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Business Connection

 

February 2015

lancasterchamber.org

Lancaster Chamber of Commerce

 Executive Board

                    
Chairwoman of the Board
Tamara Stoebe, Stoebe Services
 
Chair-Elect
Josh Mann, Mojave Partners

Treasurer
Mark Troth, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Troth REALTORS
 
Vice-Chair Secretary
Gina Rossall, Superintendent, Westside Union School District

Vice-Chair
Monica Grado, George's Cleaners

Vice-Chair
Stan Turner, Edwards Federal Credit Union
 
Past Chairman of the Board
Gene Melchers, Melchers Construction Co.
 
Ex-Officio
Sandy Smith - Chief Executive Officer, Lancaster Chamber of Commerce   
  
Board of Directors
                 
Chris Chapleau - American Business Machines

 

Sgt. Theresa Dawson - Lancaster Sheriff's Dept.

 

Rosemary Mann - Camille's Sidewalk Cafe

 

Nelson Rasse - Hispanic Multimedia Co.

 

Bridget Razo - Antelope Valley College

 

Katie Nelson - Hunter Dodge

 

Lynn Roth - SOL Graphix, Inc.

 

Dave Saltman - Passantino-Andersen

 

Chris Spicher - Antelope Valley Florist

 

Bernie Longjohn - Choices in Learning National Foundation

 

Interested in Becoming an Ambassador?

   

Ambassadors have a unique opportunity to represent the Lancaster

Chamber at many events, including breakfasts, luncheons, mixers, ribbon cuttings/grand openings and more!  Through this involvement, ambassadors are able to represent the chamber while also representing and marketing their own businesses--it's truly a "win/win" relationship!

 

 

 If you or someone at your place of business is interested in

 participating in our comprehensive training series and ultimately

 becoming an ambassador, please contact the Chamber: (661) 948-4518


 

Stay Tuned For The Location Of Our Next Quarterly Mega-Mixer  

  
 With Mega-Mixers, your opportunity to network with others is greatly increased as these mixers are large-scale and are FREE to our members!  

 

If you are interested in hosting a mixer at your place of business, please contact Sandy at the Lancaster Chamber office for more information:

(661) 948-4518 

Please click on the link below to visit our events calendar

Lancaster Chamber Events Calendar 

chamber_logo

ChamberSTORE

 

Helping Support Your Local Chamber is a

WIN-WIN!!

Take advantage of these special rates for chamber members!!

  

 

"A LA CARTE" OPPORTUNITIES:

  •  Digital Display Ad on Chamber Wall - $250 / year (2050x1400 dpi).
  • Static Display Framed Poster* on chamber/visitor's center wall - $1000 / year (24x20 inches -12  AVAILABLE) -includes a free digital display for one year.
  • Chamber newsletter ad (600x600 dpi, includes link to your website) - $75 each or $750 for one year.
  • Website home page banner ad (along top of page) - $2500 per year (NO LONGER AVAILABLE).
  • Website home page ad $500 / year (600x600 dpi - TWO AVAILABLE).

PACKAGES:

  •  Package 1 - $500 - Includes one digital display ad and four newsletter ads.           
  • Package 2 - $1000 -  Includes one digital display ad, four newsletter ads, and one website home page ad (TWO AVAILABLE).
  • Package 3 - $1000 - includes one  24"x20" framed Chamber Wall poster* (12 AVAILABLE) and one digital display ad.

           *price includes poster production costs.

 

 

ADDITIONAL MARKETING/ADVERTISING

OPPORTUNITIES:

  • Community Calendar member event posting.
  • Annual area map and directories with advertising opportunities.
  • Referrals - Hundreds of request directed to members "ONLY".
  • Mailing Labels and Membership Lists available to members "ONLY".
  • Chamber Radio Talk Show and Chamber YouTube Free to members "ONLY".
  • Your business listed in the printed and online Membership Directory (Link to your website or social media!).

 

Chamber Membership Lists

 

Labels by Alpha: $50.00

Email Data: $50.00


 

 

Please call the Chamber for more information:

 (661) 948-4518 

 

What can the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce do to help grow YOUR business???

