By David A. F. Sweet
ARCC Consulting began to help businesses navigate launching and then establishing a strong financial background by processing payroll, reconciling accounting, preparing business and individual tax returns, as well as business and tax consulting. It has a passion for seeing small- to medium-sized businesses grow and thrive while helping to eliminate stress by knowing government rules and regulations. Lake Forest Love talked with Trak Patel, chief executive officer, and Pam Dervetski, vice president of operations, about the firm.
How does ARCC stand out? We have an innovative process that allows each ARCC department to efficiently and accurately work together. By following this process, we’re able to provide five-star customer service.
ARCC Consulting sits at 246 E. Deerpath Road.
Why do people enjoy using your business? People enjoy knowing that they’re not just a number to us. Our team always goes above and beyond to provide guidance, support, and quality work.
What do you want people to know about your business? That our team is extremely dedicated and proud of the role they play at ARCC. They are a hard-working team for each other, the company, and most importantly…you, the client.
What's the most popular service you offer and why? Business, individual, and fiduciary/trust tax returns. Our payroll and accounting services help make business returns a breeze for clients, and then we’re able to immediately start preparing their individual return as well. It’s one fluid process from start to finish, allowing clients to focus on their business and personal life.
How have you adapted to online tax offerings? While the pandemic was challenging, we became fully remote, improving our systems and communications with clients and one another. Our training process and continuing education is robust, and our team makes the online process easy for our clients. We have secure systems to keep your personal information safe and the team is patient when walking clients through how to use any online portal/login/etc.
Chief Executive Officer Trak Patel has been a certified public accountant (CPA) for more than 20 years.
What's the best thing about working in Lake Forest? We love the people! Everyone is so friendly and welcoming. Business owners are so proud of their businesses, which really shows in their customer service.
Downtown is a whimsical wonderland -- how could you not love going there? Its unique alleyways are full of charm and character, gorgeous murals line the sides of buildings, and store fronts decorate per season, making it a magical place to be. The city of Lake Forest does an excellent job in maintaining downtown, keeping the area clean and always striving to make improvements.
What are your favorite stories of your business? Even though we’re remote workers, with only the owner currently being in the physical office, we have all bonded through our humor. We laugh a lot and work great as a team to get the job done. We are looking forward to our next client appreciation event, where we bring all team members to Lake Forest. It is really fun to meet the new team members in person, and it’s even more fun to see our clients in person.
How did your background help you start your business? Trak has been a CPA for over 20 years and spent a great deal of time building his portfolio prior to starting his own private practice.
Why are you passionate about this business idea? It’s a great feeling to help clients navigate the complex government rules and regulations of owning a business. We love seeing businesses succeed. The Deerpath Streetscape Project is bringing much-needed infrastructure improvements to the heart of Lake Forest. Construction can be challenging, so we’re shining a spotlight on the incredible businesses in the project area along Deerpath. Please keep our community strong by shopping, dining, and supporting these businesses throughout the project. Follow along as we continue highlighting Deerpath businesses throughout the project.