We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rolanda Watson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Rolanda , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Please tell us about starting your own firm and if you’d do anything different knowing what you know now.

The Story of How It All Began You know, when I decided to start my own firm, it wasn’t because I had everything figured out — it was because I was tired of watching people struggle with something that could be made simple. I saw hardworking people — contractors, small business owners, families — constantly stressed about taxes and finances. They weren’t lazy or careless; they just didn’t have clarity. I remember thinking, “Someone needs to change how people experience making money as a business owner.”
That’s when I decided, “Why not me?”
I started out just like many of us do — working long days and nights from a small office, sometimes the kitchen table, with a laptop, printer, and a whole lot of determination. I didn’t have a big team or a fancy office; what I had was purpose. My mission was simple: make taxes stress-free, bring clarity to confusion, and help people make confident financial decisions.
As I built the firm, every step mattered. From certifications, multiple training and getting credentialed as an Enrolled Agent by the IRS. These milestones — gave me authority, but more importantly, it gave me confidence. I took every class I could, learned forms, and built relationships with clients who trusted me long before there was a brand name on the wall.
Then came the real turning point — when I stopped trying to be everything for everyone and started structuring the business around systems, not survival. I implemented processes for onboarding, document collection, and communication. I built a team. I learned to delegate. And I started to realize that leadership wasn’t about doing more — it was about doing what mattered.
Now, it wasn’t easy. There were seasons when cash flow was tight, staff turnover hit hard, or technology failed at the worst time. There were late nights where I questioned if I was really building a business or just managing chaos with lipstick on it. But each challenge taught me something critical about growth, about faith, and about myself.
If I could go back, I’d tell my younger self to invest earlier — not just in software or marketing, but in structure. I’d tell her to hire help before burnout sets in, to set boundaries, and to remember that “no” is also a strategy.
Today, Rolanda’s Tax & Professional Services is so much more than a tax firm. We’ve evolved into a full Outsourced Accounting Department — a trusted partner for business owners who want financial clarity, confidence, and compliance without the stress. Our Access Granted framework embodies exactly what I envisioned years ago: helping business owners unlock opportunities through better financial systems.
And to anyone thinking about starting their own firm, here’s my advice:
Start small, but start strong. Know your why — because the why will carry you when the money, motivation, or momentum wavers. Build systems, value people, and never stop learning.
The truth is, the journey won’t always be pretty — but it will be worth it.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Meet Rolanda Watson — Founder, Visionary, and Financial Clarity Expert Rolanda Watson, known to many as “My Tax Lady,” is the founder of Empower 2 Impact Inc., the parent company of Rolanda’s Tax & Professional Services, Watson Insurance Agency, and Lydia’s Resource Center, a nonprofit dedicated to financial literacy.
As an Enrolled Agent and Tax Accountant, Rolanda built her practice on three pillars: Clarity, Confidence, and Compliance. Her firm goes beyond tax preparation — offering full Outsourced Accounting Department services, strategic tax planning, IRS resolution, payroll and Business Advisory support for small business owners and service professionals, particularly in the trades and contracting industries.
Rolanda’s journey began with a simple mission: to make taxes and business finances stress-free by bringing education and empathy into an industry often known for confusion and fear. Over time, that mission grew into the Access Granted™ Framework, helping business owners unlock new opportunities through financial understanding and structure.
What truly sets Rolanda apart is her ability to meet clients where they are — translating complex tax laws and financial data into actionable insight. Her team doesn’t just manage numbers; they build systems and confidence for clients who want to grow without chaos.
Today, Rolanda’s firm stands as a trusted financial partner for business owners who want peace of mind, smarter decisions, and sustainable growth. Her message to entrepreneurs is simple: You deserve clarity — and with the right guidance, you can build a business that not only thrives but leaves a legacy.

Have you ever had to pivot?

The Power of the Pivot

There was a season in my journey when everything I thought I’d built started to feel… too small. I was successful on paper — the firm was growing, clients were coming in, and I was doing what I loved — helping people solve tax problems. But I started realizing something: I wasn’t just fixing taxes; I was fixing systems, mindsets, and businesses.

Clients didn’t just need tax prep — they needed clarity. They needed someone to explain what their numbers meant, how to plan for growth, and how to make money decisions with confidence. That realization changed everything.

The pivot came when I stopped seeing myself only as a tax preparer and started stepping into my role as a strategic financial advisor — the one who helps business owners lead with their numbers. It was uncomfortable at first. I had to restructure my services, update my branding, and even shift how I saw my own worth. Instead of charging for forms, I started charging for strategy.

That transition birthed what is now my Access Granted™ Framework — a model built around Clarity, Confidence, and Compliance. It’s what turned a tax office into a full Outsourced Accounting Department that serves growing businesses with CFO-level insight.

On a personal level, the pivot also taught me the value of boundaries and balance. I learned that saying no to the wrong opportunities makes space for the right ones. I learned that scaling isn’t just about hiring or marketing — it’s about alignment.

That moment redefined my business — and honestly, it redefined me.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that pivoting isn’t failure — it’s faith in motion. Sometimes God will let what’s familiar stop working just long enough to push you toward what you were truly meant to build.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Story of Resilience — From Grit to Growth When I first started my firm, there was no grand office or full team — just me, a vision, and a small office, dining room table that doubled as my desk. I had a laptop, a printer that acted up more than it worked, and a determination to build a business that made taxes and finances stress-free for everyday people.
Those early years tested everything. I wore every hat, worked long days and late evenings, and learned through trial and error how to turn my passion into a process. There were times when cash flow was tight, technology failed, and I questioned if I was really cut out for this. But I refused to quit. I leaned on faith, focused on service, and earned trust for one client at a time.
As the firm grew, I faced a new challenge — success without structure. The calls, deadlines, and client demands became constant, and I realized that what got me started couldn’t carry me forward. So, I made the hard decision to pause, rebuild, and create the systems and team the firm needed to truly scale.
That’s when resilience took on new meaning. It wasn’t just about surviving hard times — it was about adapting with purpose. I learned that real strength is not in doing everything alone, but in building something that can stand without you holding it up.
Today, that same resilience is the heartbeat of my firm — built on faith, refined by experience, and focused on helping others find clarity, confidence, and compliance in their own journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mytaxlady.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mytaxlady72/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rowatson
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/rolanda-watson-ea-crtc-ntpi-fellow-461850230
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@rolandawatson