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 Blog: Insights From the Fastlane

Michael DiSabatino of Sharp CFO™ shares expert insights to help you unlock your business's full potential by delivering proven strategies for maximizing tax savings, streamlining operations, and driving sustainable growth.

The information provided on this site is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional financial, tax, or legal advice. For advice tailored to your specific situation, we recommend consulting with a qualified professional.

S-corp Reasonable Salary - Effort vs. Capital: Our Framework for Setting the Lowest Defensible Owner Salary

When an S-corp nets $150,000 to $250,000 before owner salary, the reflex is to crank up wages “to be safe.” That’s not always necessary. Our firm applies an effort vs. capitalization framework that pegs wages to the owner’s actual labor and credits a fair return to capital and systems.

Used correctly, this approach can support a $50,000 W-2 wage for the owner while keeping the rest available for distributions, cash reserves, and growth.

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