“In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” That’s a popular quotation from Benjamin Franklin in a letter he wrote in 1789. John Lawrence, a young Fort Wayne entrepreneur who is a licensed tax preparer, has launched a new tax service to help area residents deal with one certainty of their lives: income taxes. Get It Done Tax Solutions, Inc. will serve Fort Wayne area taxpayers of all ages, occupations and tax brackets.
Lawrence is a junior student at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) with a double major in accounting and finance. He expects to receive his degree in 2019, at which time he plans to study for the Certified Public Accountant exam.
Hard work has always been a part of Lawrence’s life. His first job involved working at a local plant nursery when he was 14 years old. At the time, he was a student at Columbia City High School, where he ran cross country and competed on the swim team.
Now, in addition to working on his college degree, Lawrence also works full time in accounts receivables for a local printing firm, which he will continue to do after he launches his new business. He previously worked one year as a licensed tax preparer for a local office of a national franchise, where he says he became aware of “a better way of doing things.”
Lawrence says he plans to operate Get It Done Tax Solutions as a “more conscientious” tax preparation firm focused on helping his customers at an affordable price. Customers will be made aware of tax preparation fees upfront, and the fee structure will be based on the client’s filing status and their deadline.
“I would rather do it right than make a lot of money quickly,” he says. Unique services include “house calls,” which Lawrence foresees being popular with families having young children at home, as well as senior citizens and individuals with a physical disability who find it difficult to travel outside their residence.
As is common with many young entrepreneurs, Lawrence plans to give back to his community. He says he plans to donate a portion of his business profits “to support my community and help low-income people do their taxes in this time of uncertainty.”
Lawrence is a client of the Northeast Indiana Small Business Development Center, where he received information and guidance on business start-up procedures, identifying target markets and marketing strategies to reach potential customers.
For more information on Get It Done Tax Solutions, call Lawrence at 260-431-3001 or email him at JLawrence. To learn more about the services of the Northeast ISBDC, visit www.isbdc.org or call 260-481-0500.
