Another Catch-Up Post, News, Etc.

Let's start with a bang, shall we? Last post, I mentioned I had some some cool news to announce regarding a change in our family. That change? My wife is resigning from work, too, so that we can turn our full attention on RAILhead Effects! Risky and exciting — but somehing we've both wanted to have happen for a while now — and we're totally stoked! But just so you know, we have a backup plan, so don't worry about us if things never get massive — but I don't expect us to have to worry about that.

Anyway, it'll be cool for her not to have to put in 50 hours a week at a 7:00am to 4:45pm job for a change.

••••••••

We had a 3 hour meeting with our CPA yesterday, and it was great. I know that sounds like an oxymoron, but it's true! We needed some help getting QuickBooks setup properly, so he showed us the ins and outs of using it, as well as all the other fun stuff regarding taxes, exemptions, etc. One point we rested on for a while — and I bring it up for my fellow small business owners — is that you all should have filed tax exemption certificates with your vendors. I think I may have mentioned this "tip" before, but it's worth bringing up again, because it can save you LOADS of money. The purpose is to keep from paying tax on things twice, so if you buy something that will in turn be sold by you, and you're required to charge tax, you don't need to be taxed on your initial purchase of the item.

For example, I buy components from Mouser, which is based here in Texas. Since the parts I buy will go into a product I sell, and those items are taxable, I don't need to be charged tax on my purchase of those parts because I will be collecting tax at the point of sale. For us photographers, the same applies for stock paper, ink, framing cards, etc.

I'll throw out there, too, that if you're a small business and you think you're doing your taxes correctly, I'll wager $1000 that you're not. There are so many loops and strings of red tape, there's no way your Average Joe/Jane can file taxes properly (until you fully understand everything). Do yourself a massive favor and go see a legit CPA — not the dude or gal at H&R Block. Spend the money on the real deal, because chances are, they'll save you whatever their fee will be.

••••••••

I've decided that I'm going to get a tattoo, and it's going to be a modified version of our Family Crest. Here's a rough draft:

The critical inclusions are the red lion, the boar's head, the fleurs-de-lis, the 3 green, five-leafed Potentilla rose plants, the iris, and the motto "Juncta arma decori," which means "arms united to glory." The numbers at the top are the birth years of my Dad, Mom, Brother, Sister, me, and then my wife (my Family Clan). I'm also deciding where, exactly, I'll get it — but I'm leaning toward all around my right shoulder or right, upper shoulder/back area.

As for who will do it, I'm planning on making a little mini-vacation so that an artist at High Voltage Tattoo in Hollywood, CA can ink it — but I haven't decided which one yet. I'm leaning toward Dennis, Khoi, Nate, or Hanna (especially Hanna). We'll see. For those out of the loop, High Voltage Tattoo is the ink shop featured on L.A. Ink on TLC. Nothing against the local guys, but there's a lot of detail in my design, and I really want a "top-of-the-line" artist to do the work.

I still have to tweak the shape of the shield and motto banner, but the above is the basic idea.

••••••••

Speaking of art and stuff, I finalized my RAILhead Effects stickers:

You now get one (two) in every order, and I'll be selling them from the site too. Cool!

••••••••

That's it for now...

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 02/12 at 08:19 AM

Comments:

On 02/14 (09:31 PM), .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) said...

On 02/15 (11:21 PM), .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) said...

Add a Comment: