Today we’d like to introduce you to Tanishia Warren-Ashade.
Hi Tanishia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I gained my initial foothold in the industry while in college, performing bookkeeping work for a non-profit (Pregnancy Restoration Center) focused on providing resources for pregnant teens as they embark on their journey. Once I graduated in 2005, my attention shifted to seeking a second income stream to pay off accumulating debt post-graduation (credit cards, personal loans, student loans, car note, etc.). Thus, my decision to start a tax service business aligned with my skill set, strengths, and my passion for personal finances to accomplish my own goals.
My initial customers were friends and family whom I assisted with tax services. However, I started to get the urge to do more but felt I needed to expand my knowledge base first. I then decided to pursue my MPA (Master’s in Public Administration) at LSU, specializing in Budgeting and Financial Management. Post-graduation, I expanded my expertise and service offerings to helping small businesses with bookkeeping, tax advisory & strategy. It has been a true joy to be able to help others.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. If it was easy, everyone would be an entrepreneur- Right!? I have faced my fair share of challenges along the way. There are two that I thought would be good to share.
1) When I initially launched, my focus was mainly on bringing in clients and covering the cost, and since I was the sole proprietor performing all the duties, my main focus was quality of service. However, as I transitioned to expanding the business, I had to take on additional responsibilities such as marketing, operations, etc., which forced me to quickly learn new skills to take the business to the next level.
2) A byproduct of scaling the business was the need to build a team, which resulted in the need to identify the right talent to bring in and be comfortable delegating and mentoring the team while inspiring them on their growth journey.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We are a boutique firm that helps real estate investors and service-based companies maximize their tax-deductible opportunities and build wealth by leveraging our legal tax strategies and accounting services.
What we believe sets us apart is that we are a personable firm made up of trusted professionals working side by side with our clients throughout the year, which allows us to be intimately involved in their journey and understand their unique needs. This results in the ability to provide highly dependable service, supported by our high customer satisfaction and testimonials with clients conveying they find us joyful to work with each year.
Readers can work with us in three different ways depending on their needs.
1. Small business bookkeeping and accounting services
2. Individual and small business tax preparation
3. Tax planning to maximize on tax savings
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
As a business owner, you may not know all the answers. You will still need to find a way to move the business forward by being comfortable researching solutions or tapping into your network consisting of accountability partners/groups, mentors, friends, etc.
Contact Info:
- Website:www.ashadeandassociates.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/tanishia.ashade
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/warren.ashade
Image Credits
Marie Thomas
