How Lily Tran Built TaxUSign, a Virtual Tax Firm Built on a Decade of Service and a Father's Legacy

There are founders who launch a business because they spot an opportunity. There are founders who launch a business because they cannot do anything else. Lily Tran's story is a third kind. She launched a business because of a promise she made to her father's memory.

Lily Tran is the CEO and Founder of TaxUSign, a Washington State firm providing virtual tax help for whatever life throws at her clients. She is licensed by the US Treasury Department as an Enrolled Agent, which means she can represent taxpayers before the IRS in audits, collections, and appeals. She is also a Certified Tax Coach, Certified Tax Planner, and NTPI Fellow.

"I found joy in keeping his legacy alive. Be of service to others."

That sentence is the foundation of TaxUSign. Ten years later, it is still the answer she gives when asked why she does the work.

The Founder Who Always Knew

Some founders fall into entrepreneurship. Lily did not.

"Yes, I've wanted to be a business owner for as long as I can remember," she says. "I still remember sitting on the sidewalk in my neighborhood as a kid, telling my friends that one day I wanted to own my own business. That entrepreneurial mindset started early and has stayed with me ever since."

That long-running conviction matters. When the moment finally arrived to launch, Lily was not deciding whether to be a founder. She had been preparing for it her whole life.

The Background That Made Her Ready

Before launching TaxUSign, Lily spent many years working in the nonprofit sector and later at a local CPA firm.

"Those experiences gave me a strong foundation in financial management, client service, and organizational operations," she says, "ultimately preparing me to launch and successfully run my own business."

The nonprofit years taught her to work in mission-driven environments where every resource is accounted for. The CPA firm years gave her the technical depth and the licensure path that became TaxUSign's core offer.

The Loss That Changed Everything

The leap into entrepreneurship was set in motion by the hardest stretch of Lily's life.

"I was a single mother and a college student working at a CPA firm," she says. "I was the last person to see and speak to my dad before he passed away during tax season. I took two days off from work and returned immediately to work to finish tax season."

That same year, she made a decision.

"I was determined to study and become an Enrolled Agent. By December of 2015, I had passed my final exam and submitted my form to the IRS. In February 2016, I became an Enrolled Agent, Federally Licensed Tax Practitioner. In May of 2016, I started my tax firm providing consultation, bookkeeping, tax preparation, and representation."

The timeline reads like a sprint. It was. Grief and ambition do not usually run parallel, but for Lily they did. The business is, in her own words, a way to keep her father's legacy alive.

The Marketing That Built the First Two Years

When TaxUSign first launched, Lily's strategy was relationship-focused.

"During the first two years, I really had to step outside of my comfort zone and become active in my community," she says. "I attended networking events, built connections, and volunteered to speak on bookkeeping and tax topics whenever I had the opportunity."

The discomfort is part of the story. Public speaking and networking are not natural for everyone, and Lily is honest that they were not natural for her at first.

"It wasn't always easy at first, but those efforts helped me build trust, grow my visibility, and establish strong relationships that led to new clients and referrals."

Ten Years and Still Going

When asked what she is most proud of, Lily does not name a single deal or a single year.

"The accomplishment I'm most proud of is reaching 10 years in business," she says. "This is by far the longest I've ever stayed committed to one path, and I'm proud that I continued pushing forward through all the ups and downs. Building and sustaining a business for a decade has taken consistency, resilience, and a lot of perseverance, so that milestone means a great deal to me."

In a profession where firms come and go and where many practitioners eventually merge or fold she has the proof that the model works.

Who TaxUSign Serves

The customer profile is direct.

"Taxpayers and small businesses with tax problems," Lily says.

That clarity is part of why the firm is durable. TaxUSign is not trying to be everything to everyone. It is the firm you call when something is going wrong with the IRS and you need an Enrolled Agent who can represent you. That positioning narrows the funnel and sharpens the value.

Six Books in a Year

A recent professional win adds another dimension to the firm.

