Jim Floyd with Fulton Bank knows that partnerships are essential, especially in business. Organizations can pool their resources and knowledge to achieve their goals by working together. A partnership can also help spread support when starting a new business, making the venture more likely to succeed. 

 

Of course, choosing the right partner is essential to forming a successful partnership. Jim has been very happy with the Fulton Bank/FINSYNC partnership. He has been a great resource to small businesses and is proficient in asking the right questions to determine if they would be a good fit for FINSYNC. Read more about his process below. 

 

What do you enjoy the most about your job?

 

I would definitely say working with the audience base that we do, especially with so many small business owners. I like that we work with them from the infancy stages and watch them grow. I have always enjoyed working with the little guys, and then after a year or two, hopefully, they aren’t little anymore. 

 

There are a lot of things to do out there; if you have a passion for something, you can more than likely make it into a business if you put everything into it. Some companies today weren’t even available when I was a kid. 

 

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

 

I have been with Fulton for seven years. Through college and being out and about, I like that it is a small enough bank where you don’t feel like just a number. There is always a path to the next step. But we are not a small bank, so we still get a foothold and are a fairly recognizable brand.

 

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

 

Quite honestly, it is so basic in nature. FINSYNC has been a big help because we have never had a payroll service. We have always had direct deposit facilitation. But everything else, the whole nine yards, the accounting, bookkeeping, taxes, and insurance, we have never been able to offer that in a full suite. So when I am talking to a business owner, I ask them how their payroll looks today. Are they still cutting paper checks? Are they paying for a big company to handle their payroll? 

 

What is your approach like?

 

I tell them that we partner with a payroll company, and it is co-branded, so there is still a Fulton Bank touch. Then I mention this partner also specializes in the cash flow space. 

 

I ask them if they want to schedule a demo and try something new. It doesn’t cost anything, and you guys take it from there. 

 

Do you think your customers struggle with other software solutions?

 

Yes, some people like the interface other software has but don’t like the à la carte charges. Also, other customer service teams are not there to assist. 

 

So, the service with the FINSYNC partnership is parallel with Fulton Bank’s customer service. 

 

What do you like best about FINSYNC?

 

Internally, it is a process in which I know I can scratch the surface and get someone’s interest, and then FINSYNC will take care of them from there. I like that the partnership process is easy and smooth. You do an excellent job of keeping us in the loop and taking care of the customer. 

 

Jim is a shining example of what can happen when individuals work together. Companies, when correctly aligned, can create a win-win situation that benefits everyone involved. 

 

How FINSYNC Can Help

 

FINSYNC allows you to run your business on One Platform. You can send and receive payments, process payroll, automate accounting, and manage cash flow. To learn more about how we can help your business start, scale, and succeed, contact us today.

 

Cash flow management problems still occupy the top spot for why small businesses fail. Doing everything we can to help small business owners secure their cash flow is why Space Coast Credit Union and FINSYNC have formed a promising partnership.

 

SCCU’s Business Advisors are a valuable asset to the community. Vanessa Sablon manages this team, and their job is to help develop small business owners. Vanessa has been with SCCU for over three years, and she loves what she does. Learn more about Vanessa’s journey with FINSYNC below.

 

What do you enjoy the most about your job?

 

I enjoy that I get to create the tools our team uses to support our Business Members. We started conducting workshops last year on the most popular topics business owners need help with. Some of these topics are successfully launching your small business, branding your business, taking on new employees, and hiring a bookkeeper.

 

These workshops are free and open to all business owners, whether they have a membership with us or not. These workshops and our coaching program showcase how SCCU is passionate and dedicated to serving our members. We help many start-up business owners who are great at providing their services but may not be familiar with all the aspects of being a business owner, such as managing their cash flow or tracking their expenses.

 

What is your favorite part of being on the Space Coast team?

 

I love that we are really passionate about helping and developing our Small Business Members. You always hear financial institutions say they help small businesses grow through financing or merchant processing, and we do that as well; however, what is unique about SCCU is we also help small businesses grow by providing coaching and consulting to give structure for not only growing the business but developing the business owner. I like that we listen to what our business members need through Business Advisor interactions to collaborate with the business owner and develop a strategy for growth.

 

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

 

Our Member Service Specialists, the equivalent of a teller, and Business Advisors take a consultative approach, seeking to learn about our business members to understand their needs and how we can help meet those needs. If we see a need for any financial services FINSYNC offers, we help get them signed up or get them in front of our FINSYNC team, whichever is appropriate.

 

What is your approach like?