 

Membership Benefits 

  • Chamber Website
  • Monthly Business Connection E-Newsletter
  • Membership Directory
  • Membership City Map
  • Radio Talk Show - Free
  • Super AV Expo
  • Quarterly Mega Mixers

 

Monthly Events 
  • Membership Luncheon
  • Members Lunch & Learn
  • Business-4-Breakfast

 

 

Discount Advertisement 

  • AV Press - Chamber Page
  • Video Commercials
  • Web Video - Business Showcase

 

Please call the Chamber for more information:

 (661) 948-4518 

 

 

Mission Statement 

 

To Serve the Community by Promoting, Protecting, Encouraging and Developing Local Business

 

 

New and Renewing Members

 

January

   

 Introducing Our Newest Members!

 

  

Adorable Babies Jump Start
 
McLaurin, Debra

 
3152 Lennox Court

Palmdale,CA 93551

www.adorblebabies.org

[email protected] 

 
 

All Valley Surveying

Jernigan, Larry
44965 10th St. W

Lancaster, Ca 93534

 allvalleysurveying.com

  [email protected] 


  

Bella West Salon & Spa
 
Orcutt, Valerie
560 W. Milling St.
Lancaster, CA 93534

bellawest.com

 [email protected]
 
 

Brookdale Antelope Valley
 
Marasigan, Harvey
43051 15th st. West
Lancaster, CA 93534

 www.brookdale.com 

 [email protected] 


 

 Carls Jr. #128

Potillo, Mirian

1511 W. Avenue K

Lancaster, Ca 93534
 ckr.com 

[email protected]


 

 Donna Drost, Realtor

Drost, Donna

Lancaster, Ca 93534
 donna.remaxallpro.com

 [email protected]


 

 Edward Jones Investments

Montagner, Rocio

41301 12th St. W. Suite E

Palmdale, Ca 93551

[email protected]


 Flewelling &Moody Inc.

Buchanan, Matthew

1035 Lancaster Boulevard Suite 200

Lancaster, CA 93534

 www.flewelling-moody.com
[email protected]

 

Fresh and Bangin Food

Arslanian, John

4021 Tourament Dr.

Palmdale, Ca 93551

 www.freshbanginfood.com
[email protected]


Golden Dental

Markarian DMD, Roland

803 West Avenue J

Lancaster, Ca 93534

godendental.org

[email protected]
 

 

MomsHouse

Hill, Donna

P.O. Box 805

Lancaster, Ca 93584

 www.momshouseav.org

 [email protected]


 

Radiantly You

Sibolboro, Celeste

2044 Astor Ct

Lancaster, Ca 93536

 www.radiantlyyou.com/sky

 [email protected]


 

Rubens Bar and Grill

Perez Jr., Victor

225 East Ave M

Lancaster, Ca 93535

 [email protected]


 

Social Chow Media Group

Vega Jr., Victor

65 W. Knollview Ct. #911

Palmdale, Ca 93531

www.social-chow.com

[email protected]


  

Southern California Spine and Pain

Vo, Thuong

44215 15th St. West, Suite 203

Lancaster, Ca 93534

 [email protected]



Transformations

Poirier, Linda

 naillady5320032yahoo.com


 


 

We Are Pleased to Present Our Renewing Members

 

 

So California Edison Company

42060 10th Street West

Lancaster, CA 93534-1125

Member Since: 1987

   

 

Benz Construction Services
1731 North Sierra Hwy
Rosamond, Ca 93560

Member Since: 1987

 

 

Clock Tower Plaza/Investment Concept, Inc

2063 West Avenue K
Lancaster, CA 93536

Member Since: 1995

 

 

AmeriMac Office Products

42630 10th Street West, Suite 3
Lancaster, CA 93534

Member Since: 1998


 

P N S Coins & Collectibles/Professional Numismatic
620 West Lancaster Blvd
Lancaster, CA 93534

Member Since: 1998


 
 

Whole Wheatery
44264 10th Street West
Lancaster, CA 93534

Member Since: 1999 


 

 A V Eye Care Medical Grp, Inc

42543 8th Street West, Suite 101
Lancaster, CA 93534

Member Since: 2000

 


 
 
Select Bookkeeping & Income Tax, Inc

 

43424 20th Street West
Lancaster, CA 93534
Member Since: 2005
 

  

Home Instead Senior Care
1805 W. Ave K, Suite 111
Lancaster, CA 93534
 
Member Since: 2005

 

 

Brit O. Smith MD

44847

Lancaster, CA 93534

Member Since: 2006

 

 

Monsters Fitness

44840 Valley Central Way, Suite 101

 Lancaster, CA 93536

Member Since: 2007

 

 

 Antelope Valley Church 
3830 West Avenue L-8
Quartz Hill, CA 93536

Member Since: 2008

 

