29
Sep
Mon
in-person
Early Stage Tax Issues ($0-2M ARR), Peter Buss, KBF CPA
As your startup grows from idea to $2M ARR, the tax decisions you make early can save—or cost—you hundreds of thousands of dollars. Many founders focus on product and market fit while overlooking critical tax planning that becomes expensive to fix later.
Key Topics:
Business Structure Selection & Tax Implications
LLC vs. S-Corp vs. C-Corp: How each structure affects your personal tax liability, self-employment taxes, and ability to raise capital
QSB Stock Election: Maximizing the Section 1202 qualified small business stock exclusion (up to $10M tax-free on exit)
When to Convert: Timing your LLC-to-C-Corp conversion to minimize tax consequences while preparing for investment
Startup-Specific Tax Deadlines & Filing Requirements
State Registration: Multi-state compliance issues as you hire remote employees or expand markets
Quarterly Estimated Taxes: Avoiding penalties when revenue is unpredictable
R&D Tax Credits: Capturing credits for software development and innovation activities that most early-stage companies miss
Fundraising & Investment Tax Implications
83(b) Elections: Critical timing for founder and employee equity to avoid massive tax bills later
SAFE Notes vs. Convertible Debt: Tax treatment differences that affect both company and investors
Option Pool Planning: Structuring employee equity to minimize tax complications
Why This Matters:
Poor early-stage tax planning can cost you 6-7 figures in unnecessary taxes or limit your fundraising options. The right structure and elections made early create flexibility for growth and maximize your after-tax proceeds at exit.
Speaker
“
Peter Buss
Partner. KBF CPA.
Peter focuses on serving public companies, private equity owned and venture-backed entities. Peter has built a niche in providing ASC 740 and purchase accounting consulting services. Additionally, Peter oversees the corporate tax compliance team, handling income tax preparation for both public and private companies.
Peter serves as the outsourced tax department for both public and large private companies, handling all tax-related matters for these companies. In many instances, Peter works as a liaison between the client and the audit firm on tax accounting matters. Working directly with dynamic corporate clients has allowed Peter to maintain and strengthen his technical proficiency in the area of ASC 740. With the heightened independence requirements required by the SEC and PCAOB, Peter has filled a necessary void for many public companies.
Peter assists companies on a routine basis with their tax purchase accounting issues and has developed a strong focus in this area. Additional technical tax accounting topics Peter regularly consults on include stock based compensation, interim tax accounting, and uncertain tax position accounting.
Peter was with Ernst & Young in San Francisco prior to joining the KBF team as a partner in 2004.
01
all founders,
not just ceo
People inclined to be Founders are a rare breed, and are hard to spot in society. We welcome ALL Founders, regardless of role, and generate proprietary profiles for every member so you can easily find your next team member or co-Founder.
02
current founders
Regardless of where you are on your journey, Founders share a unique set of challenges. Hiring, leadership, managing investors, developing products, handling customer issues, external communications, etc. This community exists to amplify your success.
03
TRANSITIONING FOUNDERS
So you’ve founded at least one company, and now you’re looking to refine your next great idea or find the perfect co-founder. Share and learn from a wide array of talented Founders in your area.
04
CURIOUS FOUNDERS
Congratulations! You’ve found success as a Founder and are now getting curious about doing it again. Now you need to find the right idea and co-founder to excite you. Share your wisdom and passion while forming new bonds within the startup ecosystem in your area.
To Pre-Qualify for participation, please fill out an application
Get Started