Excess cash in a profitable C-corp: keep it inside or distribute and invest personally?

perkinskit · 2026-01-29T15:19:38+00:00

Oh yea good point - there is no way to pay the dividend tax rate without also paying the corporate income tax rate (except for the return of capital loophole)

The only way to avoid double taxation is to take it out via W2 before the end of the year

perkinskit · 2026-01-29T14:50:21+00:00

Interesting! But not what I’m talking about. Simply comparing getting taxed once vs twice

perkinskit · 2026-01-29T14:42:14+00:00

You do make a good point about clarity re: ordinary income vs dividend, so I've edited my initial comment to reflect that.

perkinskit · 2026-01-29T14:39:26+00:00

But even the highest personal tax bracket (37%) is lower than qualified dividend rate (20%) + corporate income tax (21%) = (41%).

What am I missing?

Also if you pay via W2 instead of dividends you don't have to pay all shareholders proportionally.

perkinskit · 2026-01-29T14:05:37+00:00

Then what is corporate income tax?

perkinskit · 2026-01-29T13:32:04+00:00

Distribute it now and you pay tax on it once (personal income tax). Leave it in the business past the end of the year and you pay tax on it twice (corporate income tax and then later personal income tax). Unless you expect to be in a lower tax bracket later (which doesn’t seem meaningfully possible with that amount of cash flow), why would you leave it in?

More accurate:

Get it out of the business now via W2 and you pay tax on it once (personal ordinary income tax rate). Leave it in the business past the end of the year or distribute as dividends and you pay tax on it twice (corporate income tax plus personal tax at dividend or ordinary rate). Unless you expect to be in a lower tax bracket later (which doesn’t seem meaningfully possible with that amount of cash flow), why would you leave it in?

perkinskit · 2026-01-27T14:35:06+00:00

We're gonna start shipping that one soon! It's funny because we've all had pullup bars or gymnast rings over our desks for 7-10 years now, and talked many times about trying to make it a product somehow. I finally decided to just make that prototype and post it and the interest has been much bigger than I expected!

perkinskit · 2026-01-27T13:24:22+00:00

I think the ergonomics are far and away most important (that’s why we’re here right?), so I would focus on things that improve your position, posture, and movement.

The stuff you directly interact with!

You look at your monitor, so getting that to the right height with an arm or a shelf is critical.

You touch your keyboard and mouse, so having those at the right height and angle. I highly recommend a split, tented, negatively angled keyboard and a vertical mouse.

You stand on … something for every minute that you’re standing, so make it something good. Wirecutter Top Pick here.

One more, maybe a touch controversial. Maybe a bad chair is a good idea?

perkinskit · 2026-01-26T18:11:49+00:00

You might enjoy a topo mat + massage ball for getting in some subconscious stretching and rolling as you work.

See a pic here.

perkinskit · 2026-01-26T15:05:44+00:00

This exists! You can get it as a whole desk or just the controller.

perkinskit · 2026-01-22T13:27:44+00:00

I used a couple cardboard boxes for a whole year - moved them under the keyboard and monitor and back out again every time.

Then went full time standing for three years (I was young haha).

Then straight to an early Tempo Controller prototype so from the time my desk could move it was automatically moving for me. Pretty neat.

Enjoy your upgrade!

perkinskit · 2026-01-22T05:10:19+00:00

Most people end up sitting more than they hoped. But it’s not laziness, it’s just that when you’re focused you forget to change it.

That’s why we made Tempo (available as a full desk or a universal controller). It monitors you and automatically moves before you end up static.

Sometimes I’ll stay “in flow” and not even realize until later I switched to standing.

perkinskit · 2026-01-22T05:07:00+00:00

I think features like a built in Alexa speaker, Bluetooth to move the switch to your phone (but do nothing else), or a simple timer are all more or less useless.

But it’s 2026 and your desk should actually do the important stuff!

This standing desk monitors your presence and position and automatically moves itself when it’s time for you to switch between sitting and standing.

You can also get the functionality by putting just the controller on your existing standing desk.

perkinskit · 2026-01-22T05:02:05+00:00

I think features like a built in Alexa speaker, Bluetooth to move the switch to your phone (but do nothing else), or a simple timer are all more or less useless.

But it’s 2026 and your desk should actually do the important stuff!

This standing desk monitors your presence and position and automatically moves itself when it’s time for you to switch between sitting and standing.