 

Mulligan Family Fun Center
525 West Avenue P-4
Palmdale, CA 93531

Member Since: 2008

 

 

Citizen Business Bank 42548 10th Street West 

Lancaster, CA 93534

Member Since: 2008

 

 

Extra Space Storage

 45615 23rd Street West
Lancaster, CA 93536

Member Since: 2009


 

Premier Events

37601 Persimmon Lane

Palmdale, CA 93531

Member Since: 2010


 

Desert Sands Charter high School

42455 10th Street West, Suite 105

Lancaster, CA 93536

Member Since: 2011



Merrill Lynch Wealth Management

730 West Lancaster Blvd, Suite 103

Lancaster, CA 93534

Member Since: 2012



Chuck Simons, Realtor

3115 - B Rancho Vista Blvd

Palmdale, CA 93531

Member Since: 2013


 

Antiques on the BLVD

520 W. Lancaster Blvd

Lancaster, CA 93534

Member Since: 2013


 

Jeff Knouse Locksmith

Palmdale, CA 93551

Member Since: 2013


 

SoCal 'Snutts for Arts, Inc/Dancing Feet

708 Lisa Avenue

Palmdale, CA 93551

Member Since: 2014


 

Antiques on the BLVD

520 W. Lancaster Blvd

Lancaster, CA 93534

Member Since: 2013

 

 

OUR NEW WEBSITE OFFERS INCREDIBLE MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR MEMBERS!

 

 

For those of you who have utilized all the wonderful features of our new website, we are confident that you have seen interest in your business grow!  We are seeing triple the traffic on our site since we rolled out the new product in late October!  It's easy for our members to use and navigate and the free marketing tools that are included are state-of-the-art!  If you have not yet had the opportunity to request optimization of your member page, upload coupons, classified ads, and member-to-member discounts, or submit your events and meetings to our community calendar, please log in to your account and take full advantage of these exciting ways to market your business on both our website and our mobile app!  If you need us to re-send your log-in information, please contact us at

 

 (661) 948-4518

  

In This Issue
Lancaster Chamber of Commerce February Luncheon 

 


 

With Mayor R. Rex Parris at the helm, the City of Lancaster has continued to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to improving the quality of life for Antelope Valley residents. 2015 promises further growth and development on all fronts as City officials and staff remain steadfast in nurturing community safety, wellness and sustainability with purposeful innovation applied to all aspects of city governance. Since taking office, Mayor Parris has exemplified the importance of work with purpose. Via its value-added agenda, the City of Lancaster has reaped tremendous benefits both as a municipal body, and as a growing diverse community of citizens. All facets of City life continue to improve: public safety, health and wellness, economic development, foundational infrastructure, arts and entertainment, as well as global sustainability. Every step of the City's ongoing process addresses a purpose, a need-based cause which requires attention on a fundamental level. Lancaster takes action with an open mind and a service-oriented plan... an ideology which has served the city and region well, while propelling it into the limelight of forward-thinking communities on the national and international platforms. The City of Lancaster has a lot to be proud of, and so much more to be excited about in the future.


 

 

RSVPs are strongly suggested for this event.

 

Lancaster Chamber members:   $20 (pay online) or

                                                                        $25 at the door

 

Non-Members:                                      $30 (pay online) or

                                                                       $35 at the door


 

 

                                   EVENT INFORMATION

 

Date: February 11th, 2015

 

Time: 11:30am - 1pm

 

Location: Hellenic Center

      43404 30th Street West
Lancaster, CA 93536

 
  
Chairwoman's Message
  

 

The Time is Flying!

It's hard to believe that I have been the chairwoman of the chamber for 7 months already, the time is winding down for someone else to take on the role 

of the Chairperson of the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce.   I'm not done yet though.


 

Have you HEARD?  We have two new members of our Board of Directors, Luis Garibay from the City of Lancaster and Terry Roth from Joshua Memorial.   Both gentleman work and live locally, and serve the community they live in with honor and enthusiasm.  When you see Luis or Terry please congratulate them and get to know them and what they do a little better.


 

Mayor Parris will be joining the chamber for our February luncheon on February 11th to give us a State of City presentation.  This is always great information, and sometimes surprises are heard.  I hope you'll join us on the 11th at 11:30 am at the Hellenic Center for this presentation.

