Change can be intimidating, especially when it comes to something as crucial as your business. But taking a risk and venturing out of the box could result in great rewards; just ask WaFd Branch Manager Laurie Gable. She has seen first-hand how FINSYNC’s platform can immensely benefit businesses; by streamlining processes and saving time & money.  

To help her clients sync up their financial management, Laurie has found that FINSYNC is user-friendly and will lead to long-term savings. But many businesses are hesitant to leave their comfort zone and try new solutions, even when the potential rewards may be significant. Business owners often opt for the status quo and shy away from new technologies. But true success happens when small business owners revolutionize how they manage finances. It is time for a financial revolution! 

Read on to find out how Laurie helps entrepreneurs break away from routine and unlock previously unseen possibilities for success.

What do you enjoy the most about your job?

I enjoy my job as the branch manager. I think it is mainly because I love the company I work for. I have been working in the industry for many years, and this journey with WaFd Bank is probably the most enjoyable in my entire career.

What is your favorite part of being on the WaFd team?

I never have to take my work home, which for me creates unnecessary stress. Sure, there are certain issues that I think about when I get home because I deeply care about my clients. But as far as taking stress home with me, I don’t feel that kind of stress at WaFd. I have worked in companies where I would wake up at two in the morning trying to figure out a problem, which was just too stressful. It also helps that we don’t work weekends, that means a lot to me. 

How do you locate business owners that may be a good match for FINSYNC?

I am newer to FINSYNC and am transparent with my clients about this. I have seen the products and demos, and if I were a business owner, I would want to have the FINSYNC rep explain everything to me because it looks so awesome. I tell clients they should just try it because it may or may not be a good fit for them. At the same time, we encourage their feedback. That will help us since we are still in the learning period.

What has helped you understand FINSYNC?

Even though it is new, we already have seven referrals in just a few weeks. There is definitely a demand. I think the demos have really helped us to get the ball rolling. So I have recommended that other managers try a demo at least because that will provide so much information. Especially since there is a lot of demand in the market right now. Some bankers are afraid to bring it up, and they fear that they don’t know enough about it. 

I also recommend FINSYNC to our customers who may need more time to be ready to switch from Quickbooks. Often when they say they like Quickbooks, it is all they know, and signing up for a new system seems complicated. So I tell them to give it a chance and do a demo. Because they are probably going to like this a lot better than Quickbooks, and there is a lot more to offer. 

How do you locate your small business customers?

Sometimes I catch them off guard when they don’t know I work for a bank and approach them more naturally. For example, yesterday, I was in a jewelry store getting some batteries for a watch. The worker was trying to run my card through a POS merchant, which took a long time. I then handed her my WaFd business card and told her we needed to get her a better merchant services device, and when she was ready to give me a call. 

What do you like best about FINSYNC?

What I like so far is the customer service. The two people in my office who are also familiar with FINSYNC have given me the same feedback: your customer service is hands down the best! Since we have experienced this ourselves, we pass that along to our clients. Because good customer service is essential.

If you are a banker that would like to start referring FINSYNC, contact us today, and we will give you all the tools you need to be successful. 

Tragedies can sometimes offer unexpected paths to a new purpose. Judith Joachim with CC’s Home Health Care has followed this path. Judith has always helped people in her extensive nursing career. When her mother finally needed assisted care in the last years of her life, Judith was there as much as possible. 

However, her mother’s determination to remain independent and live in her own house led to a terrible fall, putting her in the hospital until she passed. Judith decided to use this experience for the better and create her own assisted living company. Judith was determined to create a company that would give people the care they needed and deserved. This way, more independent individuals will still have the feeling of living in a loving family home environment. Best of all, she named it after her mother.

Tell me about your company and how your idea originated.

During my master’s degree in nursing, my final class project was to create a company or project around nursing. I chose running an assisted living facility because I have worked in healthcare for over 20 years. I started when I was 15 as a candy striper so helping people is basically my life. 

