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When Kyle Bergman first heard about a new fashion statement, sweatpants overalls, he wanted a pair for himself. Unfortunately, the only ones he could find for sale were for women. Undaunted, Kyle took his experience from the merchandise retail industry and created a business that sells sweatpants overalls to both men and women. He called them Swoveralls.
Kyle’s business,&nbsp;<a class=link href="https://swoveralls.com/">The Great Fantastic LLC</a>, launched in March 2017. He sold his first pair of Swoveralls in September of 2017. Over the following year, he pulled in nearly $250,000 in gross sales. According to Kyle, if you google “sweatpants overalls” online, Swoveralls are the only ones you’ll find.
Prior to starting The Great Fantastic, Kyle worked in the buying office at Bloomingdale’s. He then went on to work for Birchbox, an online subscription service that sends subscribers boxes of makeup samples and other beauty-related products.
But while the industry experience was invaluable, Kyle prefers to be his own boss. He loves coming up with ideas and then executing them to be sustainable and profitable. “I’m one of those people who would rather work 100 hours per week for myself versus 40 hours a week at a desk for someone else,” says Kyle. “I’m a producer. I like talking the talk and, shortly thereafter, walking the walk.”
Not surprisingly, Kyle receives frequent requests to make specific designs or add college logos to his Swoveralls products. New parents are asking for Swoveralls in baby or kid sizes, too. Says Kyle, “The biggest challenge is always staying focused and not spreading myself too thin with cool opportunities that arise – things that look shiny and seem like they might be amazing to do, but realistically they could stretch me from a cash flow standpoint.”
Kyle considers himself a classic entrepreneur who would rather paint with his hands than produce a bar graph or analytical spreadsheet. With that in mind, Kyle had another great idea: he hired 1-800Accountant to help with accounting and tax issues. “1-800Accountant has been amazing at holding me accountable and reducing the amount of stress I have,” says Kyle.
With so much at stake, Kyle likes that he can talk to an accountant whenever he needs solid advice. “Deni looks at everything and tells me I’m doing great. It’s nice to know I have someone with that expertise, someone who can say you’re all good with this, now you can focus on painting with your hands again.”
In the last twelve months, Kyle has proved that the Swoveralls concept is a good one. Now, he’s looking forward to growing in the existing market. “Sweatpants overalls didn’t exist more than a year ago. I’ve created this subcategory within athleisure and loungewear. I want to put Swoveralls in every household in the world!”

Photo of models wearing sweat overalls called swoveralls

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Kyle Bergman: What Do You Get When You Combine Two Great Ideas?

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Jason Meijers and Derek Uyeda of San Diego, California share a mutual love of golf. While Uyeda was working as Meijers’ golf instructor, they came up with Statcaddy, LLC, a system of tracking their game statistics down to the last detail as a method of taking their game playing to the next level. Established in November of 2014, they operate their small business out of a home office. Statcaddy can be used by anyone looking to improve their game, but the target demographic for the small business is professionals, college players, and juniors.
Statcaddy will be a multi-platform system, having a presence both online and on mobile devices. According to Meijers, the objective of their small business is to turn good players into great players, helping the golfers who utilize Statcaddy advance their game to a more professional level. Meijers explains why they decided to start up a business such as this one.
“Every round that we play, we have to write down statistics and data points. It’s a very subjective game in regards to where your problems are. You don’t get that much time to practice, and when you do have time, you’d rather play than practice. You don’t see where your problems are until you look at them in critical data,” he explains.
Uyeda elaborates, “It’s easy once you see the data in front of you to see where you need to improve; otherwise your game isn’t going to improve until you pinpoint that. Jason is trying to play professionally, so he needs to be good in every single category. No one has done the stat tracking to the degree that we have.”
<h2>Small Business Competition</h2>
Meijers and Uyeda listed three reasons why their small business will succeed: the statistical tracking Statcaddy allows, the user-friendliness of the startup, and the connections they both have made during their time on the golf course. The fact that their product is essential for their development in the sport gives them added confidence.
“The problem with other stat trackers is that the ease of use isn’t really there. A lot of them are out of date. A lot of them aren’t as detailed as professional players would need,” says Meijers.
<h2>Plans of Startup Success</h2>
Although Meijers and Uyeda are in the beginning stages of development, they are aiming high. The business partners and golfers plan to make Statcaddy the official stat-tracking platform for professional players, and they plan on achieving this through an online and in-person presence by advertising at tournaments, on both a small and large scale. They are confident in their ability to achieve success with their startup, because any range of professional golfer will need to track their statistics at some point or another. Their website is&nbsp;<a class="link" href="http://www.statcaddy.com/">www.statcaddy.com</a>, and they have&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.facebook.com/statcaddy">a Facebook page</a>.
Collaborating with Meijers on Statcaddy has given golf instructor Uyeda the opportunity to develop his career even further, both instructing golf on the course and trying his hand in the business side of things with the LLC.
“I’ve been teaching golf for 20 years. I love it and there’s nothing else I’d rather do,” Uyeda admits, “but I think a lot of my focus will shift toward this business.”
<h2>Experience with 1-800Accountant</h2>
For other entrepreneurs in the startup phase of their small businesses, Meijers and Uyeda agree: “Use 1-800Accountant!”
“We both have absolutely no idea what we’re doing as far as the tax stuff goes. We haven’t gotten to the complexities yet, but we appreciate your mentorship,” Meijers confides. “We’d be lost without you guys.”
Image credit: The logo included in this blog post was provided by Statcaddy, LLC and is used with permission.

