From a one-man show, Cruise & Associates grows, expands

COLUMBUS -- He couldn’t find a job, so he started his own company.

Robert Cruise was looking for work after graduating from Wayne State College. Now some 17 years later, he is running his own growing company, Cruise & Associates.

“I couldn’t find a job. In 1991-92, the economy in the area was in trouble,” he said.

So rather than wait for an opportunity, Cruise decided to start his own business, which initially focused on bookkeeping and tax returns.

“It was a one-man show,” Cruise said.

He said he did not view it as much of a risk at the time.

“I was just out of college, so I was used to living on nothing. I just lived my college years a few years longer,” he said.

But Cruise always had a plan to build the business. He never wanted to maintain the one-man operation.

Over the years, he has added various services, including income tax services, such as individual income tax, business income tax, fiduciary, estate and trust tax and tax consulting and planning. New to the business is IRS representation services, which includes IRS representation, state representation and offers-in-compromise.

There are business services, including accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, accounts receivable, accounts payable and business consulting

Financial services are retirement planning, estate planning, investment planning and wealth management.

Cruise said the IRS representation services is the company’s fastest-growing aspect, followed by investments and financial services.

“The newest area we added was IRS representation for clients and nonclients with issues with the federal government or the State of Nebraska,” Cruise said.

He said this not only includes audits, but representation for nonfiled returns, which he said are very common.

“This (IRS representation) has grown into so much work we needed a full-time position,” Cruise said.

Cruise opened an office in Omaha in 2001, and in 2005, the two offices became interconnected, so he work with both offices while in Columbus.

He also is looking into moving into Lincoln, where he has some customers.

From a one-man operation, Cruise & Associates now employs 15 full-time employees in both offices, growing to 25 during tax season. The Columbus office has a nine-member full-time crew, adding three in tax season.

The business has been a staple of downtown since its inception, starting out at the corner of 13th Street and 27th Ave. (where El Tapitio was formerly located) before spending 10 years at 2508 13th St. He moved in December to the new site at 3023 13th St.

Cruise said the look of the house-turned business appealed to him. He tried to buy the building, but initially it was just for rent. When the owner decided to sell, he jumped at the opportunity.

“I love downtown. I’ve been downtown since Day 1, and I liked the old house and the professional look of the building,” he said.

The new location gives the staff more room to work and includes space for a conference room.

“We try to be professional. Customers make an appointment and talk to a tax professional,” Cruise said.

Cruise was born and raised here, attended Central Community College-Columbus before transferring to WSC. He and his wife, Michelle, have two children, Joel and Adam.

Hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, but expand during tax season to 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday. It also is open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.