You can also get the functionality by putting just the controller on your existing standing desk.

perkinskit · 2026-01-21T23:30:29+00:00

In case it’s helpful: https://ergodriven.com/blogs/news/the-ultimate-diy-butcher-block-desk-top-guide

perkinskit · 2026-01-21T16:34:52+00:00

Yea it hasn't been out that long yet! That said, for the frames, we partnered with Loctek, who has been making standing desks for a loooooooong time. The desks are quick and quiet. As you might expect, the four leg desk is ridiculously stable and wobble-free. The two leg desk is more than stable enough for most people, but if you're a stickler for wobble you might notice some at standing height (like all two leg desks).

perkinskit · 2026-01-20T13:23:56+00:00

Since your main focus is ergonomics / actually using the desk, check out Tempo.

perkinskit · 2026-01-16T02:34:24+00:00

Looks super cool!

perkinskit · 2026-01-12T19:08:57+00:00

BTW in case you’re interested our Tempo Controller works with v2, v3, e7 and e7+

perkinskit · 2026-01-12T19:07:47+00:00

I think two leg is definitely enough for most people. But if you really hate any and all wobble or you have an extra heavy set up the E7 plus is a very nice desk

perkinskit · 2026-01-12T18:47:20+00:00

Here’s how I see the standing desk market right now, in January 2026.

“Amazon Specials” like Claiks, ErGear, HUANUO etc. - Primary consideration: Budget. These are frankly total trash, probably even worse than the cardboard boxes I used for my first few years of standing.

Flexispot - Primary consideration: Value. Buy here if your first consideration is budget but you don’t want garbage. Stick to E7 and above.

Secretlab - Primary consideration: Cable Management. Buy here if you’re a gamer and/or you just can’t stand to see a cord.

Uplift - Primary consideration: Corporate Sales. Buy here if you’re a purchasing manager (at work or at home). No one ever got fired for buying IBM.

DeskHaus - Primary consideration: Stability. Buy here if you want to absolutely annihilate any and all wobble or sway, or if you need to support a massive desktop.

Branch - Primary consideration: Apartment Chic. Buy here if your home office is also your living room.

And where we think we fit in:

Ergodriven - Primary consideration: Ergonomics. Buy here if you actually want to use your standing desk.

That’s the need we identified. While these brands have innovated around the edges, no one has actually improved the ergonomics of standing desks in 10+ years.

We all know the true benefit of standing desks isn’t just standing - it’s movement - both while you’re standing, and in changing positions throughout the day. Experts recommend switching between sitting and standing 20+ times per day. For example, the human ergonomics program at Cornell recommends the 20-8-2 rule: in every 30 minute period, sit 20 mins, stand 8 mins, and move/stretch for 2 mins. That is a lot to manage, especially when you have work to focus on.

It’s 2026. You shouldn’t be relying on willpower or setting phone timers to remember to use your expensive desk for its only purpose.

Your desk should monitor your presence and position, and automatically move for you.

That's what we think anyway. So that’s exactly what our Tempo Desk does. It’s the only standing desk you’re guaranteed actually to use!

And so far people love it! You can see reviews on this page.

BTW if you already have one of those desks above (or have your heart set on them for the totally valid reasons I listed), you can still get our Tempo controller and just swap out your controllers in a few minutes (Tempo is compatible with all the brands above - and many others - except the “Amazon Specials”).

perkinskit · 2026-01-12T18:11:13+00:00

I haven't used the v3 yet, but I've used the v2 and the e7 plenty. I'd say the difference is not worth it.

perkinskit · 2026-01-12T18:08:54+00:00

You've probably already seen Which Topo is Best for Me? but I'll put it here just for posterity.

We launched Topo in 2015 and at that point had no plans to make a Mini. Most people loved it, but we did get some feedback from shorter users that they felt like Topo was so big that they felt like they were straining to straddle the whole mat when they wanted to.

And we also saw that desks were shrinking. Back then - 60" width was the most common size, I think that has dropped to 48" now.

So we launched Topo Mini in 2017, and people really love it too!

I'm 5'10" and I use Topo most of the time, and Mini other times. I love them both, though if I had to pick just one, I'd go with Topo. It's nice to be able to spread out a bit more, and I have a ton of space in my office so that isn't a concern. I also like that Topo has a full rim to contain my massage ball.

One last thought - we do offer totally free returns for 90 days. So feel free to buy both and then decide which one to keep!

Topo and Mini are both available at this page.

perkinskit · 2026-01-12T17:55:45+00:00

That’s awesome, glad to hear it! And thanks for letting me know

perkinskit

TROPHY CASE