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Profile
on Hudson Etienne
Source: eINfoNews.com Hudson Etienne went from working for 10 cents for every Twinkie consumed, to running a national franchise business.
Profile
and Interview by Kamau Austin
Hudson is a small business visionary. He is one of the rare people I know who successfully created a franchised business. This isn't easy to do because you must have a documented money making system in place to do this before you can sell it to others.
Truly folks, this is an amazing achievement! Also interesting is Hudson is using technology to bring about innovation in his business.
From his personalized, secure, and cutting edge database of his clients to the professional videos which adorn his site, Hudson is on the move to use technological innovation to take his franchise business to the next level. Despite the busy tax season, I caught up with Hudson recently to ask him some interview questions.
Hudson's answers are after Red Bold emphasis...
The Interview
Kamau: Hudson can you tell us a little about your business?
Hudson: Tax DrX which offers personalized and privatized tax preparation services. We also offer financial planning services. Furthermore we represent you if you get called in by IRS. We do your taxes in a closed office environment.
Kamau: Hudson can you tell us a little bit about your background, like where you grew up and went to school?
Hudson: I attended the New Jersey Institute of design (NJIT). I went there to pursue a degree in electrical engineering.
My minors were accounting and finance. In college I took a leave of absence as a sophmore to pursue a business opportunity with Primamerica Financial. Later I founded Omni Planning Group, a tax and financial planning firm.
I then later came back and finished my degree in Industrial and Management Engineering.
Kamau: How did you become interested in income tax preparation, accounting, and financial planning?
Hudson: As an electrical engineer I discovered my plant manager wasn't an electrical engineer. His degree was in industrial and management engineering. I discovered his background was more diverse in both technology and business.
Therefore, this inspired me to become more well rounded as a professional, beyond being just a specialist or technician. I pursued and attained a degree in Industrial and Management Engineering.
Kamau: Hudson at what point in your life did you decide you wanted to become an entrepreneur?
Hudson: It's in my background. I'm of Haitian descent and in Haiti you go to school to learn to market your produce from the land.
Business allows you to control your destiny.
I started off in business at 10 years of age when the owner of a grocery store offered me a job eating Twinkies. The owner offered to pay me 10 cents for every Twinkie I could eat. At ten this was a job of a lifetime!
Kamau: Obviously that business owner offered you the Twinkie position to teach you a lesson LOL!
Hudson: Yes exactly!!! LOL!
Kamau: Has franchising your business been beneficial?
Hudson: Yes, franchising has many benefits. First of all there is less risk running a franchise because it has a proven and reliable business system in place. It is a faster start up.
Also it is easier to get SBA and other small business loans for a franchise since it has a proven system. People who buy into a franchise get an operation manual, support, and are selling a recognized brand.
Kamau: Who were some of your role models that influenced you to go into business?
Hudson: Bill Gates and John Hewitt of Jackson Hewitt and later Liberty Tax service because he took on H&R Block and said he was going to compete. Hewitt decided to address the needs not being met by the major tax services.
Kamau: Hewitt revolutionized the tax industry by automating it with software I understand. Even the government was inspired to automate the IRS with more software and innovation from him I understand. Is this true?
Hudson: Yes!
Kamau: Also Bill Gates was a great technological innovator in business introducing software for both business and personal use.
Hudson: Exactly!
Kamau: When did you decide that the Internet is a place that you wanted to do business?
Hudson: I grew up in an Internet age. The first thing I learned was how to put together a computer in college. Now-a-days you can't do a lot in business without a computer and website.
Having a website saves money because you can introduce people to your business without the traditional printed brochure. A lot of people can find out about your business 24/7 with a website.
The Internet helps us support 15 offices nationwide. It gives us the ability to reach people beyond the barriers of geography.
We can even log-in into client's computers via the Internet remotely. These days a nice website builds credibility. Yes, It is definitely a bonus.
Kamau: What makes your business unique or different from your competitors?
Hudson: Customization, personalization in a high tech and a private closed door environment. A person doesn't feel like a number here.
You have to remember your tax professional knows more about you than your mom or parents - when it comes to finances. We keep a computerized record of your taxes in case we have to represent you to the IRS.
From your taxes and income statements we can make a plan of action for you to enhance your finances. Since we handle your taxes in a closed door environment it is both more personal and professional.
Also we are established tax professionals. A great deal of tax professionals set up shop around tax season and then disappear and go back to whatever they were doing before tax season.
If you need them to answer IRS questions they may not be around. Our offices are open all year round to deal with with tax issues or questions.
We stand with you and are ready to help you with any financial implications. If there are any audits we represent you and know what we're talking about as far as tax law. We are like the accountants for the average guy (or gal).
Kamau: How much of a challenge is overcoming racism in becoming a successful Internet business person?
Hudson: We aren't located in the ghetto or inner city. We're in places like Roselle Park and Manhattan.
Of course it's present - therefore being good isn't good enough! We deal with racism by being better than anyone else. In short we have to be exceptional!
Kamau: What are your top suggestions for people looking to capitalize their tax deductions this
year?
Hudson: There are great deductions like the First Time Home Buyer deduction. But you have to remember to document your personal and business deductions. Good record keeping is essential in laying the groundwork to get a good return.
Kamau: Thank you Hudson for your time. Can you tell us where to get more information about your services?
Hudson: Of course you can visit our website at: http://www.taxdrx.com/ . Also you can email me at: info@TaxDrX.com .
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