Swyft Filings

Swyft Filings

Swyft Filings recently celebrated their fifth anniversary, really setting out to make the complex simple for established business owners and start-ups alike.

Over the years, Swyft Filings has grown from an online filing service to help businesses get started to a company that fosters growth through a business’s whole life cycle by helping with things like filing annual reports to stay in compliance, offering a library of searchable legal documents, and assisting with physical mail. This helps them live out their tagline — do what you love and let them handle the paperwork. They handle the behind-the-scenes in the most efficient and affordable way possible using technology, innovation, and automation, so their customers can pursue their passion with confidence.

Swyft Filings and MGA, Working Together With a Shared Passion

The founding team of Swyft Filings came from various backgrounds — legal, marketing, strategy, coding, and the technical side of things were all covered. But one of their blind spots was finance and accounting. So choosing the right accounting partner, someone who could be a real trusted advisor, was one of the most critical decisions they faced as they grew.

As they begin to grow — and very rapidly at that — in both revenue size and number of employees, they knew they needed to find a firm that could keep up and fit their growing needs. As they asked around, Travis tells us that the name MGA came up more than once as a team that could handle quickly growing companies with multiple entities and brands. And when we asked Travis why he and his team decided to partner with MGA, this was his response:

“MGA definitely had an entrepreneurial spirit about it. You could just feel it, and given that we exist to serve entrepreneurs and promote entrepreneurship, we tried to cultivate that internally. That was part of the gut feeling, the natural fit that drew us to MGA — we could feel that same entrepreneurial vibe and spirit inside their firm. Most people think, eh, accounting, boring. But everything from their office culture to their technology to their people, it all spoke to us and truly felt like we had a shared passion.” — Travis Crabtree, Co-Founder of Swyft Filings

The Swyft team takes full advantage of our outsourced accounting services, so they can truly focus on growing their own business. Our Finance Accounting Support Team (F.A.S.T.) provides them with real-time financials that help them make the best business decisions. We took over all of the bookkeeping aspects of their business, and now they can simply log in and have real-time access to their numbers. They always know exactly what’s going on so they can make better decisions day in and day out.

Learn More about How We Work with like-Minded Business Owners

As Travis put it, it truly feels like we have a shared passion when working with like-minded entrepreneurs, especially those venturing into the high-tech scene. Swyft Filings is using technology, innovation, and automation to stay ahead of the curve for their great clients. We are doing the same.

If are looking for a business partner who can keep up with the changing trends and understands the high-tech side of your business because they, too, are staying ahead of the curve, MGA is your answer.

Click here to learn more about Swyft Filings and how they can help you start your business with confidence.

Jewish Funerals USA / Distinctive Life

Jewish Funerals USA / Distinctive Life

Twenty years ago, the funeral service industry started losing its personal touch. The corporate world was buying up all the independent and family-owned funeral homes, putting them all under one corporate umbrella. With this came a personality and philosophy change, as what happens when any family-owned business turns into a corporate-owned company.

That’s where Jewish Funerals USA was born (also known as Distinctive Life — their non-Jewish division). They saw an opportunity to set themselves apart by offering a personalized, family-focused, quality service, all at a fair price. And once people in the community realized they had an option, they responded.

Similarly enough, that’s precisely how and why the Jewish Funerals team chose to partner with MGA. Here’s what Andy Starr, Owner / Executive Director, had to say himself. 

“We started with another accounting firm that was family-run, just like we are. And at a certain point, they decided to sell out to the big boys. As a client, it seemed like there were four sales in a row, and every time I called, there were new names. And the more acquisitions that took place, the less I felt that I had a connection to anyone there, and the less I felt that I could ever call and get an immediate response. Then we found MGA, and we are so thankful we did. They do business the way we do. And any time I’ve needed them, they’ve been very accessible and helpful.”

Good Business Expertise That Spans Every Industry and Niche

At MGA, our primary goal is to make the complex simple — to offer sound business expertise, no matter the industry or niche. We like to grow with our clients, always staying one step ahead for them. And that’s exactly what we’ve offered Jewish Funerals USA / Distinctive Life all these years.

