Today we’d like to introduce you to Tamecia Shaheed.
Tamecia, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My journey to becoming an Entrepreneur actually started after experiencing job loss. In 2008, I had the opportunity to work for an international Public Relations and Social Marketing firm after graduating from college.
During my time there, I was able to contribute to campaigns for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Lung Association, Clean Air Campaign, etc. It was a great experience for me which helped me to build my confidence as a professional, and hone in on my marketing and planning abilities. Although I loved the work I was doing, I must admit that I sometimes found the capacity in which I worked to be at times too demanding.
Then in 2010 I was terminated which was devastating, but also an eye-opening experience for me. I eventually realized that I needed more control over my time and income to create the work life balance that I desired. During this period of unemployment, I started work on my M.B.A. and looked for a new career opportunity. But after several months of job search with no luck, I decided to take a few part-time jobs to stay busy and to keep some income coming in. One of those jobs was as an entry-level Tax Preparer for an independently-owned national tax company.
The job didn’t pay very much, but I liked that it offered free training and flexibility. While on the job, I was able to build my own business acumen, and learn about the business side of tax filing. I also found that I really enjoyed being able to utilize my problem-solving abilities to help clients, and the experience of working in a small business. That experience and my faith in God is really what gave me the courage to start my own tax preparation business in 2011.
Utilizing my marketing experience and by God’s grace I was able to exceed my expectations my first season and garner 80 clients in less than four months. I officially founded Harvest Time Tax Services, LLC in 2014 and opened our current office location in Stockbridge, GA in 2015. It has been an awesome journey, and I’m very grateful to our clients for entrusting us with their tax and financial needs, their referrals and loyalty over the years.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There have definitely been bumps along the way, but all have led to valuable lessons learned. Although I acquired 80 clients my first season, it took a few years before the business actually became profitable. In addition to modifying our cost for services, I also learned to make cost-saving adjustments along the way for operating a seasonal business.
Please tell us about Harvest Time Tax + Financial Services.
At Harvest Time Tax, we offer both traditional and virtual services and specialize in individual and small business tax preparation, audit assistance, small business bookkeeping, and tax planning.
I am most proud of our commitment to exceptional customer service for our clients. We stand by our work and are available year-round to provide support. We also offer tools such as a mobile app, client portal, tax news blog, and social media to stay connected and keep our clients informed.
What sets us apart is that we enjoy problem-solving and take a proactive approach to helping our clients develop a strategy to address their needs. I believe training is essential, myself and my staff are required to receive training and certification through the IRS Annual Filing Season Program each year to prepare returns.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I could back in time, I would have hired a bookkeeper before earning my first dollar as a business owner. I once heard that “if you don’t know your books, you don’t know your business.” I have found this to be very true. I recommend starting with setting up your business accounts with an accounting system like Quickbooks. With the help of a bookkeeper or with training, you will be able manage your business income and expenses for seamless tax preparation and overall business efficiency.
Contact Info:
- Address: 165 Burke Street, Ste 101, Stockbridge, GA 30281
- Website: www.virtualtaxrefund.com
- Phone: 678-288-4811
- Email: info@harvesttimetaxservices.com
Image Credit:
Nicholas Allison at Nick Pryourity Photography
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