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Numbers Don’t Lie: Statcaddy Helps Golfers Beef Up their Game

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Building school spirit and pride is a big part of colleges and universities. T. Nichole Phillips and her sister, LaShanta Taylor, want to start this process for youngsters as early as possible with the small business they recently launched. Phillips and Taylor are business partners at HBCU Pride &amp; Joy, LLC in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The company was formally established in the summer of 2012, and they began offering products for sale in August 2013. HBCU Pride &amp; Joy operates an online baby boutique at www.hbcupridejoy.com. The retailer specializes in selling upscale, high-quality collegiate spirit apparel for infants and toddlers sizes 0 to 5/6. This apparel is adorned with the logos and colors of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Currently, the store offers items for Florida A&amp;M University and Bethune-Cookman University, both of which are located in the Sunshine State, with plans to expand to additional schools in the near future. Phillips explains what inspired she and her sister to realize that starting a business for this purpose was the right move for them to make. “We are committed to the next generation of HBCU students,” Phillips says. “We offer t-shirts, dresses, jerseys, and related accessory items, all designed to capture the collegiate experience and pass on the HBCU legacy. This small business stems from our own experiences as graduates of Florida A&amp;M University, as well as a personal need to find apparel for infants and toddlers in our family. We soon realized that there was a void in the variety in the product selection for this market. We decided to fill the void – and HBCU Pride &amp; Joy was born.” From her perspective, the fact that this small business is targeting HBCU alumni and families of young children who may not often find the types of apparel it sells will ultimately make it successful. Plus, the company only sells officially licensed collegiate gear and offers a unique twist with the money it earns on sales. “For every purchase made, a contribution is made to each respective educational institution, thereby providing support for current students and those to come,” Phillips explains. All small business owners point to various tasks and abilities they learn and enjoy through entrepreneurship when starting a business and maintaining it over time. Phillips talks about what these are for them. “We enjoy the autonomy and ability to share the legacy of these institutions with a broader market of customers,” she says. “We hope that we are doing our part to increase awareness and promote the value of these schools.” In addition to operating HBCU Pride &amp; Joy, both Phillips and Taylor hold other jobs. As such, they share responsibility for the day to day operations. Phillips handles more of the operational duties of running the company, while Taylor manages the financial responsibilities.
<h3>Anticipating Competition In The Small Business World</h3>
Although Phillips and Taylor aren’t overwhelmed with direct competition at this point, they believe more will likely come down the road. However, they have no intentions of straying from what their true values are. “We do plan for potential competition in the future. We believe that imitation is the highest form of flattery, so we focus on our core competencies and our mission to provide the best and most creative products we can, coupled with top-notch customer service. We intend to stay true to our mission of providing high-quality products.” To make others aware of HBCU Pride &amp; Joy, the two small business partners have turned to online marketing. The company has a website –&nbsp;<a class=link href="http://www.hbcupridejoy.com/">www.hbcupridejoy.com</a>&nbsp;– and pages on social media sites that include&nbsp;<a class=link href="https://www.facebook.com/HBCUPrideJoy">Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a class=link href="http://instagram.com/hbcupridejoy">Instagram</a>, and&nbsp;<a class=link href="http://twitter.com/hbcupridejoy">Twitter</a>. Accounting for challenges and finding ways to get through them is a large part of small business ownership. Phillips talks about the main challenge she and Taylor have encountered. “The biggest challenge we faced was coming to terms with the fact that all aspects of the business are ultimately our responsibility, and the requirement of managing it all,” Phillips says. “We’ve had to figure out which tasks to keep in-house and which to delegate to 3rd-party companies. We also hope to hire employees and grow our business in the near future.”
<h3>Advice For Entrepreneurs</h3>
Phillips gives some advice for entrepreneurs based on her experience of starting a business. “Capitalize on the knowledge and skills you currently possess. Seek help when needed, be persistent, and work smart.” She adds that there are both advantages and challenges to self-employment. “The big advantage is having the final decision-making authority of the products we produce,” she says. “We’re in control of our image in the marketplace. The biggest challenge is managing all functional and operational tasks. Staying on top of the legal aspects, making sure we’re organized, and handling everything else can be a bit overwhelming.” Phillips explains how she has been very happy with her experience as a client of 1-800Accountant, the nation’s leading accounting and consulting firm for small business owners. “1-800Accountant has been very helpful to us with the formation of our business and ensuring our LLC and related paperwork were filed properly. They helped to simplify the process. I would definitely recommend 1-800Accountant to others looking for accounting and business support.”&nbsp;Photo credit: The photograph of the company’s product was provided by HBCU Pride &amp; Joy, LLC and is used with permission.

