The Born Entrepreneur: How Andrew Poulos Built His Dream

Andrew has also adopted many technologies, such as remote access, client portals, and social media, which help him more efficiently serve his clients, some of which he has never even met in person. In addition to local Georgia businesses and individuals, the firm has clients in eight states across the country.

The practice scored a 302 on CPA Practice Advisor’s Productivity Survey (www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com/productivity), a free online tool that helps professional tax and accounting firms measure how effective their workflow practices and technologies are, and benchmark them to similar practices.

Andrew still prefers working from home, where he has converted his 1,000 square foot basement into an office and he can spend more time with his wife Debbie. The company has also acquired commercial office space nearby that he uses for some client meetings and as training space for his career’s new focus.

His Entrepreneurial Drive Continues

Apparently, Andrew’s entrepreneurial spirit could not be satisfied with running a full-service payroll, tax, accounting and small business consulting firm. In addition to owning several real estate investment properties and previously owning a mortgage company, the past few years have seen growth in a new area.

Andrew has developed seminar courses, both for small businesses and professionals, and routinely trains groups of 10 to 30, sometimes even up to 100 attendees at his larger events. These seminars are offered though Elite Tax Seminars (www.EliteTaxSeminars.com), a division of his accounting firm, and include live tax and QuickBooks courses that are accredited by NASBA and the IRS for CPE credit for CPAs, EAs and RTRPs (the new IRS Registered Tax Preparer credential).

In 2011, he produced a DVD series (www.QBLesson.com) that included a 16 hour self-study course on small business accounting. The DVD series is marketed to public and academic libraries through national distribution channels, and was selected for review by the prestigious Library Journal in New York.

“I’ve been moving more into these training and teaching roles because I really enjoy helping other tax professionals and small businesses. This is part of a longer-term vision I have for myself and the firm.” His next tax seminar will be Nov. 1-2 in Atlanta.

He credits fellow EA and nationally renowned speaker Beanna J. Whitlock with helping him get started on this endeavor. Beanna has enabled him to become an adjunct professor for Auburn University’s continuing professional education department, as well as teaching seminars through the Legacy Series (www.thelegacyseries.org).

As if these several ventures were not enough, the serial entrepreneur also had a live broadcast radio program (“The Savvy Money Show”) about accounting and taxation in Atlanta, which is now available on BlogTalkRadio (www.blogtalkradio.com/search/savvy-money-show) and via iTunes.

Away from the office, he helps his community and profession by serving on the board of directors for the Tucker Civic Association and the Georgia State University School of Accountancy, a mentor for Georgia State University College of Business, and chairman of the business and technology board for Tucker High School.

At 39, Andrew has faced many family and professional challenges. He became bilingual even though he was the son of immigrant parents who only spoke Greek in the household; He lost his father when he was 11; He was the first member of his family to earn a college degree, inspiring one of his brothers, Demetri, to follow with a Masters in Taxation. He has also had varying levels of success, or the alternative, at his many business pursuits.

Yet, as Andrew would quote from the American writer George Edward Woodberry: “Defeat is not the worst of failures. Not to have tried is the worst failure,” it shows that he remains strong-willed and confident in his version of the American Dream.