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Business Owner Learns From Rockstar
Business owner learns from rock star
By: Gretchen Metz
12/27/2006
MALVERN -- David Lee Roth inspired Michael DeSoi to give back to the community.
At first blush, Roth, who rose to prominence in the 1970s Los Angeles rock scene as the flamboyant lead singer of Van Halen, would seem an unlikely role model for the president of Franklin's Ledger, a Malvern accounting firm focused on small businesses.
DeSoi, a Roth fan since he was a teenager, heard an interview with his hero last year.
"Roth is 52 and he was on the radio, he was not being a wild and crazy guy," DeSoi said. "He talked about public service and said that he didn't serve in the military and learned too late about the value of public service."
DeSoi said he listened as Roth, who was too old at the time to volunteer for the armed services, talked about becoming an emergency medical technician in New York City, instead. And that, DeSoi said, started him thinking how he could use his accounting company to give back to the community.
So the 44-year-old DeSoi came up with the idea of offering tax services to police, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and military personnel for $49.95, enough money to cover employees' salaries, he said.
"I'm not making any money on this," said DeSoi, of Willistown. "This is the first time, a pilot program. If it's successful, I'll expand it next year. I'm getting the word out, mailing packets to every police and fire station within in 15 miles, anybody we could identify."
The tax service offer is scheduled for January on a first-come, first-service bases.
DeSoi said he is considering offering it to Philadelphia Police Department's 6,000 members but has not made up his mind yet if his business could handle such a large workload.
"But I want to give it to as many public servants as can use it," DeSoi said.
If it goes well, next year DeSoi said he will had more staff in January and open satellite offices.
Because Franklin's Ledger does quarterly, year-end and tax accounting and bookkeeping for small businesses, it always adds staff February through April, DeSoi said, but gearing up in January would be new to the business.
DeSoi bought the business in 2004.
Franklin's Ledger offer to public servants works like this: tax preparation appoints for January are to be made this month.
During each interview, a projection for the tax return will be developed, based on historical data. The public servent's tax return will not be finalized during this meetings.
After Feb. 1, 2007, when W2s, mortgage interest statements and other needed documents are available, the source document will be sent by the client/taxpayer, by mail to Franklin's Ledger using a free pre-paid envelop.
Franklin's Ledger will complete and e-file the public servent's tax return on April 14 or before.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Franklin's Ledger at 800-643-0959.
By: Gretchen Metz
12/27/2006
MALVERN -- David Lee Roth inspired Michael DeSoi to give back to the community.
At first blush, Roth, who rose to prominence in the 1970s Los Angeles rock scene as the flamboyant lead singer of Van Halen, would seem an unlikely role model for the president of Franklin's Ledger, a Malvern accounting firm focused on small businesses.
DeSoi, a Roth fan since he was a teenager, heard an interview with his hero last year.
"Roth is 52 and he was on the radio, he was not being a wild and crazy guy," DeSoi said. "He talked about public service and said that he didn't serve in the military and learned too late about the value of public service."
DeSoi said he listened as Roth, who was too old at the time to volunteer for the armed services, talked about becoming an emergency medical technician in New York City, instead. And that, DeSoi said, started him thinking how he could use his accounting company to give back to the community.
So the 44-year-old DeSoi came up with the idea of offering tax services to police, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and military personnel for $49.95, enough money to cover employees' salaries, he said.
"I'm not making any money on this," said DeSoi, of Willistown. "This is the first time, a pilot program. If it's successful, I'll expand it next year. I'm getting the word out, mailing packets to every police and fire station within in 15 miles, anybody we could identify."
The tax service offer is scheduled for January on a first-come, first-service bases.
DeSoi said he is considering offering it to Philadelphia Police Department's 6,000 members but has not made up his mind yet if his business could handle such a large workload.
"But I want to give it to as many public servants as can use it," DeSoi said.
If it goes well, next year DeSoi said he will had more staff in January and open satellite offices.
Because Franklin's Ledger does quarterly, year-end and tax accounting and bookkeeping for small businesses, it always adds staff February through April, DeSoi said, but gearing up in January would be new to the business.
DeSoi bought the business in 2004.
Franklin's Ledger offer to public servants works like this: tax preparation appoints for January are to be made this month.
During each interview, a projection for the tax return will be developed, based on historical data. The public servent's tax return will not be finalized during this meetings.
After Feb. 1, 2007, when W2s, mortgage interest statements and other needed documents are available, the source document will be sent by the client/taxpayer, by mail to Franklin's Ledger using a free pre-paid envelop.
Franklin's Ledger will complete and e-file the public servent's tax return on April 14 or before.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Franklin's Ledger at 800-643-0959.
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