Small Business Owner Investment Playbook

Small business owners face a unique investment paradox: you generate wealth through concentrated business risk but must build retirement security through diversified financial assets. The data shows entrepreneurs hold 70%+ of their net worth in their own businesses (Moskowitz & Vissing-Jorgensen, 2002), creating dangerous concentration that amplifies both upside and downside. The practical antidote isn't abandoning entrepreneurship. It's maximizing tax-advantaged retirement contributions to build a financial counterweight to business risk.

Why Business Owners Need a Different Playbook

The self-employed investment challenge differs fundamentally from W-2 employees:

Income volatility means contributions must flex with cash flow Self-employment tax consumes 15.3% before you even reach income tax Business exit uncertainty makes retirement accounts your most reliable wealth-building tool QBI deduction complexity creates planning opportunities most owners miss

A useful causal chain: Self-employment income → SE tax (15.3%) → QBI deduction (20%) → Retirement contribution → Tax deferral

The point is: your contribution strategy must account for all five elements, not just the last one.

Solo 401(k) vs. SEP-IRA (The Real Comparison)

Both accounts allow $70,000 maximum contributions in 2025, but the mechanics differ significantly.

Solo 401(k): The Power Structure

The Solo 401(k) has two contribution sources:

Employee deferral: $23,500 (2025), regardless of income Employer profit-sharing: 25% of compensation (W-2) or 20% of net self-employment income Catch-up contributions: $7,500 if age 50+ (or $11,250 if ages 60-63)

Example calculation:

Your situation: $150,000 net self-employment income, age 45

1. Calculate adjusted net SE income: $150,000 × 0.9235 = $138,525 (deducting half of SE tax)
2. Employer contribution limit: $138,525 × 20% = $27,705
3. Employee deferral: $23,500
4. Total contribution: $51,205

For a 60-year-old with the same income, add $11,250 catch-up: $62,455 total

SEP-IRA: The Simple Alternative

SEP-IRAs use only employer contributions:

Contribution limit: 25% of net SE income (after SE tax adjustment), maximum $70,000

Same example: $138,525 × 25% = $34,631

The durable lesson: Solo 401(k)s allow 47% more contributions at the same income level through the employee deferral component. The trade-off is administrative complexity (you'll need a plan document and may need Form 5500-EZ filing once assets exceed $250,000).

The Self-Employment Tax Reality

Before optimizing retirement contributions, understand what's already leaving your pocket.

SE tax calculation:

• Social Security: 12.4% on income up to $176,100 (2025)
• Medicare: 2.9% on all income (plus 0.9% additional Medicare tax on income over $200,000 single/$250,000 married)
• Effective rate: 15.3% on most income

The deduction mechanics: You deduct 50% of SE tax from gross income. This isn't a tax credit (reducing tax dollar-for-dollar) but a deduction (reducing taxable income).

Example: $150,000 net SE income

• SE tax: $150,000 × 92.35% × 15.3% = $21,194
• Deductible amount: $21,194 × 50% = $10,597
• Adjusted gross income reduction: Your AGI drops by $10,597 before calculating income tax

Why this matters: The SE tax deduction reduces your AGI, which affects QBI deduction phase-outs, IRA contribution eligibility, and various tax credits. It's not just about the direct savings.

QBI Deduction Strategy (The 20% Opportunity)

The Qualified Business Income deduction allows eligible self-employed individuals to deduct 20% of qualified business income from taxable income.

Income limits (2025):

• Single: Full deduction below $197,300 AGI
• Married filing jointly: Full deduction below $394,600 AGI
• Phase-out range: $50,000 (single) / $100,000 (married) above these thresholds

The interaction with retirement contributions:

Retirement contributions reduce QBI, which reduces your QBI deduction. But the trade-off favors contributions in most scenarios.

Example analysis:

Your situation: $200,000 net SE income, married filing jointly, 32% marginal bracket

Without retirement contribution:

• QBI deduction: $200,000 × 20% = $40,000
• Tax savings from QBI: $40,000 × 32% = $12,800

With $50,000 Solo 401(k) contribution:

• QBI deduction: $150,000 × 20% = $30,000
• Tax savings from QBI: $30,000 × 32% = $9,600
• Tax deferral from contribution: $50,000 × 32% = $16,000
• Net tax savings: $25,600 (vs. $12,800 without contribution)

The practical point: Even though your QBI deduction drops by $10,000 (costing $3,200 in tax savings), you gain $16,000 in deferred taxes. The contribution wins by $12,800.