The Young Entrepreneur Academy is going strong.  We have amazing students with huge ideas, great instructors and mentors pulled from the local business community.  I hope that you have marked the date on your calendar March 19th - this is the Investor Panel event, where the students get to take their completed projects and present them to obtain an opportunity to receive funding to implement their ideas.  This is going to be a great opportunity held at LPAC, and we would love to see as many of you there as possible.


 

Did you KNOW?   Our Business 4 Breakfast location has changed, we are now meeting at Domingo's on Ave. I.   We had a great turnout at our January B4B, and it's a networking opportunity you don't want to overlook.


 

Don't FORGET!  Our Business Expo & Flea Market are coming up on Sunday May 3rd.   Booths are on sale at the chamber office, and you'll want to register early in order to get a great sport, call Anna at the chamber today.


 

NETWORKING TIP:   When attending a business networking event, make sure that you keep a level head, drink water or soda or coffee, and if alcohol is served, and you feel the need to indulge, go light on the alcohol, it's difficult to make a 2nd impression, if the 1st impression wasn't very impressive.

I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event, see you soon.


 

 

Chairwoman of the Board
Tamara Stoebe  
2014-2015
Ensuring Financial Success in Your Business
 
  
 
Courtesy of Cobb Doerfler & Associates, CPA Accountants and 
Tax Preparers    
  


Can you point your company in the direction of financial success, step on the gas, and then sit back and wait to arrive at your destination? Not quite. You can't let your business run on autopilot and expect good results. Any business owner knows you need to make numerous adjustments along the way - decisions about pricing, hiring, investments, and so on.


 

So, how do you handle the array of questions facing you? One way is through cost accounting.

 

Cost Accounting Helps You Make Informed Decisions

Cost accounting reports and determines the various costs associated with running your business. With cost accounting, you track the cost of all your business functions - raw materials, labor, inventory, and overhead, among others.


 
Note: Cost accounting differs from financial

accounting because it's only used internally, for decision making. Because financial accounting is employed to produce financial statements for external stakeholders, such as stockholders and the media, it must comply with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Cost accounting does not.

 

Cost accounting allows you to understand the following:

Cost behavior. For example, will the costs increase or stay the same if production of your product goes up?

Appropriate prices for your goods or services. Once you understand cost behavior, you can tweak your pricing based on the current market.

 

Budgeting. You can't create an effective budget if you don't know the real costs of the line items.

 

Is It Hard?


 

To monitor your company's costs with this method, you need to pay attention to the two types of costs in any business: fixed and variable. Fixed costs don't fluctuate with changes in production or sales. 

 

They include:

rent

insurance

dues and subscriptions

equipment leases

payments on loans

management salaries

advertising


 
Variable costs DO change with variations in production and sales. 


 
Variable costs include:

raw materials

hourly wages and commissions

utilities

inventory

office supplies

packaging, mailing, and shipping costs


 
Tip: Cost accounting is easier for smaller, less complicated businesses. The more complex your business model, the harder it becomes to assign proper values to all the facets of your company's functioning.


 

 

We Can Help

If you'd like to better understand the ins and outs of your business and create sound guidance for internal decision making, you might consider cost accounting.

 

Give us a call today.

 

(661)948-2661  

Business-4-Breakfast
  New Location!!!

      Join us for business, stay for breakfast!

 

             

                7:00 A.M.- 8:30 A.M. Thursday, February 26th, 2015

                                      

Event Location

 

Domingo's Restaurant

1324 W. Avenue I, Lancaster, CA  93534

 

          

 Sponsored by:

The Gas Company 

(661)-393-1501

 

*Please note - If you RSVP and do not attend you will be invoiced for $12.00

  

  

Lancaster SUBWAY Franchises Lead the Push for Healthy Living as Partners for the YOLO Wellness Challenge


 

Lancaster, CA. January 12, 2015 - When the YOLO (You Only Live Once) Lancaster Wellness Challenge launched on October 31, 2014, it already had the support of one of the largest restaurant chains in the world. SUBWAY partnered with the City of Lancaster and Antelope Valley Partners for Health (AVPH) to support the Wellness Challenge because it promotes health consciousness, it betters the community, and it benefits its franchises.


 

The year-long YOLO Wellness Challenge, which is the first campaign to be launched as part of an overarching Wellness PACT (Prevention, Advocacy, Commitment and Teaching), partners with local businesses, such as SUBWAY franchises, to offer healthy choices and ultimately cultivate healthy lifestyles throughout the community. YOLO Wellness Challenge participants keep track of the healthy choices they make on a point system via membership cards, with the highest earners becoming eligible for a number of generous awards, including a $5,000 cash grand prize.


