Chicago Business Advisory Services

Chicago Business Advisory Services

Contact STE to learn more about our business advisory services for mid-sized and small businesses in Chicago, Illinois and surrounding areas

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STE_CashFlowNo business is successful without a sound financial strategy to help facilitate growth.  Whether you are starting a new business or have been running your business for years, it is highly beneficial to be in control of your businesses finances and make the right moves to help budget and manage cash flow, handle tax planning and preparation, and manage the purchase or sale of your business.  All of this can be overwhelming for some business owners which is why it is beneficial to work with a professional for business advisory services.

STE is a business advisory specialist that helps small and mid-sized businesses in Chicago, Illinois and the surrounding areas.  We provide comprehensive business consulting that includes strategic financial planning to help businesses better manage their finances and taxes to achieve their financial goals and foster the growth of their business.  You will receive effective business advisory services from one of our accountants who specializes in your industry.

In a business consultant role, our professionals can advise you on every aspect of your business from cash flow management and budgeting to exit planning.  The comprehensive business advisory services we provide can cover the following:

  • Business entity structure: Our professionals can help you determine which business entity makes the most sense for your business and file the proper documents to establish your business. You can establish your business as a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, corporation S, limited liability company (LLC), or series LLC.
  • Strategic financial planning: Our accountants can help with the financial planning of your business to ensure you make wise investments to help your business grow.  We can also advise you on obtaining capital that could benefit your business.
  • Budgeting and cash flow management: We can advise you on budgeting and management of your cash flow to help you minimize unnecessary spending and get the most out of your investments and acquisitions.
  • Tax planning: Our professionals are experts when it comes to tax laws, and we can advise you on the best ways to limit your tax liability and reduce what you pay in taxes. We can also help you prepare your tax returns.
  • Bookkeeping services: Keeping complete and accurate financial records is important for managing your finances and your taxes. We can advise you on effective bookkeeping strategies and train you on how to manage your bookkeeping with a variety of software products.
  • Payroll services: We can advise you on the most effective ways to manage your payroll and automate the withholdings and paycheck distribution.
  • CFO services: When you work with STE, you can choose to have us act as your part-time chief financial officer (CFO) to analyze and advise on your business strategies including your accounting, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, and more.

You can expect to work with a professional from STE who understands your industry as well as the main goals you have for your business.  Our accounting advisory will align with your financial goals to help you effectively plan and manage to grow your business.

STE-CPA(1)Small and Mid-Sized Businesses Consulting Services

Owners of small businesses often have many responsibilities which can make it difficult to focus on things like financial planning, bookkeeping, tax planning, and cash flow management.  At STE, our professionals specialize in small business consulting to help owners of small businesses effectively manage their finances.

We will take the time to understand the goals of small business owners and provide consultation to help implement and manage a financial strategy that can help achieve these goals.  Our financial planning can help you work within your budget and make smart decisions that can maximize your profitability and the value of your business.  We can also implement tax strategies that will minimize your tax liabilities. 

We are a trusted small and mid-sized business consulting firm that has helped manage the finances of many businesses in the Chicago, IL area to help them grow.

Incorporation Services

When starting a business, it is important to incorporate your business under the proper entity structure.  Each business entity structure has certain limitations and benefits that you must take into consideration.  Our professionals understand the differences between the business entity structures and we can advise you on the best business incorporation strategy.

Click Here to Learn more our Business Formation Services

Buy or Sell a Business – Transaction Advisory Services

Buying or selling a business is a major transaction.  There are many things to consider.  Our professionals at STE provide transaction due diligence services to advise you when buying or selling a business.

Buying a Business

Before you purchase a business, you need to do your buy side due diligence in evaluating the value of the business and identifying any potential weaknesses or issues.  Our professionals can provide business valuation services to help you evaluate whether purchasing the business is a wise investment.  We can also anticipate the taxes involved with your purchase and help you plan accordingly.

Selling a Business – Exit Strategy

If you one day hope to sell your business, you need to start planning your exit strategy years in advance.  Our professionals can help you put plans in place that will increase the value of your business over the years so that you get the maximum return for the sale of your business.