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Building School Spirit at a Young Age with a Small Business

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After getting married in 2014, Michelle Elson-Roza and her husband, Anthony, sat down and evaluated how they wanted to spend their time. Anthony worked in the hospitality industry and Michelle in finance. Both had inflexible schedules inopportune for newlyweds hoping to start a family. They decided they had to make some drastic changes. So in June of 2015, the couple formally established MJER Help, LLC in Chicago, Illinois — household management service for modern families.“We constantly encounter couples and families in their 30s, and they don’t have time for each other. We wondered what we could do for modern families while still doing something together. So with our business model, we’re providing home services for modern families in a way that people can afford. We’re starting out with 2 service lines for personal chefs and concierge service,” Elson-Roza explains of MJER Help.Elson-Roza offers some examples of the assistance their small business provides.“If you need someone to cook a meal once a week, help making cupcakes for a school bake sale, or help creating a healthy meal program for your family, we’ve got you covered. We customize our service for each family or professional who has a lot going on.”According to Elson-Roza, their combined passion for customer service and efficiency will bring MJER Help success. They understand the needs of their demographic and know how to work with their target clientele. They hope the combination of these factors will help to exceed their customers’ expectations.“It’s really rewarding to talk to our clients and understand the pain points in their lives. Once we identify those, we set a program in place that helps to reduce stress so they have more time to spend with their families,” she says.What makes Elson-Roza’s business model unique is that – regionally — there isn’t another small business providing a suite of services.“There are a lot of different services for each category, but nothing for people who want convenience and low costs. It’s uncharted territory. Our goal is to modernize the way people think about their household duties,” she rationalizes.The couple knows that the home is a private and sacred space, which is why establishing trust is a high priority for them. The target demographic for MJER Help is people in their 30s and 40s, both families and professionals.“The people that our services will align with the best are people who are climbing the corporate ladder and the expectations on them are extremely high, so they appreciate an incredibly professional service that helps free up their time. For example, if a husband is trying to become a partner at a law firm and his wife just had their second baby and they’re trying to sell their condo, then there might be a 6-month period where they need help,” she emphasizes.While the newlyweds-turned-entrepreneurs build their website, they’re getting the word out about MJER Help through their network, which includes childhood friends, college friends, and past coworkers.“We really want to build a trusted network organically, and eventually we’ll do more formal marketing. Right now, it’s just the two of us, so we want to walk before we start running.”<h3>Challenges of Small Business Ownership</h3>Elson-Roza confides that the hardest part of starting up a small business is to know when to stop researching and actually apply the research one learns along the way, which can be a lot harder than it sounds.“I’m a person who used to do research for a living in the finance world. There has to be a point where you stop researching and stop trying to make everything perfect and just start doing. That’s been a really big challenge. It is so different going from a big corporate environment to having a small business. It’s a much bigger undertaking than most would appreciate,” Elson-Roza says.<h3>Tips for Entrepreneurs</h3>Elson-Roza urges aspiring entrepreneurs working toward startup success to take the plunge into small business ownership only under the condition that they’re ready to devote a significant amount of time to it.“Talk about your idea to as many people as possible because you might get some great perspective from people who want to help you. Learn to trust yourself because you’ll be making big changes even when you’re in the initial stages, and you’re going to be constantly refining your business concept,” she advises.Despite how daunting it can feel to become a small business owner, Elson-Roza insists it’s worth it.“It’s incredibly exhilarating – after working for 10 years – being able to apply everything I learned into our own business. It shows me how much I’ve learned along the way. It’s incredibly exciting when our idea resonates with people. We want to help people live healthier, better lives. Being able to make money doing that is gratifying,” she enthuses.<h3>Experience as a 1-800Accountant Client</h3>Michelle Elson-Roza of MJER Help, LLC is a satisfied client of 1-800Accountant.“I think it’s a great solution for small businesses in the startup phase. I love being able to schedule 30-minute calls as frequently as I need. Not only is the service great, but having someone hold me accountable helps me get my work done in a timely manner. If you hire a private accountant, you pay hundreds of dollars an hour, so it’s a great service that I would highly recommend.”Photo credit: The logo included in this blog post was provided by MJER Help, LLC and is used with permission.

