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You’re the beauty expert.

We’re the beauty accounting experts.

Let’s make your finances match your hair and nails: flawless.

Here’s what you know… 

Your business is exploding faster than Paul Mitchell’s Superhair Salon did in 1973.

[Okay, maybe not… but it’s close.]

You’re busy turning out beauty queens and bringing in beauty green… 

maybe more green than you’ve ever earned before!

You know accounting is important, but you also have new employees to mentor, product orders to make, content to create, and beauty sleep to be slept.

Nobody warned you: Success brings a lot more freedom, but also a lot more questions…

How much do I save for taxes?

How much do I keep for myself? 

When can I buy that Tesla?

We get it.

Here’s what we know…

Beauty pros are smarter than red-carpet trends, scrappier than a dang scrapbook, and more adaptable than clean hair (the holy grail for easy styling).

You deserve a CPA who really gets you.

Legit success requires legit accounting because in our experience, messy accounting is a worse idea than a DIY perm.

And as the new “Chris Appleton of the neighborhood,” you can’t afford to be making poor financial decisions while in the center spotlight.

Enter: Carter Cook CPAs

We are the leading experts in beauty industry accounting who:

  1. save you peace of mind by getting done what needs to be done,
  2. save your time + money in the long run by educating you along the way,
  3. and save your business from beauty-industry-specific financial blind spots you didn’t even know existed.

We will hold your [perfectly manicured] hand through every step of the process.

Starting here.

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS?

  • The Beauty Bookkeeping Course

    Learn QuickBooks for Beauty Pros so you can pay yourself consistently and never be surprised by a tax bill. This is the class that Beauty School should include, but doesn’t. Perfect for new stylists who are learning the ropes.

  • Concierge CPA Services

    Luxury done-for-you services where we take care of all your accounting needs

  • Clarity Call

    This is a 55 minute, intensive one-on-one consultation to take you from confused to crystal clear on your financial questions

