Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Courtney Hamlin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Courtney , appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about the early days of establishing your own firm. What can you share?

I decided to start my own accounting firm during the pandemic. This decision to do so was due to the desire of a more work balanced lifestyle. When you are a wife and mom, flexibility is important. Those two roles were heavily intertwined and that made me uncomfortable. I wanted to be at peace doing two of the things I loved to do.

Some of the main steps were first the basic set up of my business. Incorporating, applying for the Employer Identification Number, opening my business bank account etc. That was the easy part. Next was figuring out how to scale my business. What services will I offer, what do I want to specialize in, who represents the ideal client base for my business, how do I set myself apart from other firms, and how to market myself. Hiring a mentor and networking proved to be very beneficial in navigating those challenges.

The only thing I regretted is not starting my own tax and accounting firm much much earlier. I focused too much on potential failure that it hindered me from pursuing my goals. So my advice to young professionals considering to start their own firms would be to just do it. Fear and self doubt can sometimes cause us to be complacent or stagnant. Don’t allow it do so. In most cases we are successful in doing what we love and are passionate about. This doesn’t mean that the journey there will be without challenges, but in the end I believe it will be worth it for most.

Courtney , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Coming from a single parent household and not having much really opened my eyes to how important it was to be financially literate. In middle school I faced my first budgeting challenge. I had $800 to spend on school clothes for the year. My mom allowed me to spend it how I chose to spend it. I can remember reasoning with myself, I can buy one pair of Girbaud jeans or I can get three pairs of Lee jeans. And I went with the Lee jeans. I did that with the remainder of the money I had and I am still the same way on this very day. That just brought a different excitement that day. That day taught me to be accountable, responsible, practical, and disciplined. I took my first accounting course as a junior in high school and from then on I knew for sure that I wanted to be an accountant.

Some of the services Hamlin Tax & Accounting Solutions offers are monthly accounting, tax preparation, tax planning, budgeting, and business formation.

We assist small businesses in making sure that their businesses are properly structured and that business owners understand the importance of properly tracking their income and expenses. This is the foundation of any business and gives financial clarity, tax compliance, legal protection as well as the ability to make informed decisions within the business. Understanding your bottom line is essential to effective tax planning. We make sure clients have a clear view of their financial position and identify potential tax saving opportunities so that when it’s time to file their taxes there are no surprises.

What sets me apart is my commitment to not only delivering accurate financial services but also educating my clients along the way. I believe that financial success isn’t just about numbers — it’s about empowering my clients with the knowledge and understanding they need to make informed decisions. By providing clarity around accounting concepts, tax strategies, and financial planning, I ensure they’re not just relying on me for answers, but gaining the tools to confidently manage their finances long-term.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

I am still working on building an online presence so most of my new clients are from referrals. As I mentioned earlier, I am extremely passionate about what I do and I’m confident that my passion for tax and accounting is evident in every interaction, and it’s this genuine care and commitment to my clients’ success that often leads to referrals. When clients feel confident and supported, they naturally share their positive experiences, allowing me to help even more people achieve financial clarity and security.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Unlearning perfectionism and realizing that perfection can be the enemy of progress. I was the oldest of four and I felt the need to be the perfect big sister. I wanted to be a good example. I made good grades in school, always did my chores, never got into any trouble, earned a full basketball scholarship to Xavier University of New Orleans, graduated, moved to Georgia for a job, got baptized, married a wonderful man and together we had two beautiful children. So for a long time I thought that this way of thinking was my driving force but it became my enemy. It hindered me from achieving my goals. I had to unlearn this way of thinking. It was and has been a challenge, but I have had a great support system to keep me in the right frame of mind.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hamlintaxaccounting.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hamlintaxaccounting?igsh=azZ4ZHdsdXV6ajhl&utm_source=qr

Image Credits

Skimeaux Studios