By Blake Christian

It is clear that California businesses and individuals are faced with some of the highest marginal tax rates in the country – at 8.82% for most C Corporations and up to 10.3% for individuals making more than $1 million (note: an S Corporation owner can experience combined marginal rates of up to 11.8% for California purposes, when adding in the 1.5% California S Corporation level “toll tax”). These high taxes contribute to California’s relatively low rankings in “business friendly” surveys.

However, there is a silver lining for most Long Beach businesses and their equity owners (as well as certain lenders). Businesses can dramatically reduce their California income/franchise taxes by choosing to operate in the Long Beach Enterprise Zone (EZ), which comprises over 70% of the city and includes most of the commercial/ industrial sections of the city – including the port, Downtown Long Beach, The Airport, and most other sections of the city, except Belmont Shore/ 2nd Street.

By Ian Lamont - Senior Consultant & Principal

Putting ego and pride before wisdom happens with managers. It does not happen with leaders and it is those leaders who run successful businesses and organizations.

These leaders have learned that one of the biggest performance barriers has nothing to do with weak sales, sloppy strategic planning or lackluster employees. It’s an individual hurdle every professional faces: knowing and admitting what you don’t know.