Most business owners are drowning in data but starving for insights. You log into your point-of-sale system and see a spike in weekend revenue. You check your e-commerce dashboard and see a surge in website traffic. It feels like momentum. But when you look at your bank account at the end of the month, the…
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State Departments of Revenue do not send friendly reminders. They send assessments, with penalties and interest attached. For a growing small business, or a winery expanding into direct-to-consumer (DTC) shipping, sales tax is no longer a background admin task. The moment you collect sales tax at checkout, you are holding trust fund money. It is…
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Payroll used to feel straightforward. You tracked hours, ran payroll, filed taxes, and moved on. That is no longer the reality for most wineries and small businesses. In 2026, payroll sits at the center of compliance, employee trust, and business stability. For wineries and other growing businesses, one small mistake can create a ripple effect:…
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At Protea Financial, we know that for many winery owners, the words “tax season” evoke a familiar sense of dread. As the new year begins, the joy of completing a successful harvest is often overshadowed by the looming mountain of financial paperwork, frantic searches for missing receipts, and the anxiety of potential IRS or TTB…
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At Protea Financial, we often meet business owners who are incredible at what they do, whether that is crafting an award-winning Cabernet, running a non-profit, or managing a bustling retail operation, but who view bookkeeping as a necessary evil. It is often treated as an afterthought, something to be rushed through late at night or…
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In this episode of Protea Weekly, Zane Stevens discusses the importance of hiring an accountant for small business owners, particularly in the wine industry. He emphasizes the need for good information and processes to ensure accurate financial data. Zane shares seven key tips for choosing the right accountant, including the importance of industry expertise, technology…
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