How to Set Up a Tax Business
Written by Kimberly Fowler

Starting your own professional tax business can be a detailed process, especially when you consider the rules, regulations, and constantly changing IRS legislation. Whether you're looking to become a solo practitioner or grow a larger practice, here’s an overview of the steps you can take to successfully start your professional tax practice.

1. Register Your Tax Business with Your State

Consult a professional for guidance

Before you start operating, you need to register your business with your state. This involves choosing the type of entity for your company. You can either file a Doing Business As (DBA) name or form a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or corporation. The structure you choose will affect your taxes, liability, and overall business operations, so it’s essential to consult a professional to ensure you make the right choice.

2. Obtain Your PTIN and Apply for Your EFIN

If you plan to charge for tax preparation...

Stages of Business Growth for Newer Tax Preparers
Written by Kimberly Fowler

As a tax professional, understanding the stages of business growth is crucial. By identifying where you are in the journey, you can focus on the right tasks to move your business forward.

One of the biggest pitfalls tax preparers face is tackling business-building tasks in the wrong order. You may find yourself working hard on something that’s better suited for a later stage—and then wonder why your efforts aren’t paying off.

In this post, I’ll help you understand the four stages of business growth. Once you recognize your current phase, you’ll know exactly what to focus on and what success looks like at each stage.

STAGE #1: Pre-Startup or Pre-Revenue

This phase is when you bring your tax business into existence. As a new business owner, YOU are the business. There are no plans, contractors, or a team yet.

At this stage, you’re overwhelmed. There’s a lot to do, but little reward—meaning you’re not see...

3 Ways Your Mindset Affects Your Life
Written by Kimberly Fowler

Are you building your own tax business or balancing a job while growing your entrepreneurial dream? If so, let’s talk about how shifting your mindset can completely transform your success. It all starts in your mind. The results in your business are a direct reflection of what you believe and think every day.

If you prefer to listen instead of read, click here to listen to the audio version.

Let’s explore three common ways your mindset directly impacts your life and business success.

1. A Negative Mindset Can Affect Your Confidence

How do you react when things don’t go as planned? Maybe a client gives you feedback, or you make a mistake. Does it completely throw you off, or are you able to quickly correct and move on? If your mindset focuses on perfection, you’ll likely be discouraged by even the smallest missteps.

Here’s the key: mistakes happen, and that’s okay. The most successful people understand that failure...

7 Key Tactics for New Business Owners
Written by Kimberly Fowler

Hey there, future tax moguls! It's Kimberly Fowler, your tax business coach, and I'm here to help you start, run, and grow your own independent tax business.

Starting your own business can be overwhelming—especially with the endless courses, gurus, and advice floating around. It’s easy to feel lost in all the information and make the journey longer than it needs to be. But don’t worry! With the right focus and strategy, we can turn that overwhelm into actionable steps that lead to financial and time freedom.

I want to help you get there faster. In this post, I’m sharing 7 essential marketing tactics that you can start using today to elevate your tax business and make it a success from the get-go. While this advice is tailored to tax pros, it’s applicable to any new business owner.

Let’s dive in!

1. Create a One-of-a-Kind Selling Point

To stand out in the crowded tax space, your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) is ...