We were lucky to catch up with Keiona Wright recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Keiona thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Everyone has crazy stuff happen to them, but often small business owners and creatives, artists and others who are doing something off the beaten path are hit with things (positive or negative) that are so out there, so unpredictable and unexpected. Can you share a crazy story from your journey?

Back in 2018 maybe 2019, I had a client who I was servicing for a few years. We were comfortable with each other in the sense we shared stories about our children etc. etc. This one particular year, I did as I’ve always done collected my clients tax documents and records and proceeded to prepare the client’s tax return as I have always done. I sent the client the details of her tax return and I proceeded to move on to the next client. Once the IRS posted the refund date I sent the client a text message letting her know the good news and again went on about my day. Now at this time I was preparing taxes part-time in the evenings from home. I had a full time job 9-5 working at a corporate law firm in downtown Chicago. Well one day while I was at work, this same client sends me a text message, “you F*cked my taxes!!! You gave them the wrong bank information and now I have to wait for a paper check in the mail”, Boy oh Boy was my heart pounding, did I? Could I? Noooo you always triple check?? Lord have mercy… So I did not reply. I took about 15 minutes away from my job to (1) log into the software to see what bank details I entered into the computer system. Next, I went through thread and threads of text message because at that time the client sent me a photo of the bank information to use on the return. So I checked to verify I entered the routing number and the bank account number accurately number for number. I also then check the state part of the return for the same things. I went back to her “F” text message to review the account number shown. It was not a match… Lord have mercy… I did however screen shot the prior text message with the information she sent me prior. You know when those dots are blinking on the screen you just wish the text message from the other end would come through already…. She replies, “D*mn, I sent you my old bank card.. I have a new one. So what do I have to do now?” Whewwwww Thank you Jesus ok… because what!!!! I replied call the bank and tell them what happened, you will have to complete a form and then wait for the paper check unfortunately. I do apologize for the inconvenience. She didn’t really care about my apology. She was pissed off. And rightfully so.

At that moment I realized I need to get a better, system in place I need something that force clients to verify everything! I do mean everything. I realize then that some people will mis-type a number, so can I. I realized that not making clients sign off on certain types of documents was important. I realized that I had no clause to cover myself from indemnity in the event this ever happened again. I also realized that she was not going to pay me… even when the check comes she’s not going to pay me because she still felt it was all my error. How could I have known she (1) did not have a traditional bank (no judgement) and (2) had multiple bank cards with the same fintech company.

However, I kept in contact with her and the bank the entire time until it showed on the bank site that a check had been printed and mailed. She remained my client, however I never got paid. I didn’t even ask for payment but I was upset about the accusation once I realized I did have some proof that CYA’ed me. That following year I prepared her taxes again, I still had not found a system or a way for client to pay me directly. I did however receive payment from the client for both years but that took two years to receive payment for a prior year service. She gave me the dirties look when I went to drop off her documents and recover my payment (I’m thinking to myself I know you aren’t still upset about last year! You got your money. I never received mine …. until a year later). I typically did not have problems with clients paying once their refunds were received.

I learned then, money is truly the root of all evil, Clients are not forgiving and you are expected to be perfect even though in reality no one is perfect. I need to become more professional if I intent to make and grow this business…. I needed better ways to cover myself. She never returned as a client. I was hurt.. because I knew that once she left all her family members would too… and that is exactly what happened. she left, her sister left, her aunt left, and two of their friends all left.

Again, I was hurt, because it wasn’t my fault. Doesn’t matter though… that day realized I do not want to continue to work with client who yield high refunds. I started to research better software, and how I can get paid from the return instead of waiting for a client to send me my payment for services. I inquired about E & O insurance. I created contract.. at least what I thought was a decent enough contract. Outlining each and ever detail of services and things I was responsible for and not responsible for, getting signatures on more and more documents each year. I vowed to never allow that to happen again.

Keiona, 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?

Interesting story, I was a teen mom (19) to be exact. To some people you are considered an adult but to my mom you still had teen behind your age so you were still a child (teen). I vowed to never allow her, my mom to every have to say she took care of my son beyond the basic needs of shelter. My friend lived near a Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, and one day on the way home from her house. I saw a sign. HIRING NOW! FREE TRAINING!. Boom! Let’s do it. You can work at night and attend school during the day. So I enrolled, I attended the 8 week training course nightly for 3hrs a night M-F and some Saturdays and Sundays. I was promised a job as long as I had perfect attend, could pass the exam, and could pass a background check. I was hired and officially started working Feb 2004. It was great! I went to class at Harold Washington College in the morning/midday and then straight to work. My son attended a home daycare, I got off work just in enough time to pick him up and other days my mother filled in when she could. I worked there for 14 years. During that 14 years I worked various full time day jobs.. one that was important was the law firms and always in there accounting and finance departments, go figure because I hated math.

In, 2019 I obtain an MBA from Roosevelt university. I started to learn about business, and how corporations operate, and more math (accounting)… I realized that I had to leave Jackson Hewitt. I could do everything there were doing and keep more of the profit. At this point I realized I was considered an overhead expense for Jackson Hewitt, I started to analyze their numbers in my head… how many tax returns where processed and the cost per return, and the estimated payroll expense for my store based on employees, and other costs supplies etc…. I learned the business.

