Ortonville resident Ken Mollenhour saw a need that no one else was filling.
About eight months ago, Mollenhour founded Tax Solutions out of his home at 1568 Thayer Road, Ortonville. He said his business serves the tax needs of individuals, families, and small businesses in a way larger accounting firms and tax services cannot.
‘I got the idea about 2-3 years ago because I was doing taxes for one of the franchises,? Mollenhour said. ‘I liked the idea, but I thought I could do a lot better job than what they’re doing. No one else was really doing this for the average person, at least not in the way we do it. Full service accounting firms and CPA’s can’t really afford to do personal tax returns, and usually only do them as a favor to their corporate clients.?
Mollenhour also said the franchises have high overhead costs that have to be covered, and to make up for that, the work usually ends up being done by a temp or part-timer that was hired just for the season.
He said the Ortonville community is comprised of individuals, families, owners of farms and small businesses, which makes it a good fit for his business.
‘They are practical, honest, hard working and friendly,? he said. ‘They want to pay their fair share, but they don’t want to pay more.?
Tax Solutions is an authorized Internal Revenue Service (IRS) E-file provider and the only one that specializes in the personal tax situation. They do tax return preparation and planning only for individuals, families, and owners of farms and unincorporated businesses.
Mollenhour said no federal return they do costs more than $100 regardless of its complexity, yet every return includes a complete analysis of the client’s situation, along with the preparation and E-filing of every form and credit necessary for the best result for that client.
This year, he said Tax Solutions has challenged themselves to do all returns utilizing forms 1040EZ, 1040A or 1040 plus Schedules A & B for $49.50.
Mollenhour said Tax Solutions was designed to make life easier for their clients.
‘I think to the average person, their taxes are as complicated as anything they do throughout the year,? he said. ‘I felt by specializing in personal income taxes, I could give them a very high level of expertise in the issues unique to their personal tax situation without having to charge for the overhead involved in maintaining services they’d never use…and we’ve done just that.?
He said the long-term goals for the business are to build healthy relationships that last and contribute to the ethical and financial strengths of the business and community.
‘We feel the best way to start is to build good relationships with and contribute to the ethical and financial strength of each of the individuals who come to see us,? Mollenhour said.
1568 Thayer Road, Ortonville, Mich. 48462. Their hours are by appointment. Details: (248) 627-6422; www.mytaxsolution.taxwisepartner.com; E-mail: kenmollenhour@earthlink.ne