Sometimes, the biggest wins come from the smallest moves. In the case of one client we worked with, all it took was a single change to their business entity—and just like that, they went from overpaying the IRS to pocketing an extra $30,000 a year.
This isn’t a one-off fluke. For thousands of small business owners, the wrong entity structure is like having a leak in your wallet. And the kicker? Most don’t even realize it.
Let’s break down what happened, why it worked, and how you can find out if you’re sitting on the same opportunity.
The Before: A Busy Business With a Big Tax Bill
Our client—let’s call her Sarah—was a solo service provider bringing in about $150K per year in net income. She’d been operating as a sole proprietor since day one. It felt simple. No special filings. No annual fees. Just report her income on a Schedule C and move on.
But come tax time? Ouch.
She was paying:
- Federal income tax on her full income
- Self-employment tax (a hefty 15.3%)
- State income tax
- And getting zero benefits for her business expenses beyond the basics
Her effective tax rate was well over 30%. That’s more than $45,000 a year heading straight to Uncle Sam.
The Shift: Becoming an S Corp
After reviewing her numbers, we recommended switching her to an S Corporation. Here’s why:
- As an S Corp, Sarah could pay herself a reasonable salary, and the rest of the business profits would flow through as distributions—not subject to self-employment tax.
- She could start deducting more benefits, like a home office reimbursement plan and retirement contributions.
- It also opened the door to better retirement planning and tax-advantaged fringe benefits.
We set her up with the proper payroll system, filed the S Corp election with the IRS (Form 2553), and gave her a strategic salary benchmark based on her industry and income.
The Result: $30K+ in Annual Tax Savings
With the new setup, Sarah paid herself a $70K salary—enough to satisfy IRS “reasonable compensation” standards—and took the remaining $80K as a distribution. The kicker? That $80K wasn’t hit with self-employment tax.
Add in a couple of new deductions and her optimized payroll setup, and the total tax savings hit $30,400.
Every. Single. Year.
But Be Careful—This Isn’t for Everyone
We’ll be real: not every business qualifies for or benefits from S Corp status. If you’re not consistently making enough net income (generally at least $50K+), the compliance costs may outweigh the savings.
And if you don’t follow the rules—like paying yourself a lowball salary—you will end up on the IRS’s radar.
So… Are You Missing Out on a Move Like This?
If you’ve never had someone take a deep dive into your entity setup, now’s the time. Whether you’re a freelancer, consultant, e-commerce seller, or service provider, there could be thousands of dollars in savings just waiting to be unlocked.
Want to find your $30K move?
Let’s schedule a free consultation and find out if an entity change is the missing piece in your tax strategy. Click on Contact in the top right corner to get started!
