Why Wipfli?
Wipfli’s franchise consulting services offer guidance for every stage of your business. Whether you’re an entrepreneur setting up your first location or a multi-unit franchise owner looking to upgrade your processes and systems, our team can help.
With comprehensive services for franchisees and franchisors, we can focus on the painful parts of your business — including audit and compliance, tax and financial planning, IT and human resources — so that you can focus on growth. Our services also scale with you, providing guidance tailored to your level of need.
Wipfli takes a comprehensive approach to delivering industry-experienced tax support. Whether you need to navigate tax compliance and planning, cost segregation or state and local tax law, we can help you minimize tax exposure and achieve your goals.
Go beyond reporting to get actionable recommendations for how to strengthen your business. Wipfli’s assurance services do more than help mitigate risk or verify financial statements. We leverage our CPA foundation to help you find ways to optimize performance and drive franchise growth.
Add experience and flexibility to your back office without the cost or complexity of hiring. Wipfli’s outsourced services for franchises help you manage critical functions — including finance and accounting, HR and technology — as well as develop effective strategies and streamline operations.
Get end-to-end support for your M&A deal with Wipfli’s transaction advisory services. We help you maximize the value of your transaction with support for buy-side and sell-side M&A, investment banking and valuations.
Wipfli’s digital team can help you navigate the complexity of multi-location technology needs. We offer a wide range of services, including data and analytics, cybersecurity and digital strategy support to help you build a capable technology ecosystem.
Wipfli’s organizational performance services help you address critical areas of your business, including strategic planning and process improvement so that you can achieve sustainable growth. We also offer leadership development and coaching services that go beyond upskilling to empower lasting behavioral change.
Mitigate risk and achieve greater productivity with Wipfli’s risk advisory services. Our multidisciplinary team can help you navigate complex risk and compliance challenges with support, including internal controls advisory and fraud investigation services.
Wipfli helps you build a stronger foundation for your future with support for estate and gift planning, succession planning and wealth management. Our advisors listen first so that they can help you fully understand the potential tax consequences of your plan and develop comprehensive solutions to meet your goals.
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Let’s talk about how our franchise advisors can help make your business more agile, efficient and profitable. Ask us for help strengthening performance, managing risk, navigating tax challenges, identifying opportunities and more.
Insights and resources
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Federal marijuana rescheduling: Practical considerations for businesses
On April 23, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a significant regulatory change, moving FDA-approved marijuana products and state-licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. At the same time, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) restarted a formal rulemaking that could ultimately extend Schedule III treatment more broadly, with hearings scheduled to begin this summer. These actions mark an important step in the federal government’s evolving approach to marijuana regulation. While they do not eliminate all uncertainty, they create immediate tax implications and longer-term planning considerations for businesses operating in or alongside the medical marijuana industry. Here is an overview of the key changes and how they may impact your business: Section 280E no longer applies to medical marijuana prospectively One of the most significant outcomes of rescheduling is the removal of Internal Revenue Code Section 280E for qualifying medical marijuana businesses. For years, Section 280E has prevented marijuana businesses from deducting ordinary and necessary operating expenses due to marijuana’s Schedule I classification. With medical marijuana now classified as Schedule III, state-licensed medical marijuana operators may deduct ordinary business expenses on a go-forward basis. This includes costs such as payroll, rent, utilities, insurance and general administrative expenses that were previously disallowed. The change will materially reduce effective tax rates and improve cash flow. It may also affect estimated tax payments, budgeting, pricing decisions and long-term financial projections. Businesses that have structured operations around 280E limitations should consider revisiting their tax and accounting approach with this shift in mind. Recreational marijuana remains classified as a Schedule I controlled substance and Section 280E will continue to apply. However, businesses