Exploring Life & Business with Dawn Lee of Clear Choice Tax Preparation LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dawn Lee.

Hi Dawn, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey didn’t start with a blueprint, a safety net, or a clear path it started with survival, faith, and a decision to change the trajectory of my life.

I was adopted at birth, and after the passing of my adoptive parents, I found myself navigating adulthood without guidance or stability. I became a mother at a young age, faced relationships that tested me, and had to learn very quickly how to stand on my own. There was a point where I realized that if I didn’t take control of my life and finances, the cycle would continue not just for me, but for my children.

My background is in customer service, collections, mortgage processing, and financial services, so I was no stranger to numbers or systems. But taxes found me at a time when I needed purpose, structure, and ownership. What started as a skill I learned to provide stability for my family slowly turned into a passion. I realized how many people were being underserved, miseducated, or taken advantage of when it came to their finances and I knew I could do better.

I built Clear Choice Tax Preparation from the ground up with no investors, no shortcuts, and no handouts. Every client, every preparer, and every milestone came from consistency, late nights, and learning the business inside and out. As the company grew, so did my mission. I wasn’t just preparing returns I was educating clients, mentoring new preparers, and creating opportunities for people who wanted more but didn’t know where to start.

Today, I lead a growing tax firm with a strong emphasis on compliance, education, and empowerment. I train and mentor preparers, offer tax education programs, and continue to expand my brand while staying deeply hands-on in the work. My story is proof that you don’t have to come from privilege to build something powerful you just have to be willing to do the work, stay disciplined, and believe in your ability to rise.

Everything I’ve built is rooted in resilience, accountability, and faith. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, but even more proud that my story now serves as a reminder to others that your past does not disqualify you from building a future you’re proud of.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has definitely not been a smooth road.

One of the biggest challenges was building something while still healing and figuring life out in real time. I didn’t come into entrepreneurship with a strong support system or a financial cushion, so every mistake mattered. I had to learn through trial and error sometimes costly error while still showing up as a mother and leader.

Starting my business from the ground up meant wearing every hat at once. I was the preparer, the marketer, the compliance officer, the trainer, and the problem-solver. There were seasons where growth felt slow, burnout was real, and I questioned whether I was doing enough or doing it right. In an industry as heavily regulated as tax preparation, staying compliant while scaling was a constant challenge and required discipline, education, and a willingness to correct course quickly.

Another struggle was learning how to trust people while also protecting my business. Leadership forced me to develop boundaries, systems, and accountability sometimes after learning hard lessons. Not everyone who starts with you finishes with you, and that was something I had to accept without letting it harden me.

Personally, balancing motherhood, personal healing, and entrepreneurship has been one of my greatest tests. There were moments where quitting would have been easier, but I kept going because I knew what was at stake not just for me, but for my children and the people who now depend on the work I do.

None of it was smooth, but every challenge shaped how I lead today. The struggles taught me resilience, precision, and humility. They also clarified my purpose: to build something sustainable, ethical, and impactful while showing others that it’s possible to rise even when the road is rough.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Clear Choice Tax Preparation LLC ?
Clear Choice Tax Preparation is a full-service tax firm built on accuracy, education, and integrity. We provide individual and small business tax preparation, tax planning support, and year-round guidance, with both in-office and virtual services available. Our work serves a wide range of clients, but we specialize in helping everyday individuals, entrepreneurs, and self-employed taxpayers understand their finances and file with confidence.

What sets us apart is our commitment to education and compliance. We don’t just prepare returns we explain them. Our clients know what’s being filed, why it’s being filed, and how it impacts their financial future. In an industry where speed is often prioritized over strategy, we focus on precision, ethical filing, and long-term outcomes.

Beyond client services, Clear Choice is also known for developing and mentoring tax professionals. I train and support preparers through structured education, compliance-focused systems, and hands-on mentorship. Many of our team members entered the tax industry with little to no prior experience, and watching them grow into confident, knowledgeable professionals has become one of the most rewarding parts of the brand.

Brand-wise, I’m most proud that Clear Choice was built from the ground up without shortcuts. Everything from our processes to our training culture was created intentionally. We’ve built a reputation for being thorough, trustworthy, and client-centered, and that reputation matters to me more than rapid growth.

What I want readers to know is that Clear Choice Tax Preparation stands for empowerment. We believe access to accurate financial information can change lives, and we’re committed to providing services that help people make informed decisions not just during tax season, but beyond it.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t view my journey as one driven by luck as much as one shaped by preparation, persistence, and faith. There were certainly moments of good timing meeting the right people, learning certain skills when I needed them most but those moments only mattered because I was willing to do the work behind the scenes.

If anything, what some might call “bad luck” played a bigger role early on. Losing my adoptive parents, navigating adulthood without guidance, and becoming a mother while still finding my footing forced me to mature quickly. Those experiences weren’t fortunate, but they built resilience, discipline, and grit qualities that became essential in business.

In my professional life, opportunities didn’t fall into my lap. I created them by staying consistent, educating myself, and showing up even when things were uncertain. When doors opened, it was usually because I had already been knocking for a long time.

I believe luck favors people who stay ready. Every opportunity I’ve received was met with preparation, accountability, and a willingness to learn. In that sense, I don’t credit luck for where I am today I credit the ability to keep going, stay focused, and trust that steady effort compounds over time.

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