 

According to Paul Chopra of NPC Investments, the firm which owns the eleven participating Subway franchises, there are three key advantages behind the decision for Subway to join the Wellness PACT and become a community partner for the YOLO Wellness Challenge.


 

"It goes hand-in-hand with our brand's health conscious ideals. Subway already provides a number of healthy options, and it is great that now customers have even more incentive to take advantage of these healthy options, as well as the many other healthy options offered throughout the community."

"It keeps tax dollars local by incentivizing the community to exercise their healthy choices locally. If local businesses throughout Lancaster participate in this Wellness Challenge, not only will it be easier for residents to cultivate healthy lifestyles, but it will incentivize them to spend their dollars here in Lancaster."

"It is a great way for us to gain exposure. Our YOLO Wellness Challenge partnership was published in the City of Lancaster's quarterly Outlook magazine. We were also provided window signs and special YOLO shirts."

"It is nice to see that the City and AVPH are so involved in bettering Lancaster," concluded Chopra. "It is rewarding to be a part of such a health conscious, caring community."


 

Every organization in the community is capable of becoming a provider of healthy choices, and their participation in YOLO will not only improve the community -- it will benefit their business. Those organizations which are unsure of how they can help are encouraged to reach out to an AVPH professional who will work to find a way in which they can become involved.


 

"For the YOLO Wellness Challenge and all of the future Wellness PACT campaigns to truly have an impact on our community, businesses throughout Lancaster need to join the PACT and help provide healthy choices to the community," said Mayor R. Rex Parris. "I challenge all organizations throughout the community to help make healthy living the standard of living here in Lancaster."


 

For more information or to become a community partner for the YOLO Wellness Challenge, visit www.YOLOLancaster.org or call (661) 942-4719.


Kaiser Permanente Announces
Murtaza Sanwari 
Named Chief Operating Officer

 


 

LANCASTER, CA (January 22, 2015)-Murtaza Sanwari has been named Chief Operating Officer for Kaiser Permanente's Antelope Valley and Panorama City areas.

 

With 15 years of experience in a variety of roles within Kaiser Permanente, Sanwari brings a wealth of experience to his new position.  He will have direct responsibility for Kaiser Foundation Hospital/Health Plan operations in the Antelope Valley, including continuing care, utilization, outside medical services, quality, and supply chain.

                                                                                                                                        

Most recently, Sanwari served as the Assistant Administrator of Support Services at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center. Over the years, Sanwari has developed expertise in operations, market development and strategic ventures, capital and strategic planning, project management, and decision support.  

 

I look forward to serving our growing membership and strengthening our relationships with our community partners.

 

"Our Antelope Valley membership continues to grow-we recently surpassed 110,000 Kaiser Permanente members locally," states Sanwari.  "With our growing membership, it's our goal to build upon our strong relationships with our community partners to provide the highest quality of care to every patient we serve."

 

Murtaza Sanwari joined Kaiser Permanente in 1999. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Administration from California State University Northridge and a Master of Public Health degree from San Diego State. 

     
         Promote YOUR business FREE of Charge
 
  
    
  FREE Chamber Radio 
Talk Show
  
 "Minding Your Business"
                       
    Saturday, 12-1pm
 Call Anna Zarley: (661) 948-4518
  

Lunch & Learn

with the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce

  

We invite our members to join us for our monthly Lunch and Learn sessions!  Held on the last Friday of each month at noon in the Lancaster Chamber boardroom, these informative sessions are FREE for members. 

 

Join us this month at the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce for a lunch and learn with online marketing guru Alex Barclay. Alex will be teaching how to use your Facebook page to drive more people to your business. Over a billion people use Facebook to connect. Learn what to post, when to post, and how to use the Facebook Ads platform to grow your following with a small budget.

Tips From SCORE:

10 Tax Tips To Keep What You Earn in 2015


 


 

What's on your New Year's resolution list? If one of your business objectives for 2015 is to give your website a much-needed makeover, you'll want to make sure it has the important features customers are looking for.

 

1. If someone just started a business this year and they do not expect to earn any income from the business - what can they include as their expenses?

Even if you have not profited from your new business, you are still entitled to report any expenses necessary for your new business. Your ability to deduct these expenses against other forms of income you may depend on your participation level in the business. If you've spent more than you've earned in your first year in business, this loss may be available to be deducted against income from your past or in the future - so don't ignore it! Good planning can help you evaluate the best strategy for putting these losses to work for you and can even result in cash back from prior tax years.

