This is a story of how a radio consultant and voiceover talent ended up helping CPAs make a lot more money form their current clients. My name is Rick McConnell. I started in radio voiceovers a few decades ago. I have worked with hundreds of radio stations and still own and run a successful broadcasting consulting and radio voiceover business. So how did I end up marketing a service to CPAs?
Like any small business, I look for ways to keep my taxes as low as possible. My CPA for many years has been David Steckelberg. He has never steered my wrong. He has always helped me find great deductions. I know he has worked with multibillion dollar companies. So I tend to listen to his advice! Several years ago we went out to lunch and he told me that there has been some changes in ADA laws that affect websites like mine. I thought ADA laws had to do with wheelchair ramps etc. But he showed me some articles from Wall Street Journal that showed that small businesses like mine were ending up paying a lot of money for their websites being in volition of ADA laws because the blind could not navigate their websites.
He had my attention when he told me that he not only came up with a solution to get my website compliant, but I would also get a $4,000 tax credit for getting it compliant. It was a no brainer. I did it. And sure enough at tax time, I saw my $4,000 tax credit that slashed taxes that I owed.
Though I still run my broadcast business to this day, I joined with Dave in getting the word out about this great deal. The service is called IA4BA (Internet Access for Blind Americans) Since I started with it myself, I’ve received the $4,000 tax credit each year. AND I am now head of marketing the service to small businesses AND CPAs who can make money offering it to their clients. (And who would not want to get $4,000 off of their taxes each year?)
That’s my story. I still have my broadcast consulting business. But it’s been a kick working with Dave Steck at Steck Tax in helping them market and expand to help other CPAs make more money AND help small businesses save money.
-Rick McConnell