with both medical and recreational activities will need clear accounting practices to properly segregate income and expenses and manage ongoing compliance risk. What does the medical marijuana federal rescheduling mean for your business? Federal rescheduling represents an important opportunity for the medical marijuana industry and possibly the marijuana industry at large. While change is underway, regulatory clarity will continue to develop over time. What is clear today: State-licensed medical marijuana is no longer classified as a Schedule I substance. Section 280E no longer applies to qualifying medical marijuana businesses on a prospective basis. Federal agencies are actively pursuing broader rescheduling through formal rulemaking. What remains unresolved: Whether retroactive tax relief will be granted and, if so, how it will be implemented. The timing and structure of IRS transition guidance. The ultimate outcome of the DEA’s proposed rulemaking and related hearings. Thoughtful planning now can help organizations navigate near-term uncertainty while preparing for longer-term shifts in the regulatory and financial landscape. Businesses that take a measured approach, including evaluating opportunities, managing risk and maintaining strong compliance practices, will be better positioned as guidance evolves. Here are three areas your business can address to prepare for changes in the tax landscape: 1. Retroactive tax relief In its announcement, the Department of Justice encouraged the Department of the Treasury, which includes the IRS, to consider whether retroactive relief from Section 280E should be provided for medical marijuana businesses. If implemented, such relief could address prior‑year tax liabilities that arose solely due to 280E or provide retroactive relief for returns with time to amend. At this stage, however, there is no formal IRS guidance outlining how retroactive relief might be applied. The IRS has previously warned taxpayers against filing amended returns based on anticipated regulatory changes. Until clearer direction is issued, businesses should avoid taking independent action that could create unintended compliance or audit risk. Instead, businesses can review historical tax positions, model potential exposure and organize supporting documentation so that they remain prepared if additional guidance becomes available. 2. Implications for banking and financial services Rescheduling medical marijuana to Schedule III also has implications beyond taxation. Schedule I status has long limited access to traditional banking and financial services due to heightened federal compliance concerns. Schedule III classification lowers, but does not eliminate, those perceived risks, particularly for medical marijuana businesses. Over time, this may lead to expanded access to banking relationships, lending options, payroll services and insurance products. Businesses may also see improved capital access and operational flexibility as financial institutions reevaluate their risk tolerance. At the same time, increased access to traditional financial services often comes with higher expectations around financial reporting, documentation and internal controls. Businesses should be prepared for greater scrutiny as relationships with regulated financial institutions mature. 3. Broader financial and strategic planning considerations The removal of 280E for medical marijuana has downstream effects that extend beyond tax compliance. Lower effective tax rates may influence business valuations , debt servicing, expansion planning and transaction activity. Improved access to capital could accelerate growth or consolidation within the industry. It is also important to remember that federal rescheduling does not replace state law. Businesses remain subject to detailed state licensing, compliance and reporting requirements, and federal and state regulatory frameworks will continue to operate alongside one another rather than in complete alignment. Read more: Gross receipts taxes: How could they affect your business? Don’t leave money on the table: 3 tax opportunities that often get missed The Court of Federal Claims just opened a tax relief window
WEBINAR | February 12, 2026
Beyond AI: The new era of digital transformation in ERP
Digital transformation in ERP isn’t just about AI. It’s about building connected, agile enterprises that can adapt quickly to change. In this session, we’ll explore how ERP platforms are evolving to meet industry-specific challenges — and how organizations can prepare for ERP-driven transformation. You’ll learn: Why ERP is the foundation for digital transformation in MRD. Key trends — beyond AI — that will shape ERP in 2026 and beyond. Practical strategies for using ERP to improve agility, visibility and growth. How leading organizations are tailoring ERP solutions to meet industry-specific needs. Step back from day-to-day system decisions and think more strategically about the role ERP plays in your organization’s future. This one-hour session will help you move beyond point solutions and toward a more integrated future.
