yellow pages ad/James

[Arlin Hall]

If you officially paid your wife's time, documented the hours, deducted and
paid payroll taxes, etc, what you paid her would be deductible as a business
expense.  Therefore, the income tax that you pay on your business would be
less.  You don't even have to be a corporation to do this.

Arlin Hall, CPA (really)
  -----Original Message-----
  From: Tom Sivak [mailto:tvaktvak at sbcglobal.net]
  Sent: Sunday, May 28, 2006 5:36 PM
  To: Pianotech List
  Subject: Re: yellow pages ad/James


  Yeah, I got that.  Since I don't have a 'payroll', I'm not sure exactly
what would be different than it is right now.  We file jointly, on the total
of our two incomes.  Now, if she has no income, she would become my
dependant, which would be a tax advantage in itself, so I'm not sure if
somehow declaring her an 'employee' would be any better.

  But it's an interesting topic for my tax guy, I guess.

  Tom

  Pianoman <pianoman at accessus.net> wrote:
    I meant your wife would become an employee on the payroll reducing your
    taxable income.
    James Grebe Piano Tuning & Repair Member of M.P.T.
    R.P.T. of the P.T.G. for over 30 years. "Member of the Year" in 1989
    Creator of Handsome Hardwood Caster Cups, Piano Benches, Writing
    Instruments,Table Timepieces
    (314) 845-8282 1526 Raspberry Lane Arnold, MO 63010
    Researcher of St. Louis Theatre History
    BECOME WHAT YOU BELIEVE!
    pianoman at accessus.net
    ----- Original Message -----
    From: "Tom Sivak"
    To: "Pianotech List"
    Sent: Friday, May 26, 2006 7:44 AM
    Subject: Re: yellow pages ad/James


    > James,
    >
    > Now that's an interesting idea, but how? I mean, there ain't no
payroll!
    > I, myself, don't get a 'paycheck' from my own business, I get checks
from
    > the clients, made out to me, and I deposit them in our joint checking
    > account.
    >
    > Perhaps I'd have to incorporate to be able to legitimize this. I like
the
    > thinking behind this concept, though...
    >
    > Tom Sivak
    >
    > Pianoman wrote:
    > PLUS you can put her on the payroll and YOUR income that is taxed will
go
    > down.
    >
    > James Grebe Piano Tuning & Repair Member of M.P.T.
    > R.P.T. of the P.T.G. for over 30 years. "Member of the Year" in 1989
    > Creator of Handsome Hardwood Caster Cups, Piano Benches, Writing
    > Instruments,Table Timepieces
    > (314) 845-8282 1526 Raspberry Lane Arnold, MO 63010
    > Researcher of St. Louis Theatre History
    > BECOME WHAT YOU BELIEVE!
    > pianoman at accessus.net
    > ----- Original Message -----
    > From: "Tom Sivak"
    > To: "Pianotech List"
    >
    > Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2006 8:05 PM
    > Subject: Re: yellow pages ad
    >
    >
    >> Marshall,
    >>
    >> I get on the average, about 50-60 calls from the Yellow Pages each
year.
    >> That has been pretty consistent over the past 10 years. And that was
with
    >> just a listing, no ad, no bold type. From what I understand, the
Yellow
    >> Pages are changing their format/boundaries this year. They are
combining
    >> several areas together into one larger book that will cover a larger
    >> area.
    >> So, we'll have to see how that impacts things. We'll get wider
coverage,
    >> but there will be more tuners listed in each book.
    >>
    >> I know you're eager to start and grow, as a business and as a
technician.
    >> I wish you luck.
    >>
    >> Now here's something that kept me going, through the years, when
times
    >> were leaner.
    >>
    >> I kept statistics on the growth of my business. Total number of
tunings,
    >> by the year, and by the month. New business vs. repeat business.
    >> Referrals vs. Yellow Pages. (I never kept track of grands vs.
verticals.
    >> I'm not that anal!)
    >>
    >> All this not only helped me to understand how to help my business
grow in
    >> the future, but it helped me, psychologically, as I looked at the
meager
    >> sum I had earned this past year. At least knowing that it was 150% of
the
    >> amount I made last year helped. Sometimes I'd feel like business was
down
    >> and I'd look at my 'progress chart' and realize that although 'X'
tunings
    >> wasn't enough this past month, it was more than I had ever made in
that
    >> same month of any year previous.
    >>
    >> As long as we're on the subject, I just had my best month, ever, this
    >> past February, where I tuned 65 pianos. My previous best was 38.
WooHOO!
    >> It may not be the 80 pianos I would liked to have had, but it's
closer
    >> than ever! (I have to credit my wife for this surge in business. She
    >> lost her job, so she's at home answering the phone, making my
    >> appointments, and calling our clients whose pianos are due to be
tuned.
    >> She has increased my business by about 40% since starting with me in
    >> January.)
    >>
    >> Been in business about 10 years now,
    >> Tom Sivak
    >> Chicago
    >>
    >>
    >> pianotune05 at comcast.net wrote:
    >> HI Terry,
    >> My name is listed in the piano tuning and repair section. It's just a
    >> listing.
    >> Marshall
    >>
    >> -------------- Original message --------------
    >> From: "Farrell"
    >> "just my name phone number "
    >>
    >> Is it an ad? Does it say you are a piano technician? Is it listed in
the
    >> Piano Technician (or Tuning) section?
    >>
    >> Terry Farrell
    >> ----- Original Message -----
    >>
    >> Well, the new 2006 ATT phone books are out. I have a listing in it,
just
    >> my name phone number and our town abbreviated, although some people
think
    >> that South Bend is a city. Anyway, I'm curious as to how long it took
you
    >> guys out there to get your first call from your first yellow pages
    >> listing. This way I'll know roughly what to expect and not set my
    >> expectations too high. Thanks all.
    >> Marshall
    >>
    >>
    >
    >
    >
    >




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