I said ok, you already did a little something on side from home. So no need for an office space. Client referrals were still coming in. You do need supplies and equipment, LLC etc., etc. I graduated and officially announced my company name to family and friends. I knew I needed a marketing coach – got one. I knew I needed help with social media because at this point covid is here – (got one). I still worked in law firms during the day. I also had 3 more children between 2010-2015.

At first the service was tax preparation services to individuals and small business owners (schedule C’s). I’d also offer bookkeeping services to those who were small business owners. I decided to keep my prices low (bad choice looking back). I helped small business owners remain organized and compliant with IRS, after all they did not like keeping track of receipts and invoices and I provided some relief. For individual taxpayers I simply gave them a since or relief by filing the tax returns and ensuring they too were in compliance.

Well over, time I learned the term niche… that meant to focus on one type of client. I had a few trucker clients, and I realized as more came to me… I enjoyed working with them. I enjoyed helping turn their frowns into smiles. I provided relief and reduced stress for the transportation and logistics industry. The more truckers I helped to eliminate and or lower their tax debt the more and more came to me. I made it my business to now approach them. I gave out FREE tax deductions checklists for truckers. I gave out FREE consultation calls to truckers. I gave them incentives for referring another driver. I also became their one stop shop (bookkeeping, taxes – heavy duty and IFTA). I currently now help truckers with audits by providing tax resolution services to that industry. I also train other tax professionals on how to accurately and appropriately prepare taxes for truckers.

What sets me apart from the rest is that I have taken the time to talk to truck drivers about what they do daily. I have also asked them during services things like the types of trucks they drive, how they get fuel, how do they determine where to buy fuel, how often do they fill up, when do they fill up, when they say terms to me I do not know I simply as what does that mean? I’ve sat on the phone with them while they were on the road and just needed someone to vent too.. I mean I have gathered so much research into the industry by simply listening to them. I joined Facebook groups and club house rooms, and sat and listened to truckers pain points and when used those same pain point to come back and create an offer (solution) to their problems.

I am most proud, of owning my lane (pun intended) in this industry. I have helped so many truckers save money on taxes, I have helped many grow and scale by allowing them to free up some extra cash to purchase additional equipment. I have helped many more avoid super large tax bills by using my skills and attention to detail and have founds so many discrepancies in prior year tax returns.

Another proud moment was when I started teaching other tax professionals seeking to master the art of preparing taxes for truckers do so with clarity and confidence.

I am most proud of my integrity, work ethic and morals. I’ve had a lot of client try to convince me to do things that were not ethical. I have a zero tolerance policy for that however, I do a great job of thoroughly walking a client through their tax return, helping them explore opportunities for growth and helping them develop a strategy moving forward that will yield results. And no pun intended but stick with me and will grow your business the Wright Way.

I want followers to know that I am the official truckers accountant. I am not a CPA, but qualified… But at Wright Way We do all things right! We know the right way to prepare truckers taxes, we know the right way to provide resolution services for truckers, we know the right way to complete financials and so much more.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I think what helped me build my reputation within my market is being my true authentic self. I have never gone live on social media platforms or spoke with client making blank promises.

I do promise them one thing. I will do the best I can, and all I can with the eyes of the law and to ensure they we both are compliant according to IRS rules and regulations.

I had to learn that my messaging had to be clear. I cannot one day decide to service one industry while professing to be the end all be all in another. It confuses people.

I also had to do the work, so that mean doing (FREE) stuff on other peoples platforms in exchange for their audience. I had to invest in going to events that technically served no direct purpose but help me get closer truckers.

I had to provide the tax professional with training and resources that could be substantiated, fact checks and with reference links. I had to show them why what most people are doing on truckers tax returns is what’s causing truck drivers to loose faith in tax professional and the tax system as a whole.

I also had to do the work to show truckers you do not need a CPA, you need a professional with tax and accounting experience who know the trucking industry. And I have done that.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

The book Guerrilla Marketing has helped me shift my thinking on different ways to market to an audience without going into debt. I am not a fan for paying for ads. At this point in my career I just do not see the benefit for me right now… again reviewing my own company numbers. I learned that I have to have patience with marketing. I am a person who gives a new marketing style two weeks to work and then I move on to something else. However this books has led me to understand the importance of consistency. And picking (1) thing and doing it over and over and over and over again.

The book by Megan Robbins called, Let Them. This book helped me to realized that some things we take on as person problems, assuming that we have to fix everything and everyone.. we need to allow people and things to be themselves. I cannot control how people feel, I cannot control people copying my style, my materials, my way of marketing, my social media post and making them their own, word for word (so annoying by the way). I also cannot control the diary of misleading and misguided advice passed around on tiktok and client thinking they can do all those things or have all those tax breaks which are not thing but ways to commit tax fraud.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wrightwayfinancialservices.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrightwayfinancialservices.co
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keiona.colson

Image Credits

flyer created by – Ashley of Ashgraphixx