When you’re preparing to close or sell your business, the last thing you want to do is leave money on the table. And yet, most practice owners don’t realize just how much tax they could save—if they simply had the right financial oversight ahead of time.

In this case, we were working with a veterinarian practice owner who was preparing to shut down one of his businesses. At first glance, it might’ve looked straightforward. But because we were overseeing his finances from a higher-level view, we noticed a key opportunity.

The practice was owned through multiple entities. And because we manage everything through a fractional family office lens, we had visibility across them all. That meant we could see where the money was flowing, which entity owned what, and—critically—how the timing of the shutdown could impact his taxes.

We realized that with the right strategy, we could shift a large portion of what would normally be taxed at ordinary income rates over to capital gains rates instead.

In California, that rate difference can be as high as 17%. And on a sizable transaction like this one, that translated into a real savings: nearly $29,000.

This wasn’t a gimmick or a loophole. It was simply good planning, done early, with accurate books and a full view of the financial landscape. Because we’re involved all year round—doing proactive tax projections and coordinating entity strategy—we can make these kinds of calls before it’s too late.

We’ve found millions for clients by catching these kinds of missed opportunities. The key is looking ahead, staying organized, and making decisions with full context—not just at tax time.

If you're a business owner navigating multiple entities, it’s worth asking: is your current setup helping you flourish—or costing you more than it should?

We’re here to help. Book a consult if you’d like a second set of eyes on your situation, and join us for more stories as we continue to share how we help people just like you recover missed money—and keep more of what you earn.