into survival mode.

Don’t let your business run you. Let FJ & Associates, your modern CPA firm in Kaysville, Utah, guide you with the tools, strategy, and support you need to grow confidently.

👉Contact us todayfor a personalized tax planning session and start putting your money to work for you.

Missy Dennis is a Partner at FJ & Associates, PLLC, based in Kaysville, Utah. With over twenty years of public accounting experience, Missy specializes in tax preparation, tax advisory, bookkeeping, estate and trust taxation, consulting, and audit services.

She holds a Master of Accounting degree from the University of Utah and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant. Her industry expertise spans low-income housing tax credits, non-profit accounting, and a wide variety of small- to mid-sized businesses.

Missy is dedicated to helping clients navigate complex tax and financial matters with clarity and confidence. She is committed to providing accurate, trustworthy, and actionable guidance so clients can focus on what they do best.

Contact:
FJ & Associates, PLLC
612 North Kay’s Drive, Suite 120
Kaysville, Utah 84037
www.cpaone.net