Small Business

The purpose of a business plan is to guide you in successfully operating a business. Preparing a plan forces the entrepreneur to consider all aspects of the business and to confront any problems the plan may show you along the way. FundingRoadmap.com

It summarizes both your vision for the company and your blueprint for the company’s operating success. The business plan is a written guide that details the start-up and the future direction of your company. For more information go to FundingRoadmap.com

A business plan is comprehensive planning document which clearly describes the business developmental objective of an existing or proposed business. The plan outlines where the resources needed to accomplish the objective will be obtained and utilized. It should also guide you to act on your intentions and benchmark your steps along the way and be written on a format that allows for collaboration among your employees and partners. For more information go to FundingRoadmap.com

Self-employment taxes refer to the social security tax and Medicare taxes that must be paid on the "net" earnings of an unincorporated business by the business owner (net earnings is after deducting most business expenses). I It is paid with the owner's individual income tax return- form 1040.
Other non-business deductions cannot eliminate this tax as it is a separate tax calculation.
Explanation: When you work for someone as an employee, social security and Medicare taxes are taken out of your pay check. When you work for someone as an employee, the employer must also pay his share of social security tax and Medicare taxes.
Self-employment tax represents both amounts - the employer and employee portion of the tax.

For 2013, 92.35% of your net earnings ( after your business expenses) from self-employment income are subject to a rate of 15.3% on the first $113,700.

The standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be 56.5 cents per mile for business miles driven.

You should maintain a log or diary of your auto expenses.
If you use the actual expense method you should save the actual receipts for gas, oil, insurance, repairs, licenses and taxes.
If you use the mileage deduction method you need to maintain a log or diary which lists the date, destination, business purpose, mileage driven (odometer start/end) type and amount of other expenses incurred. Currently there are phone applications for mileage documentation.

In general, costs of commuting between your home and workplace are not deductible. Costs for gas for your car, train, bus, tolls and parking fees are not deductible.