What inspired you to start your company?

After I graduated, my elderly mom was also going through her own health issues. My mom was always an independent woman, not wanting others to do things for her. But when the time came when she needed help, I became very hands-on and helped her with her care. She lived with us here in Georgia, but she ultimately decided to go back to Florida to remain more independent. Unfortunately, her health really declined, and I planned for her to come back to us. But she fell and wound up in a nursing home and, sadly, passed away in 2018 at the age of 83. 

This situation really pushed me to move forward with my business. I named it CC’s Family Home Care after my mom, and we take care of elderly clients who want to remain in a family home environment. 

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced as a small business owner?

We had a client with dementia and other issues which presented us with a situation where she needed 24-hour round-the-clock care. So my husband and daughter have pitched in, and we tag team the rigorous schedule. 

Additionally, we are looking to extend to another location which is another challenge right now. We plan to purchase a second home and renovate it for more clients. 

What’s the best thing about being a small business owner? 

I get to choose what I do, when I do it, and how I do it. I can try something and see if it works and if it doesn’t, I control the next steps.

What prompted you to start using FINSYNC?

This client came into my life, and she was looking for a place for her mom. After seeing our facility, she called and said she was bringing her mother in. Right then, I realized I had to partner with a company that would handle payments. I knew I couldn’t just take a credit card number, so I went to my credit union to find out if they could recommend someone, and they introduced me to FINSYNC.

I spoke with Jack Stone, who was very nice and personable; he made me feel comfortable. After speaking with Jack and seeing the platform, this prompted me to join FINSYNC.

What are the biggest benefits your business has experienced using FINSYNC?

I like the fact that I can create an invoice, send it and create a copy of it so I can go back to it. This helps so much with my organization. 

What financial institutions do you have connected to FINSYNC?

LGE Credit Union is who referred me. I was looking for programs that could easily handle the payments side of my business, and so LGE recommended me to your company.

What would help you the most right now with your business?

I am interested in having a mentor. Someone that has been there before and is willing to teach and give valuable advice. Day by day, I am always learning something new. 

Anything else you would like to share with other potential and actual small business owners?

The internet is a great place for research. Just try things out; if it doesn’t work, you can adjust. Keep the faith!! I feel in my heart that quitting is definitely not an option. I have been in this for so long, I will do whatever it takes to succeed. 

Are you a small business owner? We would love to hear your story. Maybe your business will be featured one day, like Judith!

We are still witnessing the aftereffects of the pandemic, specifically around small businesses. Many people are turning to entrepreneurship as a way to provide for themselves and their families. According to a recent study, it is estimated that up to 17 million new small businesses will be formed in 2022. This surge in entrepreneurs is inspiring and provides hope for a bright future. However, this will be their first business venture for many of these individuals. And with any new experience comes a learning curve. So how can banks assist these first-time entrepreneurs and help them prepare for the challenges ahead?

This question is Michelle Melekwe’s main focus being part of the Fulton Bank team. Michelle succeeds at being a valuable resource for entrepreneurs. Since many unknowns come with starting a business, it can be challenging to know how to provide answers to questions you can’t anticipate yet. Read about Michelle’s path as one of Fulton Bank’s trusted bankers. 

What do you enjoy the most about your job?

I like the work-life balance. When I come to work, I can focus on work. Then when I go home, I can shut down and just concentrate on my home life. Most businesses run seven days a week from 8 am-7 pm, and there is no balance, so I am really grateful to have this.

What is your favorite thing about being part of the Fulton Bank team?

Fulton is very community-focused. We are all about supporting our community and our customers. 

We are focused on helping our community as they advance through their lives, and Fulton is helping us do that by broadening the services and products we provide to help our customers. 

How do you locate business owners that may be a good match for FINSYNC?

When I was first introduced to FINSYNC, I concentrated on the payroll aspect and immediately thought about one of my clients. They are a small business, not even a year old, and they had many payroll challenges. 

