As the golden days of summer start to wane, the mornings greet us with a hint of chill, and the evenings slip into darkness a bit too soon. It’s already noticeable how dark it is by 7:30 p.m. or how it still lingers at 5 a.m. The purpose of this post isn’t to depress you (though I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little sad about the upcoming change of seasons) but to encourage you to finish summer strong and start planning for the end of your business year now.
Fun Activities to Help Finish Summer Strong (Ozaukee County Edition)
For those of you that don’t know – I don’t live in Madison. My office and home are in Ozaukee County. For that reason, this list of fun “we can still squeeze this in” activities is centered around my local area:
- Explore the Ozaukee Interurban Trail. This 30-mile paved trail runs through Ozaukee County, offering scenic views perfect for biking, walking, or rollerblading. The trail passes through charming towns, parks, and natural areas. (Ozaukee Interurban Trail)
- Visit Cedarburg’s Historic Downtown. Cedarburg’s downtown is full of beautifully preserved 19th-century buildings, shops, and restaurants. The Cedarburg Cultural Center and various festivals throughout the year make it a vibrant spot. (Cedarburg Chamber)
- Hike the Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve. Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, this nature preserve features hiking trails, stunning bluffs, and a boardwalk that offers breathtaking views of the lake. (Lion’s Den Gorge)
- Relax at Harrington Beach State Park. This state park offers sandy beaches along Lake Michigan, hiking trails, picnic areas, and even a campground. It’s a perfect spot for a family outing or a day of relaxation. (Harrington Beach State Park)
Activities to Prepare For the End of the (Business) Year
As we savor these last days of summer, it’s also crucial to start thinking about the end of the business year. Here are a few things to think about:
- Get Organized for BOI Reporting. Beneficial Ownership Reporting to FinCEN is required of all companies that existed as of December 31, 2023 by the end of the year. Don’t miss the deadline! The reporting process is straightforward, but if you have a lot of owners in your company, a large executive team, or people are just generally…hard to get a hold of…start thinking about gathering the information you need to complete the report now. More information is available here: Beneficial Ownership Reporting.
- Review Current Contracts, Internal Agreements, and Documentation. Take time to review your current customer contracts, employment agreements, and internal documents (like handbooks) now. If changes need to be implemented, you have plenty of lead time to get things drafted and in place by the start of 2025. Nothing is worse than wanting to make changes and update agreements, but not getting them squared away until Spring.
- Thinking about a big purchase? Talk to us now (please!). From Halloween onward, its saddle up and ride time for us here at OGS. As transactional attorneys, Q4 is always our busiest time of year. If you’re thinking about closing on a big purchase, buying or selling your business, or just otherwise have a big project coming down the pipeline before the end of the year – talk to us now! We’re always happy to help, regardless of the time of year, but getting us (and your accountant) involved now is always super helpful and allows us to be sure things run smoothly from our side. The last thing we want is to be a hold up or hurdle for you trying to get things done.
Make the most of these final summer weeks, and as always, we’re here to help you tackle the business side of things. Let’s wrap up this year with a strong finish!