Nelson Baxley says his business is part of the Liberty Tax Service¿s Hispanic Initiative called ¿Una Familia Sin Fronteras.¿ (JOSELITO VILLERO PHOTO / February 5, 2012) |
Nelson Baxley, Liberty Tax Services
2451 Rockwood Ave., Suite 113, Calexico, CA 92231
760 999-1040, 760 679-1040
www.libertytax.com
Tell us how you ended up in this line of work.
I am a CPA and left corporate America after over 45 years to take care of my mother’s estate. Re-entering that world was more difficult than I had imagined, so I decided to do what I do best. Start and grow a people-oriented business. Liberty Tax Service, the largest franchise tax-based business in the U.S. and the second largest tax preparation business in the U.S., found me on CareerBuilder. I bought the Calexico franchise after researching the financial metrics leading to the underserved nature of the people in the Imperial and Mexicali valleys.
Describe what your business does.
We are primarily a tax return preparation franchise specializing in individual tax returns.
We are the second largest and fastest growing professional tax return preparation franchise business in the Untied States. Our CEO (John Hewett) was instrumental in the growth of H&R Block, was a founder of Jackson & Hewett and 14 years ago decided there was a better way to serve the public – by attracting entrepreneur’s to fill the underserved tax preparation business and providing them with a service-based roadmap.
What are memories from your career that stick out with you the most?
Turning down a partnership in an international CPA firm to start a business on the site where the “Right Stuff” guys had their rockets assembled. Participation in the early ’80s in the startup of 17 companies in Silicon Valley, the most memorable of which is Seagate Technology. Invention of a product and process for reclaiming aluminum when reclaiming wasn’t cool. The people I worked with over a 20 year period teaching American businessmen how to do business on the border as a way to improve their competitive edge, grow their technology-based U.S. workforce and partner for profitability.
What do you most like and least like about your work?
I love the interaction with people and the feeling of accomplishment that comes with seeing a look of satisfaction on someone else’s face. Sometimes the people you rely on let you down. I hate it when that happens. I am blessed by the fact that it has occurred very rarely in my career and life.
What makes your business unique?
What makes our business unique in these economic times is our emphasis on a positive attitude in recognizing the quality of our preparers and the quality of our customers. We only have two discernible assets: our people and our clients. Of course with that combination we are able to make taxes easy, do taxes fast and do taxes right. We are Hispanic Certified and live the Hispanic Initiative of Una Familia Sin Fronteras.”
What advice do you have for someone who wants to open a business?
Recognize that not everyone can open a business. But you will increase your chances of success if you take the emotion out of the decision process and concentrate on the market facts/metrics, logistic challenges, personal time and financial commitment and hire qualified and passionate people. Be willing to make changes your plan if what you are doing is not working.
How do you give back to the local community?
We support the Calexico Neighborhood House on a personal level and as a franchise, as well as the Red Cross. We also patronize those businesses that are locally owned and operated and that support the local community. We are looking for ways, being a young entrant into the Calexico business community, to make a lasting positive impact on the needs of the citizens of our community. We will be offering free and reduced-fee tax preparation days for Neighborhood House clients, nonprofit entities, police and firemen, municipal workers, hospital/clinic workers and educators. Days will be announced in the Imperial Valley Press.
More about Nelson Baxley
AGE: 67
YEARS IN BUSINESS: Just starting in Calexico; 22 years in Mexicali and 25 years in Northern California
HOMETOWN: Consider Imperial Valley home turf
FAMILY: Wonderful wife and two young boys ages nine and two; 3 grown children, 7 grandchildren and a great-grandson
HOBBIES: Golf and fishing
Introduce yourself
Would you or someone you know like to be profiled? If so, send an email to jmorales@ivpressonline.com or call 760-335-4665.
2451 Rockwood Ave., Suite 113, Calexico, CA 92231
760 999-1040, 760 679-1040
www.libertytax.com
Tell us how you ended up in this line of work.
I am a CPA and left corporate America after over 45 years to take care of my mother’s estate. Re-entering that world was more difficult than I had imagined, so I decided to do what I do best. Start and grow a people-oriented business. Liberty Tax Service, the largest franchise tax-based business in the U.S. and the second largest tax preparation business in the U.S., found me on CareerBuilder. I bought the Calexico franchise after researching the financial metrics leading to the underserved nature of the people in the Imperial and Mexicali valleys.
Describe what your business does.
We are primarily a tax return preparation franchise specializing in individual tax returns.
We are the second largest and fastest growing professional tax return preparation franchise business in the Untied States. Our CEO (John Hewett) was instrumental in the growth of H&R Block, was a founder of Jackson & Hewett and 14 years ago decided there was a better way to serve the public – by attracting entrepreneur’s to fill the underserved tax preparation business and providing them with a service-based roadmap.
What are memories from your career that stick out with you the most?
Turning down a partnership in an international CPA firm to start a business on the site where the “Right Stuff” guys had their rockets assembled. Participation in the early ’80s in the startup of 17 companies in Silicon Valley, the most memorable of which is Seagate Technology. Invention of a product and process for reclaiming aluminum when reclaiming wasn’t cool. The people I worked with over a 20 year period teaching American businessmen how to do business on the border as a way to improve their competitive edge, grow their technology-based U.S. workforce and partner for profitability.
What do you most like and least like about your work?
I love the interaction with people and the feeling of accomplishment that comes with seeing a look of satisfaction on someone else’s face. Sometimes the people you rely on let you down. I hate it when that happens. I am blessed by the fact that it has occurred very rarely in my career and life.
What makes your business unique?
What makes our business unique in these economic times is our emphasis on a positive attitude in recognizing the quality of our preparers and the quality of our customers. We only have two discernible assets: our people and our clients. Of course with that combination we are able to make taxes easy, do taxes fast and do taxes right. We are Hispanic Certified and live the Hispanic Initiative of Una Familia Sin Fronteras.”
What advice do you have for someone who wants to open a business?
Recognize that not everyone can open a business. But you will increase your chances of success if you take the emotion out of the decision process and concentrate on the market facts/metrics, logistic challenges, personal time and financial commitment and hire qualified and passionate people. Be willing to make changes your plan if what you are doing is not working.
How do you give back to the local community?
We support the Calexico Neighborhood House on a personal level and as a franchise, as well as the Red Cross. We also patronize those businesses that are locally owned and operated and that support the local community. We are looking for ways, being a young entrant into the Calexico business community, to make a lasting positive impact on the needs of the citizens of our community. We will be offering free and reduced-fee tax preparation days for Neighborhood House clients, nonprofit entities, police and firemen, municipal workers, hospital/clinic workers and educators. Days will be announced in the Imperial Valley Press.
More about Nelson Baxley
AGE: 67
YEARS IN BUSINESS: Just starting in Calexico; 22 years in Mexicali and 25 years in Northern California
HOMETOWN: Consider Imperial Valley home turf
FAMILY: Wonderful wife and two young boys ages nine and two; 3 grown children, 7 grandchildren and a great-grandson
HOBBIES: Golf and fishing
Introduce yourself
Would you or someone you know like to be profiled? If so, send an email to jmorales@ivpressonline.com or call 760-335-4665.
If so, please send an e-mail to Julio Morales at