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Category: Small Business

AMERICAN DREAM: AN INTERVIEW WITH OWNERS OF THE JALAPEÑOS MEXICAN GRILL RESTAURANTS

  • August 20th, 2018

For Jheovanny Gomez, the path to the American dream began by pursuing his high school sweetheart to Tuscaloosa.

In his native country of Colombia, his life choices were pursuing drug cartel members as an undercover Army intelligence operative, going to college there or following his love.

Love won.

In 1999, two years after his girlfriend moved to America, Jheovanny followed her and started college in Alabama while working as a busboy in the same restaurant his girlfriend’s parents worked.

“That was my job to pay for school” at Shelton State Community College, he said.

While working that college job, Jheovanny met Wayne Grimball.

“He was my customer. He called me and said, ‘Look I have this vision. I know there is potential to have a really good business in downtown. Do you want to be my partner?’ I didn’t hesitate. I said, ‘Absolutely.’ ”

Thus, began Jalapeños Mexican Grill. “We were just two kitchen people, myself and another waiter,” said Jheovanny. “We started with no reputation, with just experience in waiting tables. Six months down the road, we had people lining out the door. Two years later, we decided to build our own restaurant. We built the first restaurant in 2004 in Northport.”

Justin Grimball and Jheovanny Gomez in their Cottondale restaurant.

That is when Justin Grimball entered the business.

Like Jheovanny, Justin began pursuing the American dream when he was in college. While Justin was a student at the University of Alabama, he owned his own graphic design business, working with area bands and businesses.

“I was trying to figure out what I was going to do with my life,” said Justin, who studied criminal justice. He only uses that degree now for loss prevention and pursuit of worthless checks, some of his many duties at Jalapeños. His father brought Justin into the business when the Northport restaurant opened and after Justin had graduated from college.

Today, Wayne and Justin Grimball and Jheovanny Gomez own three Jalapeños Mexican Grills in TuscaloosaNorthport and Cottondale. They closed the downtown Tuscaloosa location in 2007.

Jheovanny is in all three restaurants, every single day. “I try to be at each restaurant during three different periods each day,” he said. The restaurants on Rose Boulevard in Northport, New Watermelon Road in Tuscaloosa and on Old Birmingham Highway in Cottondale, “are close together, but they are so different,” he said. Each has its own peak times and loyal customers.

Justin spends much of his time on social media, graphic design and branding for the three restaurants. It was Justin who had the idea for the restaurants’ mascots Jala and Peno and to incorporate them into the restaurant’s logo. Jala and Peno eventually became people-sized mascots who appear at community and restaurant events.

Jheovanny said Wayne and he leave any work associated with computers and technology to Justin. Justin said there is no typical day for him. “I’m in the office, in the restaurants, running errands or doing catering events,” he said.

“We’ve got a good partnership,” said Justin. Like Jheovanny, Justin also fell in love with a Colombian. He and his wife, Alexandra, have two daughters, Mariana and Lily.

Living the Dream and Giving Back To Community
Jheovanny, who learned English while waiting tables, has become ingrained in the Tuscaloosa community. He and his wife, Johana, are raising their three children – Jheovanny Jr., Josephine and Jacob – in their Alabama home.

“Jheovanny’s story about moving to the United States, following a beautiful woman, pouring his heart and soul into the American dream, starting a business and raising a family here, it has really been inspiring, not only for others who have followed a similar path, but also the people who are born and raised in Alabama and here in Tuscaloosa,” said Jim Page, president and chief executive officer of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama. Jim said he met Jheovanny on his first day on the chamber job. “I was drawn to him because of his personality and outgoing nature, and you could tell everybody in the restaurant felt the same way.”

Even before Jheovanny was an American citizen, he was the chamber’s Member of the Year. He has served on the chamber board and executive committee, leading the charge for chamber recruitment. In 2016, he was named an Alabama Retailer of the Year. This year, he was named by SCORE, a network of volunteer business mentors, as one of the group’s American Small Business Champions.

Jheovanny accepts the gavel as board chairman of the Boys and Girls Club of West Alabama from his friend Alabama Labor Commissioner Fitzgerald Washington.

“Jheovanny sets the standard among the local business community as far as paying his civic rent, as far as being engaged and by leading by example. He is a role model for people who have been in business a lot longer than he has by the way he puts Jalapeños out there as being part of the community,” Page said.

For almost a decade, Jheovanny has served as board member for the Boys and Girls Club of West Alabama. This year, he is the board chairman. He said being involved in the program that provides homework and mentoring support for children from age 6 to 15 “became a passion for me.”

