Evolve Tax & Accounting, LLC

Business Introduction:

Evolve Tax & Accounting, LLC is tax & accounting firm with targeted clients from the beauty industry - such as barbering & cosmetology professionals. The business officially opened in April 2021. Jennifer Magana is the CEO. 

What inspired the owner to start a business?

Jennifer grew up in an entrepreneurial family, but had a negative experience with a previous employer. She was also a new mom and needed to find a more flexible work schedule. Combined, these circumstances led her to pursue independence and start her own business. She chose this business based on her passion for problem-solving and her skill in working with numbers.

What challenges did SBDC assist the business owner to overcome:

Jennifer initially came to the SBDC for help in launching her business, which she did in April 2021. When the California Dream Fund (CDF) training and grant program became available in 2022, she sought additional help to increase her marketing strategy, and access additional capital to hire and expand her business services. She wanted to hire a social media content manager to create promotional content on a consistent basis, while also collaborating with other beauty professionals to promote their success and attract new customers. Jennifer opted to enter the CDF training program to support these goals, including her plan to hire a part-time assistant to help administratively and with social media while Jennifer focused on tax preparation for their clients. Overall, her request for help from the SBDC is to scale and grow the business by offering a wider range of services and improving business online presence.

How was SBDC able to assist the client:

Jennifer enrolled in Central CA SBDC Network’s CDF Cohort 10 startup training, attended all 6 classes, completed all the required homework, and passed all quizzes at 100%. In addition, a Cal Coastal SBDC consultant provided her with 2 hours of 1:1 consulting to complete her business plan and prepare all necessary documents to apply for the CDF grant.

Any metrics obtained    

With SBDC help, Jennifer Magana launched her business in 2021 with capital investment of $3,500, then received a CDF grant for $10,000 in 2022, and is in the process of hiring a part-time assistant.

What did the owner feel was the most important part of the assistance received: “The most important for me was the staff support. With SBDC having a small team in our Salinas office I definitely felt the commitment from the staff to help me launch my business. Also, the turnaround time for inquiries was quick. Working with Rosmery and Jim was super supportive! In addition to the staff customer service, Cindy Merzon put on great presentations for the students enrolled into the CDF Cohort.”