Business Advisory and Consulting

You can count on STE to provide highly effective business consulting services in the Chicago, Illinois area to help you manage your finances and maximize the value of your business.  We take a tailored approach to ensure that your financial planning and tax strategies are aligned with your goals for your business.  You can call us at (815) 836-0100 to schedule a consultation.

Talk to one of our Accountants Today

OUR SERVICES

stecorporation - accounting icon

Accounting

  • Statuary Accounts
  • Management Accounts
  • Bookkeeping
  • Business Plan
stecorporation - tax icon

Tax

  • Tax Investigation
  • Capitol Gains Tax
  • Tax Advisory
  • Corporation Tax

STECorporation consultation

Consulting

  • Registered Office Address
  • Company Formation
  • Company Secretarial
  • Legal Helpline

QuickBooks/ Bookkeeping Services

All of the financial information and data for your business should be organized and in one place so it is easy to access.  With our bookkeeping services, we will organize and manage your financial information within the QuickBooks software so you can easily access it at any time.  While we manage your financial matters on a daily and monthly basis, you will be in control as we will keep you updated and ensure you can access and monitor your finances.  If you are applying for a loan, doing your taxes, or budgeting, having quick access to your financial information is important.  We can assist large businesses and provide small business bookkeeping.

Advisory Services

Our accountants can take on an advisory role with your company through our business consulting services.  We will work with you to understand your financial goals and help you make the right decisions to reach your goals and help your business grow and become more profitable.  Our business advisory services include advisement for investments, taxes, payroll, bookkeeping, administration, and more.

Estate Planning

It is important to manage your estate to help protect its value and ensure that your assets are distributed properly between your beneficiaries.  Our accountants can assist with your estate planning, including managing the taxes to preserve its value and ensuring that your assets are distributed according to your wishes.  Our estate accountants will identify ways to protect your estate from inflation and taxes and minimize what you are paying in taxes to maximize its value.

Sales Tax / Nexus

Sales tax rates and laws are decided locally and differ between states and cities.  This can make sales and use tax difficult to manage for businesses, especially those that operate in multiple cities and states.  Our certified public accountants can help manage your sales and use taxes by ensuring that you are in compliance with applicable sales tax laws and identifying opportunities for refunds and exemptions.  We have a thorough knowledge of sales tax laws and we can even help businesses that operate in multiple states with filing their taxes.  Using Nexus tax analysis, we can help multi-state businesses stay in compliance with all applicable tax laws.

Payroll Services

We provide payroll services to small businesses and international businesses that operate in the U.S.  Our accountants will streamline your payroll process and manage the tax withholdings and benefit deductions from employee paychecks.  We can also file the tax returns for your business that account for the tax withholdings.

Call the CPAs of STE Corporation

Contact our CPA firm if you want to work with our accountants to help manage the finances for your business in Park Ridge, IL.  You can call STE Corporation at (815) 836-0100 to talk to our professionals or schedule a free consultation.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

For tax years 2018 through 2025 interest on home equity loans is only deductible when the loan is used to buy, build or substantially improve the taxpayer’s home that secures the loan. Prior to 2018, many homeowners took out home equity loans. Unlike other consumer-related interest expenses (e.g., car loans and credit cards) interest on a home equity loan was deductible on your tax return.
You may be able to take an immediate Section 179 expense deduction of up to $1,040,000 for 2020 ($1,020,000 in 2019), for equipment purchased for use in your business, instead of writing it off over many years. There is a phaseout limit of $2,590,000 in 2020 ($2,550,000 in 2019). Additionally, self-employed individuals can deduct 100 percent of their health insurance premiums. You may also be able to establish a Keogh, SEP or SIMPLE IRA plan and deduct your contributions (investments).
In 2020 (as in 2019), medical and dental expenses are deductible to the extent they exceed 10 percent of your adjusted gross income or AGI. If your employer offers a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health Savings Account or cafeteria plan, these plans permit you to redirect a portion of your salary to pay these types of expenses with pre-tax dollars.
If you’re planning to make a charitable gift, it generally makes more sense to give appreciated long-term capital assets to the charity, instead of selling the assets and giving the charity the after-tax proceeds. Donating the assets instead of the cash avoids capital gains tax on the sale, and you can obtain a tax deduction for the full fair-market value of the property.

