Austin, TX – [Date] – Saamiya Seraj and Sarah Seraj, co-founders of A Better Force, have been honored with the 2024 Emerging Business Award at the Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce’s Ovation Gala. This prestigious recognition celebrates their outstanding contributions to leadership and professional development, as well as their commitment to equity and empowerment. The sisters have been clients of the Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI) since 2023, leveraging their expertise to create meaningful change in workplaces and communities.
A Better Force is dedicated to empowering individuals and companies through customized leadership and professional development programs. Their training is tailored to the unique needs of their clients, focusing on well-being, equity, and actionable solutions. As a women- and minority-owned business, they have a strong emphasis on supporting women, BIPOC professionals, and the immigrant community, ensuring that leadership development is inclusive and impactful.
About the Founders
Saamiya Seraj – Co-Founder & CEO
Saamiya Seraj earned her Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. Following her doctorate, she spent five years in the construction industry, advocating for improved safety, quality standards, and building designs that prioritize occupants’ mental health and well-being.
Through her industry experience, Saamiya recognized a gap in leadership training that failed to address systemic inequities. She began facilitating workshops and discussions on the topic, which ultimately led to the creation of A Better Force. Her passion lies in empowering individuals—especially BIPOC professionals—and helping companies cultivate thriving, equitable workplace cultures.
Saamiya currently resides in Austin, TX, and is a recent survivor of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a testament to her resilience and determination to create positive change.
Sarah Seraj – Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer
Sarah Seraj initially pursued a career in environmental engineering but transitioned into social psychology after recognizing the critical role that social and psychological factors play in problem-solving. She went on to earn her Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin, focusing her research on social upheavals, cultural shifts, and racial issues.
At A Better Force, Sarah leads training sessions, consults with businesses on workplace culture, and integrates cutting-edge research in organizational psychology—particularly language-based data analysis—to develop innovative, research-backed solutions for companies.
Currently based in Austin, TX, Sarah enjoys reading and writing fiction in her free time, balancing her analytical expertise with creativity.
A Commitment to Inclusive Leadership Development
With a mission to equip organizations with transformative leadership strategies, A Better Force is redefining workplace training. By combining academic research, real-world experience, and an unwavering commitment to equity, the Seraj sisters are helping companies cultivate inclusive, thriving, and innovative work environments.
For more information about A Better Force and their services, visit www.abetterforce.com.
Austin, TX – October 26th, 2024 – The Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GAHCC) has awarded Lucero Valle Ortiz, founder of Lucero Creative Studio, the prestigious title of 2024 Businesswoman of the Year. This recognition highlights Lucero’s exceptional contributions as a Latina entrepreneur, agency owner, and advocate for small businesses through strategic branding and high-impact visual storytelling. Lucero has been a client of EGBI since 2012.
As a certified Women and Minority HUB business, Lucero Creative Studio is a culture-driven, bilingual agency dedicated to helping businesses, government entities, corporations, non-profits, and professionals build compelling brand identities. With over 20 years of experience in photography and branding, Lucero and her team have transformed countless businesses by delivering high-quality photography, video production, social media management, and website design that resonates with diverse audiences.
“After years of capturing incredible visuals, we realized our clients needed more than just photography—they needed strategic marketing support,” said Lucero Valle Ortiz. “So, we stepped it up! Now, we offer a full suite of creative services to ensure brands not only look great but also connect meaningfully with their audiences across different platforms and languages.”
Lucero’s commitment to excellence and client success has earned her widespread acclaim. Tito San Diego, a long-time client, praised her expertise: “I highly recommend Lucero Valle as your next photographer! She’s the ultimate professional—kind, informative, and dedicated to providing outstanding customer service. I’ve had the pleasure of working with her on multiple occasions, and each time she delivers incredible results. Her engagement with subjects allows them to relax and truly shine, making all the difference in her photography.”
Lucero Creative Studio remains at the forefront of empowering brands through powerful visual storytelling, innovative marketing, and a deep commitment to community impact. As Businesswoman of the Year, Lucero Valle continues to inspire and uplift businesses in Austin, Texas, and beyond.
For more information about Lucero Creative Studio and its services, visit or contact https://www.lucero-creative.com/or (512) 825-9946.