 

He has also spent time talking with students in the Junior Achievement League and career technical education programs in Tuscaloosa County. “They are the future of America,” Jheovanny said. “It is important to me, through my knowledge and experience as a business leader, to teach them and give them a little bit of knowledge about how to run a business, how to build good character.”

Small Business Advocate
Building up other businesses also appeals to Jheovanny.

Since 2014, he has served as a member of the Alabama Small Business Commission, which advises governmental entities on policies that encourage new businesses and expansion of existing businesses.

“I’m glad to be a liaison between the small business community and Montgomery,” said Jheovanny.

“I talk to all kind of retailers around town, not only restaurants, but grocery stores and small Mom and Pop shops” about business licenses, taxes and “a whole variety of business issues,” he said, adding it is an honor to be trusted to convey the concerns of small business to governmental leaders.

MEMBER SINCE 2005 The Jalapeños Mexican Grill restaurants on Rose Boulevard in Northport, New Watermelon Road in Tuscaloosa and on Old Birmingham Highway in Cottondale each have their own Facebook page. Together, they have about 10,000 followers.

Still Growing
As for his own business, “we are still in the growing mode, building our brand,” Jheovanny said. Both he and Justin mentioned the possibility of a fourth Tuscaloosa-area restaurant. “Right now, though, we are good just focusing on” improving the three current restaurants and expanding our customer base, Justin added.

“We are so blessed and so grateful for this community,” said Jheovanny. “Everybody has embraced us. Everywhere you go in Tuscaloosa, you say ‘Jalapeños,’ and everybody knows who we are.”

THE ESSENTIALS
Founded: 2001
Number of Employees: 49
Mentor: Wayne Grimball
Smart Move:
Bringing Jala and Peño to life as our mascots.

Learning Moment:
When we realized that we had to jump on the social media wagon. We used to think: We will never have to use it. We were wrong.
Wisdom Shared:
Surround yourself and your business with others you like and who are in similar situations. It’s a lot easier to go through obstacles and face difficulties when you have people who can give you advice and wisdom. Chances are they have been down that road before.

To view the original article, visit Alabama Retail.

Own a Business in Alabama? Be ADOR’s B.E.S.T.

  • July 31st, 2018
Check out ADOR’s Gadsden-area State Tax Seminar on Aug. 14
 
GADSDEN, July 31, 2018 – State tax obligations for business owners – licenses, sales tax, property tax, withholding, etc. – are a lot to be responsible for. To help Alabama business owners better understand and master these requirements, the Alabama Department of Revenue (ADOR) invites business owners to ADOR’s free Business Essentials for State Taxpayers (B.E.S.T.) Seminar on Tuesday, Aug. 14, at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. in Gadsden.

The seminar will be held at the Gadsden Taxpayer Service Center, 701 Forrest Ave.

*The URLs and Web addresses in this article are no longer accurate. Please follow this link to find more information about the ADOR’s B.E.S.T. Resources*

B.E.S.T. Seminars help new business owners navigate through unfamiliar tax complexities while updating current business owners on tax law changes. Conducted by ADOR specialists, B.E.S.T. Seminars offer a brief but comprehensive overview of Alabama’s business taxes, the business owner’s tax obligations, the necessary forms, and other requirements. Seminar attendees also receive information on electronic filing and Alabama’s ONE SPOT (https://revenue.alabama.gov/sales-use/one-spot/), a free Internet portal that allows business taxpayers to file and pay state, county, and city sales, use, and rental taxes all in one place!

While there is no charge to attend the B.E.S.T. Seminars, reservations are required to ensure adequate space is available. Reserve your spot online for either the 10 a.m. session or the 2 p.m. session. Each attendee must register individually, even if they are from the same company. Once you’ve registered online, you will receive an email confirmation. If you have any questions, please call Isabel Tongsuvone at 256-459-3082.

 

For more information on B.E.S.T. Seminars and other B.E.S.T. resources, visit our website at https://revenue.alabama.gov/taxpayer-advocacy/b-e-s-t-seminars/. B.E.S.T. Seminars are two hours long plus additional time for questions and answers. Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled seminar.

Own a Business in Alabama? Be ADOR’s B.E.S.T.

