Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Mesa.
Hi Stephanie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
WeDo began as a concept about seven years ago, while my mom was working at another tax agency and my dad was out on the street trying to bring in new clients. After one season there, they saw the potential to expand into other areas of financial services. When they shared their ideas with the agency’s owners, they were quickly shut down—the owners only wanted to do taxes during the season and then take the rest of the year off.
After a few more attempts dwon the road to convince them otherwise, my dad finally suggested that they branch out on their own. That’s how WeDo was born.
In 2019, I had just graduated from college and was preparing for medical school. During my gap year, my parents invited me to join them since my technical skills could help set up and grow the business. Little by little, we listened to what our clients were asking for and expanded our services to include insurance—leading to what is today, WeDo Insurance & Taxes.
What started as a family vision has grown into something much bigger. In just five years, the concept proved so valuable that we’ve been able to franchise it, and today, WeDo has grown to over eight locations.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Our journey has been anything but smooth. We’ve faced betrayal, theft, limited resources, and countless late nights trying to figure out things that now come second nature to us. All of it has only made us stronger.
The funny part is when people ask me if TurboTax or other big-name companies are our competitors. I always laugh and say no. Our biggest competitor—our toughest battle—is fraud. South Florida ranks #1 in the U.S. for fraud per capita.
If we had a dollar for every client who’s come in with an IRS audit, a penalty, or taxes filled with random, outrageous deductions—like jet fuel—we’d be incredibly wealthy. Every day, we’re shocked at the sheer level of disrespect some so-called “preparers” show to their clients.
One of our hardest challenges comes when people who haven’t yet been burned by tax fraud walk through our doors. They bring us returns prepared by someone who never even signed with their official preparer information. These clients arrive expecting a $10,000 refund, only to discover that not only will they not receive it, but they may actually owe money. And by the time they come to us, their previous preparer has usually vanished—the office closed, phone disconnected, no trace left behind.
We’re left face to face with the client, explaining all these inconsistencies and why the outcome isn’t what they were promised. Sometimes, no matter how much time we dedicate to walking them through it, our explanations aren’t enough—they get up and leave. I’ve even had clients admit to my face that they know what was being done was illegal, but they still want the money. At that point, unfortunately, we can no longer help them.
It’s been a hard road, but every challenge has sharpened who we are and what we stand for.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
What you should know is simple: our ultimate goal is for people to understand that we are here for them. We take the time to teach what should have been taught in school but never was. We aim to inspire you—to reach new heights, to open your own business, to expand. And we always keep you in mind; when another client asks for services you provide, we make that connection.
We don’t just want to grow our book of business. We know that when the people around us grow, we grow with them. If our clients are doing better financially—scaling, getting more work—that creates more opportunities for us to help, whether with better insurance or with bookkeeping. Watching our clients succeed is incredibly fulfilling, and if we can contribute to that success, it benefits everyone. We truly believe we are all in this together.
While we serve a wide variety of clients, we have a special focus on small businesses and self-employed individuals. These are the people who benefit the most from what we do. Miami is full of talented, creative people, but many don’t always have the right guidance on the day-to-day aspects of business: how to manage income, whether to open an LLC, whether they need bookkeeping, or what kind of insurance fits best.
That’s why we don’t charge an initial fee for our consulting sessions. We know that by guiding people through these decisions, they’ll trust us to support them on their journey. From that relationship comes clarity for them—and more opportunities for us to serve. It’s a truly symbiotic relationship, and one we’re proud to have
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I have a personal favorite that I’ve gone reading little by little and it’s the laws of human nature by robert greene. This book is about how we are driven by deeply rooted emotions that many times we are not aware of. Once we do become aware of our natural instincts and emotions it becomes much easier to navigate your everyday life as well as navigate relationship with others whether it be family, friends, or clients.
Our businesses relies heavily on knowing people and building trust. And this isn’t just with our clients its with our employees and business partners as well. I’ve learned a very key aspect and that is of decoding what people truly want. When we sit down to do businesses deals or even sit down with an employee that is underperforming, I listen. Listening and understanding has proven to be one of my greatest attributes and has made navigating through the business world and helping our clients, incredibly simple.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wedoinsuranceandtaxes.com
- Instagram: wedoinsuranceandtaxes
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wedoinsuranceandtaxess
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wedoinsurancetaxes/?viewAsMember=true
