The Big Beautiful Bill Drops! What Now?!
It’s official, the Big Beautiful Bill is law! It’s shiny, it’s sprawling, and it’s packed with updates that hit home for small businesses. From healthcare shakeups to deduction perks, the Big Beautiful Bill brings major changes straight to your doorstep, without you even having to hit “Buy Now.” So, what exactly is in this beauty?
The Big Beautiful Bill. Healthcare Rewritten. Confusion Guaranteed.
If you’re a small-business owner who’s been sending employees (or yourself) to the ACA marketplace for health coverage. . . time to buckle up. The Big Beautiful Bill just gave it a makeover, and let’s just say it’s not exactly as beautiful for you.
Higher Costs, Fewer Choices Ahead
First up, those juicy premium tax credits that have made coverage somewhat affordable for the past few years? They hit the road at the end of 2025. That means higher premiums in 2026 for millions who rely on marketplace plans, including plenty of self-employed folks and small business teams. Spoiler: “affordable” is about to become a relative term again.
And it’s not just the prices going up. The new law tightens eligibility and adds pre-verification rules that could delay or even block access to subsidies. Translation: more paperwork, more waiting, and more people falling through the cracks. Oh, and if you liked those zero-premium plans? Those might be going the way of the fax machine.
On top of everything else, the enrollment window is shrinking. All this could lead to millions losing marketplace coverage, according to early estimates. Early estimates suggest millions could lose marketplace coverage. Great timing, right?
Bottom line, the ACA marketplace just got a lot less friendly for the small-business crowd. Fewer options, more confusion, and for many, a bigger bill.
The Silver Lining: New Deductions That Actually Help Your Bottom Line
Okay, so the Big Beautiful Bill isn’t all bad news. Yes, it’s absolutely tightening up healthcare access, but it’s also delivering some real tax perks that small businesses, especially hands-on pros, shouldn’t overlook.
First up: Business Personal Property Deductions!
The Big Beautiful Bill broadens the deduction possibilities for small businesses, allowing for full deductions on business personal property. That means the new tools, tech, furniture, and equipment you purchase may now qualify for full, upfront deductions. No more waiting years to write off those purchases; you can lower your taxable income right away. Whether you’re a tattoo artist buying fresh ink, a massage therapist replacing a table, or a landscaper upgrading a mower, these expanded deductions make it easier to reinvest in your business.
Next Up: No Tax On Tips!
Buried deep in the Big Beautiful Bill, there’s a bright spot, tips are now deductible at the federal level. Starting in 2025, businesses that rely on tipping, think salons, bars, restaurants, spas can write off what they pay out in tips to employees and even some contractors. It’s a rare case of tax policy doing small businesses a solid.
Under the new rule, workers in qualifying tipped jobs can deduct up to $25,000 in tip income from their federal taxable income each year through 2028. The deduction starts to phase out at $150,000 in income, or $300,000 for joint filers, but remember, this deduction only applies to federal income tax.
In a monumental shift, beauty businesses like salons and barbershops are finally included. These shops have long been left out of the tax breaks enjoyed by restaurants, despite relying just as heavily on tips. Now, with 83 percent of beauty professionals being women and nearly half of businesses minority-owned, the industry gets some long-overdue recognition and relief.
On average, tipped workers stand to save about $1,700 a year. The total projected savings? $6.5 billion in 2025 alone.
It might not undo the rest of the bill’s tougher terms, but for service-based small businesses, this deduction is a silver lining worth cashing in on.
Big Bill Energy. Small Biz Support.
The Big Beautiful Bill may be a mixed bag, but you don’t need a flashlight and a legal dictionary to make sense of it. At Gild, we help small business owners cut through the noise and spot the silver linings, like the new tip deduction or expanded write-offs tucked inside the fine print.
So while the bill isn’t exactly doing small businesses any favors across the board, there are still smart ways to come out ahead. Here’s how we’ve got your back:
Health coverage that sticks around
No more racing the clock or stressing about missing enrollment season. With Gild, you can access affordable health plans all year. No confusing deadlines. No waiting periods.
Loan options to help you move fast
Ready to take advantage of new deductions or invest in a refresh? Whether you need tools, equipment, or a full remodel, we’ve partnered with Owners Bank to help you find funding that fits your goals.
👉 Let Owners Bank Help Fund Your Next Move
The bill might not be pretty, but your next move can be. Let Gild Insurance help you make it a smart one.