“We are so glad to be with MGA. We need an accounting and financial partner that can grow with us because although it’s not going to get ultra-complicated, we have to have someone who can advise us and make sure we continue to structure our business appropriately as we expand into other areas. Paul has been much more than an accountant for us; he’s advised us on so many business structure issues — like how to restructure debt and use equity most advantageously. He was also incredibly helpful in assisting us with the PPP loan process during the height of the COVID-19 shutdown. Whenever we have any complex business-related questions, the first phone call we make is always MGA.” — Andy Starr, Owner / Executive Director at Jewish Funerals USA

Click here to read more about this Texas-based funeral business — and how we do business just like they do.

Robert Cox & Liz Kirby: Careered Entrepreneurs

Robert Cox & Liz Kirby: Careered Entrepreneurs

Robert Cox and Liz Kirby, who have been business partners for nearly thirty-five years, came to MGA in 2008 as they were looking for someone to help them correct some complex accounting problems.

They are in the insurance industry. They are used to the complexity. In insurance, sure, one plus one still equals two. But the verbiage used is different and can be foreign to those who have never been exposed to it.

It didn’t take them long to learn that MGA was no ordinary accounting firm.

Paul stepped right in to help and was able to understand their books from day one without any guidance. Because MGA knows the ins and outs of the insurance industry, we were ready to dive right in and help them, truly making the complex simple.

But their story doesn’t stop there. MGA works closely with Robert and Liz, always staying one step ahead for their business.

“We look to the MGA team to tell us what’s going on. We trust them to look at the documents we give them from all angles, noticing if they shed light on other issues that should be addressed. We look to them to ask the questions we don’t even know to ask.”

Paul and the MGA team assisted Robert and Liz as they recently sold their great business, when taxes were essential. Paul led them through how the numbers would fall so they wouldn’t be hit with future tax liabilities. He also reviewed the various drafts of the Purchase and Sale Agreement and worked with the attorneys to be sure the structure of the sale minimized the tax to the shareholders.

They both told us that Paul was instrumental in that process.

“Some people don’t want to spend money for a firm like MGA, but I’m not sure why because people like them can save you money in the long run. Making the wrong mistake can cost you with the IRS, so it’s worth it to hire professional experts like Paul and his team. They are very, very good at what they do.” — Liz Kirby

Robert and Liz’s relationship with MGA is an excellent example of how we do things differently. We are their partner and trusted advisors, always offering simple solutions to their complex problems.

To read more about Robert Cox and Liz Kirby’s successful business ventures over the years, click here.

Stephen Jurgella, CEO Fountain Forward

Stephen Jurgella, CEO Fountain Forward

Stephen Jurgella created Fountain Forward in 2011 with a simple goal in mind: to help solve business owners’ real-life marketing challenges.

Fountain Forward describes themselves as, “A complete outsourced and highly trained marketing team specializing in branding and customer acquisition. Instead of you having one of everyone “in-house,” you can have an outsourced team of subject matter experts there to help whenever you need them.”

Their approach is straight-forward. Just like MGA, they want to make the complex simple for their clients.

Stephen is anything but your average entrepreneur. The energy and passion that he puts behind Fountain Forward is unmatched. His clients trust him to have their best interest at heart. They trust the Fountain Forward team to care for them and get their business to the next level.

Fountain Forward’s success is a testament to the care they have for their clients.

Stephen tells us that he wouldn’t be able to care for his clients the way he does if MGA wasn’t in the background caring for him and his business. Knowing that he has an MGA expert to call at any time of the day for sound advice lets him focus on the road ahead.

When a problem arises, Stephen's first reaction isn't to freak out or make rash decisions. His first reaction is to call MGA, and Partner Brian Miller, in particular.

“Brian took the time to listen to my problems. He took the time to listen to me say, “Hey, I don’t know what I’m doing.” Not coming from an entrepreneurial family, this venture was completely off the cuff for me. I’m good at building brands, growing businesses, and analyzing data. That’s what I do. But I don’t know how to run my books or protect myself from IRS issues. MGA does. Every time I have a need, they are right there, creatively solving my problems. They don’t just say no if they don’t have the answers. They say we’ll help you find it.”

