What started as an idea became the best selling tax resource for home-based entrepreneurs across North America.
In March 2020, what began as a way to stay productive during the pandemic evolved into something far greater. Writing a tax book was never part of my plan—but realizing how many home-based entrepreneurs were overpaying on taxes due to a lack of knowledge ignited a passion project that transformed into a #1 bestseller, continuing even years later.
The Book's Journey
Origins of the Book
In March 2020, as the world entered lockdown, I had to pivot in my own home-based business and immediately found myself searching for a way to stay productive. Watching the news or binging Netflix wasn’t an option—I needed a challenge to keep my mind focused. That’s when the idea struck me: write a series of posts in my Home Business Tax Secrets Facebook group about home-based business tax write-offs.
It wasn’t just to pass the time—I knew there was a massive gap in the market and felt a calling to educate. Too many entrepreneurs were leaving money on the table, overpaying on taxes simply because they didn’t know what write-offs they were entitled to—and almost no one was educating them.
From Facebook Posts to a Big Idea
The response to my long-form, blog-style posts was surprising. Members began asking questions and sending me private messages, and they started inviting their friends to join the conversation. Within a week or so, I realized these posts could become “chapters in a book” as I was addressing topics that resonated deeply with home-based entrepreneurs.
That’s when the idea of authoring a book began. Writing my first book was like launching a new business. I had no roadmap, no publisher, and no experience with self-publishing. I had to learn everything—from formatting and cover design to navigating ISBN numbers and Amazon’s publishing platform.
Learning Through Imperfection
The process was messy, but by August 2020, I had published the first edition—spelling errors and all.
That’s when I realized the importance of professional copyediting. It was a small but vital step I had missed before launch.
I was fortunate to find a freelancer in California who was not only an experienced copyeditor but also a former publishing company owner and a retired CPA specializing in taxation. Decades ago, he wrote a book about his battle with the IRS over a tax audit he challenged and won.
When I hired him, I asked if he could “fact-check” my book to ensure all my write-off strategies aligned with IRS tax codes. He cleaned up the spelling and grammar, found nothing out of context, and even said it was one of the best-written tax-related business books he had reviewed, considering the complexity of taxation.
Validation and Momentum
The book began to gain even more traction in the months following its release, becoming a #1 bestseller in Small Business Taxes and International Taxes on Amazon by November 2020.
As the months went on and the book gained more exposure, I received validation from other taxation experts. I had the opportunity to meet with and interview CPAs from both Canada and the U.S., as well as a tax lawyer, which helped sustain the momentum in spreading the message to home-based business entrepreneurs across North America. I also had the privilege of interviewing many readers who shared their success stories, further confirming that the book was making a tangible impact.
Over the years, with my focus on improving the book, I also had detailed private discussions with tax authorities, including two government small business tax auditors who spoke to me in confidence about claiming home-based tax write-offs. These conversations further validated the information I shared, ensuring it aligned with current regulations and best practices.
Refinding Through Feedback
But as exciting as those early successes were, I quickly realized the journey didn’t end with publication. Readers began sharing feedback—what they loved, what they felt was missing, and where they needed more clarity. Some reviews were glowing 4- and 5-star ratings, while a few others were harshly critical. As an author passionate about my topic, I enjoyed the accolades, but those first few negative reviews stung. Over time, I discovered that reader feedback—both positive and negative—taught me about the gaps I needed to fill.
That's when I decided to give the book a complete rewrite. The Updated and Expanded Second Edition was published in 2023, featuring new content tailored to the unique needs of gig economy workers, rental income earners, and those navigating tax audits, legal structures, insurance considerations, and more.
đź”—Order the book on Amazon US
đź”—Order the book on Amazon CA
Harnessing Feedback for Evolution
One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned on this self-publishing journey is that feedback—whether glowing praise or pointed criticism—is a gift. While positive reviews reassure an author that their book is making an impact, critical feedback pushed me to understand the reader’s point of view and refine my approach.
Take Wendell’s story, for example. In late 2020, he purchased the book on Amazon and later reached out with questions. After coaching him on how to apply the strategies in the book, he filed amended returns with the IRS and eventually received over $30,000 in tax refunds for missed write-offs.
Wendell's success highlights the need for this education and the cost to entrepreneurs of overpaying in income tax.
Insights from Criticism
Whenever possible, I'd reached out to reviewers with less-than-positive feedback to ask for more details on their comment. It's been very interesting and inlightening experience, as a few have been more than willing to speak with me to share their feedback, and I have received invaluable insights.
Some of the most meaningful improvements to the book came from critical reviews. One reviewer commented, “I expected more solid information. I was a little disappointed by the surface-level approach to this book. Still a good read.”
Another reader, Patricia, left a favorable review about the book. Her remark on “missing the correlations between the book's category titles and options on the CRA” piqued my interest.
I was able to get her contact details, and sent her a personal message to thank her for the review and to ask if she could provide more insight into where the book didn’t fully deliver for her, especially regarding her comment on the books categories.
After a few email exchanges, I gained a clearer understanding. Patricia caused me to see the book and the content from a different perspective, one that had not been questioned since I wrote the first edition 2020 and second edition in 2023.