Frequently-Asked-Questions-min

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY ABOUT US

“Everyone at STE has been amazing. As a small business owner it is essential to have people on your team that are experts in all areas. When it comes to finance and taxes Jim and the team at STE fill that need. Thanks for being great at what you do and always be there!”

“STE has been handling our personal, business accounting, and payroll for years. They are knowledgeable, easy to reach, and very welcoming. Would definitely recommend them.”

“I have had nothing but pleasant experiences at STE. They are knowledgeable and provide great service.”

“We have used STE Corporation for our payroll and tax service needs over the past 3+ years and extremely pleased with the partnership we have created.”

“My husband has operated his painting business since 2004, first as a sole proprietorship and later as an S corporation. STE has been instrumental in helping him grow his business and remain in compliance. I cannot thank Mike, Marybeth, Jim, and Lisa enough for helping him get organized and stay that way. They have truly been the business office he needed in order to focus on the part of his business he enjoys – painting and customer service Their professional staff literally have never let him down – payroll, state taxes, federal taxes, consultation, ledger reconciliation, profit and loss sheets, and probably lots of things I do not even know about! Hiring this firm was the best decision he could have made. He looks forward to visiting the office, everyone makes him feel like family. I appreciate their professionalism and efficiency. Thank you STE!”

OUR SERVICES

stecorporation - accounting icon

Accounting

  • Statuary Accounts
  • Management Accounts
  • Bookkeeping
  • Business Plan
stecorporation - tax icon

Tax

  • Tax Investigation
  • Capitol Gains Tax
  • Tax Advisory
  • Corporation Tax

STECorporation consultation

Consulting

  • Registered Office Address
  • Company Formation
  • Company Secretarial
  • Legal Helpline

QuickBooks/ Bookkeeping Services

All of the financial information and data for your business should be organized and in one place so it is easy to access.  With our bookkeeping services, we will organize and manage your financial information within the QuickBooks software so you can easily access it at any time.  While we manage your financial matters on a daily and monthly basis, you will be in control as we will keep you updated and ensure you can access and monitor your finances.  If you are applying for a loan, doing your taxes, or budgeting, having quick access to your financial information is important.  We can assist large businesses and provide small business bookkeeping.

Advisory Services

Our accountants can take on an advisory role with your company through our business consulting services.  We will work with you to understand your financial goals and help you make the right decisions to reach your goals and help your business grow and become more profitable.  Our business advisory services include advisement for investments, taxes, payroll, bookkeeping, administration, and more.

Estate Planning

It is important to manage your estate to help protect its value and ensure that your assets are distributed properly between your beneficiaries.  Our accountants can assist with your estate planning, including managing the taxes to preserve its value and ensuring that your assets are distributed according to your wishes.  Our estate accountants will identify ways to protect your estate from inflation and taxes and minimize what you are paying in taxes to maximize its value.

Sales Tax / Nexus

Sales tax rates and laws are decided locally and differ between states and cities.  This can make sales and use tax difficult to manage for businesses, especially those that operate in multiple cities and states.  Our certified public accountants can help manage your sales and use taxes by ensuring that you are in compliance with applicable sales tax laws and identifying opportunities for refunds and exemptions.  We have a thorough knowledge of sales tax laws and we can even help businesses that operate in multiple states with filing their taxes.  Using Nexus tax analysis, we can help multi-state businesses stay in compliance with all applicable tax laws.

Payroll Services

We provide payroll services to small businesses and international businesses that operate in the U.S.  Our accountants will streamline your payroll process and manage the tax withholdings and benefit deductions from employee paychecks.  We can also file the tax returns for your business that account for the tax withholdings.

Call the CPAs of STE Corporation

Contact our CPA firm if you want to work with our accountants to help manage the finances for your business in Park Ridge, IL.  You can call STE Corporation at (815) 836-0100 to talk to our professionals or schedule a free consultation.