Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandra Portales.
Hi Sandra, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Many believed that I was raised in the great city of Dallas, TX. I was born in Houston, TX and raised in Mexico. Growing up as a kid in a household of five, me being the second of three girls. My parents took individual roles. My mother was the caretaker and my father would be the one who would bring the bread home all the way in Houston while we were in Mexico. My father passed away when I was very young at the age of fourteen. When I moved back to the U.S. I was raised in a very humble home in Laredo, TX. My family used to rely on my older sister for income but a few years after, she got married and left. That left me at sixteen years old with the weight of maintaining my family and moving forward. I always felt responsible for them, but I had my dreams too. I always dreamt of being a business owner or doing something big for myself. I had to pay the bills at home and I wanted to go to school.
In order for me to achieve this goal, I had to go the extra mile. I always maintained two jobs. Just to simply maintain my family and my tuition. I was able to get my Bachelor of Accounting from Texas A&M International University and a Master’s Degree in Accounting from the University of Dallas. I started working for other accounting firms as an employee. I had a mixture of good and bad bosses, some companies who would offer business trips to their employees or bosses who would overwork us and never be grateful for our work. I am grateful for these experiences, though. I took it as a learning experience, I would think to myself, when I get my business, I will not treat my employees like this or I will take this into consideration. One day I decided to take the risk and start my business.
When I first started with Qualitax, I did not have enough profit to be able to pay myself. I used to be very naive about people’s intentions and took on contracts for accounting services for clients who would take advantage and overwork my company causing my company’s growth to be stunted. I eventually set my boundaries and decided to leave those clients, but this caused me to start from ground zero again. When things like this would happen to me, I would think of quitting and just becoming an employee again. However, something in me would force me to keep going and motivate me to push to my biggest potential. I went from having to keep warm with carpets in low-class home in Laredo to being a successful businesswoman in Dallas. Although it was not easy at all, and I am very proud of myself. I still have a lot of milestones I want to reach in my life and I need to keep pushing forward to get there and face more challenges. I feel like my drive is way more bigger than those obstacles.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not knowing English when I first came back to the United States. Having to maintain my family and school at a young age. Having my father passed away. Being taken advantage of when I was learning to manage a business.
We’ve been impressed with Qualitax & Business Services, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I help people on making the dream of the opening of business into a reality. I guide them on, how to open an LLC, structure, payroll, bookkeeping, and taxes. I want every person that comes to Qualitax to receive our support for them to achieve their goals. Our saying is “Together we all can grow”
Contact Info:
- Email: ADMIN@QUALITAXAS.COM
- Website: http://www.qualitaxas.com/
Image Credits
Raquel Rivera Photography https://www.raquelriveraphotography.com/#0
