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LFTL: RENT!

Let’s dive into rent, specifically the NNN or Triple-Net leases common in the modern retail world. A “triple-net” lease means the base rent is net (accounting speaking for doesn’t include) maintenance, real estate taxes and insurance. Gross rent is a rent calculation that encompasses all charges.

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Landon Paddock Landon Paddock

LFTL: Seasonal Sales Cycles

At Harmony, we have found there is one element that stands out in ensuring long-term success: controlling labor costs. While the first principle is that labor spending needs to be at sustainable levels to ensure consistent profitability, we've noticed some clients struggle with the seasonal sales cycle. Your invaluable human resources must be managed with precision to ensure both profitability and a stellar customer experience.

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Landon Paddock Landon Paddock

The CCPA: Vehicle Deductions & Expenses

This time of year we frequently receive questions about vehicles and how to optimize tax write-offs related to them. Maybe you’ve seen the TikToks about how to get a G Wagon for free (spoiler alert: you can’t) or maybe you’ve heard friends talk about how they write off all of their vehicle expenses… either way, the model year has changed and you’re ready to buy a new ride while maxing out your write-offs.

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Landon Paddock Landon Paddock

LFTL: You Already Have the CFO You Need

Every year during each of the typical restaurant slow periods (here’s looking at you August-September 15th and January 2nd - Feb 13th!) clients begin to panic just a little bit. “Sales are slow,” they’ll complain. “I’m worried about cash.” “I think I need a controller.” The good news is that as a Harmony Group client you already have a controller, and even better, you have the best CFO team in the land.

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Landon Paddock Landon Paddock

The CCPA: Estimated Quarterly Tax Payments

For people who receive primarily wages, called W-2 income, income taxes are withheld from each paycheck along with the employee’s half of the required contribution for Social Security and Medicare Taxes (for W-2 wages, the employer is responsible for the other half of FICA taxes). The net effect of this arrangement is that most taxpayers don’t have to deal with estimated tax payments.

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Landon Paddock Landon Paddock

LFTL: Service Charges and How to Use Them

Usually with Lessons From the Line we offer tips, news, and updates about our industry - this month we’d like to talk a little about the tech updates we’re undertaking here at Harmony Group to better serve you.

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Landon Paddock Landon Paddock

The CCPA: Unemployment Insurance 101

Usually with Lessons From the Line we offer tips, news, and updates about our industry - this month we’d like to talk a little about the tech updates we’re undertaking here at Harmony Group to better serve you.

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Landon Paddock Landon Paddock

Commonsense CPA: Annual US Gifting Limits Explained (2023

Like everything the IRS touches, gifts can get a little bit complicated, but with a general understanding of the rules you can stay compliant and avoid any issues. If you are uncertain about your gift tax obligations, or considering a big gift anytime in the future, your Harmony Tax team is available to consult with you for personalized advice on gifting and tax planning.

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LFTL: Effective Employee Compensation

Every business is only as successful as the people that make it go. Whether you call your employees a team, a family, a gang of pirates it’s essential that you schedule, compensate, promote and manage them is part of a thoughtful and holistic strategy that incorporates the needs of all the stakeholders.

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Commonsense CPA: Dude, Where’s My Refund?

With the April 18 tax deadline already in the rearview mirror, many of our clients might be eyeing their mailbox or bank account, wondering when that refund check is going to land. If you worked with your Harmony advisor to file your taxes before the deadline (without an extension) and are expecting a refund, the waiting game begins.

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Landon Paddock Landon Paddock

LFTL: The Economics of 3PD

The meteoric rise of third-party delivery services (“3PD”) like Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub forever changed the economics of the restaurant industry. This month’s LFTL takes a look at successfully integrating them into your business model.

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Landon Paddock Landon Paddock

LFTL: So You Want to Start Brunch

Despite being something of a four letter word in the industry, brunch has become a key revenue driver for restaurants across the hospitality landscape. Read on for considerations to make before beginning this potentially lucrative service.

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Landon Paddock Landon Paddock

Commonsense CPA: Interest Income

This month’s CCPA looks at interest income, and the long and short of it is: your spring cleaning should be figuring out what to do if you’re sitting on a significant amount of cash. We don’t give investment advice around here but we want to highlight that for the first time in 10+ years there is actually interest income that can be generated by cash. Additionally, the flip side of higher interest rates is usually higher inflation so any cash sitting in a bank account is actually losing real purchasing power.

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Landon Paddock Landon Paddock

Commonsense CPA: Tax Season Has Begun

When the calendar turns to January, it means one thing for your Harmony team – tax season has begun. In this month’s Commonsense CPA we’re tackling a number of basic considerations as we enter our busiest time of year, as well as a brief expense review for 2022.

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SECURE 2.0 Bulletin

Congress just passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act. It is, of course, over four thousand pages. Read on for Harmony’s high level overview of its contents.

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LFTL: What Harmony Does

As the calendar turns over from 2022 to 2023 we want to take a minute to remind you of the services performed by Harmony Group so any clients who are reading this can better understand our services. Please don’t hesitate to reach out and take advantage of these services or ask questions about anything you don’t understand or want to learn more about.

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DC’s Parking Cashout Law Goes Into Effect 1/15/23

The DC Transportation Benefits Equity Amendment Act of 2020 goes into effect next month. Beginning 1/15/23, your business may need to replace its parking benefits with some other benefit, or pay a monthly fee to the city.

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