  • July 26th, 2018
Check out ADOR’s Tuscaloosa-area State Tax Seminar on Aug. 9
 
TUSCALOOSA, July 26, 2018 – State tax obligations for business owners – licenses, sales tax, property tax, withholding, etc. – are a lot to be responsible for. To help Alabama business owners better understand and master these requirements, the Alabama Department of Revenue (ADOR) invites business owners to ADOR’s free Business Essentials for State Taxpayers (B.E.S.T.) Seminar on Thursday, Aug. 9, at 2 p.m. in Tuscaloosa.

The seminar will be held at the Tuscaloosa Taxpayer Service Center, 1434 22nd Ave.

*The URLs and Web addresses in this article are no longer accurate. Please follow this link to find more information about the ADOR’s B.E.S.T. Resources*

B.E.S.T. Seminars help new business owners navigate through unfamiliar tax complexities while updating current business owners on tax law changes. Conducted by ADOR specialists, B.E.S.T. Seminars offer a brief but comprehensive overview of Alabama’s business taxes, the business owner’s tax obligations, the necessary forms, and other requirements. Seminar attendees also receive information on electronic filing and Alabama’s ONE SPOT (https://revenue.alabama.gov/sales-use/one-spot/), a free Internet portal that allows business taxpayers to file and pay state, county, and city sales, use, and rental taxes all in one place!

While there is no charge to attend the B.E.S.T. Seminars, reservations are required to ensure adequate space is available. Reserve your spot online. Each attendee must register individually, even if they are from the same company. Once you’ve registered online, you will receive an email confirmation. If you have any questions, please call Joyce Breland at 205-759-2571, ext. 6224.

For more information on B.E.S.T. Seminars and other B.E.S.T. resources, visit our website at https://revenue.alabama.gov/taxpayer-advocacy/b-e-s-t-seminars/. B.E.S.T. Seminars are two hours long plus additional time for questions and answers. Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled seminar.

Own a Business in Alabama? Be ADOR’s B.E.S.T.

  • July 24th, 2018
Check out ADOR’s Shoals-area State Tax Seminar on Aug. 7
FLORENCE, July 24, 2018 – State tax obligations for business owners – licenses, sales tax, property tax, withholding, etc. – are a lot to be responsible for. To help Alabama business owners better understand and master these requirements, the Alabama Department of Revenue (ADOR) invites business owners to ADOR’s free Business Essentials for State Taxpayers (B.E.S.T.) Seminar on Tuesday, Aug. 7, at 9:30 a.m. in Florence.

The seminar will be held at the Shoals Chamber of Commerce, 20 Hightower Place.

*The URLs and Web addresses in this article are no longer accurate. Please follow this link to find more information about the ADOR’s B.E.S.T. Resources*

B.E.S.T. Seminars help new business owners navigate through unfamiliar tax complexities while updating current business owners on tax law changes. Conducted by ADOR specialists, B.E.S.T. Seminars offer a brief but comprehensive overview of Alabama’s business taxes, the business owner’s tax obligations, the necessary forms, and other requirements. Seminar attendees also receive information on electronic filing and Alabama’s ONE SPOT (https://revenue.alabama.gov/sales-use/one-spot/), a free Internet portal that allows business taxpayers to file and pay state, county, and city sales, use, and rental taxes all in one place!

While there is no charge to attend the B.E.S.T. Seminars, reservations are required to ensure adequate space is available. Reserve your spot online. Each attendee must register individually, even if they are from the same company. Once you’ve registered online, you will receive an email confirmation. If you have any questions, please call Donna Jenkins or Christy Simmons at 256-383-4631, ext. 0.

For more information on B.E.S.T. Seminars and other B.E.S.T. resources, visit our website at https://revenue.alabama.gov/taxpayer-advocacy/b-e-s-t-seminars/. B.E.S.T. Seminars are two hours long plus additional time for questions and answers. Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled seminar.

Own a Business in Alabama? Be ADOR’s B.E.S.T.

  • July 3rd, 2018
Check out ADOR’s Huntsville-area State Tax Seminar on July 17
 
HUNTSVILLE, July 3, 2018 – State tax obligations for business owners – licenses, sales tax, property tax, withholding, etc. – are a lot to be responsible for. To help Alabama business owners better understand and master these requirements, the Alabama Department of Revenue (ADOR) invites business owners to ADOR’s free Business Essentials for State Taxpayers (B.E.S.T.) Seminar on Tuesday, July 17, at 9 a.m. or 1 p.m. in Huntsville.

The seminar will be held at the Huntsville Taxpayer Service Center, 4920 Corporate Drive, Suite H.

