By Dennis Finocchiaro
Last weekend, Protaxlink Software held an informational event at the Doubletree Hotel in Sunrise, Florida, to ready tax preparers for the 2020 tax season coming in January. The full day event, which included food and drink for a group of mostly Caribbeans and Latino participants, had a total of 256 participants, an impressive number considering the proximity of Tropical Storm Eta.
President and Co-Founder of Protaxlink, Margareth Moreno Ferdinand, wanted people to know more about her company and who they help. “We are not only a software provider. We actually help [tax preparers] with everything [they] need in regards to taxes, credit, immigration services or any business information if they get audited. If you just want to learn how to start a business or have different strings of income, this is what we’re here for. We are a big network that we work together and help you get what you need.” She, along with her husband and Vice President/Co-founder of Protaxlink, Patrick Ferdinand, organized the event.
The seminar, which also featured a local bank and several guest speakers, shared information on Protaxlink with tax preparers, accountants, and enroll agents. But that’s not all. Margareth added, “even if [they] just are an entrepreneur that wants to get involved in taxes and doesn’t know where to start, we are here to help them learn how to make a different way of income. So you don’t have to be an experienced tax preparer. You can be someone who wants to learn new things.”
Of course, a big topic of 2020 was COVID-19, the pandemic, and how it will affect tax preparation. The chance of clients walking through tax preparer’s doors are pretty slim this year, but as Ferdinand explained, “we just have to have different ways and options for your customers.” That is where her software, Protaxlink, can really help.
“As a tax preparer you need something that is easier for you to deal with a large volume of clients,” she added. “Back in the days they used to do everything handwritten and you cannot handle so much volume doing it step by step.” The software basically speeds up the process, eliminates the need for paper and many supplies, and saves preparers money by making everything scannable and digital. There’s also a mobile app, and they use e-signature, so everything can be done virtually. Margareth wanted clients to know that “you will be able to know that you’re safe and your customers are safe as well.”
The software yields faster results, which leads to taking on more clients for tax preparers, and that means more income for their business.
Margareth and Patrick know the business. They were both tax preparers before they started this new venture, but weren’t sure how to take the next step. She explained, “In order for you to get where you want to go, a lot of times you fail or lose money in certain avenues because you’re not trained correctly…we were having those growing pains as well. So we actually took a couple of years to get it together and get it right, and become successful in that business.” They gained the know-how, and then decided they wanted to share that information with others. That’s how the software came to be.
“It’s very important for companies like us that have made it through those struggles…to be able to teach the community and help each other so that we can all be successful.”
While the Ferdinands are not the engineers who created the software, the company that invented it considers them co-branders. They saw something that was lacking, and they know the community. The company considers them Florida region co-branders.
That’s where the event comes in. They introduce the banks to the tax preparers in the community and give them a chance to speak face-to-face, which is integral to small business success. The seminar not only works as an introduction, but also lets them see the best software out there and help those in the business get that software at an affordable price. Either way, it’s about introducing locals to speakers, software and everything else they need to be successful.
Ferdinand explained the amount of work that they put into this.
“You have to study the software and figure out what’s the best software for whatever is going on in the industry. I definitely do research and pick out what I feel is best for the company, and I don’t feel like it’s all about the software. It’s all about the services you provide, what you have for them. Customer service, tech support, one-on-one with clients, that’s where everything is at. Not only the software, but to be able to be there for your clients.”
Or, in other words, as their website says, “Our mission is to help you help others.”
For more information, check out www.protaxlink.com or call (855)776-8295. Margareth can be reached at (754)235-8852.
Protaxlink’s address is 4784 W Commercial BlvdTamarac, FL 33319