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Updated: Tips to keep your business going

Calling your trusted advisors and preserving cash flow are two key steps in surviving the financial hardships surrounding COVID-19, says CPA Teri Kaye.

Teri Kaye

The head of the tax department of Daszkal Bolton and its Broward office is among the many people in the accounting field legal fields dispensing advice and strategies these days.

For starters, Kaye suggests making sure to contact your investment advisor to discuss your personal liquidity and a “reasonable (not impulsive) investment strategy.”

Ask your commercial banker for time to submit 2019 financial statements and seek a waiver of current loan covenants.

Employment lawyers should be consulted to make sure staff reductions are done properly.

Contact your insurance agent if you have business interruption insurance. (Here’s a related SFBW article that includes that subject.)

Kaye says the following steps will help preserve cash and future cash flow:

  • Lines of credit: Consider borrowing up to the maximum on existing lines of credit. Interest rates are historically low and the credit may not be available later.
  • Cut costs: Cut discretionary spending as much as possible
  • Employees: Consider essential vs. non-essential personnel. Also, evaluate government benefits associated with payment of employees who are unable to work for various qualifying reasons. (More on that below.)
  • Federal tax returns and income tax liabilities: Take advantage of the tax filing deadline of April 15 being postponed until July 15 without penalties or interest. Federal tax payments of up to $1 million for individuals and $10 million for corporations qualify for the 90 day extension.
  • Retirement plans: Delay funding any discretionary retirement plans to avoid potential penalties on any withdrawals.
  • Capital expenditures: Delay non-essential capital expenditures.

Daszkal Bolton and the Weiss Serota Helfman Cole Berman law firm announced they will have a webinar at 11 a.m. Friday, March 27, to go over important information for small and medium size businesses. Those interested should email Dan Kobak at dkobak@dbllp.com.

Rosamaria Bravo, CPA and principal in the Tax and Accounting Department at MBAF says businesses may want to take advantage of emergency loan programs, such as the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program. (Here’s information about that.)

Businesses with floating interest rate mortgages may want to consider locking in the interest rate since the rates are at historical lows, say Bravo and CPA Brian A. Schlang, CPA, a principal in the Tax and Accounting Department at MBAF.

Schlang also recommended looking at SBA disaster assistance loans.

Low rates also mean it could be a good time to buy or refinance a home, Schlang says.

Chad Van Horn
Chad Van Horn

Chad Van Horn of Van Horn Law Group, P.A., also had some strategies:

  • Let go of unnecessary assets: Look hard at your asset base and sell off whatever’s dispensable – anything you’re not using from extra computers to office space.
  • Pay high-interest, secured creditors first: While it’s always optimal to pay all creditors at least something, it’s best to pay down the creditors that cost you the most. It also makes sense to contact them to discuss reducing penalties and interest.
  • Talk to your team: Open lines of communication about the efforts you’re making to help the business succeed WHILE protecting the team.  Ask for their input—they may have better ideas than you do.

Richard Shapiro, a director with EisnerAmper in New York, has written an extensive article on what the Families First Coronavirus Response Act means.

Among other things, it requires many employers to provide paid sick leave to employees, but helps by providing new tax credits to offset those costs. It also provides credit for health plan expenses associated with emergency and sick leave wages.

Click here to see his full article with more details, including exemptions for small businesses.

 

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Drew Limsky

Drew Limsky

Editor-in-Chief

BIOGRAPHY

Drew Limsky joined Lifestyle Media Group in August 2020 as Editor-in-Chief of South Florida Business & Wealth. His first issue of SFBW, October 2020, heralded a reimagined structure, with new content categories and a slew of fresh visual themes. “As sort of a cross between Forbes and Robb Report, with a dash of GQ and Vogue,” Limsky says, “SFBW reflects South Florida’s increasingly sophisticated and dynamic business and cultural landscape.”

Limsky, an avid traveler, swimmer and film buff who holds a law degree and Ph.D. from New York University, likes to say, “I’m a doctor, but I can’t operate—except on your brand.” He wrote his dissertation on the nonfiction work of Joan Didion. Prior to that, Limsky received his B.A. in English, summa cum laude, from Emory University and earned his M.A. in literature at American University in connection with a Masters Scholar Award fellowship.

Limsky came to SFBW at the apex of a storied career in journalism and publishing that includes six previous lead editorial roles, including for some of the world’s best-known brands. He served as global editor-in-chief of Lexus magazine, founding editor-in-chief of custom lifestyle magazines for Cadillac and Holland America Line, and was the founding editor-in-chief of Modern Luxury Interiors South Florida. He also was the executive editor for B2B magazines for Acura and Honda Financial Services, and he served as travel editor for Conde Nast. Magazines under Limsky’s editorship have garnered more than 75 industry awards.

He has also written for many of the country’s top newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Boston Globe, USA Today, Worth, Robb Report, Afar, Time Out New York, National Geographic Traveler, Men’s Journal, Ritz-Carlton, Elite Traveler, Florida Design, Metropolis and Architectural Digest Mexico. His other clients have included Four Seasons, Acqualina Resort & Residences, Yahoo!, American Airlines, Wynn, Douglas Elliman and Corcoran. As an adjunct assistant professor, Limsky has taught journalism, film and creative writing at the City University of New York, Pace University, American University and other colleges.