• Formerly Bara Business Service
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Bara Business Service was established by Al LaGrone, EA, PA

In December of 1956 Al relocated from Memphis, Tennesse to Arab, Alabama due to a promotion and job transfer from Mallory Air Force Depot to Redstone Arsenal. Al had been preparing taxes in Memphis from 1954 to 1956, so he continued his side business after the move, starting up in January 1957. During 1957 and 1958 he ran the business out of his home.

During the following three years, he shared office space with a Real Estate Office on North Main Street. Mr. LaGrone built and occupied our current office building at 124 South Main Street in April 1962.

January 10, 1957
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Moved into Current Location

April 23, 1962
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1970 Expansion

The W.A. Daniels Construction Company completed a 5,000 square foot addition to our building. This was the same year that Al retired from the federal government and pursued this business full-time.

Albert C. LaGrone, EA, PA
June 10, 1970
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1966-1976 Tax Returns were Prepared with Input Sheets.

Al LaGrone

We had two main-frame computers downstairs. Returns were printed on pre-printed forms in triplicate with carbon layered sheets, then fed through a burster-decolator to separate the copies.

April 15, 1976
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Early 80s

Al LaGrone
June 23, 1983
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Congress passes the Tax Reform Act of 1986 and Greg Cook joins BARA

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness ... we had everything before us, we had nothing before us ...Cook quoting Dickens from A Tale of Two Cities
October 22, 1986
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LaGrone Sells Practice to Cook and Retires

Due to state regulations governing Mr. Cook's CPA license and the use of a fictitious name, BARA was dropped and the business operated under the name Cook & LaGrone during the transition period. LaGrone was dropped from the firm name in March 1998 (two years after the death of our Founder).
December 15, 1994
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Angie shows Windows 95 to Buddy, Dawn and Ed

a few staff members
August 25, 1995
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Building Renovations Completed 1998

Michael, Carolyn, Greg and Margaret

This photo was taken just after the renovation of our Tax Department. We had just celebrated 40 years in business at the time and the firm had recently been featured in an editorial column of the Birmingham News. Many of our out-of-state clients will remember Michael as our limo driver that would pick up our visitors at the airport.

January 9, 1998
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We began our transition away from Novell and to a Microsoft network environment.

computer network switch with cables

August 8, 2006
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Published First Videos

March 14, 2008
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Jan. 2012 Launched Online Appointment Scheduler

Today clients schedule their appointment through this web site, securely upload documents to us and receive their keep copies of tax returns.

appointment schedule calendar

January 19, 2012
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News Feed added to Apple News

News Feed

January 09, 2015
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Greg Launched Podcast

Podcast

February 23, 2020