Startups

AZ Liquids, established in early 2021, is a fresh-pressed juice and coffee company with products for health-minded individuals. Fares Tarabichi drew on his Parisian culinary experience in establishing this company to bring freshly pressed produce to consumers, and AZ Liquids juices are now distributed in gourmet restaurants and stores across the Valley as well as online.

The Arizona company is focused on partnering with local farmers as well as other Arizona staple companies such as State Forty Eight and D’lite, among others.

“When the pandemic hit, the brick-and-mortar locations of my other businesses — The Crepe Club and The Bodhi — had to temporarily shut their doors. Then, I started to look for a business venture that I could sell to consumers, online, or to businesses,” Tarabichi explains. “I have always loved juicing — I regularly juice at home — so I thought a juice and coffee company would be fitting! I invested time and money into this business to develop a product that was high-quality and healthy for customers.”

Although Tarabichi says he has felt the economy’s continuing labor shortages, which has impacted the company’s ability to fulfill all orders, the company continues to grow.

“Rich Melman from Lettuce Entertain You told me to ‘put your juices in people’s mouths.’ That is why we offer our juices at so many different locations across the Valley — to put our name in front of a wide variety of people,” Tarabichi says. —RaeAnne Marsh

AZ Liquids azliquids.com

Get a year of In Business Magazine Subscribe now at inbusinessphx.com

As part of the CARES Act introduced in 2020, Congress created a new tax credit known as Employee Retention Credit (ERC) to incentivize employers to keep workers on the payroll during the pandemic. Through this program, qualifying businesses can receive up to $26,000 per employee.

Stenson Tamaddon launched a few months into the pandemic to aid business owners who were entitled to economic stimulus benefits that would greatly impact their company. Its team of experts delivers human resources and technology-enabled services for its clients, specializing in tax incentives to support small business research and development.

This fast-growing, technology-first, locally based accounting company was co-founded by Eric Stenson and Aaron Tamaddon with a vision to hire seasoned industry professionals to provide clients with superior service, effective consultation and results. With proprietary software, their firm is able to maximize business owners’ claims more accurately than anyone else. CPAs and payroll companies turn to Stenson Tamaddon to help them file for their clients. Stenson Tamaddon not only follows the CARES Act statutory language, but also closely monitors (and often responds during notice-and-rulemaking periods) to regulations related to CARES Act programs. In addition, the Stenson Tamaddon team has regularly engaged with agencies such as the Small Business Administration for formal and information guidance on unique circumstances of clients.

A common misconception is that business owners missed their deadline to receive funds. If a business experienced a significant decline due to COVID-19 between March 12, 2020, and September 30, 2021 (or December 31, 2022, for employers who qualify as a recovery startup business), the owners can go back and claim an ERC for paid qualified wages for past calendar years with Form 941 or Form 941-X.

To date, Stenson Tamaddon’s platform has assisted more than 2,500 businesses with $1.7 billion in economic stimulus benefit. —Elizabeth Parra

Stenson Tamaddon stentam.com