The CPA Who Chose Online Business Owners on Purpose
Kiana Muhly, CPA
Certified Tax Coach | Founder, Lotus CFO
I knew I wanted to be an accountant when I was 14 years old.
It started with a budgeting exercise when I was in high school. While most of my classmates were dreaming about anything but accounting, I was hooked. I realized my love of numbers could become a career, and I never looked back.
I went on to earn a B.S. in Accounting from Temple University, landed at a Big 4 accounting firm, and got my CPA license. I spent years working with Fortune 100 companies, then moved into internal audit, financial planning, and advisory roles across businesses of all sizes. I later earned my Executive MBA and became a Certified Tax Coach through the American Institute of Certified Tax Coaches.
"That's 20+ years in the numbers world. And I loved every minute of it."
But I always had an entrepreneurial itch.
So I took the leap. I co-founded an e-commerce business, and my accounting background gave me a massive advantage. I could read the financials, plan strategically, and make confident decisions about pricing, inventory, and growth. When I eventually sold my interest in the company, I had a realization that changed everything:
Most founders don't have this advantage. And they shouldn't have to live without it.
The other business owners in my network were smart, talented people building amazing things, but they were flying blind on their finances. They had CPAs who filed returns but never talked strategy. They had bookkeepers who recorded transactions but never explained what the numbers meant. They were making revenue but had no idea where it was going.
That's why I built Lotus CFO.
Giving Online Business Owners the Financial Advantage They Deserve
Lotus CFO exists to close the gap between making money and actually managing it well. I work with coaches, educational creators, agencies, and e-commerce brands, because I understand this world. I've lived it.
I don't file taxes. I help you plan them ahead of time, understand your cash flow, and make financial decisions that match where your business is actually going.
Through our Tax Alignment Method™ and LotusIQ™ system, clients usually save 25 to 40% on their tax bill and see their full financial picture clearly, for the first time.
Why "Lotus"?
Lotus flowers grow in murky conditions, and bloom into something beautiful anyway. That felt like the perfect metaphor for what we do here.
Every business is unique, and so is every financial situation. The lotus represents that uniqueness, and the possibility of transformation. One of its key symbols is rebirth: the idea that each day is an opportunity to begin again, to make a better decision, to see things more clearly.
That's what strategic financial planning does. It gives you fresh eyes on your business and a clear path forward.
Qualifications
CPA
Pennsylvania, licensed since 2005
Certified Tax Coach
American Institute of Certified Tax Coaches
B.S. in Accounting
Temple University
Big 4 Background
Started career in Big 4 public accounting
Executive MBA
St. Joseph's University
20+ Years Experience
Fortune 100 to founder-led businesses
The Fun Stuff
I'm Mom to the most loving daughter
Dancing is my lifeline, I take multiple classes each week, a mix of dance cardio and choreography. It's how I recharge.
Yoga is my other lifeline; I'm a certified yoga instructor, RYT200
I love reading, usually on Kindle, but I also listen to audiobooks, they are a lifesaver these days
I like jigsaw puzzles, things get intense when I'm working on one. My jam is 1,000 pieces.
My discretionary income is spent on wellness, personal development, and supporting small businesses
I LOVE trying new things!
We're Not Meant to Do It Alone
I built Lotus CFO because I believe every online business owner deserves a strategic financial partner, not just someone who files paperwork once a year. If that resonates, I'd love to talk.