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Global trade in 2026: An update on tariffs and key policy shifts
While much of Washington and the world await the ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court on President Trump’s global reciprocal tariffs imposed under IEEPA, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) continued to negotiate under the cover of tariffs still in place. Throughout November and into December, Washington collaborated with China, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland, as well as other countries, while also launching an internal review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). These developments signal a complex year ahead for importers and businesses as they navigate an evolving system of duties and trade agreements. Here’s what you need to know about the latest updates on tariffs: The IEEPA ruling The U.S. Supreme Court will determine whether the President acted within the scope of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) when imposing broad tariffs on multiple U.S. trading partners. However, the timing of that ruling is currently unclear. Lower federal courts have previously concluded that the administration exceeded its statutory authority under IEEPA, and the Supreme Court is now reviewing those decisions on appeal. If the Court ultimately rules that the tariffs were unlawful, the federal government could be required to issue an estimated $133 billion in refunds to affected importers. Tariffs on China The U.S. and China in November agreed to a one-year détente, with Washington lowering the 20% “opioid” tariffs on Chinese imports to 10% until November 10, 2026. This rate is still combined with any applicable Section 301 intellectual property tariffs and Section 232 tariffs applied to: Steel Aluminum Copper Autos and parts Medium, heavy-duty trucks and parts In addition to the tariff reduction, the U.S. is also suspending the fees on Chinese-built, operated or owned vessels that had been in effect since October 2025. South Korean automotive tariffs The deal with South Korea reduces tariffs on autos and parts to 15% and lowers rates on certain pharmaceuticals and aviation components. In return, South Korea agreed to remove the 50,000-unit cap on U.S. vehicle imports meeting U.S. safety standards and streamline emissions certification for U.S. vehicle exports. Swiss industrial machinery tariffs Switzerland, a source of precision industrial machinery to the U.S., is negotiating an agreement that may result in Washington lowering the 39% tariff on Swiss imports to 15% by the end of the first quarter of 2026. U.K. tariff relief Under the new U.S.–U.K. pharmaceutical and medical technology trade agreement, the United States has committed to providing significant tariff relief and trade protections to the United Kingdom in exchange for reforms to British drug‑pricing policies. This is a significant shift from earlier White House considerations of imposing extremely high duties on these products (previously discussed at rates up to 250%). The official announcement states that these U.K.-origin goods will be fully exempt from Section 232 tariffs. Under the U.K. agreement, the U.S. agreed to exempt U.K.-origin pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical ingredients and medical technology from Section 232 tariffs and any future 301 tariff action. New exemptions on agricultural imports Additionally, action was taken on November 14 to exempt nearly 250 agricultural imports from the IEEPA tariffs, including certain: Coffee Tea Fruits Nuts Cocoa Bread Spices These exemptions are intended to lower import costs and limit the rising food prices for items that Americans cannot produce domestically. The full list of exemptions is included in Annex II . USMCA review In early December, the USTR held a three-day hearing on the USMCA , with over 100 witnesses providing testimony on the agreement following 1,551 public comments submitted in November 2025. The U.S., Mexico, and Canada must declare their intention on July 1, 2026, whether to remain in the USMCA, to withdraw from the agreement or to seek changes. This July 1, 2026, review is a sunset check-in that could lead to the agreement’s termination in 10 years if parties don’t agree to extend. Public comments by officials in Washington indicate that the U.S. increasingly prefers to negotiate separately with Canada and Mexico. Additionally, the U.S. is expected to push for stricter rules of origin in the automotive and steel industries to prevent China from using Mexico or Canada as a backdoor to the U.S. market. What businesses can do next For companies impacted by tariffs, consider these strategic next steps : Reassess North American sourcing and production: Evaluate where your components and finished goods are produced, especially those sourced from Canada and Mexico. If the rules of origin tighten, products that currently qualify for duty-free status under the USMCA may become fully dutiable in the coming years. Now is the time to review your bill of materials, supplier footprint and production routing to help ensure you maintain sufficient North American content. Prepare for potential IEEPA tariff refunds: If the Supreme Court rules that the IEEPA‑based tariffs were unlawful, businesses that imported affected parts, materials or finished goods may be eligible for refunds. To position yourself for a smooth refund process, begin compiling documentation of all duties paid under these tariffs. Read more: 2026 manufacturing trends: adapting to tariffs and costs How businesses can navigate tariff uncertainty and costs Building a smarter sales strategy
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From technology solutions for multi-location operations to tax and accounting support, Wipfli’s retail advisors are ready to help you stay resilient and competitive.