About Lucero Creative Studio
Lucero Creative Studio is a full-service creative agency specializing in commercial photography, videography, branding, social media management, and website design. Led by Lucero Valle Ortiz, a Latina entrepreneur with over two decades of experience, the agency is dedicated to helping businesses craft compelling brand identities that drive engagement and success.
It’s a lot better to prepare for them than to get a surprise tax bill.
Taxes. They’re a necessary part of doing business, and you need to make sure you’re aware and are planning for when you’ll eventually have to cough up the money you owe the government. Tax planning is an essential part of running your business, and you need to ensure you save a portion of your net income every month when the payments are due. This post is not for non-profits — except for your annual 990 filing to let the government know you’re still alive as an organization and you won’t owe the government money.
Here are the five most common paid taxes by small business owners:
Income Tax
Sales Tax
Payroll Tax (includes Unemployment Tax)
Franchise Tax
Property Tax
Income Tax
Frequency: Annual
Mandatory: Yes
This annual tax is due in March (for corporations) or April for everybody else. Work with a CPA to ensure you’re paying the right amount and you’ve taken advantage of any deductions. If you’re an LLC, your business income tax is filed with your personal income tax. Yes, just because you have a business doesn’t mean you get out of filing your own personal taxes. I’m not a tax accountant, so I always refer clients to a CPA.
Sales Tax
Frequency: Annual/Quarterly/Monthly
Mandatory: Depends on the business industry
For sales tax, I suggest you call your local sales tax office for answers. If you have no idea if you’re supposed to pay sales tax, call the local office to get a quick answer. It will save you hours scrolling through Google. This can be a cumbersome thing to figure out, depending on where you make sales. The last time I called the local office, they were very helpful and answered all my questions — no matter how stupid I thought they were. If you’re a bigger corporation, you can also work with sales tax firms or use software that tracks sales tax payments to make sure things are aligned and filed correctly.
Payroll Tax
Frequency: Quarterly/Monthly
Mandatory: Yes
If you have full-time W2 employees, you must file and pay payroll and unemployment taxes. A payroll system such as Gusto will remove the stress from these filings. Make sure you’re registered with your state’s Workforce Commission so you can connect your tax account number with your payroll system so all payments can be correctly allocated.
Franchise Tax
Frequency: Annual
Mandatory: Yes
Everyone is required to file the Franchise Tax report. The threshold for Texas is $2,470,000 in revenue, and even if you don’t have that revenue, you’re still required to file the Public Information Report or Ownership Information Report. If your company issues shares, your franchise tax report can use your share counts and amounts—this is easier, especially if you use a cap table software such as Carta.
Property Tax
Frequency: Annual
Mandatory: Depends on if you own property
If you owe any property, you’re required to pay property tax. Properties include land, buildings, and any improvements you’ve made. It also includes tangible personal property used in the “production of income,” such as furniture, inventory, machinery, supplies, etc. Due dates vary based on county, so call your local office to confirm the date.
So, if you don’t want to be hit with a tax bill that the government thinks you owe them, be proactive with your filings. There’s nothing more shock-inducing than getting a bill for $100K when you know that number couldn’t be right. Also, form a relationship with a CPA (Tax Accountant) at the beginning of your business so they can make sure you pay the right amount of taxes and show you how to achieve that as a business.
About the author:
Anwuli Chukwurah is a versatile finance professional with a track record of starting new finance organizations and scaling them for growth in fast-paced entrepreneurial environments. She has over 6+ years of experience working with small business owners, startups, and nonprofit organizations to help connect finance with their business goals. She aims to ensure her clients become comfortable and adept at navigating their numbers. She works with clients at Woolichooks and writes a newsletter for non-finance folks.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SMBR Announces Partnership with EBGI to Empower Small, Minority and Women-Owned Businesses
Austin, TX – The City of Austin’s Small and Minority Business Resources Department (SMBR) is thrilled to announce a new partnership with the Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI). The collaboration is set to significantly enhance the support services available for the City’s small, minority and women- owned business enterprises (MBE/WBE) by focusing on crucial aspects of business growth and city procurement processes.
A New Era of Business Support and Growth
“Through this partnership, we are reinforcing our commitment to the growth and success of small, minority and women-owned businesses in Austin,” said Director of SMBR Edward Campos.