2. Can you take both sales tax deduction and state income tax deduction?

You must choose between the two. It makes sense to see which deduction results in a higher deduction.

3. How can I claim teleworking deductions?

You have to use your office regularly and exclusively for business. If you claim home office deductions for space you use as an employee, you have to show that your employer requires you to maintain the office for the employer's convenience.

4. If you have a partner, do both partners have to have the same business deductions?

If you operate your business as a partnership (even without formalized partnership documents) each partner is generally required to report his or her proportionate share of earnings and deductions. In some cases, it may make sense in your ProActive Tax Strategy to make what are called "special allocations" which are permitted in partnerships. These allocations allow you to share disproportionately in earnings and deductions of the business and can be a powerful part of your tax plan. Your tax planner can provide you an estimated tax savings on implementing this for you.

5. If someone has a hobby business in retirement should it still be filed under a business or personal income?

If you're new in the business, your income is low, or if you operate part-time, you need to know how to protect your tax breaks from the hobby loss rule. You might still be able to deduct hobby losses if your hobby is sufficiently related to your business to treat both as a single activity. You need to show a genuine link, though. The key is to prove that you started the business with the intent to make a profit. You don't need to expect it, but you do need to intend it. If you profit in 3 of the previous 5 years, the IRS presumes you have that necessary intent. But you don't have to show a profit at all if you don't make one! You can lose money year after year, and still prove your business intent by operating in a businesslike manner. In one recent case, a cattle farmer lost money for 24 years and still proved a profit motive!

6. What qualifies as an educational expense?

Saving for college can be harder than saving for retirement! The clock starts ticking the day your child is born, and the closer college draws, the less risk you can take. Credits are available for parents (if they claim a student as a dependent) or students (if they can't be claimed as someone else's dependent). The credits are available for qualified tuition and related expenses incurred for the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, or the taxpayer's dependent who is an eligible student at a qualified educational institution. In general, qualified expenses do not include room and board, books (required for enrollment), student health fees, or transportation.

7. How do you maximize tax savings if you are subject to AMT?

Alternative minimum tax (AMT) is a parallel tax designed to prevent "the rich" from using regular deductions to avoid tax entirely. The best strategy in developing a super tax plan is to begin with a tax plan specific to AMT. Once you've done this, you can begin creating your tax plan for ordinary income tax.

8. Are there deductions for travel that everyone should be thinking about?

Travel costs are deductible for trips you take on behalf of your trade or business. You are considered to be traveling when you're away overnight or long enough to need to sleep. Want to write off weekends? You can treat them as business days if they fall between business appointments or you stay over (before or after your business) to qualify for airline "Saturday stay" discounts.

9. Are there any benefits to registering one's business in a particular state?

It's fairly common to see businesses domiciled in Nevada and Delaware for legal purposes. Generally these states provide additional liability protection due to stricter charging order laws. Most business owners select their business entity and place of domicile based on their attorney's advice for the best legal protection. However, each different type of entity also receives different tax treatment. Depending on an individual's unique circumstances, it's best to have your attorney and your tax planner working together to make sure you have the best liability protection with the most tax benefits.

10. How one can use renovations towards a Tax Credit?

It can vary from renovating your kitchen, adding a roof, and updating windows, all of those items, specifically the kitchen, can be deducted if you are eligible for a home office deduction. You are able to deduct qualifying home improvements equal to the business use percentage of the home. These improvements are depreciated - but can be a great way to turn after tax dollars into pretax dollars - a very powerful tax planning strategy!

The Month In Pictures

February

Carl's Jr. #128

Ribbon Cutting/Re-Grand Opening

Carl's Jr. #128

Ribbon Cutting/Re-Grand Opening

Brookdale Antelope Valley

Ribbon Cutting

Luncheon

Doing Business with Los Angeles County

Luncheon

Doing Business with Los Angeles County

Gerry Plummer, Division Manager of Purchasing for Internal Services Department (ISD)

Business 4 Breakfast

 $50.00 Sponsor, Kimberly Perkins, First City Credit Union

Winner John Horn with Horn Plumbing

Business 4 Breakfast

Best Commercial Winner

Robert Webb with After Hours Lock & Key

Business 4 Breakfast

Table Sponsor

Shea Love with Paychex