 

We take a more personal approach that is specific to the member we are working with at the time and intentionally avoid using blanket statements to make a referral.  Our Member Service Specialists are great at this. They ask high-impact questions to learn about the business during transactions instead of just small talk to pass the time. They already have relationships with our Business Members, so their conversations are more natural. Recommendations come from an identified member need instead of company goals. 

 

Also, we have five Business Advisors in our entire footprint. We have 65 branches throughout the east coast of Florida, from Flagler and Volusia County down to Miami/Dade County. They use a consultative approach with members to learn about the business owner and how their business operates and transacts to ensure they only make appropriate recommendations.

 

Do you think your customers struggle with other software solutions, such as QuickBooks?

 

Absolutely!  Of the four workshops we have conducted, our bookkeeping workshop had the highest attendance so far. This area is a huge struggle, especially for those without a bookkeeping or accounting background.

 

We know many business owners are intimidated by QuickBooks and similar software. We used to recommend WaveApps because they had a free tier, but similar to QuickBooks, it can be intimidating. Now that we have FINSYNC, we can refer our members to a much more user-friendly software that we will recommend going forward. 

 

What do you like best about FINSYNC?

 

It is a user-friendly, reasonably priced, all-in-one solution to help the majority of our membership.  When our Advisors see a need where someone has struggled with their bookkeeping or payroll processing, we will use FINSYNC as a tool to refer.

 

FINSYNC allows entrepreneurs to run their businesses on One Platform. They can send and receive payments, process payroll, automate accounting, and manage cash flow. To learn more about how we can help businesses start, scale, and succeed, contact us today.

 

We are living in a time when it is easy to lose sight of what really matters. It’s not just about material things; we need more human connections. Technology can be a fabulous tool that makes our lives easier, but sometimes it overshadows the impact of talking to someone over the phone about an issue. 

Joy Froehlich with Fulton Bank is featured this month for our Banker Spotlight Interview. Read more about her journey with FINSYNC below. 

What do you enjoy the most about your job?

Providing a service that works for our customers. I have a lot of healthcare sales experience. Then in the early 2000s, I went into banking and have been happy ever since.

What is your favorite part of being on the Fulton Banking team?

I worked for 16 years in a large bank. I should have left long ago because Fulton Bank’s culture is phenomenal. I have never been happier in a job. I have been here for seven years and think it is the best. At my age, to be in a workplace where you are very happy is like having the golden ticket. 

In my later chapters, life just keeps getting better and better. I know people want success early in life, but are they really prepared for it? 

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

A lot of those conversations happen at the branch. If we are with a new customer, we might ask them about their merchant processing. After understanding their primary interests, we tell them about representing FINSYNC. We say we represent both cash management and merchant service. The same goes for ACH origination, remote deposits, etc. A tremendous amount of these conversations are happening within the financial sector. 

What is your approach like?

I have to be a good listener. I am not customer-facing; I am on the telephone. I got a referral from one of my partners on the merchant side. She reported the customer was needing a payroll provider. I told them about FINSYNC and that it wouldn’t hurt to do a demo. 

After the demo, he liked the platform but wanted to check with someone in his network that was having trouble getting back to him. I said that was fine and asked him when he needed to cut payroll for his employees. He said next week. I told him I didn’t mean to put any pressure on him, but most people can’t wait for their paycheck; they depend on this to be on time. He thought about it and then agreed. 

I kept thinking, what if that were me and I needed to buy groceries? He was super tolerant, and it worked to his advantage, and he will be better off!

What do you like best about FINSYNC?

I can’t say enough about FINSYNC; it is competitive, it works for our customers, and everything has been seamless. I couple that with Jack Stone, the Director of Partner and Customer Development. Jack and I work very well together; we have a similar style. Jack is hands-on and very patient. He understands if they have a hard time getting onto the call. He makes every effort to talk to them about FINSYNC. His knowledge and follow-ups are spot-on. 

I really appreciate FINSYNC’s availability, sales representation, and customer service. Emails are great to a certain level, but they can be misinterpreted. We are losing that human connection in society, and getting people on the phone is getting harder and harder. I am glad FINSYNC hasn’t lost sight of this.

 

Looking for a place to find small business news and tips? Visit our FINSYNC blog to stay current on financial, economical, and societal current events. 

If a small business owner purchases a software tool to help them run their organization, it doesn’t make sense for that software company to charge a fee when their customer has a question about using their technology. This is exactly what happens when learning other accounting systems available today. 

Our Spotlight Interview this month with WaFd Banker, Wendy Clarke, focuses on giving business owners the tools they need without charging extra costs to use the software. FINSYNC has a no-gated policy which means everyone that uses the platform can use all of the features in use today and future releases happening every week. FINSYNC also does not charge for customer service; this support is available via phone, email, or chat to all of our customers. 

