Here’s what we do
At James Wilder & Associates, we handle the accounting and tax strategy that keeps cannabis operators and small business owners from getting crushed by compliance and cash flow problems. We build audit-ready systems, find the tax savings you’re leaving on the table, and make sure your numbers actually make sense. Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned. Grounded in compliance. Centered on people. Recognized across the industry as The Common Sense Accountant 💚.
Cannabis Advisory (Section 280E)
- COGS mapping + cost allocation — cultivation, manufacturing, retail. We find every dollar that should be there.
- 280E optimization — shows you exactly where you’re bleeding money to disallowed deductions. Then we stop it.
- Quarterly tax projections — no April surprises. You know what you owe before it’s due.
- Licensing, METRC, and cash controls — compliance that actually holds up if the IRS comes knocking.
- Audit-ready documentation — when they ask for proof, you have it. Clean. Organized. Defensible.
Fractional CFO & Bookkeeping
- Monthly close that matters — reconciliations, variance analysis, real insights. Not just a stack of numbers.
- 12-week cash runway — you’ll know exactly where you stand. No guessing. No panic.
- Seed-to-sale forecasting — we build your projections around your actual flower calendar (veg/flower/harvest) and batch yields. Cannabis-specific. Real results.
- Clean chart of accounts — built for cannabis or traditional business. Ready for bankers, investors, and auditors.
- Vendor controls + payroll review — tighten up the operation without the headache.
- Investor-ready financials — when you need to show your numbers, they’ll be solid.
Tax Strategy & Filing
- Customized tax plan — built for your operation, not pulled from a template.
- Owner compensation strategy — kids on payroll, retirement planning, maximizing what you keep.
- Quarterly adjustments — when your profit swings, we adjust. You don’t get blindsided in December.
- Professional preparation + e-file — every number backed up with workpapers that prove it.
💚 Why we do this
This work started because I watched families get destroyed by unfair laws. Section 280E taxes cannabis operators like criminals while they’re trying to build legitimate businesses. Most accountants won’t touch it. I do. Every dollar we help a client save, every audit we help them survive — that’s a family that gets to keep their business. That’s a patient who gets access to medicine. That’s a community that doesn’t get crushed by federal overreach. That’s the green heart behind this work.
Why cannabis? Why not just do regular accounting?
Operating a cannabis business in America is legal in many states. These states have legalized it. They’ve regulated it. They’ve licensed it. So why are legal cannabis businesses being taxed like illegal drug dealers? That’s Section 280E. It treats legitimate, state-licensed cannabis operators like criminals — denying basic deductions that every other legal business gets. Most accountants won’t touch it because it’s hard. Because one mistake costs you six figures. Because the IRS doesn’t play around. And honestly? Some are afraid. Afraid of their licensure. Afraid of the stigma. Ashamed to be affiliated with cannabis. That’s their choice. But I want the smoke. Because my life and many others depend on it.
Three of my five children have Sickle Cell Disease. I’ve watched them fight through pain that would break most adults. I’ve seen what traditional medicine fails to do. I’ve watched cannabis give relief to patients abandoned by the system. That’s who I’m fighting for. That’s why I want the smoke. Because those families deserve an accountant who won’t abandon them.
I can’t fix the law. But I can make sure the people behind this plant don’t get destroyed by Section 280E while they’re out here saving lives. That’s why I do this. That’s why I’ll never walk away. Most accountants will. I won’t. This isn’t accounting. This is a calling.
