5 Savvy Money Moves for Women in Business: Navigating the 2026 Tax Landscape
By: Letitia Berbaum
As a business owner, I know that your firm is more than just a balance sheet. It is the engine for your legacy. Whether you are in the early stages of growth or scaling toward your next milestone, true wealth is rarely built by accident; it is forged through intentional, proactive strategy. I’ve learned through my own journey of founding Blue Sands Wealth and scaling firms that the most impactful financial wins often happen long before the filing deadline.
With the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) now in effect, 2026 brings some of the most significant shifts for business owners in years. These strategic moves are part of a "Profit-to-Freedom Plan" focused on reducing "tax drag" so that what actually lands on your personal balance sheet is maximized. Here is how to navigate the landscape with confidence.
1. Organize Your Financial Narrative
Clear the Money Clutter: For many business owners, financial management feels like having a "thousand tabs open" at once; we call this "Money Noise". Messy books can lead to missed deduction opportunities. Beyond just reconciling accounts monthly, I encourage you to separate personal and business expenses with a "firewall" mentality. For the visionary business owner, your balance sheet should reflect your goals, organized, clear, and focused on future expansion.
2. Capture Potential 2026 Deductions
Proactive planning can help ensure you aren't leaving money on the table, especially with these recent law changes:
The New SALT Relief: Under the OBBBA, the federal deduction for state and local taxes (SALT) has increased to $40,000 (up from $10,000), providing potential relief for high-earning business owners.
Qualified Overtime and Tips: For the first time, employees and self-employed individuals may be eligible to deduct up to $12,500 in qualified overtime and $25,000 in qualified tips.
Education & Masterminds: Investing in yourself through coaching or high-level masterminds often qualifies as a deductible business expense.
Car Loan Interest: A new provision may allow for a deduction of up to $10,000 of interest on loans for new personal-use vehicles assembled in the U.S..
3. Explore Strategies For Your Financial Situation: Beyond the 401(k)
This is where we move from "saving" to "building". For high-income earners looking to potentially reduce their taxable income, we look toward advanced plan design:
Cash Balance Plans (Defined Benefit): Often considered in conjunction with a 401(k), these hybrid plans can potentially allow for significant tax-deductible contributions, depending on your age. Contributions can vary from $100,000 to $300,000+ per year, depending on factors such as age, income, and company revenues. For 2026, the maximum annual benefit limit has increased to $290,000.
Strategic Selection: Whether it’s a Solo 401(k), a SEP IRA, or a Simple IRA, the right vehicle depends on your growth phase. I often work with founders to resolve contribution nuances and select a plan that aligns with their goals, ensuring they maximize their personal nest eggs while rewarding their teams.
4. Leverage Strategic Timing & Depreciation
Tax planning is often about when, not just what. While many people scramble at year-end, our approach involves a Mid-Year CPA Prep Rhythm to ensure every strategic decision is made before the holidays.
Bonus Depreciation: The OBBBA has permanently restored 100% bonus depreciation, allowing for the potential full write-off of qualifying capital investments in the year they are placed in service.
Section 179 Expensing: The allowance has increased to $2.5 million, with the phase-out threshold raised to $4 million.
QBI Permanence: The 20% Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction is now a permanent fixture of the tax code, and 2026 introduces expanded phase-in ranges and a new potential $400 minimum deduction for material participants.
5. Your Advisory "Huddle": Strategy vs. Compliance
The most important thing to remember is that a good tax strategist is an architect, not just a record-keeper. I am not a CPA and do not file your tax returns. Instead, my role is to act as your lead wealth strategist—the quarterback who looks at your entire financial horizon to design the blueprint.
True success happens in the "huddle". By establishing a steady rhythm throughout the year, we coordinate directly with your trusted CPAs and attorneys so decisions actually get executed without adding chaos to your plate. While your CPA ensures you are in compliance and files your returns, my role is to manage your investments with the aim of growing your wealth.
Let’s Lead the Way Together
As we navigate these new tax brackets and the estate tax exemption to $15 million per person, my goal is to ensure your financial plan is as ambitious as your business goals.
[Explore the full list of new provisions: Official IRS OBBBA Resource Page]
I believe the best results happen when your advisors work in sync. Whether you already have a trusted CPA and attorney or are looking to build that inner circle, I am here to lead the huddle. Let’s connect to see how we can unify your business and personal financial plans.
[Schedule Your Advisory Review] — Let's schedule your advisory review to discuss whether your financial goals and strategy are aligned.
Letitia Berbaum is the founder of Blue Sands Wealth and a member of the Forbes Finance Council.
P: (949) 620-1565
Disclosures: Advisory services offered by Investment Advisory Representatives of RFG Advisory, LLC ("RFG Advisory" or "RFG"), a registered investment advisor. Blue Sands Wealth and RFG Advisory are unaffiliated entities.