Courtesy AVB Taxes
For just over 10 years, Alexander Bodensieck ran his tax preparation services as a side business, focusing primarily on friends and family. However, in September 2025, AVB Taxes was established as a full-time venture in the Glens Falls area. The transition was prompted by Bodensieck’s genuine fascination with the complexity of tax law and a desire to serve those often overlooked by larger firms.
Bodensieck began his career after graduating from Nazareth College in Rochester and qualifying as a CPA. While working at an accounting firm, he realized that he enjoyed tax work more than audit work. “I could talk forever about taxes, just because they are fascinating,” Bodensieck said. He notes that this enthusiasm creates the perfect pairing with clients who “really don’t want to deal with it.”
While AVB Taxes started with personal returns, the business quickly developed key specialties. One core niche is rental real estate. Bodensieck’s personal experience owning a rental property led him to recognize that “a ton of help is needed” in preparing Schedule E returns for landlords.
Another significant focus is on startups and small businesses, an area often ignored by larger firms. Bodensieck explains that bigger accounting firms “won’t take on those people as clients just because the amount of work that they need is higher than what they really want to tolerate.”
AVB Taxes focuses strictly on income tax, referring clients to partner firms for sales tax and payroll services. He also connects clients with trusted lawyers and financial advisors for related needs.
Bodensieck aims to alleviate the fear and stress that clients experience when organizing their records. He is prepared to start from a blank slate—whether it’s a QuickBooks file, bank statement exports or a digital folder replacing the traditional shoebox. Bodensieck says, “I want to alleviate the fear of, What do I do with all this information?”
A key part of his client-focused philosophy is rejecting the practice of excessive billable hours. “It’s the client experience that matters,” he emphasizes. “If you need to spend an extra hour with a client to help them get through their QuickBooks or just help them understand what this shoebox of information is, it’s more than worth it.” He prefers to provide the time clients need, rather than having them hesitate to call because of the cost.
Bodensieck offers ongoing support year-round, urging clients to reach out early to avoid interest and penalties. For businesses with a significant increase in earnings that anticipate a large tax bill, Bodensieck advises clients to calculate quarterly estimated tax payments based on the previous year and leave the money in a high-interest savings account. “For the clients who have doubled their business, that’s a nice benefit,” he said.
Looking ahead, Bodensieck plans to double his current volume, seeing Glens Falls and the northern Capital Region as an area rich with growing small businesses. To manage growth, he is considering bringing on staff who can “learn my system and be part of the process.” He also intends to handle more “12-month clients” who need ongoing monthly or quarterly bookkeeping and financial reports, which will provide clients with “a sense of where they’re going to end up and what may or may not be due, so there are no surprises at the last minute.”
For more information on Alexander Bodensieck and AVB Taxes, visit avbtaxes.com.