Cash Flow Management (The Business Owner's Constraint)

Unlike W-2 employees with predictable paychecks, your contribution capacity fluctuates with business performance.

The Quarterly Assessment Framework

Q1 (April 15): Review prior year's actual income. Make catch-up contributions to prior-year accounts if eligible. Establish current-year baseline estimate.

Q2 (June 15): Mid-year projection adjustment. If tracking above baseline, increase estimated contributions.

Q3 (September 15): Refine annual projection. Consider front-loading contributions if cash flow permits.

Q4 (January 15 of following year): Final true-up. Solo 401(k) employee deferrals due by year-end. Employer contributions can extend to tax filing deadline (including extensions).

The deadline nuance:

• Solo 401(k) employee deferrals: December 31 of tax year
• Solo 401(k) employer contributions: Tax filing deadline (April 15, or October 15 with extension)
• SEP-IRA contributions: Tax filing deadline (including extensions)

This asymmetry matters: if you have a strong Q4, you can still make SEP-IRA or Solo 401(k) employer contributions, but employee deferrals require action before year-end.

The Account Selection Decision Tree

Choose Solo 401(k) if:

• Your net SE income exceeds $100,000 (maximizes employee deferral benefit)
• You want Roth 401(k) option (SEP-IRAs don't offer Roth)
• You might need to borrow from retirement funds (Solo 401(k) allows loans up to $50,000)
• You have no full-time employees (excluding spouse)

Choose SEP-IRA if:

• Administrative simplicity is priority (no plan document maintenance)
• Your income is below $50,000 (contribution limits similar to Solo 401(k))
• You have full-time employees (SEP requires covering all eligible employees equally)

Consider both if:

• You have multiple businesses
• Income fluctuates significantly year-to-year (use SEP in low years, Solo 401(k) in high years)

Detection Signals (You're Leaving Money on the Table If...)

You're likely under-optimizing your self-employed retirement strategy if:

• Your retirement contributions are "whatever's left after expenses" (not a calculated maximum)
• You've never compared Solo 401(k) vs. SEP-IRA contribution limits for your specific income
• You don't know your QBI deduction phase-out thresholds
• You're making contributions only at tax time (missing potential deferrals)
• You use phrases like "I'll catch up on retirement later when business stabilizes"

Mitigation Checklist (Tiered)

Essential (high ROI)

These 4 items capture 80% of the tax savings:

• Calculate your maximum contribution using both Solo 401(k) and SEP-IRA formulas
• Establish the account type that maximizes your contribution limit
• Set quarterly calendar reminders to assess contribution capacity
• Know your QBI phase-out thresholds and plan income accordingly

High-Impact (workflow + automation)

For business owners who want systematic optimization:

• Automate monthly transfers to a dedicated "retirement contribution" account
• Work with a CPA to model contribution vs. QBI deduction trade-offs
• Consider Roth vs. traditional contributions based on expected future tax rates

Optional (good for high earners)

If your net SE income exceeds $250,000:

• Explore defined benefit plan combinations (can allow $200,000+ annual contributions)
• Model cash balance plan options with qualified actuary
• Assess mega-backdoor Roth strategies through Solo 401(k)

Next Step (Put This Into Practice)

Calculate your 2025 maximum contribution using both formulas.

How to do it:

1. Find your net self-employment income (Schedule C line 31, or K-1 income for partnerships)
2. Multiply by 0.9235 to get adjusted income (accounts for SE tax deduction)
3. Calculate SEP limit: Adjusted income × 25%
4. Calculate Solo 401(k) limit: (Adjusted income × 20%) + $23,500 employee deferral

Interpretation:

• If Solo 401(k) limit is $5,000+ higher than SEP: Establish or use Solo 401(k)
• If limits are similar and you have employees: SEP may be simpler
• If you value Roth option or loan access: Solo 401(k) required

Action: If you don't have a Solo 401(k) and your calculation shows significant benefit, establish one before December 31 to make employee deferrals for the current tax year.

References

• IRS Publication 560: Retirement Plans for Small Business (2025)
• Moskowitz, T. & Vissing-Jorgensen, A. (2002). "The Returns to Entrepreneurial Investment: A Private Equity Premium Puzzle?" American Economic Review, 92(4), 745-778
• IRS Notice 2024-80: Cost-of-Living Adjustments for Retirement Plan Limitations