Hi 👋 I’m Sam cao, cpa.

I came to Canada in 2012 at the age of 17 to study at the University of Manitoba. My first day in Canada was an adventure—I didn’t even know where to find food! I hopped on a bus to Downtown, only to realize that they only accepted coins, and I had none. That’s when I first experienced the generosity of Canadians—someone gave me $1.95 for the fare. I spent the next few days exploring downtown Winnipeg, surviving on hot dogs until the university cafeteria opened.

At the University of Manitoba, I majored in accounting and finance, choosing the field because I heard it offered strong job prospects—my priority was securing a career that would allow me to stay in Canada. After graduating in 2017, I started as an accounting clerk at Richardson International, then moved on to Wawanesa Insurance as a senior corporate development analyst. During this time, I worked toward my CPA designation, studying alongside a friend who owned a tax practice. He shared his knowledge with me, sparking my interest in tax.

After earning my CPA, I initially launched a bookkeeping business, finding clients through Kijiji. But when tax season arrived and someone asked me to file their return, I realized I needed more experience. I decided to put my business on hold and applied to several accounting firms—including the Big Four. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) offered me a role, initially as an associate. However, once they saw my CPA credentials and experience, they hired me as a senior associate instead. Even though I took a $19,000 pay cut, I saw it as a long-term investment.

For the next three and a half years at PwC, I immersed myself in corporate tax compliance and tax planning, working long hours and learning from some of the best minds in the industry. Though I excelled in my role, I always knew my goal was to gain knowledge and eventually start my own firm. While at PwC, I also began sharing tax insights online, initially on TikTok and later on Instagram. My audience grew, and when I hit 10,000 followers, CPA Magazine reached out for an interview—a surreal moment in my journey.

Eventually, I transitioned to a corporate tax manager role at Harris Computer while continuing to build my own tax practice on the side. Within months, my side business was generating more income than my full-time job. By February 2024, I made the leap to focus on my practice full-time.

Today, I offer multiple services, including tax consulting, corporate tax preparation, and training programs. My latest initiative is the Corporate Tax Preparation Bootcamp, where I teach Canadian bookkeepers and accountants how to prepare corporate tax returns. With many large firms outsourcing tax preparation overseas, I see a gap—and an opportunity—to train more Canadians in this high-paying skill. My goal is to empower professionals to add an extra $150,000–$200,000 in revenue to their businesses while keeping tax expertise local.

That’s my story. Now, I’m here to help Canadian business owners navigate the tax world with clarity and confidence.