There are a lot of small businesses that want to understand how to do ACH payments and direct deposits with their payroll. There is a big learning curve, especially for individuals starting their first business. The world is changing, and companies need to be able to accept many forms of payments. 

What is your approach like?

My approach is to talk less and listen more. So I can understand the issue, and then I can bring up a solution. After a while, I build a rapport, and over time, I can dig deeper by listening to their issues. It can be about payroll processing, check cashing, account balances, account receivables, and so much more. With time and just listening, I am able to unravel when companies need help.  

Do you think your customers struggle with other software solutions?

I have come across several companies that have struggled with other software. Employees were not getting paid on time, taxes were not deducted correctly, and it was an ongoing situation. I am not an accountant, so I didn’t know how to assist with the multiple phone calls I kept getting. Fortunately, after recommending FINSYNC, the calls have stopped.

What do you like best about FINSYNC?

I love how FINSYNC makes it easier for our Fulton Bank customers. It is hard to just pass our business owners along to someone else, which results in all these fees and requests, which is not helpful. You make it easy on them and often take care of the technical aspects of transferring their accounts. I appreciate how after I give you the customer’s information, you take it over from there, and I know they will be successful. 

Honestly, I used to get several phone calls and emails every single day from some clients who were struggling to pay their employees, and after I handed them over to FINSYNC, I never heard back from them with any issues. Their problems are solved, their business is up and running, and it is now smooth sailing. 

Learn more about FINSYNC’s all-in-one cloud-based accounting platform.

We all know how it feels to be constantly bombarded with ads and sales pitches. Sandi knows this all too well, working in the insurance industry. However, she has found success by differentiating herself from other salespeople trying to make a quick sale. Instead, she builds trust and rapport with her clients, resulting in long-term relationships and repeat business. 

By taking the time to get to know her clients and their needs, Sandi provides them with the best possible service. Her caring approach is a breath of fresh air in an industry where it can be easy to get lost in the shuffle. It is also one of the reasons she has been so successful. Read more about Sandi and her company, The Insurance Connection, below. 

Tell me about your company and what inspired you to start.

We are a small independent insurance agency. I was originally inspired by my mom, who has worked in this industry for most of her life. She focused primarily on churches and nonprofits, introducing me to niche marketing. 

Our agency works a lot with churches and nonprofits. Honestly, I am not a very good salesperson. I am not going to pressure people. When I hear about classes that teach salespeople how to “overcome the objection,” I am simply turned off by that. I want to provide people with an education and be their trusted advisor. I want my clients to know I have their best interests at heart. I just don’t want to sell; we are constantly being sold from all walks of life.   

What are some of the challenges you faced in your previous job?

The legal industry isn’t very family-friendly unless you are a lawyer, and the support staff doesn’t get the opportunity to have flexible schedules. After the birth of my second son, I realized that the legal industry isn’t conducive to the type of mother I want to be. 

At this time, my mom had her own insurance agency. I reflected on the mother she was to me; she was able to be very present, available, nurturing, and supportive of her family. Shortly after I got my insurance license, I worked for my mom for about a year, and decided to open my own agency in 2015.  

What’s the best thing about being a small business owner? 

For most of my adult life, I worked primarily in the legal industry and social service. I worked as a paralegal for ten years. I worked in areas of law that helped people with personal injury, domestic law, etc. I have always had a heart for serving others. By starting my own agency, I can work with nonprofits that satisfy my desire to help others. 

What prompted you to start using FINSYNC?

All of my employees were previously contractors, which was easier. However, I was working for a non-profit organization with Dave Olsen, the President of Payroll for FINSYNC. So when it was time for me to make the switch to payroll, I reached out to Dave, who referred me to FINSYNC. He mentioned it would be a great way to grow, send payroll taxes, and support along the way. 

What are the biggest benefits your business has experienced using FINSYNC?