"One of my biggest wins from the last year has been publishing and co-authoring six books," Lily says. "Seeing those projects come to life was both exciting and rewarding because they allowed me to share my knowledge and create additional resources to help others. It was a major accomplishment alongside running my business and a milestone I'm incredibly proud of."

The books are available through her firm's website. They are part of an ongoing effort to expand TaxUSign beyond one-on-one service into educational resources that can scale her reach.

The Mamaprenista Lesson

Lily is also a mom. The lesson she has taken from running both at once is honest.

"One of the biggest things I've learned as a Mamaprenista is the importance of giving yourself grace and understanding that balance will not look perfect every day," she says.

That sentence is the practical answer to a question many founder parents are asked and few answer well. The acknowledgment that balance is not a daily achievement is what makes the long arc sustainable.

Hiring for Attitude and Reliability

When Lily interviews someone for the team, she leads with one question.

"How do you handle challenges or mistakes when they come up?"

"I like this question because it gives insight into a person's problem-solving skills, accountability, and willingness to learn and grow," she says.

The lesson behind that question is one she has learned over years of building a team.

"Skills can be taught, but attitude, communication, and reliability are just as important," she says. "I also believe it's important to hire people who align with your company's values and are open to feedback and collaboration. Building the right team takes time, patience, and clear systems to help everyone succeed."

For a service business where every client interaction shapes the firm's reputation, attitude is not a soft skill. It is the product.

The Tools That Run the Practice

The technology stack at TaxUSign is built around organization and accuracy.

"One app I absolutely can't live without is Calendar," Lily says. "It helps me stay organized, manage my schedule, time block my day, and keep track of both business and personal commitments. With so many moving parts as a business owner, having everything in one place helps me stay productive and maintain balance."

The favorite business tool is Xero.

"It helps streamline bookkeeping, financial tracking, invoicing, and reporting all in one place," she says. "As someone in the accounting and tax industry, having organized and accurate financial data is essential, and Xero helps make managing business finances more efficient and accessible for both me and my clients."

For an Enrolled Agent, the choice of accounting tool is also a recommendation. Lily's clients see what she uses, and they trust it.

The Productivity Discipline

Lily's top productivity advice is simple and structural.

"Create systems and routines that keep you organized and consistent," she says.

Boundaries and time blocking shape her work-life rhythm, and self-care is what keeps the burnout away.

"I avoid burnout by prioritizing self-care and giving myself time to recharge," she says.

The brevity of those answers is part of the discipline. Lily is not chasing the next productivity hack. She is running a decade-old firm on a small set of reliable habits.

The Wisdom She Wishes She'd Had Earlier

For founders who are still figuring out their path, Lily has one piece of perspective.

"Growth takes time and you don't have to have everything figured out in the beginning," she says. "Building a business is a continuous learning process, and it's okay to adjust, ask for help, and learn as you go."

Her advice for aspiring Entreprenistas extends the same idea.

"Learn from other entrepreneurs' mistakes as much as possible. You don't have to figure everything out the hard way on your own. Be willing to ask questions, seek mentorship, network with other business owners, and stay open to learning from both successes and challenges others have experienced."

Coming from someone whose first move on a hard year was to study for the EA exam, that advice is hard-won.

What's Next for TaxUSign

The next chapter is growth on two fronts, service and education.

"Over the next few years, you can expect to see continued growth and expansion from TaxUSign," Lily says. "My focus is on strengthening our systems, expanding educational resources, and continuing to empower individuals and business owners through bookkeeping, tax education, and financial literacy."

Tax resolution and representation services are also a growth area.

"We are looking forward to continued growth in our tax resolution and representation services, helping more clients navigate complex tax situations with confidence and support," she says. "As the business grows, I'm excited to build a stronger team, create more opportunities for collaboration, and continue making a positive impact through both service and education."

The shape of the next decade looks a lot like the last one. Service to others, made more scalable.

If Lily's approach to building a long-running practice rooted in service, mission, and steady discipline resonates, the Entreprenista League is a community of women founders who value connection, shared experience, and practical business insight as they grow.