How to Prepare for Tax Season: The Ultimate Guide

Startups and small businesses have a lot of important decisions regarding taxes to make in the early days that can impact the long-term growth and success of the organization: Which taxes should you file? What about payroll and compensation? Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be an intimidating process!  

Join us for a thoughtful conversation with experts from KPMG and BMO on everything you need to know to prepare your business for tax time. You’ll also hear perspectives from seasoned founders to provide you with a holistic framework for understanding how to set your business up for tax success. With the new year in full swing, it’s never too late to start preparing for tax time and position your business for financial success. 

Key Takeaways: 

• Tax Prep 101: gain a fundamental understanding of startup tax basics. 
• Learn which taxes to file and how to structure your business for tax purposes. 
• Explore how tax decisions you make early on impact your business long-term. 
• How founders approach taxes in the early days, as well as through a growth phase. 

OUR SPECIAL GUESTS

Aishetu Fatima Dozie

Founder and CEO, Bossy Cosmetics

Chelsea Elliott

Founder, Sōmōcom Lab

Chelsea is an enthusiastic speaker, emotional intelligence expert, children’s author, and innovator. Her practical approach to communication and connection is based on understanding how to identify and manage emotions and behaviors by understanding ourselves on a deeper level. Chelsea uses her childhood experiences, mental health journey, work with kids and adults, and life with her husband and two kids to share messages of hope and inspiration with children, teens, and adults alike. Her work has been featured on The Today Show, Parents Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Care.com, and many other outlets. Chelsea is a Certified Emotional Intelligence Coach and holds a master’s degree in social work from Boston College and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Cincinnati.

Denisse Pachuca

Sr. Regional Manager, Zero Barriers to Business

I have been in the financial industry for over 18 years. I joined BMO Bank in 2013 and have held several positions: branch manager, business banker and my most current position Senior Manager, Industry Verticals. As a business banker I worked with businesses throughout the Wisconsin footprint with annual revenues of up to 10 million and managed their banking relationships and lending needs. During this time BMO launched our Empower program whose mission is to provide support to our customers through a more inclusive suite of banking products, services and resources, meeting their unique needs and addressing their diverse expectations.

In December 2022, I joined our Zero Barriers to Business Program as the Wisconsin presence. I know also cover North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska in addition to WI. Our small business special credit purpose program aids in breaking barriers by providing minority business owners with access to working capital, educational resources, and professional partnerships to accelerate growth. As a Latina, I am passionate about this work as it allows me the opportunity to share my expertise and knowledge with our local minority communities and promote a more sustainable and inclusive economy. I am often viewed as a trusted advisor to the customers and organizations I have had the pleasure to work with.

Gary Williams

Senior Tax Manager, KPMG

Gary Williams is a Senior Tax Manager in KPMG’s San Francisco office, focusing on advising global private equity firms on a variety of federal tax compliance and planning matters throughout the lifecycle of their funds. He has developed a positive reputation for his Subchapter K tax knowledge, commitment to the professional advancement of others, and delivery of large-scale projects. Gary also has experience with ASC 740. He understands the increasing role that technology has in tax and has helped implement complex data and analytics solutions to drive efficiencies on his engagements.

Throughout his seven years with KPMG, Gary has been involved with several firm initiatives; most recently as one of the US firm’s representatives on KPMG Global’s Next Generation Council, a body set up to represent the voice of the next generation of leaders at KPMG and make meaningful contributions to and expand perspective on key strategic issues. Gary is also one of the local chapter leaders of KPMG’s African Ancestry Business Resource Group. Gary is a member of the Board of Trustees of San Francisco Ballet and serves on its Audit Committee and as Board Representative of its Volunteer Council.

The Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center is a 501c(3) public charity whose mission it is to make entrepreneurship accessible to all. We deliver world-class resources and mentoring to enable every entrepreneur across the globe to realize their maximum potential. Please join us and make your gift to ensure these transformative programs may continue to reach the underserved.

All Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least 48 hours in advance of this event; please send an email to [email protected] with the subject header ACCOMMODATION REQUEST. For assistance with registration or other technical difficulties, please contact [email protected]