What has hurt the small business owner in this recovery is the uncertainty that has come out of Washington from the Federal government the last two years. I thought with the election behind us, things would get better.

This has not happened with the fiscal cliff still looming big on the horizon. It make it impossible to do end of the year tax planning. Typically, small business owners try to legally defer income and bring as many expenses into the current year as possible.

This stratey does not make sense this year because taxes may go up in 2013.  If corporate and high earner taxes do rise, then it would make sense to bring revenue into this year (lower tax rate) and defer expenses to next year to optimize taxes.

See the problem? Yet another way the deadlock in Washington is hurting Main street.

What is your strategy for the end of the year?