Advisory Services
CFO-level advisory for farmers, agribusiness and professional service owners in Brookings, SD. Entity analysis, succession and R&D credits, bundled in one fixed monthly fee.
Quick answer
TruCount CPA in Brookings, SD bundles CFO-level advisory into a fixed monthly fee, covering entity type analysis, retirement plan analysis, accounting system setup, R&D tax credits and succession planning for farmers, agribusiness operators and professional service businesses.
CFO-Level Insight Without the CFO Price Tag
Most small businesses can't justify a full-time CFO salary, but that doesn't mean the guidance stops mattering. TruCount CPA's advisory services put that same level of financial strategy in your corner, without the six-figure payroll line. You get a team who already knows your numbers, your industry, and your goals, weighing in before decisions get made instead of after.
This isn't a bolt-on service billed by the hour. Advisory support comes bundled into a fixed monthly fee alongside your accounting and tax work, so you always know what's coming on the invoice. Everything runs through a secure online platform where you and our team can see the same numbers anytime, ask a question, and get an answer without waiting for the next scheduled call.
For farmers and agribusiness operators managing tight margins and unpredictable weather, that kind of access changes how decisions get made.
Entity Type Analysis: A Structure That Fits Your Operation
Choosing the right entity is one of those decisions that quietly shapes your taxes, your liability, and your options for years. For a farm, an agribusiness, or a professional service firm, the answer is rarely the same as the neighbor's. Our entity type analysis looks at how you operate today, who is involved, and where you want to be in five or ten years, so the structure fits the business you actually run.
We compare the options side by side, including how each one affects your tax picture, your paperwork, and the way income and ownership flow between people. Many operations have more than one moving part, such as land, equipment, a service arm, and family members with different roles. We bring tax strategy experience with multi-entity agribusiness structures to these conversations.
Once you've chosen, we handle the state and federal form preparation so nothing gets missed. You also get clear guidance on where the tax savings are, and we revisit the structure as your business grows or changes. Because advisory is part of your fixed monthly fee, checking in on whether your entity still fits is a normal part of the relationship, not a surprise on the invoice.
If you've been running on a structure that was set up years ago and never reviewed, this is a good place to start. A short conversation can tell you whether it is still working for you.
Retirement Plan Analysis: Right-Sized for Your Team
Offering a retirement plan helps you attract and keep good people, and it gives you a way to save for your own future. The challenge is that the options can feel confusing, and the wrong choice can cost more than it should. Our retirement plan analysis helps you find a plan that fits your business and your team without overspending.
We start with the basics: how many people you employ, whether your workforce is year-round or seasonal, and what you want the plan to accomplish for you as the owner. Then we research and compare the plans that make sense, laying out the differences in plain language. You see how each option could affect your tax situation and your annual commitments before you decide anything.
For farm and agribusiness owners, income often swings from year to year, so flexibility matters. For professional service owners, the right plan can be a meaningful part of a bigger tax strategy. Either way, we guide you through plan selection so you feel confident about the choice, then connect it to your year-round tax planning.
Because we already handle your accounting and payroll, we know what your numbers can support. That means recommendations that are grounded in your real cash flow, not a generic template. You get an answer you can act on, and a team that stays available as questions come up.
Accounting System Setup: Numbers You Can See Sooner
Knowing your numbers sooner rather than later is what keeps surprises away. That starts with a system built around how your business really works. We set up a custom chart of accounts, your software, and a reporting structure designed for your operation, whether that is a grain and livestock farm, an ag supply business, or a service firm with crews and clients on the move.
A good setup streamlines your workflow from day one. Transactions land where they belong, bills and invoices follow a simple routine, and the reports you care about are ready when you need them. Everything connects to our secure online platform, so you and our team work from the same real-time data and can answer questions together.
Already have a system that has gotten messy? We do cleanup for existing businesses too. We review what's there, fix what's drifted, and rebuild the structure so your books tell a clear story again. Many owners tell us the relief of finally trusting their reports is worth it on its own.
A well-built system also makes everything else easier. Budgeting, cash flow analysis, tax planning, and payroll all draw from the same clean data, which means better advice and fewer last-minute scrambles. You spend less time wondering where things stand, and more time running the business you built.
R&D Tax Credits for Farmers and Agribusiness
When most people hear "research and development," they picture a lab. In reality, the federal R&D tax credit can apply to businesses that work to improve a process, a product, or a method, and agriculture is no exception. Farmers and agribusiness operators who test new practices, refine equipment, or develop better ways to produce and handle their crops or livestock may have activity worth a closer look.
Whether you qualify depends on the details, which is why this belongs in a conversation and not a guess. We help you understand what counts, what records matter, and how the credit could fit into your broader tax plan. Done well, it can reduce your tax bill and put money back into the operation.
This works best as part of year-round planning. Because we are already close to your numbers, we can spot opportunities as they happen instead of after the return is filed. We also look at the credit alongside other strategies, such as income averaging and deferred grain contract planning, so each decision supports the bigger picture.
Professional service businesses that develop new software, workflows, or methods may find opportunities here as well. We will tell you honestly if the credit is not a fit, so you do not spend time chasing something that will not pay off. If it is, you will know exactly where to start.
Succession Planning: Passing On What You've Built
A farm, an agribusiness, or a professional practice is more than an asset. It is years of work, relationships, and often a family's story. Succession planning helps you decide what happens next, and it is far easier to do well when you start early and take it one step at a time.
We guide you through ownership transfer structuring, tax-efficient transition strategy, and business valuation guidance. That means looking at who will take over, how ownership and control move, and how to reduce the tax impact along the way. We bring experience with multi-generational farm transitions and family farm succession, as well as exit planning for professional service business owners.
Every family and every firm is different. Some owners want to hand the operation to the next generation. Others plan to sell to a partner or step back gradually. We listen first, then build a plan that respects your goals and keeps everyone on the same page, including the family members who will be affected.
Because we know your numbers and your people, we can model different paths and show what each one means for your income, your taxes, and your retirement. There are no surprises, and no pressure. Just a clear picture so you can make a confident decision.
The best time to start is before you feel you have to. We'll help you get there.
Ready for Clear Numbers and Confident Decisions?
Whether you are choosing an entity, planning for the next generation, or just want to know where your business stands, we're here to help. Reach out to TruCount CPA in Brookings, SD, and let's talk about how CFO-level insight, bundled into one fixed monthly fee, can give you more time to run the business you built.