Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a CPA, member of the Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council (IRSAC), and the Founder and CEO of GetPayroll in Lewisville, TX, where we have provided full-service payroll and payroll tax services since 1991. GetPayroll helps small to medium-sized businesses across the U.S. with direct deposits, debit card loads, printed checks, payroll deposits, reports and tax filings, year-end Forms W-2 and employer-employee website portals. I am also a US Tax Court Non-Attorney Practitioner which enables me to represent clients in the US Tax Court without being an attorney. I have authored four books: Starting a New Business: Accounting, Finance, Payroll, and Tax Considerations, Small Business Short Course (Employees Book 1), and The Little Black Book of the Beauty Biz, Volume 1. My latest book The Payroll Book: A Guide for Small Businesses and Startups is now available on Amazon. Charles is also an accomplished speaker and has been featured on Fox Business News, Biz TV Texas, New York City Wired, Dallas Innovates, and many more. In addition to his executive career, Mr. Read is a decorated United States Marine Corps sergeant and a combat veteran of the Vietnam War.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“The Payroll Book, a Guide for small business and Startups”
I know how complex payroll is. I have been involved with payroll for 50 years and spent the last 30 running payrolls for companies around the country. It is complex and complicated with lots of twists and turns that will trip up the unwary. The last 12 years the changes have accelerated. If you are not a professional it is almost impossible to keep up.
I wanted to give business people a tool to have at hand to explain the complexities and complications. A tool to fight the IRS and the States successfully when there is a problem. The IRS in the last fiscal year alone issued 13 BILLION dollars in employment tax penalties. This is a huge problem for small business and catches them unaware all the time
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write at work since it is work related
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Lots of fiction authors but business authors my favorite and who influenced me to even start business books is Tom Peters.
What are you working on now?
I have five or six ideas and am trying to decide which is best.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Advertising on Amazon has been a big driver of business for us. We also do lots of promotion on LinkedIN as our book is geared towards small businesses.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Start writing today. It gets easier, most of the time.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write everyday
What are you reading now?
Influence by Robert B Cialdini
What’s next for you as a writer?
More business books or Payroll and Taxes, my passions.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I have thought about this question in relation to the “Time Machine” story by H.G. Welles many times over the years. I have modified the third choice because of the deserted island scenario.
Modern Construction Handbook,
by Andrew Watts (Author)
The Way Things Work Now
by David Macaulay
Indian Fishing: Early Methods on the Northwest Coast
by Hilary Stewart
Author Websites and Profiles
Charles Read Website
Charles Read Amazon Profile
Charles Read’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account