At MGA, our goal is to be our clients’ sounding board. Stephen’s story is a perfect example of that.

Wherever you are headed, MGA is here to help.

To learn more about Fountain Forward and how MGA gives them the confidence to continue pushing forward, click here.

Cindy Marion: Houston Entrepreneur and Founder of MMI Agency

Cindy Marion: Houston Entrepreneur and Founder of MMI Agency

For thirty-two years, Cindy has worked to build Houston’s third-largest marketing and advertising agency, which she recently sold in 2018. While she is no longer affiliated with the firm, she laid the groundwork for this reputable and trusted agency to carry on without her.

Her story is an excellent example of how MGA can step in to help business owners make the complex simple. The MGA team has been there to support Cindy and her great company through various stages and challenges.

When she first onboarded with MGA, her agency was in a very high growth mode. There were many moving pieces and a lot of fast-paced kind of decisions that needed to be made. Cindy tells us she felt very supported through that process with Brian Miller and the MGA team.

Years later, as Cindy focused on her exit strategy and built on the technology, talent, and clients that would appeal to potential buyers, MGA was right there by her side. Selling your business comes with many complex obstacles. MGA was there to support Cindy, helping to make sure the agency was properly poised to be bought by a bigger entity.

“There were a lot of moving pieces, and MGA worked with me to help me understand the pros and cons of each deal point and what was in my best financial interest. Ultimately, some decisions had to be made, and MGA gave me the tools and insight to make the decisions that I felt were best.”

Cindy tells us that the MGA team was very instrumental in making the sales process a success. As she needed resources, support, or knowledge, they were just a call away.

“Firms like MGA are very personal and passionate about their clients, and I think that's something that can be missing in service businesses. I never felt uncomfortable admitting what I didn't know or challenging what I did know with the team. I feel very good about what MGA is doing here, related to building a firm that cares about its clients.”Cindy Marion

Just like Cindy, we are here for our clients no matter what challenges they are currently facing in their business. We are more than just Cindy’s accountants. We are her trusted resource for sophisticated business advice.

Click here to read more about Cindy’s journey as an entrepreneur and how MGA has been a part of her great success.

Roy Marsh: An Entrepreneur’s Success Story

Roy Marsh: An Entrepreneur's Success Story

Roy Marsh has been a successful entrepreneur for more than 20 years, and we at MGA are proud to have been his trusted partners along the way.

Roy and his business partner started using MGA as a Russ Miller client when they were in their pager and cell phone business days. Then, they transitioned to offering dial-up internet services followed by dedicated hosting. You can well imagine how they adjusted to changes in technology and how people were using that technology. Their entrepreneurial ventures took them into a mortgage company, followed by a home building business, and in 2012 they bought eSigns, an online retailer of custom printed signage, banners, and items used in tradeshow displays.

MGA is more than just their “tax guy.”

Roy served as eSigns’ CFO for four years before assuming duties as its CEO in the spring of 2016 after his brother and business partner suddenly passed away. Russ Miller was one of those first calls, and as Roy puts it, “You need folks along the way — people that can listen and digest and give you a straight answer.” That was his relationship with MGA and “his Russ.”

As a retail e-commerce entrepreneur, Roy knows all about the fast pace of change. It is not very different from the pressures he experienced with pagers and mortgages.

He sees this industry changing bit by bit every hour. As he tells us:

“The rate of change is accelerating as we move forward, and a massive new wave of technology is right around the corner. From a tax and accounting perspective, business owners don’t have the time or capacity to maintain a good handle on what’s to come. That’s why you’ve got to have folks like Russ who are staying up with that rate of change for you.”

That’s why MGA is ready when you are to “think forward,” as Russ always tells us.

At MGA, we aren’t just your tax accountants. We are the people you call to collaborate with about what’s coming next and how to anticipate it — from a tax perspective, yes, but also from a business strategy and technology perspective.

As entrepreneurs at MGA, we understand Roy and his company’s unique needs. We help him do what he does best: find innovative ways to open new markets and create real value.

Click here to read more about Roy Marsh’s entrepreneurial journey and how MGA thinks ahead with him.