Meet the Founder Transforming Finance – A Must-Read Interview!

Can you tell us about your personal background and how it led you to founding your startup?
I have an extensive financial and accounting background with an emphasis on tax planning and preparation. I have worked in the finance industry for over 25 years. I have always been intrigued with numbers and taxes and I knew that would be a career that I enjoyed. Another great part of my career is forging business relations with people. That overtime led me to want to start my own business and structure my startup to represent me, my brand, my skills and my dedication to my clients.

What problem does your startup solve and how did you identify it?
Throughout my career, I have noticed that people are often intimidated and overwhelmed with numbers and taxes. My startup will address those fears and present a hands-on approach for our clients. We are more than an accounting and bookkeeping firm. We have added an additional training component to our scope that will address the educational needs as well.

How did the idea of your startup first come about?
I have always been classified by my friends and family as "The Numbers Person". I completed tax returns and financial documents for friends and family members and as a result decided to start my own business and expand on those experiences.

What is your startup's mission and how does it drive your daily operations?
Our mission is to develop personalized financial solutions and build trust through training, transparency, and offer peace of mind to all of our clients. This mission encompasses what we represent. We offer a holistic approach by combining finance, technology, and training that we are confident will address our client's needs. This approach offers a seamless business model that makes us all excited about offering our unique boutique of services.

Can you share the story of how you gathered your founding team?
I am a firm believer that the success of a start-up begins with having the right team. Our team started as a group of friends discussing individual projects we were working on. We realized we could combine our talents and expertise to expand and take this startup to the next level. We've been working diligently to make this happen and know it will be a game-changer for us and those that come on board as clients and team members.

How did you go about securing initial funding for your startup?
The initial costs to launch my startup were very low, so I was able to self-fund those costs.

What were some major obstacles faced during the early stages of your startup, and how did you overcome them?
One of the major obstacles that I faced was time management. When I launched my startup, I immediately signed contracts with 3 clients. I also work a full-time job and worked part-time doing taxes during tax season. I was faced with very little time between jobs and almost faced burnout. Once I identified what was happening I made adjustments to my schedule that allowed me time to recharge.

Can you tell us about a time you failed and what you learned from it?
I have always wanted to share my knowledge and help people. I realized I was eager to offer assistance but was overcommitting myself. That led to a phase of burnout. Now I follow a time management approach and only commit to things that I can fit into my schedule.

How does your startup stand out from competitors in your industry?
We are a small team but well-rounded. As the CEO, I have expertise in accounting, bookkeeping, and tax preparation. Our CTO has an extensive background in Software Development which allows us to handle all of our technology needs in-house. Our CFO has an extensive background in financial planning and budgeting. These services can and are being offered to our clients. We consider ourselves the "One Stop Shop" in accounting, technology, and finance.

What has been the most rewarding part of being a founder so far?
The most rewarding part is being able to offer solutions to those that need a reliable service and to see how pleased our clients are with the outcome.

Can you describe a typical day in your life as a founder?
I wear multiple hats each day: as a full-time employee, a founder, and I have current clients. Once I am done with my full-time job, I usually take a couple of hours to digress and then I am razor-focused on building my business. I also set aside time each week to work on my clients' books.

How do you stay motivated during challenging times?
My desire to succeed keeps me motivated during challenging times. I believe that I owe it to myself to strive for success in whatever goals I set.

What is the best piece of advice you received, and who was it from?
My dad would always tell me and my sisters that no matter what you do in life be the best at it. He said even if you dig ditches for a living, be the "Best Ditch Digger Ever". I did not understand how important that was until I got older and started with my career. I understand now that my work is my brand and my legacy.

How do you manage work-life balance, especially during intense periods of work?
Sometimes, it's difficult to manage work-life balance because I work full-time, I am a founder, I have clients, and I work on tax returns during tax season. I accept that I am going to be busier than normal during tax season. However, I am intentional with allowing myself time to recharge, and I plan vacations ahead so that I can look forward to enjoying some time off.

What strategies have you found effective for managing your team remotely?
Transparency and effective communication are key when it comes to having a remote team. We use different methods of technology to communicate.

How has your leadership style evolved as your startup has grown?
I've become more confident in my leadership skills as my startup grows. I feel like I am always in the trenches doing the work. I did not realize how much I have grown as a leader. Now I learn to take a step back and assess those things that I have accomplished while also knowing there is always room for continued growth.

What does success look like for your startup, and how do you measure it?
Success to me is when the customer is satisfied with the work being done. I measure success through feedback from our clients.

How do you encourage a culture of innovation within your team?
We are in an area where innovation is all around us. I don't have any issues with encouraging innovation. We are innovators ourselves because we rely heavily on technology to offer, manage, and market our products and services.

Could you share any pivots your startup had to make and the reasons behind it?
We started out as a full-service accounting, bookkeeping services, and tax preparation. Our plan is to pivot and offer technological services in finance and budgeting.

How have you leveraged technology to grow and improve your startup?
We have a monthly newsletter that goes out to our subscribers, we are on all social media platforms, and our website contains pertinent information that is frequently updated.

What is one thing you wish you knew before starting your business?
I would say that I wish I had communicated more with my network of friends about what I wanted to do. Once I started to talk about my startup, that's when I began to get help in areas that I needed it.

Can you discuss a time where customer feedback directly influenced a decision or direction for your startup?
One of my current clients would reach out to me periodically because they needed help with their financial tracking and their taxes. I decided to bring them on as a client, and that is what prompted me to launch my startup. Now I have signed multiple clients, and we are seeking to bring on more clients as we grow.

How do you see your startup evolving in the next 5 years?
There is so much growth opportunity in this industry. I see us growing and eventually scaling and pivoting into other areas for continued growth.

How have you adapted your startup to changes in the market, especially during crises?
We are a fairly new startup, so we are currently working on plans of action. I envision us adapting well because we represent different spectrums of the industry, which allows us to be adaptable and flexible. For instance, I come from an era where we relied heavily on writing things in booklets and whiteboards. My partners come from an era where everything is about technology, apps, and AI. I feel like it's a great mix because we can relate to every type of customer.

What are the key qualities you look for when hiring new team members?
I believe your energy is everything. We can teach you how to do specific tasks but you must possess the energy and interest to join our team. We are all driven to take this company far, so we are selective about who we choose to go with us.

Can you share an instance where your team had to go above and beyond to deliver on a project?
Tax season is always challenging because of its unpredictability. This year we decided to choose different software to prepare and submit our returns. One of our clients used software to maintain their records that was not compatible with this new program. To meet the deadline for this client, we had to manually enter all the client's records into our software. It took longer than normal, and we worked later hours, but in the end, the client was pleased to have their return submitted well before the tax deadline.

How do you promote personal growth and learning among your employees?
Personal growth is each person's personal journey. My approach is allowing each employee the opportunity to think about where they want to be professionally and how they can set attainable personal goals to get there. I also emphasize that it is okay to allow yourself some grace. If you are moving in a direction that is not a good fit, you can pivot at any time. The goal is to keep moving and continue to focus on where you are going.

Can you tell us about a significant partnership or collaboration that has greatly benefited your startup?
My most recent collaboration with my new partners. We are all working towards the same goals. We understand what needs to be done, and we can work independently to make things happen. We look at each accomplishment as a success, and we continue to work effectively. This collaboration has been a great benefit to my startup.

What advice would you give to someone considering starting their own business?
DO IT! Don't fear because you can do anything that you put your mind to. Reach out to organizations within the community who can assist with time and resources.