5% or $255? Understanding Which IRS Penalty Applies to Your Business

At Heyward CPA, we believe that your past financial records shouldn’t be an anchor holding back your future growth. For many entrepreneurs, the weight of unfiled business tax returns feels like a shadow following every strategic move. You want to scale, hire, and innovate, but there is a nagging fear of what the IRS might … Read more

Unfiled Business Returns: A No-Judgment Guide to Getting Current

At Heyward CPA, we know that life happens. We’ve seen it all: the growth spurts that leave you breathless, the personal emergencies that pull you away from the desk, and the simple, human overwhelm of trying to wear every hat in your business. If you’ve fallen behind on your business tax returns, the first thing … Read more

From Bookkeeping to Business Growth: How Your Financial Data Fuels Smarter Decisions

For many small business owners, the word "bookkeeping" conjures up a specific, somewhat draining image: a shoebox full of crumpled receipts, a looming tax deadline, and the nagging feeling that you’re just trying to keep your head above water. You do it because you have to: for the IRS, for your bank, or for your … Read more

5 Steps to Find Your Northstar Number (Easy Guide for Growth-Minded Entrepreneurs)

At Heyward CPA, we talk to growth-minded entrepreneurs every day. Whether you’re running a thriving law firm, managing a busy daycare, or building a consulting practice, there’s one question most owners can’t answer on the spot: How much does this business actually need to make? Not “more than last year.” Not a round number that … Read more

Self-Employed vs. Entrepreneur: The 2026 Reality Check You Didn’t Ask For

Let’s be honest: your LinkedIn headline is probably lying. It’s 2026. Everyone with a laptop and a Ring light calls themselves an "Entrepreneur." But if we’re pulling back the curtain at Heyward CPA PLLC, we see the cold, hard data. Most people claiming the title are actually just self-employed. And while there’s nothing wrong with … Read more