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Providing Families with Peace-of-Mind through a Small Business

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Jose Lugo puts on a show when he cooks his famous authentic paella. He then loves seeing a silent table of 50 hungry eaters enjoying the classic Spanish cuisine, not uttering one word as they savor every last bite of the delectable dish.Lugo, who is a client of 1-800Accountant, serves as CEO of Senor Pepe’s Paella Catering, LLC in Ft. Myers, Florida. He formally registered the small business in March 2014.The entrepreneur, who loves spending time in the kitchen with everything he needs within arm’s reach to make his magic happen, explains how his catering service is unique.“I try to stay as authentic as I can as far as what I cook up,” he says. “Most of my equipment and ingredients come directly from Spain. I go out to a client’s location, which could be a home, pool deck, park, or banquet hall. I set up all of my equipment and prepare the dishes right in front of everyone. People find it entertaining to watch as it’s all being prepared in front of them before it’s served. A lot of times, people are taking pictures of the entire process.”His specialties are paella valenciana (meat paella), paella marisco (seafood), and mixta paella – a combination of meat and seafood. But he has also come up with a Mexican version of paella, which he makes with Poblano peppers, re-fried beans, rice, beef, and chicken. While paella is typically what people want to eat, he can serve anything from Italian to Greek to Japanese offerings as well. For the kids, he’ll cook up some tasty chicken tenders or macaroni and cheese.“I take a lot of pride in preparing all of my dishes,” he says. “It’s just a privilege to be able to make authentic cuisine.”Lugo’s small business primarily serves the central and southern parts of Florida. He travels 180 miles north and south from his home in Ft. Myers on the west coast of the Sunshine State.He has a long background in the food industry, having previously owned businesses in New York and even serving up hot dogs on the corner of 56th&nbsp;Street and Madison Avenue.“I have always had a passion for food,” he says.<h2>The Perfect Recipe for Startup Success</h2>Small business owners give various reasons for what they think are the keys to making their ventures sustainable. In Lugo’s eyes, he thinks he has found a recipe for startup success that others simply don’t utilize.“This is completely out of the box,” he says. “From the presentation to the decoration to the flavors, you’re just not going to get this from other caterers. The fact that I use authentic ingredients from Spain is big. Plus, I go to your location and prepare the food there as opposed to getting food coming in on a metal tray.”<h2>Handling Small Business Competition</h2>The food service industry can be quite competitive, Lugo admits. The good news for him is that he knows he has some very special ingredients in his kitchen that others simply can’t offer.“I follow and watch what my competitors do,” he says. “I’ve noticed that some of their ingredients are store-bought. You can’t compare what you buy in a local grocery store to what I get directly from Spain. In my paella, the rice is the key. It’s special because it holds 3 times more of the broth and flavor than regular pearl rice. It’s a lot pricier, but at the end of the day, it is worth every penny.”<h2>Advertising A Small Business</h2>When starting a business, entrepreneurs should put marketing strategies near the top of their priority lists. Lugo has done just that by implementing a wide array of methods to get the word out about Senor Pepe’s Paella Catering. He currently has a website – <a class="link" href="http://www.senorpepespaella.com/">www.senorpepespaella.com</a> – and <a class="link" href="https://www.facebook.com/SenorPepesPaella">a Facebook page</a>. He also uses a site called Thumbtack that sends him a text message when someone is looking for catering services. He and his assistants wear polo shirts with the company name on them, and he hands out flyers with his contact information. In the future, he hopes to potentially put up a billboard and run commercials on TV.Among the challenges he’s faced in starting a business in the catering field, Lugo admits finances and holding himself back have been the biggest ones.“I don’t want to rush into things so I can do things the right way,” he says. “I don’t want to over-purchase or try to be bigger than I can be. I just want to grow into it and keep that same authenticity that really comes with having a small business.”<h2>Tips for Entrepreneurs</h2>Based on his experience as one of the millions of proud American small business owners pursuing their passions, Lugo offers some tips for entrepreneurs.“Follow your dream and focus on your goals,” he advises. “Stay on track and don’t take on more than you can handle. Starting a business is a step-by-step process. Don’t give up because there will be lots of obstacles. Learn from every mistake you make and make everything better in the future. Don’t go backwards – go forward.”While he loves being his own boss, he points out that there are both advantages and disadvantages to being self-employed rather than working for someone else as an employee.“You definitely control your destiny. You can make it exactly what you want it to be and grow as much as you want to grow.“The drawback is that there is not as much family time because you’re married to your business. But you get to share your benefits that come with owning a business with those around you.”Lugo speaks highly of 1-800Accountant, the nation’s leading accounting and consulting firm for small business owners and entrepreneurs.“I’ve had a lot of questions about the taxes involved in owning a business. I can call 1-800Accountant and get all the answers I need. Becoming a client has definitely benefited me.”Photo credit: The photograph of Jose Lugo was provided by Senor Pepe’s Paella Catering, LLC and is used with permission.

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Feeding Hungry Clients Authentic Spanish Paella

