Meet Jhonita Strait | Serial Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jhonita Strait and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jhonita, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
It was simple, get started right now, right where you are! Otherwise I’d be stuck where I didn’t want to be, which was in business for someone else.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I co-own a tax and accounting firm in Detroit, MI called Tax Brackets. We offer tax preparation services, bookkeeping and accounting services, notary, credit repair services and business consulting. I am also a real estate investor. What I am most proud of is servicing clients right here in my own community. People who look like me and share the same neighborhood as me. I am most excited about bringing business education and partnerships to my community especially for our younger generation. I am hoping to build a Black network that consist of professional from all professions. I don’t want to just provide a service, I want to educate so that we all can be informed and excel in life and in business. I know it sounds cliché but what sets me apart from others is my integrity. I take the time to understand my clients and their goals before ever thinking about making a profit. My clients are family, they feel comfortable when sitting at my desk and they have access to me at all times. The professionalism and confidentiality that I provide is never to be compromised. I take my reputation, my business and the business of my clients very personal. They employee me, so I make sure to give them what they pay for; extraordinary service.

I got to where I am today because I took a chance and bet on myself. I left a job where I was employed as an Executive Assistant and a Junior Accountant for 6 years with good pay and benefits. I wasn’t being fulfilled, so I put in my two weeks notice and walked into entrepreneurship. I recall saying to myself “why would I argue with the CEO when I can be the CEO”?

Was it easy? Definitely not! I find myself working harder, crying many days and nights but I get back up and remember my parents, my family and my business partner who believes in me, so I strive to go at it another day. I pray, take long rides to old school music and go sit at the water to clear my mind.

The most important lesson that I have learned along this journey is to start right where you are even if you don’t have it all figured out. Trust people for who they show you they are and not who they say they are. I had to understand that as much as I wanted to build with people, they were not all supposed to go with me, that’s why It’s called MY journey. Also take the time to pour into yourself without giving it a second thought.

I literally started with nothing, I took what I had and started building, most of it was unconventional. I come from the Westside and Eastside of Detroit, worked in fast-food and homecare with minimum pay for a majority of my life but I kept working. Now my office sits on one of the busiest streets in Detroit, Grand River Ave. I own 3 commercial properties and 4 residential properties, I’m also an investor and I don’t owe anybody anything. I have 2 degrees, one in General Studies and the other in Business Administration but guess what, that paper didn’t get me to the “paper”, it didn’t buy my first property, it didn’t open the doors to my business. I did that for me and my parents. My point is don’t ever think you can’t because of what you don’t have, start with what you do have, your dream! Stop letting people without a dream tell you not to dream. Stop letting people with no credit discredit you. Stop comparing your life to social media or anyone for that matter. Stay focused on you and what you want, not this fake depiction and perception of the world and what it thinks you should be. You got this! I’m not where I want to be, but I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
-One of my favorite places to eat is J. Alexander’s, the crab cakes are to die for. -I also love Good Times on the Ave, they have great food and drinks, a nice patio to enjoy the summer weather, nice music to snap your fingers to and just a great vibe when you’re out enjoying your friends.
-Belle Isle to enjoy the park, the water front views and the atmosphere of the people, a great place to swim and just relax
– I would go shopping on Woodward in Downtown Detroit, where there are many retail shops and restaurants to indulge in.
-MGM casino, you have to go have some good drinks and try your luck on the poker tables:-)

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My Parents; my Mother Brenda Yates, my Father John Strait, my Grandmother Elnora Strait and my Aunt Emma Strait( all who have proceeded me in death). They showed my how to love, be domestic, fight and smile through the storm. They taught me that giving up wasn’t an option, they believed in me even before I knew of the woman I would be. My Grandfather, Walter Strait, My Aunts Belinda and Brunia Strait. My Brothers Ronald, Neveial, Tyjwan, Walter, Antonio, Michael and Antonn. My Sister in Law and business partner, Sarita Strait, she support me endlessly without always seeing the vision; faith. Last but not least, my one and only son, Jabari Cozart Jr., he’s my everything and is the ultimate reason why I am who I am.

Website: thetaxbrackets.com

Instagram: tax_brackets

Facebook: Tax Brackets

Other: taxbracketsllc@gmail.com