Basta & Company

Basta & Company Strategic advisors and tax experts for California construction, architecture, and interior design businesses.

Samy is trusted California CPA Expert with 25 years of experience in the field, helping clients navigate the complexities of finance with confidence. We deliver CFO-level insights tailored for small businesses across diverse sectors, including real estate, construction, and creative agencies. Our firm provides expert B2B accounting and tax consultation services throughout California, providing the dedicated support you need to thrive.

08/25/2026

You're not paid to write emails. So stop writing them.

Change order on a $4,200 framing fix? Paste this into ChatGPT: "Write a smart, nice email to a homeowner. Tell them we found bad framing after demo. Extra cost is $4,200. Be friendly but firm."

10 seconds. Done.

Same trick works for late invoices, warranty replies, offer letters.

Watch the full episode in our Youtube channel. https://www.youtube.com/

08/18/2026

You have to subtract the extra costs. Payroll. A separate business tax return. Better bookkeeping. Tax preparation. And California's 1.5% franchise tax ($800 minimum).

So you have to look at the whole picture. Maybe the S-corp saves you $5,000. Maybe it saves you $500. Maybe it saves you nothing.

You have to do the math before you make the choice.

Watch the full episode in our Youtube channel. https://www.youtube.com/

08/17/2026

So you made your company an S-corp. But then you realize: more payroll, another tax return, California franchise tax, accounting fees. And after all that? You saved $500. Maybe nothing.

That's not tax planning. That's just creating more work.

Watch the full episode in our Youtube channel. https://www.youtube.com/

08/15/2026

S-corp tax savings — but not for every contractor.

Your business is making good money. But the tax bill looks wrong.

Sometimes it's not a missing deduction. It's the way the business is taxed.

That's where an S-corp might help.

Watch the full episode in our Youtube channel. https://www.youtube.com/

08/04/2026

Tom needed a truck for his crew. Bought it, logged the miles, used it for jobs. Saved $28K in federal taxes. Smart deduction.

Jake bought a $95K F-450 because Instagram told him to. 25% business use. Qualified for nothing. Plus $9K in California sales tax.

Same deduction. Totally different results.

The difference isn't the truck — it's the planning. 👇 Full video in the channel!

08/03/2026

Federal bonus depreciation lets you write off a truck in year one. California doesn't follow those rules.

CA makes you spread it out over 5–6 years. Your state tax savings? Way smaller than the Instagram guy told you.

You're getting half the story. 👇 Full video out now!

08/01/2026

The IRS lets you write off a heavy truck in year one. F-250, F-350, RAM 2500 — all qualify under Section 179.

But here's what nobody tells you: 50%+ of your miles have to be business miles. Not commuting. Not personal.

No log? Deduction gone. Back taxes. Penalties.
The Instagram guys never mention that part.

👇 Watch the full episode out now!

Seen the pitch: buy a heavy truck, write it all off, pay zero taxes? Here's what that pitch leaves out.The deduction is ...
07/31/2026

Seen the pitch: buy a heavy truck, write it all off, pay zero taxes? Here's what that pitch leaves out.

The deduction is real. Bonus depreciation is 100% and permanent right now, so a heavy vehicle placed in service can be fully written off the year you buy it. But two things usually get skipped:

You need documented business use to actually support the deduction — not a truck that occasionally hauls lumber and mostly sits in the driveway.

And you still spent the money.

Run the real math: buy a $90K truck, save roughly $30K in taxes, and you're still out $60K in cash that left the business.

Ask yourself the question that actually matters: would I buy this truck without the tax angle? If the honest answer is no, that's not tax planning. That's shopping with a discount attached.

Want to know more about bonus depreciation? Link in comment!

05/18/2026

Labor burden is the hidden cost most builders miss.

If you pay $1 in wages, your real payroll cost may be $1.20 to $1.30 after payroll taxes, workers’ comp, benefits, overtime, and reimbursements.

That means $30/hour labor could really cost you $36/hour or more.

If you don’t know your labor burden, you’re guessing on every bid.

05/16/2026

Your construction business can be busy and still feel cash tight.

Revenue doesn’t mean profit.

If payroll taxes, workers’ comp, overtime, benefits, and reimbursements aren’t tracked correctly, your real labor cost could be 15–30% higher than you think.

That hidden payroll gap is where your cash flow disappears.

Builders: know your real labor cost before you bid the next job.

Address

100 Pine Street
San Francisco, CA
94111

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm

Telephone

+14153336262

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