Rhett Buttle

Washington, D.C., United States

Contributor at Forbes

Founder @PubPrivStrat & @pps_institute, National Biz Advisor @TeamJoe, @AspenInstitute, @SmBizRoundtable. Alum: @HillaryClinton @BarackObama & @Schwarzenegger

Articles

Tax Day: Three Facts About Small Business And Taxes

1 week ago | forbes.com | Rhett Buttle

Today is the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) tax filing deadline and if you have not filed your taxes yet, you have until the end of the day to either do so or file an extension in most states. Taxpayers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, several counties in Tennessee and Virginia, Juneau, Alaska, and Chaves County, New Mexico, have until May 1 to file for 2024.
Investing In Sovereignty: The Oweesta Approach

1 week ago | forbes.com | Rhett Buttle

Native Americans own over 400,000 businesses across the United States, accounting for 1.2% of all U.S. firms. Yet many entrepreneurs face significant barriers in accessing capital, often due to the unique legal and geographic structures within tribal communities and broader challenges within the traditional lending system.
Tariffs: How They Work And Who Is Being Impacted

3 weeks ago | forbes.com | Rhett Buttle

If you're experiencing whiplash from the tariff announcements flying back and forth, you're not alone—especially if you're a small business owner. On 17 of the past 72 days, the U.S. has either imposed new tariffs, faced retaliatory measures, or negotiated last-minute tariffs delays. With the White House now promoting today as “liberation day” and promising even more tariff actions, Main Street entrepreneurs are struggling to keep up with the dizzying pace of trade policy changes.
Three Considerations For Developing A Prototype For Your Business

3 weeks ago | forbes.com | Rhett Buttle

If you have a business idea for a particular product, a prototype is the next phase from turning your vision into a reality. A prototype is an early sample or model of a product built to evaluate it and/or enhance it. Developing the prototype can be a critical moment in the life of a business and the approach to doing so should be thoughtful and deliberate. Here are three considerations and steps to take when developing your prototype. 1.
NaVOBA CEO Matthew Pavalek Discusses Supporting Veteran Entrepreneurs

1 month ago | forbes.com | Rhett Buttle

Of all of the small businesses operating in the U.S, one in ten are veteran-owned. Businesses owned by veterans contribute over $1 trillion in annual receipts and employ almost 5.5 million people nationwide. In fact, veterans are twice as likely to own a business than non-veterans. As President and CEO of the National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA), Matthew Pavelek leads efforts to ensure veteran-owned businesses have equal access and inclusion in corporate supplier diversity programs.
National Skills Coalition CEO Robert Espinoza On Upskilling Workers

1 month ago | forbes.com | Rhett Buttle

The way the world works is changing at a rapid pace and workers will need to develop new skills to prevent being left behind. Inclusive, high-quality skills training is one critical job quality intervention that’s needed to ensure that people have access to a better life and local businesses can experience sustained growth. More than half of the jobs in the U.S. require skills training beyond a high school diploma, but not a four-year degree.
Five Potential Legislative Priorities For Small Business Owners

1 month ago | forbes.com | Rhett Buttle

On Tuesday, the President gave an address to the nation where he laid out some of his administration’s priorities. While there will be many competing efforts in the 119th Congress, one area that has continually had bipartisan support are efforts to lift up small businesses in helping develop effective solutions that help entrepreneurs succeed. Here are five potential priorities to address for Main Streets across America. 1.
Immigration And The Economy: A Conversation On The Facts

1 month ago | forbes.com | Rhett Buttle

As Executive Director of the American Immigration Council, Jeremy Robbins leads efforts to shape immigration policies and practices through innovative programs, cutting-edge research, and legal and advocacy efforts. According to the Council, there are nearly 47.8 million immigrants in the U.S. paying $651.1 billion in taxes and having a total spending power of $1.7 trillion. One can imagine the benefit of this in communities across the country.
The Importance Of The U.S., Canada, And Mexico Relationship

2 months ago | forbes.com | Rhett Buttle

Tariffs on Canada and Mexico were paused for a month thanks to agreements between Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum. The 25% tariffs will be revisited in March with no guarantees that they will not be implemented. If they do go into effect, the damage to what may be the United States’ most vital relationships could be severe. Geopolitical shifts have been pushing North American countries closer together as they seek to create a unified economic front.
What The IRS’s 1099-K Changes Mean For Small Businesses

2 months ago | forbes.com | Rhett Buttle

Late last year, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced a phased rollout of reporting requirements for businesses who receive at least some of their income through third-party payments apps. If you are a small business owner who receives money for goods and/or services through Venmo, PayPal, eBay, Etsy, or other third-party apps, you may be receiving a 1099-K form from them and there are some things you should know.