Today we’d like to introduce you to Porsha Elliott.
Hi Porsha, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I started in the tax business hired by Liberty Tax as a tax preparer. Through my first season with Liberty Tax so much was going on in the business that I immediately became an Office Manager within a month into the business. I found myself running the office alone by the end of tax season. I went from having a set schedule to working open to close 8 am-10 pm, even on weekends I would bring my two daughters to work. I found myself working so much for the tax company even on the off-season. When the second season started with them, I was then promoted to Operations Manager. I was now managing three locations, training, hiring new employees, and handling payroll/scheduling. I was working way more than what I was getting compensated and then there was times when my pay was short or not paid on time when it was payday. This became very frustrating, but I loved my job and knew I wanted to make being a tax preparer a career long-term. One day was payday, and I didn’t get paid, so when I called about the issue, I expressed to them well I can’t make it to work without pay because I was Ubering at the time to and form work, and I told them I didn’t have uber funds. They said no problem and would get an Uber for me (Liberty Tax locations are franchises so you deal with the owners and not the actually Liberty Tax corporation). When I was in the Uber, I was crying to my mother about the pay issue, and when I hung up the Uber driver said, “Not to be in your business, but my wife is part of an independent tax business, and you could be your own boss as a contractor for the tax business”. I never heard of this before, but being so angry at the time, I entertain the idea and got the wife number. The wife and I talked for a while, meet up for breakfasts one day, and immediately felt this was going to be a great working opportunity. Next thing you knew, I was leaving Liberty Tax and began working with this lady. Liberty Tax didn’t like the idea of me departing ways with them that in fact they was trying to sue me for all types of crazy things (which they never won). The next two tax seasons, I was working with the lady and advancing so much in my field my clientele was doubling every year. Then in 2022, I got in my own lane and created Colossal Tax Solutions. I worked so hard building my business from everything i had learned and all experiences I had experienced in this tax world. I became part of the National Society of Tax Professionals; I got certified as a tax instructor and coordinated that I also created Colossal Education LLC. I began teaching tax courses and then hiring those who took the classes on my business. I started off with 50 clients in the tax business and now 400 clients. I started off with one person in my corner to now having 40 employees, a personal assistant, and three managers. Next goal is opening locations in Chicago and Dallas. We service all 50 states, and I have employees from Chicago, Virginia, Baltimore, Atlanta, Dallas, Florida, and California. I have faced many obstacles and brick walls, but one thing I didn’t stop doing was giving up. I live for this business it is my baby, and I built it from the ground up, took all my pain, and built a legacy. I always tell my employees this is a business that’s never going anywhere because the IRS is never going nowhere. LOL
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it have not been a smooth road far from it actually. The first struggle I encountered was when I left Liberty Tax, they tried to sue me. Because I stay within a distance of one of their locations, I worked at that was one issue that they assumed I was working from home and that in contract I could not be working within a certain amount of miles from their location. But I was smart I did have an office space I was renting for tax season that was miles away from their location. They also stated that I couldn’t take any clients that I had when working with them. But my determination didn’t let that stop me. I started from scratch, gaining clients, I was in parking lots putting my flyer son cars. I was advertising on my social media, I was leaving business card everywhere I went, and the clients came to me. Then it was time I had to terminate employees that tried to do things as well to bring Colossal down, but I have also stood on principal. I NEVER reacted out of emotions I stayed logical and professional, and eventually situations handled themselves. I also came across working under someone who was not paying me as they should have, and we didn’t have contract in place as we should have also. But I took the loss and learned from it moving forward, anything I handle with business, a contract is drawn up. Even for my employees, we do a contract signing every year.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Colossal Tax Solutions?
The name of my business is Colossal Tax Solutions and Colossal Education LLC. One business is a tax business, and we operate year-round (not just seasonal), the other business is a tax schooling and certification. The tax business and school both started in 2022; they are both operated by myself as CEO. I am known as the owner and brand ambassador for Colossal. Colossal Tax Solutions and Colossal Education are our main highlights, but we also have Colossal Business Solutions in the making as well. My specialty is a certified tax professional most know me as Coach P because of my education in this field and how I execute it to others. I have been in the tax business for over 5 years and have a lot of respectful clientele from judges, lawyers, police enforcement personnel, farmers, and business owners. What set myself apart from others is my transparency. When I am handling a client, I don’t just look at them as a one-time opportunity, I view them as a forever client. When it comes to this tax business, it’s finding someone you can trust and be with forever. I tell my employees all the time people don’t want to jump from tax preparer to tax preparer. You become part of this client’s life for life. I also let my clients know what’s going on with their returns and information, I explain things to do so when they return is complete, they have full transparency and understanding. I get a lot of clients that need my help because they are getting audited or need me to amend their taxes (meaning someone else messed them up). My slogan to a client is that “I am now your tax lawyer unless you choose to go somewhere else” lol. I say this because whatever issue they may have I will always assist my clients any time of the year. Things like this makes our brand stand out. We get a lot of clients during off-season because they can’t get in touch with their original tax preparer. The most proud I am brand-wise is how much we are growing. I started this business by myself, and now I have a personal assistant, three managers, and 40 employees. We are operating in all 50 states, and even this year, TurboTax want us to brand with them. When I have my tax classes in November to become certified, I am now overbooked. I can only so many a class and it’s always more who try to sign up. I would like your readers to know we are more than about taxes, we are about financial literacy. Handling taxes is one part of our business; teaching the knowledge of tax preparations goes with it, but most importantly, handling your finances and building wealth.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
The advice I have for those starting out ANY business is creating a plan, stay focus, and NEVER GIVE UP. Starting a business can be very time-consuming, and you may not see the profit first see but don’t focus on just that every year gets better because you learn from all experiences and bumps in the road. For those starting in this particular business, the advice would be fully education yourself on everything of the IRS. Always want to make sure you are up to code and doing your due diligence. I wish I knew morning about things on the banking side when it comes to the fee processing and getting paid out to pay your employees. But once I understood it more the easier it got to manage.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.colossaltaxes.com
- Instagram: @colossaltaxesllc
- Facebook: ColossalTaxesLLC
