Today we’d like to introduce you to Dante Rivera.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
In the summer of 1995, just weeks after graduating as an accountant from the UANL a Mexican University, I landed in Dallas TX where I started to work as a carpet installer helper, later in construction and even as a janitorial crew. After some months of hard labor work, I was introduced to an accountant. He offered me a position in a body shop as a staff accountant and start practicing everything I have learned previously when I worked in accounting and audit firms in México.
In 1996, I moved to Houston and continued working in administration and accounting. In the year 2000, I decided to offer my services as an independent accountant to help new and established business owners with their bookkeeping, tax and business needs.
I founded Rivera & Co. Tax and Business Services. With a couple of clients at that time, since I was a full-time employee, I had to work with my clients every afternoon and weekends. As the time passed, the number of customers were increasing.
The time arrived where I had to decide between the financial security that a job can give versus the entrepreneurship adventure with no benefits nor any economic security. Even with some uncertainty, I believed that I was going to make it happen, nothing else than faith, so in 2004 I quit my full-time employment and moved Rivera & Co. from my home office to an office building in the street of Pasadena Blvd.
The time was perfect, there were needs in the community and we were able to fill the bookkeeping and tax needs of business owners. Today, 17 years later we have two offices and our team continue to serve some of the original as well as new clients that have come aboard.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Yes, there were struggles, every business owner could testify about it, if it were simple, anybody will do it. During the first year, there was not enough income to support my family. I might say that it barely pays the bills. Another struggle to me was the family time I lost, that goes away due to the number of hours invested in the business. Perhaps the feeling of neglect for not spending enough time with them. Besides that, I believed it has been a great journey.
Please tell us about Rivera & Co.
We focus on tax and business services for small and medium size corporations and DBAs. We commit to quality work, and expertise to support clients with their business and tax needs. We practice open communication throughout the entire engagement, timely response, and assistance to clients.
Hispanics business owners appreciate the fact that we serve as a trusted liaison between them and the USA government regulations in their native language. We are proud of our customer retention. We still serve clients that commenced with us. We believe in long term business relationships, therefore more than clients we treat them like family.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
The first memory that comes to my mind, it is when I was about 8 years old. I was playing at my grandma’s house when suddenly one of my uncles came and gave me my first bicycle as a present. It was memorable because he thought about me without being his son.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1120 Pasadena Blvd.
Pasadena, TX 77506 - Website: http://www.riveratax.com/sba
- Phone: 713-534-9691
- Email: info@riveratax.com
- Facebook: @riveratax
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