My conversation with Patricia specifically, led to an idea to create a 'Cheat Sheet Guide of Write Off Categories' with references made back to Chapters in my book, and sent it to her asking for her to review it and feedback.
Patricia responded saying, “Your commitment to helping with business taxes is impressive.”
Building Better Resources
While Patricia is in Canada and was looking for content that aligns with the Canada Revenue Agency, I ensured the book was applicable for both Canada and the U.S. under the IRS, as their categories are so closely aligned.
But I didn’t stop there. Over the next few months, I took a closer look at the book manuscript, made enhancements to various sections, added a new chapter, and included an extensive list of business expenses by category as a reference in the back.
To help readers apply the book’s concepts, I improved the previous cheat sheet guide by creating Home-Based Business Tax Write-Offs Workbook, which features reflective questions, practical insights, and a checklist of business expense categories.
đź”— Download the 'Home-Based Business Tax Write-Off Workbook
Breaking Self-Published Odds
All reader feedback has been a stepping stone toward delivering a resource that truly serves the home-based business community across North America making the book as useful and impactful as possible.
With over a million digital books published daily, the reality is that most self-published authors sell fewer than 250 copies of their books in its lifetime.
Breaking through those odds, this book has now sold tens of thousands of copies, has consistently maintained a #1 Best Seller ranking, and in the top 20,000 books on the Amazon platform—reaching home-based entrepreneurs across North America.
đź”—Order the book on Amazon US
đź”—Order the book on Amazon CA
Refining Through Feedback
The first edition of the book, published in 2020, was like opening the doors to a new business. It was exciting, challenging, and full of learning curves. But maintaining momentum is where the real work begins.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned about being a self-published author is that it is much like running a business—it’s an ongoing process of understanding your ideal reader, listening, adapting, and improving.
Just as entrepreneurs listen to customer feedback to refine their products or services, I’ve treated every review, comment, and question about the book as invaluable market data.
As I’ve continuously improved the book to better serve home-based entrepreneurs, I encourage you to reflect on your business. Where can you adapt? How can you better meet your customers’ needs? Sometimes, it’s the willingness to listen to feedback that makes all the difference.
Stay Up-to-Date with the Latest Edition
If you’ve read the book, The Home-Based Business Guide to Write Off Almost Anything, make sure you have the most up-to-date version. The latest print edition, updated as of August 2024, of the Updated and Expanded Second Edition now includes new chapters and additional resources to help you capture every eligible tax write-off.
If you’ve only read the first edition, now is the perfect time to upgrade and ensure you’re not missing out on valuable insights. You can order them on Amazon:
đź”—Order the book on Amazon US
đź”—Order the book on Amazon CA
Creating Tools for Enhanced Value
When I realized readers also wanted more actionable tools and resources, I created the Home-Based Business Getting Organized Tax Preparation Checklist, designed to help with gathering the right documents, receipts, and paperwork for tax preparation.
đź”—Download the Tax Preparation Checklist
Building on Success
The success of the book laid the foundation for a suite of complementary tools to simplify tax season for home-based entrepreneurs. From the Tax Preparation Checklist to the Tax Write-Offs Workbook, each resource was developed in response to readers’ needs and feedback.
These were intentional tools designed to bring more value and make understanding write-offs and preparing for tax season less stressful.
These tools extend the actionable strategies in the book, helping entrepreneurs stay organized, capture every eligible write-off, and navigate their taxes with confidence.
Comprehensive Support for Entrepreneurs
As more readers connected with the book, many reached out seeking deeper support. This inspired me to focus more on the course and coaching program I had created, Tax Write-Offs Made Simple System, which delivered exceptional results for those who enrolled.
Over time, however, I realized that home-based entrepreneurs needed more than a one-time course. Many wanted ongoing support as their businesses grew, tax needs evolved, and questions arose throughout the year. This inspired a pivot in late 2024 to create the Home Business Tax Secrets Membership.
By offering an affordable, high-value subscription model, the Membership ensures home-based entrepreneurs have year-round access to the tools and support they need to navigate their taxes confidently.
đź”—Learn More about the Home Business Tax Secrets Membership
The Membership combines the Tax Write-Offs Made Simple course, coaching, and a community for ongoing support. It also includes monthly Q&A Tax Clinics, a 63-page workbook with guided reflection questions to help uncover missed write-offs, detailed explanations, and other valuable resources.
Ongoing Support for your Tax Journey
Looking for year-round guidance? The Home Business Tax Secrets Membership has you covered with:
- Monthly tax clinics to answer your questions in real time.
- One-on-one coaching calls for personalized strategies.
- A supportive community to keep you on track.
đź”—Learn More about the Home Business Tax Secrets Membership
A Smart, Tax-Deductible Investment
At a low monthly cost that’s fully tax-deductible, the Membership simplifies your tax season and maximizes your savings. Whether you’re navigating your first tax return or fine-tuning your approach, this Membership is designed to save you time, money, and stress year-round.
P.S. If you made it to the end of this newsletter, be sure to check out the first six editions of this Tax Saving Secrets for Home-Based Entrepreneurs. They’re packed with valuable content, including tips on reducing income tax, becoming audit-proof, and choosing the right tax preparer for your home business.
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