21 Hats Podcast Dashboard: A Few Ideas to Really Help Small Businesses
Jul 28, 2025
Peter Koehler, founder of Lumo Group, specializes in helping businesses with operations and finances. He emphasizes that small businesses are uniquely different from large corporations and suggests that the federal tax code should reflect this. Koehler advocates for tiered payroll tax rates, a startup tax credit for professional services, and changes to the qualified business income deduction to combat growing consolidation. He also highlights the importance of supporting low-margin businesses as vital community resources, calling for policies that empower small enterprises.
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Startup Grocery Tax Struggle
- Peter Koehler shared how a gross receipts tax hurt his startup grocery store's financial stability.
- Despite $10-15M revenue, this tax pushed the business from breakeven to losing money, unlike larger firms.
Small Businesses Are Different Species
- Small businesses differ structurally, culturally, and financially from large enterprises.
- Their community ties and limited resources mean setbacks hit harder and impact more than profits.
Tiered Payroll Tax Rates
- Implement tiered payroll tax rates with reductions on the first $1M wages for small employers.
- This would ease hiring burdens and reward growth among businesses with fewer than 25 employees.