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Entrepreneur James McDevitt often thinks to himself, “Are my customers really paying me to do this?” In his view, if you’re asking yourself this question, you know you’ve found your startup sweet spot as an entrepreneur.
McDevitt, who handled 230 combat missions in the Vietnam War as an Army pilot, now proudly operates his own small business called Gulf Coast Flying Circus, Inc. The startup venture is based in Punta Gorda, Florida. It was formally established in December 2015. His wife, Michelle, lends a helping hand in the innovative company as well.
Following his military service in the early 1970s, McDevitt worked as a commercial airline pilot and captain for four decades. He also ran an airport on the side and started the Cape Cod Flying Circus before re-launching the adventurous concept on Florida’s sunny Gulf coast.
“I do aerobatics,” he explains. “A lot of people are unfamiliar with that term. If you go to air shows and watch the aircrafts doing their maneuvers, that’s basically what I do for individuals.”
The 65-year-old lover of the sky explains what inspired him to start this business.
“I used to do this in competitions with others,” he says. “I always wanted to just take someone off the street and see if I could put on an air show with them. It’s a lot more fun that way, and people seem to thoroughly enjoy the experience. There is skydiving, and there are rollercoasters, but nothing is quite like this.”
McDevitt always rides with the thrill-seeking individuals he calls customers. He puts a parachute, helmet, and goggles on each flying enthusiast and connects them to his intercom system for sufficient communication while doing the flying routines, which last about 20 minutes. The plane goes up to 3,000 feet into the air, which McDevitt believes is ideal to get a nice aerial view of the landscape below. Due to FAA rules, the flight can only travel 25 miles away from its original spot at the Punta Gorda Airport.
“We discuss every maneuver before we go up, and then I let the person call the ride,” he says. “I always ask the person, ‘Are you okay? Did you like that maneuver?’ Communication is critical.”
McDevitt’s plane is a 1981 Pitts S2A. The two-seater, open-cockpit aircraft is designed for competitive aerobatics and can fly upside-down or at various angles. It is made of tubular steel with wooden wings and is covered with fabric. It took him two years to rebuild it after a lengthy search since this particular model is quite rare.
“Because of its special fuel system, this airplane can do anything you can think of,” he says. “It goes from basically a negative speed to up to 200 miles per hour, but going fast is really not necessary in aerobatics. It’s all about the maneuvers of the plane.”
He describes what the most rewarding part of his small business actually is.
“My greatest love is taking people who’ve never done this and bringing them up to show them what it’s like.”
He recalls a personal story from years ago that truly touched his heart and convinced him that he was doing the right thing for others.
“I used to run an airport in Cape Cod where I also did this. One summer, a woman in her eighties rode her bike by every morning and watched what we did. She finally stopped in one day and asked my wife if she could go for a ride. My wife asked if she wanted to go on the scenic flight that is much calmer, but she said she wanted to go on the one that went upside-down. I took her up, and it was an absolute thrill for her. This lady had never flown before in her life.”
In terms of competition, McDevitt feels fortunate that he is not directly competing with many other companies that offer one-on-one aerobatic adventures for a set fee.
“There are schools out there that teach these types of aircraft maneuvers, but I honestly don’t know of anyone else who has this type of company.”
Each flight is fully customized and costs the customer $225, which includes everything from the initial safety preparation and discussions to the actual ride in the sky.
The plane can support up to 1,500 pounds, which includes the actual weight of the aircraft and the weight of both McDevitt and his rider. So, 190 pounds is roughly the maximum weight for most riders, but he can accommodate up to about 220 pounds in some cases. He screens every passenger before each flight, and he’ll take up almost anyone over the age of 12.
<h3>Marketing Strategies for Small Business Owners</h3>
To market the small business, McDevitt has a website at&nbsp;<a class=link href="https://www.facebook.com/Gulf-Coast-Flying-Circus-436963853164059/">Facebook page</a>. He plans to develop brochures and other marketing collateral. He also hopes to get his company listed in some local directories of things to do in Florida.
<h3>Tips for Aspiring Small Business Owners</h3>
Based on his personal entrepreneurial endeavors, he offers up some tips for entrepreneurs who aspire to work for themselves.
“Don’t listen to anybody who has a negative view of your idea,” he encourages. “If you have a dream about doing something, listen to the people who will help you achieve it. Go with your heart. If you have a love for something that you can’t live without, and you can turn a nickel with it, you should never fail.”
<h3>1-800Accountant Review</h3>
McDevitt gives 1-800Accountant high praise for how the national small business tax and accounting firm has been able to assist him as a client.
“I’ve been absolutely satisfied with the service from 1-800Accountant,” he says. “I am kind of a non-tech guy, so you guys have been great at helping me and reminding me of when my quarterly taxes are due.”
Photo credit: The photograph included in this blog post was provided by Gulf Coast Flying Circus, Inc. and is used with permission.

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Vietnam Vet Finds Startup Sweet Spot 3,000 Feet Up

