KeAloha Couch<contact@couchtaxes.com>
Business Name: Couch & Associates, Inc
Website URL: http://couchtaxes.com
Email Address: contact@couchtaxes.com
Year Founded: 1992
Number of Employees: 8
What does your company do?: We are a team of CPAs and EAs who provide tax planning, preparation and audit services. We support our business and individual clients, local and foreign with full services bookkeeping including sales and payroll tax reporting with on-going budgeting and consultation.
Our core value and focus is to deliver the highest quality services in a timely manner. For Couch & Associates this translates into providing our services in respectful, confidential and safe environment, which supports healthy communication, collaboration and fun (yes, fun) with our clients and staff.
In that spirit, the true service we provide is transforming the anxiety surrounding money and taxes to a sense of relief and confidence.
Was there a specific turning point when you realized your business was moving to the next level?: This is an interesting question for me. As the leader of our company, I set goals and targets with my team that I believe supports the health and evolution of the business. To create these goals, we need to be present and attentive to the every changing business and tax environment.
I realized that we were moving to the next level when our core team began to bring new and different ideas and service models, which we were able to execute. Our small business services division and a new San Francisco office are a couple of the results of moving to this next level.
What processes or procedures have you implemented that have helped grow your company?:
In this industry, precision, accountability and security of client information are essential. Internally we have built and continue to refine our practice management system to incorporate those values.
We have implemented secure client portals for the safe transfer of information. With busy clients around the global, we maintain contact through Skype appointments and other remote access tools.
What is most rewarding about running your business?: The opportunity to create an environment to work in with my clients and staff. To set the tone we all can experience.
Money and taxes is very serious and for some, very frightening. At Couch & Associates we offer a working environment which steps out of that paradigm. We create solutions around some pretty serious topics in an environment that is fun, relaxed and supportive.
The clients and staff including myself, laugh a lot. I find that most rewarding.
What challenges have you faced and how have you overcome them?: Staffing. Finding the person with the right skill level who is also a good fit with our team and clients is always a challenge
I do not know if this is a challenge that we (the collective we) ever overcome. Key is to support the existing staff. Couch & Associates provides professionally facilitated individual business coaching and meditation for key staff. We also have a monthly-facilitated group discussion around our goals as a business.
If you were starting over today, what would you do differently?: I would have listened more to my “quiet and certain” inner voice. I would not have spent resources on broadcast advertising.
What advice do you have for other business owners?: Have fun. Do the work that you are passionate about. Be courageous, stay current and always upgrade your skills. Give back to your community globally and locally. Remember thoughts are creative, if you can see it, you can create it.
Please list any favorite books, tools or resources (software, website, etc.) you would recommend for others: Not A Box, by Antoinette Portis
Elizabeth I, CEO by Alan Alexrod
Blink, by Malcolm Gladwell
Be Here Now, by Ram Dass
What is something that people might be surprised to learn about you?: I like to think of myself as a pretty fun loving and laid back person. I enjoy art, architecture and meditating. Folks are usually pleasantly surprised that I am passionate about basketball and the New York Knicks (especially since I hail from Hawaii).
