In this episode of Savvy or Surrender, host Steven Young unpacks the hidden dangers of “playing it safe” in business. What feels like a smart move—delaying bookkeeping, skipping quarterly tax payments, or waiting to hire help—often becomes a slow drain on your business growth and profitability.

Steven shares real-world examples, including the story of a thriving business owner who lost everything by avoiding IRS compliance. You’ll also learn practical “savvy moves” that set you up for long-term success, like implementing the Profit First method, hiring a bookkeeper before you feel ready, and building a financial system that supports growth instead of stifling it. If you’re ready to go from chaos to clarity, this episode will show you how to stop surrendering and start scaling.

**Make sure to visit savvyceoalliance.com to get additional resources for your business.

[00:00] – Playing it safe vs. making bold business moves

[00:40] – Welcome to Savvy or Surrender with Steven Young

[02:19] – The car brake analogy: how safety can quietly damage growth

[03:40] – Surrender move: waiting until tax season to handle bookkeeping

[04:34] – Stashing cash with no plan & co-mingling funds

[05:06] – Avoiding payroll and skipping quarterly tax payments

[06:04] – Case study: $300K flooring business bankrupted by IRS debt

[07:15] – The myth of “I’ll do it when I have time”

[08:00] – Sole proprietor fears: avoiding S-Corp or LLC setup

[08:35] – Flipping the script: what savvy moves look like

[08:44] – Profit First principles: allocating funds weekly

[09:19] – Sneak peek: next week’s episode on Profit First

[10:35] – Hiring a bookkeeper before you think you’re ready

[10:46] – Why Steven built Savvy Tax Strategies for small businesses

[12:14] If you are making 50K a year, become a S Corp if…

[15:43] Quit treating your business like a hobby and not a business

[20:00] We can help make your business less of a mess

#SavvyOrSurrender #SmallBusinessTips #TaxStrategy #ProfitFirst #EntrepreneurLife #Bookkeeping #BusinessGrowth #TaxPlanning #MoneyManagement #IRSCompliance

@savvytaxes

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What if one bill could reshape your entire tax strategy?
In this episode of Savvy or Surrender, Steven breaks down the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)—a proposed piece of legislation that could have a massive impact on contractors, real estate investors, and small business owners alike.

You’ll learn:

• Why this bill could mean permanent 100% bonus depreciation
• How it affects solar tax credits, EV credits, and energy incentives
• What strategic moves to make now before it passes (or doesn't)
• How to use this bill to your advantage legally and proactively

This isn’t political—it’s practical. Whether you’re scaling a blue-collar business or growing a rental portfolio, you can’t afford to ignore the ripple effect of this legislation.

🔧 Stop reacting. Start planning. This is your tax planning cheat code—if you use it right.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Meet with Steven → https://meetwithsavvy.com
  
  
• Learn more about proactive tax planning at → https://savvytaxstrategies.com
  
  

🎧 Subscribe to Savvy or Surrender for weekly, no-fluff insights on tax, cash flow, and real business strategy. Because the IRS doesn’t care about your intentions—and neither does your bottom line.

@savvytaxes

savvyceoalliance.com

savvyceoshop.com

meetwithsavvy.com

Kick things off with Steven Young in the premiere episode of Savvy or Surrender, the no-nonsense podcast aimed at tough-as-nails tradespeople, contractors, and entrepreneurs. Steven shares his own journey—from blue-collar beginnings to building a thriving business—and lays out the mission of the show: to help you fight back against high taxes, hidden financial pitfalls, and the complacency that keeps you from scaling.

What You’ll Learn:

The mindset shift from playing defense to going on offense with your money

Common tax mistakes that cost tradespeople thousands

Why traditional accountants often leave you exposed—and how this podcast fills that gap

Your next steps: how to get more from your business and keep more of what you earn

Why Listen:
If you're putting in the work and building your empire with grit and grit alone, Savvy or Surrender is your strategy playbook. Hit subscribe, rally your crew, and get ready to take control—profit, taxes, leadership, and all.

@savvytaxes

savvyceoalliance.com

savvyceoshop.com

meetwithsavvy.com