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In 1968, Mary Lee Decoster went to work for a surgeon who was fresh out of medical school and starting his own practice. Mary Lee had to learn the business of managing the books from the ground up – how to bill and collect from patients and insurance companies, along with just about everything else that needed to be done in the office. The practice eventually grew to a group of five surgeons. Fast forward almost 50 years, and Mary Lee was entering retirement from a series of management roles that culminated in a vice president position at a large healthcare system. But retirement would be short-lived for Mary Lee. People kept calling her for help with revenue, cash flow, collections, and other advice. Her consulting business was born, and in December 2016 she formed an LLC. Mary Lee is passionate about enabling others to succeed. “I love to be a part of helping an organization transition from manual, paper-based workflows to automated, electronic workflows,” Mary Lee says. “I like to learn the games the payer plays to deny payment and to figure out how to win the reimbursement.” Over the years, Mary Lee has seen just about every healthcare billing and collection challenge that could possibly arise. From HIPAA to the Affordable Care Act, she’s accumulated a staggering wealth of knowledge. One area where she wasn’t so confident, though, was in managing her consulting revenue and paying her taxes. Thus, she began a relationship with 1-800Accountant that has proved valuable in ways she never dreamed. “My accountant, Chris Tuttle, has been very helpful,” says Mary Lee. “Chris explains things so I can understand what needs to be done. He has given me suggestions to further minimize my taxes. He recommended I become an S-Corp, hire a payroll service and start paying myself. I would never have known to do this on my own. He’s saving me money – and headaches.” With the help of 1-800Accountant, it appears Mary Lee will be helping others with their business decisions for a good long time. That’s the kind of retirement you can bank on.

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Mary Lee Decoster and 1-800Accountant: When Retirement Means the Next Great Adventure

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They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away.But if you need help mastering a new subject or skill, Malcolm Mayo and his wife, Rickela, want to give you access to a Tutor Doctor whenever you need one.The Mayos officially established Foodie Enterprises, Inc. in September 2014. The current focus of Foodie Enterprises is a startup international franchise company called Tutor Doctor. It offers tutoring services for children in Kindergarten through 12th grade, but it’s open to anyone interested in honing their skills.“Tutor Doctor is primarily designed to help parents invest in their kids’ futures,” Malcolm Mayo explains. “We can provide one-on-one tutoring for kids across all grades. We look at this as offering a coach who can help students either improve their academic standing or maintain a high level. Basically, if someone is an ‘A’ student, we can help them maintain that. If we get a ‘C’ student, we can help them become an ‘A’ student.”The small business takes a very specific approach when offering tutoring services. If someone needs a tutor for a certain class like algebra, trigonometry, or calculus, the company can offer a subject-matter expert rather than a general math tutor for such a case.He says there were several reasons that drove he and his wife into starting a business of their own to achieve the much-desired American dream of entrepreneurship.