*The URLs and Web addresses in this article are no longer accurate. Please follow this link to find more information about the ADOR’s B.E.S.T. Resources*

B.E.S.T. Seminars help new business owners navigate through unfamiliar tax complexities while updating current business owners on tax law changes. Conducted by ADOR specialists, B.E.S.T. Seminars offer a brief but comprehensive overview of Alabama’s business taxes, the business owner’s tax obligations, the necessary forms, and other requirements. Seminar attendees also receive information on electronic filing and Alabama’s ONE SPOT (https://revenue.alabama.gov/sales-use/one-spot/), a free Internet portal that allows business taxpayers to file and pay state, county, and city sales, use, and rental taxes all in one place!

While there is no charge to attend the B.E.S.T. Seminars, reservations are required to ensure adequate space is available. Reserve your spot online for either the 9 a.m. session or the 1 p.m. seesion. Each attendee must register individually, even if they are from the same company. Once you’ve registered online, you will receive an email confirmation. If you have any questions, please call Dicillia Holman or Melinda Richardson at 256-837-2319, ext. 0.
For more information on B.E.S.T. Seminars and other B.E.S.T. resources, visit our website at https://revenue.alabama.gov/taxpayer-advocacy/b-e-s-t-seminars/. B.E.S.T. Seminars are two hours long plus additional time for questions and answers. Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled seminar.

ADOR Announces Sales and Use Tax Guidance for Online Sellers

  • July 3rd, 2018
MONTGOMERY, July 3, 2018 – On June 21, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc. This decision struck down the requirement that a vendor must have “physical presence” in a state to be subject to state sales and use tax registration and collection requirements.

The Department of Revenue’s existing “economic nexus” rule 810-6-2-.90.03, which took effect in January 2016, will be applied prospectively for sales made on or after October 1, 2018. While this rule technically was effective January 1, 2016, its validity was in question pending the outcome of the Wayfair decision. Because Wayfair removed the constitutional impediments to the rule, it will be enforced going forward. Remote sellers with annual Alabama sales in excess of the rule’s $250,000 small seller exception should register for the Alabama Simplified Sellers Use Tax Program (SSUT) and begin collecting no later than October 1, 2018. Remote sellers seeking to comply with this existing rule and register to collect SSUT should visit https://revenue.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/SSUT-Application.pdf where they will find an application form and additional information about participation in the SSUT program.

In addition to the collection requirements for remote sellers, Ala. Act 2018-539 requires marketplace facilitators with Alabama marketplace sales in excess of $250,000 to collect tax on sales made by or on behalf of its third-party sellers or to comply with reporting and customer notification requirements. The Act mandates compliance with reporting or remitting requirements on or before January 1, 2019. However, marketplace facilitators desiring to facilitate the collection and remittance obligations of their marketplace sellers that go into effect on October 1 may begin collecting and remitting taxes on marketplace sales through the SSUT program upon completion of the application and registration process. Remote sellers who can demonstrate that a marketplace facilitator is collecting and remitting SSUT or sales tax on their Alabama sales will be relieved of the requirements imposed by rule 810-6-2-90.03.

Recent legislative changes to the SSUT, new legislative reporting requirements for online marketplaces, combined with the Supreme Court’s Wayfair decision represent unprecedented change for Alabama’s sales tax. The Department is studying these changes and intends to engage the rule making process to develop additional long-term guidance on the impact of these changes. Those rules will be developed with the input of stakeholders over the next several months and into 2019. Rules addressing both collection requirements for remote sellers and collection or reporting requirements for marketplace facilitators will be posted at the following link: https://revenue.alabama.gov/tax-policy/proposed-rule-changes/.

ADOR Launches Tax Amnesty Website, Application Period Opens July 1

  • May 18th, 2018

The Alabama Department of Revenue (ADOR) has launched alabamataxamnesty.com, a website dedicated to the Alabama Tax Delinquency Amnesty Program of 2018, created by Act 2018-153.

The amnesty application period runs July 1 – Sept. 30, 2018, and applies to eligible taxes due before, or for tax periods that began before, Jan. 1, 2017. All applications must be submitted electronically through the Alabama tax amnesty website, where taxpayers can sign up to receive notifications about the program. The website also provides all the information taxpayers may need on the program and answers to frequently asked questions.

The amnesty program will be available to eligible taxpayers who have not been contacted by the department within the last two years and are not a party to a criminal investigation or litigation in any court of the United States or Alabama pending as of March 6, 2018, for nonpayment, delinquency, or fraud in relation to any Alabama taxes administered by the Department.