Here’s what actually changes when your books are t Here’s what actually changes when your books are tax-ready. You stop wondering if you can pay yourself — you know. You stop reacting to taxes — you plan for them. And owner pay stops feeling risky. Nothing magical happens. The business doesn’t suddenly make more money. But your decisions get clearer. Your stress goes down. And your pay becomes intentional. That’s what this course teaches. The cart is open. Link in bio.
If you missed the live webinar, you didn’t miss yo If you missed the live webinar, you didn’t miss your chance.⁠ ⁠ 🎥 Replay is now available:⁠ Is Your Bookkeeping Tax-Ready? How to Stop Guessing What to Pay Yourself⁠ ⁠ This training is for beauty pros who:⁠ ⁠ feel anxious about taxes⁠ ⁠ aren’t sure what to pay themselves⁠ ⁠ want a simple bookkeeping system that actually makes them feel confident⁠ ⁠ In the webinar, I break down:⁠ ✔️ what tax-ready books actually look like⁠ ✔️ why guessing creates stress + tax surprises⁠ ✔️ the simple system that helps you pay yourself consistently⁠ ⁠ ✨ Enrollment is now open for my bookkeeping course.⁠ Cart closes Thursday 2/5/26.⁠ ⁠ When you enroll, you’ll also get these bonuses:⁠ 🎁 Pricing Calculator⁠ 🎁 Profit Allocator Calculator⁠ 🎁 101 Top Tax Deductions for Beauty Pros⁠ 🎁 90 days access to Elevate Together Community⁠ ⁠ Comment REPLAY and I’ll DM you the link.
DIY bookkeeping works — when it’s done with intent DIY bookkeeping works — when it’s done with intention. If you’re a beauty professional under six figures, you don’t need a full accounting team to feel confident paying yourself. You need: • the right structure • the right reports • and a system that supports owner pay, not just compliance That’s exactly what I’m teaching in my free training. If you’re doing your own books and want them to actually work for you, registration is open. Link in bio.
This surprises a lot of beauty pros. Your CPA isn This surprises a lot of beauty pros. Your CPA isn’t holding back. They’re limited by your books. Owner pay advice requires: • clean data • consistent categorization • tax-ready numbers Without that, the best you’ll get is hindsight. If you want proactive guidance on how to pay yourself during the year, your bookkeeping has to support it. That’s what I’m teaching in my free training. Registration is open. Link in bio.
If paying yourself feels like a guessing game, you If paying yourself feels like a guessing game, your bookkeeping isn’t supporting you yet.⁠ ⁠ Owner pay requires more than categorized transactions.⁠ It requires numbers you can actually use.⁠ ⁠ If your books don’t clearly show:⁠ • what’s available⁠ • what’s owed⁠ • and what you can pay yourself confidently⁠ ⁠ then this training is for you.⁠ ⁠ I’m walking through how to structure DIY bookkeeping so owner pay is clear, repeatable, and tax-aware.⁠ ⁠ Registration is open for Monday February 2nd 8:30 AM pacific/11:30 AM eastern.⁠ ⁠ Link in bio.⁠
Most owner pay problems aren’t about how much you Most owner pay problems aren’t about how much you make. They’re about whether your books are tax-ready. When your bookkeeping is set up correctly, you stop guessing: • what’s available • what’s owed • and what you can pay yourself without stress In this free training, I’ll show you how to structure your books so owner pay is clear, repeatable, and tax-aware, even when you’re DIY-ing your bookkeeping. If you want to feel confident paying yourself this year, registration is open. Link in bio.
January is when the guessing stops, whether you’re January is when the guessing stops, whether you’re ready or not. This is when the prior year’s books are closed. Those numbers go on the tax return. And whatever you paid yourself last year becomes a tax reality. If owner pay was unclear, inconsistent, or based on “whatever was in the account,” January is when that shows up. This is why now is the best time to get your finances organized, before the books are finalized and the return is filed. If you want your bookkeeping to support confident, tax-savvy decisions going forward, registration is open. Link in bio.
Being busy is not the same as being paid. If your Being busy is not the same as being paid. If your books don’t clearly show: • what’s available • what’s owed • and what’s yours you’ll always feel behind—no matter how full your schedule is. This is one of the biggest mindset shifts I see with beauty professionals. And it starts with bookkeeping that supports owner pay, not just compliance. Join me next Monday February 2nd where I will be going over this in more detail. Register at the link in my bio.
Seeing money in your account feels reassuring. But Seeing money in your account feels reassuring. But it’s not the same thing as being allowed to pay yourself. That cash may already be spoken for: Taxes. Expenses. Stability. Your bank balance doesn’t tell you any of that. This is why so many beauty pros feel profitable on paper—but still hesitate when it’s time to take money out. Owner pay comes from available profit, not vibes and not balances. And yes—bookkeeping is the difference.
If you’re deciding your pay based on what’s left i If you’re deciding your pay based on what’s left in your account, your books aren’t doing their job.⁠ ⁠ Owner pay isn’t a vibe.⁠ It’s a calculation.⁠ ⁠ And when that calculation isn’t supported by clean, structured bookkeeping, one of two things happens:⁠ • You underpay yourself and stay stressed⁠ • Or you overpay yourself and meet the IRS later⁠ ⁠ Neither is the goal.⁠ ⁠ This week I’m walking through why pay clarity is the real purpose of bookkeeping — especially for beauty professionals who are DIY-ing their books.⁠ ⁠ This is where it starts.
Let’s talk tax return extensions (and why they’re Let’s talk tax return extensions (and why they’re not a bad thing). Filing an extension doesn’t mean you’re behind or doing something wrong. Most of the time, it’s actually a smart, strategic move. An extension gives your tax pro time to: • Slow down and review your numbers • Ask the right follow-up questions • Catch deductions that are easy to miss • Make thoughtful tax elections • File a return that actually reflects your business And let’s be honest for a second — you probably don’t want your tax return prepared by someone who’s been working 80 hours a week for 10 weeks straight. Extensions create space for clearer thinking, better accuracy, and fewer “oops” moments later. Just remember: an extension gives you more time to file, not more time to pay. Planning still matters — but rushing rarely helps. Sometimes, giving your tax return a little breathing room is the best move you can make. If you want a calm, strategic plan instead of a rushed tax season, book a discovery call. We’ll help you decide the best next step.