“I always wanted to potentially own my own business and become an entrepreneur,” he explains. “Tutor Doctor is a franchise, so I wanted to get involved in a brand that was young, could grow, and one that had solid leadership at the top. I also wanted to control my own destiny. My wife and I told ourselves that if we could succeed in the corporate world working for others, we could be successful small business owners.”They both felt that their skill sets complemented each other well, which is why they decided to put both of their names on the paperwork for the company.“She has an HR background and has a higher education, so she handles more of the frontend aspects of the business,” he says. “I work on the financial and operations aspects.”<h2>How to Make Your Small Business Succeed</h2>In Mayo’s words, any successful small business must satisfy its customers. In his case, the success of the students his startup company helps will determine the ultimate success of the small business.“We have to be very engaged in the community and help those in it who need assistance,” he says. “The success of our enterprise comes from the success of our students. We can sit down with parents to set goals for their kids to ensure everyone is aligned with what we are trying to achieve.”Tutor Doctor can either send a tutor to a student’s home, or there are local libraries where parents can bring their kids for the academic sessions. While its main demographic is students in school, the small business offers tutoring and training to anyone, such as seniors who want to learn how to use a computer or an iPad.<h2>Small Business Competition</h2>The Mayos separate their startup from other competing tutoring services by offering a more customized approach for each student they assist.“We call it the ‘Tutor Doctor advantage,’” he explains. “If you go to a learning center, you can probably get general help. But with us, we are curriculum-based. We focus on what is covered in a student’s actual classes. We track a student’s progress from beginning to end. We use weekly progress reports so that students, teachers, and parents are all on the same page. We also have different packages for different needs. Ultimately, we always provide a high level of customer service.”<h2>Advertising Methods for a Small Business</h2>The marketing plan for Tutor Doctor is multifaceted. The startup has a website the Mayos are also working with their local chamber of commerce and attend relevant events to help get the word out.<h2>Overcoming Challenges in Business Ownership</h2>Like fellow entrepreneurs, the Mayos have faced several challenges in getting their business off the ground.“Our biggest challenge has been trying to understand the tutoring industry and the needs of the students. Building relationships with key stakeholders who can provide the service you need is big. When we go to a school, we have to find the right person to talk to who can help put us in touch with the right students. It’s definitely not as easy as it sounds.”He offers some tips for entrepreneurs who want to become small business owners themselves some day.“Be patient and do your homework,” he suggests. “It is a long process, but be patient. If you’re starting a franchise, we highly recommend using a franchise consultant to guide you through the process. They will be your best friend.”<h2>Experience with 1-800Accountant</h2>Mayo says he and his wife are satisfied clients of 1-800Accountant.“Now that we have personal and business filings to do, 1-800Accountant is a valuable player in this process,” he says.Photo credit: The photographs included in this blog post were provided by Foodie Enterprises, LLC and are used with permission.