As a business owner who actually works in the business, I am not just an office administrator. To have that customer service on the phone when I have a question is a tremendous resource for me. I also love to support a local company instead of large conglomerates, and knowing Dave personally, all of these things played into my decision to choose FINSYNC.

What financial institutions do you have connected to FINSYNC?

Truist was a merger between BB&T and SunTrust, and that merger really affected our syncing issues. I was pleased with the support I got from FINSYNC. They went in and manually updated items that weren’t syncing because I was overwhelmed by it. It was really stressful, but when I reached out to you, you were phenomenal.

How does having FINSYNC connected to the accounts mentioned above make your business life easier?

I have noticed how the platform has changed and evolved. I really appreciate that FINSYNC doesn’t charge extra for certain features. Again it is one of those sales things. We are charged for every little extra feature. We are constantly being sold in our society. When someone notices that people are using that feature, then all of a sudden, they want to charge more for that. 

What advice do you have for those thinking about starting their own business?

You need to have a full plan in place. Starting a business is not for the weary if you depend on it as your full-time income. There are many things to figure out, and no playbook exists. It takes a lot of research, dedication, and planning.

FINSYNC updates your payment transactions in real-time as you run your business. Take control of your cash flow management today!

Jaipal’s decades of experience in his industry give him a unique perspective on what it takes to succeed. He attributes this success, in part, due to never staying still for too long and constantly striving toward greater heights with every new challenge he faces. 

Being able to leave one’s comfort zone and embrace change is an essential skill that all entrepreneurs should adopt. A good business owner needs to have an open mind and willingness to learn new things so that when opportunities or obstacles come into play, they can smoothly navigate their company towards success. 

Tell me about your company and what inspired you to start

I was previously working in IT for many years, and I wanted to start my own company, Jai Consultancy, because I am very familiar with all the systems and working with clients. I primarily focus on creating IT projects with our clients, usually through the Prime Vendor or point person. 

I manage all the technical support and system administration in addition to monitoring activities, planning, projections, and any programming within this system. The Prime Vendor is who has the contract with the client and then with my business. I work for the Prime Vendor, completing all the technical support projects. 

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced as a small business owner?

Becoming an expert very quickly in all the different technologies and organizations. I can never stay in my comfort zone and stick to just one platform. I have to be ready to pivot and become proficient in new software in a few days.

For example, suppose a company decides to start implementing IT Modelization. In that case, I have to be ready to learn the technologies to an expert level very quickly and ensure their systems will be able to respond seamlessly.

What’s the best thing about being a small business owner? 

I think it is important not to rush the growth of my business. I prefer not to accept lots of contracts and hire people immediately. Growth will happen eventually. I will never compromise on quality.

What prompted you to start using FINSYNC?

Soon after starting my company, I began looking for a payroll service. I didn’t want to just send paychecks without researching the right way to pay people. So I went into Fulton Bank and asked if they had a payroll service they could recommend. 

Heather with Fulton Bank quickly got back to me and referred me to FINSYNC. 

What are the biggest benefits your business has experienced using FINSYNC?

FINSYNC is very smooth and easy to use. Last week I had to run my payroll, and I could complete it in just one or two clicks. I really appreciate this expediency. 

What financial institutions do you have connected to FINSYNC?

I went to Fulton Bank for advice with payroll because I knew they were invested in their community and would have a good recommendation. Heather was happy to help, and I am very grateful. 

How does having FINSYNC connected to the accounts mentioned above make your business life easier?

I recently asked about adding 401K to my payroll processing system and if FINSYNC would be able to support these deposits. Fortunately, yes, it handles 401K, which is great. Other payroll services do not do it. If they do, they have to integrate with a third party that charges their own fees. I like that FINSYNC can handle both, so soon, I will open and connect this type of plan. 

What advice do you have for those thinking about owning their own business?

Have patience and know your industry knowledge. Before starting a business, one must understand it inside and out so you can easily identify hiccups when they appear.

Process payroll with confidence using FINSYNC’s online payroll and timecard for employees and contractors.