Tax guesses get expensive.⁠ ⁠ Unreconciled books c Tax guesses get expensive.⁠ ⁠ Unreconciled books can mean:⁠ • Missing income⁠ • Duplicated expenses⁠ • “Profit” that isn’t real⁠ • Tax bills that don’t make sense⁠ ⁠ Your tax preparer isn’t magically fixing this on the back end.⁠ They’re using whatever numbers you hand them.⁠ ⁠ Clean, reconciled books =⁠ ✔️ Accurate tax return⁠ ✔️ No surprises⁠ ✔️ Decisions you can actually trust⁠ ⁠ If you don’t know what reconciliation is or haven’t done it consistently this year, this is your sign.⁠ ⁠ Book a discovery call and we can start getting you organized for 2026.
Salon Owners: let’s clear up 1099s for booth rente Salon Owners: let’s clear up 1099s for booth renters.⁠ ⁠ If you rent a booth an independent stylist, you should expect to receive a 1099 from your renter — not the other way around.⁠ ⁠ Here’s how it actually works 👇⁠ ⁠ • The booth renter issues the 1099⁠ They’re paying you rent, which makes you the payee.⁠ ⁠ • You should provide them a W-9⁠ This gives them your legal business name, EIN, and tax classification so they can file the 1099 correctly.⁠ ⁠ Two common exceptions:⁠ ⁠ 1️⃣ Total rent paid was under $600 for the year⁠ No 1099 required.⁠ ⁠ 2️⃣ Your salon is taxed as an S-Corp⁠ Payments to S-Corps are generally exempt from 1099 reporting (yes, this applies to rent too).⁠ ⁠ ⚠️ Important note:⁠ LLCs taxed as sole props or partnerships do NOT get this exemption. Only S-Corps (and C-Corps).⁠ ⁠ Bottom line:⁠ If a renter asks you for a W-9, that’s normal.⁠ If you’re confused about who issues the 1099, you’re not alone — but getting it wrong can trigger notices.⁠ ⁠ I hear every year from salon owners who say, "I've been in business for *insert a large number of years* and I've never heard of this." ⁠ ⁠ This is a common area where there are a lot of misunderstandings. Bottom line: Even if you haven't heard of it, doesn't mean it's not true. It's important to provide your renters with a W-9 so they can stay current on their IRS obligations.⁠ ⁠ Good news is 1099s aren't due until Jan 31st so you've still got some time to give your renters W-9s and for them to issue you a 1099.⁠ ⁠ And don't worry -- these 1099s won't make you pay any more in taxes than you would have otherwise.
Tax surprises may feel like a jolt, but the truth Tax surprises may feel like a jolt, but the truth is, they often stem from decisions made blindly. ⁠ ⁠ Not having up to date numbers means you don't know where your profit is. ⁠ ⁠ If you don't know your profit, you can't possibly know how much to pay in estimated taxes.⁠ ⁠ Ready to take control of your taxes and avoid those unexpected twists? ⁠ ⁠ Tap the link in our bio to schedule a discovery call.
Jan 15th is your last chance to make an estimated Jan 15th is your last chance to make an estimated tax payment for 2025. How much should you pay? Well, that depends on how much you made. Use my handy calculator (link in bio) to calculate for yourself. Questions about estimates? ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Heads up Sch C filers! If you’re taking tips out Heads up Sch C filers! If you’re taking tips outside of a merchant processor that’s going to issue you a 1099-K, you might want to think twice. In 2026, the IRS has said they will only allow the tip deduction if it’s reported on a 1099-K, which are typically issued by the company you use to process client credit cards. Technically you’re still allowed to take cash tips. You just can’t claim the tips deduction if you do. 👎 Something to consider is you have to meet the threshold for a company to issue you a 1099-K, which $20,000 AND 200 transactions. So, if you’re close to that threshold and allowing clients to pay through multiple channels, now may be a great time to consolidate processors so that you make sure you’re hitting the minimum threshold. Luckily for 2025, the bar for documentation is a little lower. A report breaking out tips from your POS system is sufficient. *This only applies to sch C filers, not S-Corp owners. How can I help? ⬇️⬇️⬇️
The IRS has given us some guidance on how beauty p The IRS has given us some guidance on how beauty pros can claim the tip deduction in 2025. Bottom line: If your business is an S-Corp, it will need to show up on your W-2. If you file schedule C, 1099s won’t detail out tips for 2025 and you can use point of sale reports as an alternative. What questions do you have? ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
This is the biggest mistake I see beauty pros make This is the biggest mistake I see beauty pros make when buying online courses. Making the financial investment, but not setting the time aside to get the benefits. I know online courses often only open up a few times a year, but if you don’t have the time right now to implement, maybe wait until the next time it opens. The key to traction is implementation.
An S-Corp election could save you thousands in tax An S-Corp election could save you thousands in taxes.⁠ ⁠ If your salon is profitable, switching to an S-Corp might be the smartest move you make. BUT — it has to be done right. That’s where we come in.⁠ ⁠ 👉 Book a discovery call today and let’s see if S-Corp status is right for your salon.
A full chair doesn’t guarantee profit.⁠ ⁠ Many sal A full chair doesn’t guarantee profit.⁠ ⁠ Many salon owners look “successful” on the outside but still struggle financially. ⁠ ⁠ Why? ⁠ ⁠ Because underpriced services eat away at cash flow.⁠ ⁠ Because team members don't know what success in their role looks like. ⁠ ⁠ Because you're spending all your time working on urgent items that you don't have time to work on strategy.⁠ ⁠ The solution → Know your numbers + price for profit + build time to work on the business.⁠ ⁠ Book a discovery call today and let’s make sure your pricing works for you.
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