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Startup Story: Just What the Tutor Doctor Ordered

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At 26, Elizabeth Vazquez is far beyond her years in terms of motivation and goals. After working in the transportation industry for a few years, she quickly realized that she wanted to call herself a small business owner.Vazquez, who hails from Dallas, Texas and is a client of 1-800Accountant, proudly operates Towing &amp; More, LLC that does business as Transport &amp; MORE Services. She formally launched the unique home-based venture in January 2017. She has one business partner, Richard Walker.“I am starting off as a brokering company that works with other transportation firms to help individuals and businesses transport vehicles and other items nationwide and even internationally,” Vazquez explains. “We’re also going to offer repossession services, emergency roadside assistance, dealership support, and other towing services.”The former AAA dispatcher says she’s made numerous connections in her industry. She attributes the desire to pursue entrepreneurship to the encouragement of a former supervisor.“My previous boss filled me with knowledge and the ability to do this type of work, and he really inspired me to start this business. Most people want to keep their money-making ideas to themselves, but my old boss was the opposite and really gave me the guidance I needed to do all of this on my own.”In addition to this encouragement, Walker has also been a tremendous support to her in helping the two entrepreneurs find startup success.“Early on, I picked Elizabeth’s brain and helped guide her to make the right decisions for the business as far as profitability,” says Walker, 30. “I have spent a lot of time assisting my family with important financial matters and working with investors. I want our partnership to get to the point where if she can’t do something, I can step in and handle it – and vice versa.”<h2>The Joys of Being Self-Employed</h2>For Vazquez, it’s the people she gets to associate with who make her self-employment work so enjoyable.“I’ve always been a people person, so having the opportunity to communicate and network with such a wide variety of people is really nice,” she explains. “And I get to work with – not for – these people.”<h2>Small Business Competition</h2>While many entrepreneurs have the goal of running faster than their competition, Vazquez is taking the road-less-traveled approach to how her small business fits into the transportation industry.“I don’t want to be portrayed as having competitors,” she says. “I don’t want to undermine others. I want to work together with people so we can all accomplish big things. Teamwork makes the dream work.”<h2>Small Business Advertising Strategies</h2>To get the word out about Towing &amp; More, LLC, the entrepreneur has lots of strategies she has already carried out and others she’s planning. She is using the Internet by having a website, developing a social media presence by starting with <a class="link" href="https://www.facebook.com/Transport-MORE-Services-1003266833139541/">a Facebook page</a>, and implementing search engine optimization (SEO) keywords. She will also distribute business cards locally and may even run commercials on TV or put up billboards.Her biggest piece of advice thus far in her career as a small business owner is to develop a support network.“Reach out to others around you because they will probably be willing to help you. Also, if you buy into it, I recommend getting rid of this mentality of undermining others.”<h2>Experience as a Client of 1-800Accountant</h2>Elizabeth Vazquez is a very satisfied client of 1-800Accountant.“1-800Accountant is doing my business taxes, which is a huge help to me so I can focus on my business. I love the personalization of the services. I also have a great rapport with my accounting team, and you guys have just been absolutely wonderful. I really don’t know where I would be without your help.”

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Why Teamwork Makes the Dream Work for Two Young Entrepreneurs

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