For our future integrity.

Greetings, GoFundMe world. We are the intrepid Meghan and Edward. We are asking for your help.

We lost our jobs halfway through January. The work environment was incredibly toxic, and there is an ongoing labor dispute with broken promises. Think breaking up with an egotistical abuser. Yes, we have filed complaints; no, there will not be a lawsuit; not worth it. We went from having a negotiated plan for exit, with a safety net in place, to having only our last paychecks. Unemployment may or may not happen after an investigation, and we can’t afford to wait on a maybe. But enough of the sad part of the story.

We knew that our last employer wasn’t working out, and we were planning our exit. We are both neurodivergent, I have an autoimmune disease, and Edward had lung cancer. This makes finding jobs that pay a living wage or better, while giving space for our medical and mental health needs difficult. We need something that offers us work-life balance while also maintaining our integrity. Disingenuity causes us pain.

To this end, we resolved to start our own business, just the two of us, with plenty of room to grow. There is a national shortage of Enrolled Agents, those licensed to represent clients' tax matters before the IRS. With the IRS increasing its collections action, plenty of work will be available. We have spent many months studying and will be ready to take the test in February. Edward has 2 years of tax office experience, and I have a combined 8 years, with 4 of those spent as a tax preparer.

Our goal is to run an ethical office with care and consideration taken at every step. One that follows all state and federal guidelines, where client safety and data security is taken seriously. Our office will accept clients based on the hours available to work, rather than taking every case and sorting the mess later. Our price list will be public for the world to see, with research coming before the final quote. We will be honest with our clients, even when the news is terrible, especially when the error is ours. Transparency and communication are the keys to all good relationships. Needing tax help is stressful enough. There is no reason to make it any more difficult.

As we grow, we will skip the industry-standard commission sales and the unhealthy competition that breeds. Instead, we shall foster cooperation through profit sharing. All employees will be trained to the same degree and to answer any question. When your services are sound, they sell themselves, no salesperson required.

We know which tools we need, through experience by researching and setting them up for someone else. I am already registered and ready to prepare tax returns once we have the software, and the IRS is opening tax filing season in a few days. Resolution cases will be a year-round source of income once they start coming in.

This is where we need you. We need your help to pay for software, insurance, and backend services. We have also baked in enough to cover our minimum living expenses through the startup process. Our first goal is $6,000 for the first pieces of software. Ultimately, we will need $15,000 to cover everything.

We’re asking you to be our new safety net and allow us to land on our feet. Let’s stick it to the bad bosses and their broken promises. Actions speak so much louder than words.

With gratitude and respect.

Meghan & Edward