Most taxes administered by ADOR, with the exception of motor fuel, motor vehicle, and property taxes, are eligible for the 2018 Amnesty Program. This includes, but is not limited to, corporate and individual income, business privilege, financial institution excise, consumers use, sellers use, withholding, and sales taxes.

All penalties and interest will be waived for approved amnesty applications.

Taxpayers who believe they may have delinquent tax liabilities in Alabama should consult with their tax advisers regarding their eligibility for the tax amnesty program.

For more information on taxpayer eligibility, eligible tax types, leniency terms, the application process, and more, visit alabamataxamnesty.com or email amnesty@revenue.alabama.gov.

Tax Relief for Victims of Severe Storms and Tornadoes in Alabama

  • May 18th, 2018

Survivors of severe storms and tornadoes that began on March 19, 2018 in parts of Alabama may qualify for tax relief from the Internal Revenue Service.

The President has declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Alabama. Following the recent disaster declaration for individual assistance issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the IRS announced on May 2 that affected taxpayers in certain Alabama counties will receive tax relief.

Individuals who reside or have a business in Calhoun, Cullman, and Etowah counties may qualify for tax relief.

Additional Resources:

ABOUT LEARN FIND RESOURCES SEARCH DIRECTORIES NEWS CONTACT Own a Business in Alabama? Be ADOR’s B.E.S.T.

  • May 18th, 2018

HUNTSVILLE, March 27, 2018 – State tax obligations for business owners – licenses, sales tax, property tax, withholding, etc. – are a lot to be responsible for. To help Alabama business owners better understand and master these requirements, the Alabama Department of Revenue (ADOR) invites business owners to ADOR’s free Business Essentials for State Taxpayers (B.E.S.T.) Seminar on Tuesday, April 10, at 9 a.m. or 1 p.m. in Huntsville.

The seminar will be held at the Huntsville Taxpayer Service Center, 4920 Corporate Drive, Suite H.

B.E.S.T. Seminars help new business owners navigate through unfamiliar tax complexities while updating current business owners on tax law changes. Conducted by ADOR specialists, B.E.S.T. Seminars offer a brief but comprehensive overview of Alabama’s business taxes, the business owner’s tax obligations, the necessary forms, and other requirements. Seminar attendees also receive information on electronic filing and Alabama’s ONE SPOT (https://revenue.alabama.gov/sales-use/one-spot/), a free Internet portal that allows business taxpayers to file and pay state, county, and city sales, use, and rental taxes all in one place!

While there is no charge to attend the B.E.S.T. Seminars, reservations are required to ensure adequate space is available. You can reserve your spot online for either the 9 a.m. session or the 1 p.m. session, or you can call Dicillia Holman or Melinda Richardson at 256-837-2319, ext. 0.

For more information on B.E.S.T. Seminars and other B.E.S.T. resources, visit our website at https://revenue.alabama.gov/taxpayer-advocacy/b-e-s-t-seminars/. B.E.S.T. Seminars are two hours long plus additional time for questions and answers. Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled seminar.

ADOR Extends Filing Deadlines for North Alabama Storm Victims

  • May 18th, 2018

MONTGOMERY, March 23, 2018 – The Alabama Department of Revenue is extending deadlines to file tax returns for individuals and businesses who were affected by severe weather on March 19.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Alabama who have been affected by these disastrous storms,” said Revenue Commissioner Vernon Barnett. “As they recover from the challenges and hardships caused by the storms, the Department is offering this assistance to hopefully help ease some of the burden.”

Those taxpayers affected by the storms in the declared emergency areas with returns due from March 20 through April 30 have two months beyond the original deadlines to file without penalties. The counties included in the state of emergency declaration are: Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, Walker, and Winston.

Taxpayers seeking this relief should write “Severe Weather Relief – 2018” in red ink on any state paper return/report which relies on this filing extension relief. In regard to electronically-filed returns/reports, affected taxpayers should contact ADOR for filing guidance. Taxpayers may contact the following ADOR offices by telephone:

• Individual Income Tax: 334-353-0602

• Corporate Income Tax: 334-242-1200

• Pass-through Entities: 334-242-1033

• Sales and Use Tax: 334-242-1490

• Business Privilege Tax: 334-353-7923

• Withholding Tax: 334-242-1300

• Business and License Tax: 334-242-9600

• Motor Vehicle: 334-242-9000

In addition, taxpayers in areas not specifically designated in the state of emergency declaration who encounter difficulty filing on time due to weather-related circumstances associated with the March 19 storms may be eligible to request a waiver of late-filing and late-payment penalties after providing appropriate documentation to ADOR.