Today we’d like to introduce you to Casey Mallett.
Hi Casey, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I think I have always wanted to help businesses perform and do better even as a child. I remember when I was probably about 8 years old I was telling one of my siblings I wanted to do something with helping businesses. How exactly? Well, I wouldn’t really know until I was about 19. I remember the moment clear as day, I was talking to my landlord about how I was in college doing my AA degree and on the business track, but I didn’t have any true direction yet on what I wanted to do in the business world, and he said “why don’t you become an accountant? Anyone can do marketing and management, but not everyone can do accounting. If you end up hating being an accountant, go be a manager somewhere.” After that I knew I wanted to proceed the accountant track. And boy did I double down, since that talk I got my bachelor’s degree from UCF, my Master in Accountancy from Stetson, and I proceeded to get my EA (Enrolled Agent) license which allows me to practice in all 50 states and have unlimited representation rights for my clients against the IRS. All of this education and training kind of all cumulated to me now running my own accounting firm that I started in 2018! While a great foundation, none of it really prepared me for the on job training one gets when running a business. I think this is what Elon Musk meant when he said “Drug dealers know more about business than college graduates” – This is an actual quote haha.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
2018-2019 not much happened with the business. I had two to three clients that I was helping monthly while working full time at various accounting positions in Orlando.
However everything changed in 2020, I was working for a vacation rental place as an accountant, and well, COVID took away their income and inevitably found myself laid off. On top of it all, I actually got the call that I was laid off 1 month into a new marriage. Gosh my wife, man, she is an amazing woman. The second I got off the phone call with my work (and she heard it all as we were both working from home due to the early COVID scares) my wife handed me a white claw, and said Congratulations! Ironically, now looking back, she was right. Getting laid off was what I needed to kick my butt in to doing what I really wanted to do with my life, and that was to help fellow businesses and to help my community.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My Accounting firm currently has one bookkeeper and myself.
We specialize in offering a cloud accounting service where basically I can service all of my clients virtually in all 50 states at affordable prices.
In addition, because I grew up in Orlando and Arkansas and I have made it a part of my mission to give back to the communities that grew me as an individual (or had to put up with my younger shenanigans haha).
Brand wise, I am most proud of being super responsive when my clients have questions. I want to be just a text away from being contacted (during business hours of course). No one likes a slow unresponsive accountant especially during tax season and we truly try to be the antithesis of this.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Allison Mallett, my wife. She has been in my life going on 10 years now and she is truly my better half. I cannot thank her enough for her support and love! There is an old military adage that says anyone can become a colonel by themselves, but if you want to become a general, you’ll need a wife.
David Hickey, A great real estate agent, but he’s a better friend. I don’t think he realizes how much of an influence he has had on my life. He has continuously pushed me to become a better at networking and to continuously grow as a professional. It was a tiny moment, but it was a learning moment. I remember being so scared to cold call people early in to taking the business, full time but he pushed me and said “What are they going to do? Hang up?” Without him, I don’t think I would be where I am. I thank him dearly!
Pricing:
- Bookkeeping – $200 a month
- Most Tax Returns – $225
- 20 Minute Consultation – Free
- Estimated taxes – $75
- Payroll – Starting at $100 a month
Contact Info:
- Email: casey@courtesyfin.com
- Website: www.courtesyfin.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CourtesyFinancialLLC
