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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Mowbray and Cherina Rowand
Co-founders of The Rowand Group and One Stop Taxes, the largest Black-owned virtual tax preparation service in America. The interview highlights their business evolution, scaling strategies, community impact, and the creation of the Black Tax Festival.
🧭 Interview Outline 1. Background & Origins
- Both from Memphis, Tennessee; met in high school.
- Started tax preparation in 2010 as a mom-and-pop operation.
- Transitioned from brick-and-mortar to virtual model by 2015.
2. Business Philosophy
- Entrepreneurship is defined as service to others.
- Mowbray is the visionary; Cherina is the implementer.
- Emphasis on scaling with structure: legal, accounting, HR.
3. One Stop Taxes
- Grew from a single office to over 1,000 virtual franchise locations.
- Offers free training, no startup costs, and shared revenue model.
- Built a platform allowing clients to submit documents and sign remotely.
4. Virtual Tax Model
- Designed for convenience and accessibility.
- Clients and tax preparers never need to meet in person.
- Platform includes document upload, e-signature, and cloud storage.
5. Franchise & Training
- Learning Management System (LMS) for onboarding.
- Training includes tax prep, customer acquisition, and platform use.
- Strategic partnerships with local businesses (e.g., dealerships, daycares).
6. Black Tax Festival
- Annual event held in Atlanta
- Combines networking, education, and recognition.
- Includes IRS updates, business workshops, and the Titan Awards.
- Open to all entrepreneurs, not just tax professionals.
7. Expansion & Diversification
- Own restaurants in Memphis and the Dominican Republic.
- Franchised Fat Tuesday and Esco Restaurant (did \$1M in first 6 weeks).
- Own a yacht for rental experiences in the DR.
- Plans to develop a restaurant strip near FedExForum in Memphis.
💡 Key Takeaways
- Vision + Execution = Growth: Their complementary roles fuel business success.
- Virtual is Scalable: Transitioning to virtual allowed exponential growth.
- Community Impact Matters: Black Tax Festival fosters education and recognition.
- Diversification is Strategic: Restaurants and real estate expand their brand.
- Mentorship & Learning: They study successful entrepreneurs like Tilman Fertitta.
- Faith & Family Drive: Their journey is rooted in love, planning, and purpose.
🗣️ Notable Quotes
- “Entrepreneurship means being a servant to other people.”
- “The same thing that works at \$1M doesn’t work at \$15M.”
- “We had to fire ourselves from some jobs and hire professionals.”
- “We built a platform where you can do taxes from your couch.”
- “We started before social media—we know belly-to-belly marketing.”
- “Recognition matters—people don’t get it at home or work.”
- “We’re trying to bridge the wealth gap through proper paperwork.”
- “We bought a yacht in the Dominican Republic to rent for experiences.”
#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
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