“Collaborating with EGBI allows us to offer a more comprehensive range of services tailored to the unique challenges our small, minority-and -women-owned businesses face.”
For more than 20 years, EGBI has provided training, coaching and support to aspiring and existing business owners who face barriers to growing a successful business.
“EGBI has always been where the community needs it, and we’re excited to partner with SMBR in this endeavor. We provide three times the average coaching hours than most business incubators – and SMBR comes with their impact. Our goal is to provide sustainable growth and success for the businesses that provide traction to our economy,” said Executive Director of EGBI Larissa Davila. “We believe that through this collaboration, we can make a significant difference in the Austin business community.”
Commitment to Continuous Improvement
The partnership will encompass a variety of services aimed at strengthening the business capabilities of firms: Orientation and Training: Firms will receive comprehensive guidance on navigating the City of Austin Finance Online website, enhancing their ability to submit bids and secure city contracts. Business Coaching: Expert coaching will cover an array of topics including business strategy, financial management, preparation for financing applications, and navigating city payment processes. Financial Operations Support: Assistance in adopting more reliable systems for tracking financial operations, including setting up and training on QuickBooks Online. Hands-On Assistance: Firms will learn how to effectively utilize financial reports for business management and gain insight into finding and responding to contracting opportunities.
A Step Forward in Economic Development and Social Mobility
The partnership represents a significant step in fostering business development and economic mobility in Austin. By empowering small, minority and women-owned businesses, the City of Austin reaffirms its commitment to creating an inclusive and thriving business environment.
How to Get Involved To receive training, coaching, and/or support from EGBI, small and minority-owned businesses will need to complete a short intake form that is available on the City’s website. Firms will then need to submit the form to SMBR’S Program Manager I Catherine Sak at Catherine.Sak@austintexas.gov or smbr@austintexas.gov.
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About SMBR The Small and Minority Business Resources Department (SMBR) administers Minority-Owned, Women- Owned, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Procurement Programs for the City of Austin. Our mission is to promote access and equity on City of Austin contracts, providing economic opportunity to small, minority-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged businesses. About EBGI Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI) is a small business incubator or business accelerator established in 2003 in collaboration with several community entities including the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Housing Authority of the City of Austin. In 2023, EGBI was recognized as the No. 1 incubator in Central Texas by the Austin Business Journal and in 2024 the incubator received the CAN Butler Award for Spirit of Collaboration and the Candid Platinum Seal for Transparency, and Best Places to Work for Working Parents. EGBI provides business coaching to entrepreneurs in Central Texas wanting to start and/or grow a business. Up until 2024, our organization has provided over 4,200 hours of business coaching in bookkeeping, sales, marketing, business planning, online presence, government contracts and similar topics to provide traction to small business owners.
We are thrilled to extend our heartfelt congratulations to FroFessionals for being honored with the Committee’s Choice Award from the Austin Community Foundation’s Black Fund. This award is a testament to the unwavering dedication of FroFessionals in addressing the unique needs of black, brown, and biracial individuals with textured hair.
EGBI’s client, FroFessionals, are a subscription-based platform, connecting individuals with professionals and product vendors who understand and cater to the diverse needs of kinky, coily, curly, and mixed-textured hair. Recently (on February 13th, 2024) FroFessionals was awarded the Committee’s Choice Award through the Austin Community Foundation’s Black Fund (a beacon of support for black-led nonprofit organizations) and joined the ranks of other eminent, Austin Based Nonprofit Organizations such as Black Mamas ATX and Real Queens Fix Each Other’s Crowns. The awards ceremony, hosted by Hutson-Tillotson University, was a celebration of achievement and culture. FroFessionals’s recognition at this event underscores the impact they’ve had on their community and the importance of their mission.
Moreover, FroFessional intends to use their award to advance their mission of increasing access to quality, consistent, and culturally relevant mental health care for historically underserved members of BIPOC communities in the greater Austin area. A commendable mission that is guaranteed to create a further positive impact on their community.
We are proud to celebrate FroFessionals’ success and commitment to making a difference. Additionally, we look forward to seeing the continued positive impact FroFessionals will have on the community.
Congratulations, FroFessionals, on this well-deserved recognition, and we applaud your ongoing efforts to create positive change in our community!