What do you enjoy the most about your job?

I enjoy helping customers the most. I mostly work with small business owners, and I like learning about their businesses, what their goals are, and helping them achieve them. 

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

The relationships here at WaFd. I work with a great group of people. Everyone is so positive and supportive that if I need help, there is always someone I can reach out to. We are a team. We all have the same inspiration for helping our clients succeed. 

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

Usually, I just bring it up in conversation. I ask them questions about what they are doing for their accounting needs. I find out how they process payments if they are invoicing and how many people they employ. I also ask if they are interested in any payroll services. 

What is your approach like?

I make sure to ask both new and existing clients. One person I spoke with told me he wanted to process ACH payments and also wanted to be able to receive these. I told him about FINSYNC and asked him if he would be interested in talking to someone, and he said, Yes!

Another owner has been in business for 3-4 years. His fiancée had just quit her job and managed the business full-time. She talked about how Quickbooks was such a struggle and wanted to use something easier. 

Do your customers often struggle with other software solutions, such as Quickbooks?

I have never used Quickbooks personally, but I have heard all these nightmare stories about how people hate it. It makes some people feel stupid. QB has all these features but is hard to learn. If you manage to get someone on the phone, they charge you for that. 

What do you like best about FINSYNC?

You don’t charge if people have questions! The service I received from you guys has been great. After I put in a referral, Jack gets back to me right away. If I have any questions, he helps me immediately. I really appreciate that. 

FINSYNC shares the same values we do, making it a good fit. You really care about our customers and want to see them succeed and get the service they deserve. 

What other “banking tools” could we provide you to help you succeed?

I got a lot out of the demo with Jack and learned quite a bit from that. But originally, we got all these pamphlets and brochures, and I wish those could be more clear about what FINSYNC does. 

 

Wendy, thank you for your continued support of our accounting platform. Your clients are fortunate to have someone as passionate and dedicated on their side.

FINSYNC and WaFd have formed an effective partnership committed to helping our customers. We want to be there when it matters most and walk you through your financial management journey. Our local team offers personal support via email by phone, and our live chat functionality allows clients quick and easy access when they need it most. 

 

Reach out to FINSYNC if you know someone that could be featured in our Spotlight Interview series. We are better together and welcome new partnerships with open arms. 

For Seth Larson, truck driving wasn’t just a job; it was a way of life. But after he and his wife welcomed their first son Wade Quinn Larson, Seth knew he wanted to be present for the most critical moments in his son’s life, and his priorities quickly changed. He set his sights on a new career that would allow him to be at home with his family, so he started his own company called Alamo Dispatch.

Seth is passionate about his work and takes great pride in helping others achieve their goals. He understands owning his own business isn’t always easy but worth it. Because he clearly understands his “why,” he has created a successful business and been the loving father he always wanted.

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

Alamo Dispatch is a truck dispatching company. We receive a load request from our suppliers and connect these jobs with our drivers to complete the delivery. These jobs can transfer pellets for manufacturing, dog food, or other goods that need to be delivered quickly and efficiently.

I was a driver for six years, and I have a 4-year-old kid. There is a lot of work in transportation that doesn’t require being on the road. I knew I didn’t want to miss out on being a father to my amazing boy!

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

Right now, inflation is a challenge. The job rates are not matching up with the increasing fuel prices. The trucking industry has had a steady decrease in drivers over 5-10 years. Last year, trucking companies in the United States suffered a record deficit of 80,000 drivers. 

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

The money I make goes to my family. I start early and work hard to accomplish my goals and not someone else’s quota. I have the flexibility to get things done and still be a family man. The decisiveness of making decisions and learning from the result of those decisions along the way. Learning is definitely a huge part of being a small business owner.

What prompted you to start using FINSYNC?

I am part of a group of other business owners, and we advise and support one another. They recommended that Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union start my business account since they are well regarded with the group. 

Someone from the business department called after I opened my account and asked if I was looking for software to do invoicing. The banker recommended FINSYNC as a great resource. It wasn’t until I scheduled a demo that I understood FINSYNC is more than invoicing. I was all set to contact ADP for payroll and Quickbooks for cash flow, and I learned from Jack that FINSYNC could do it all. Jack mentioned that FINSYNC syncs up well with my bank Randolph Brooks, which happens automatically.

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

The price is right, and there aren’t all these add-on costs that other accounting software charges. The payments, accounting, and payroll are the three services that matter to me. It is nice that everything is all in one place at an affordable price.

All of my drivers are 1099 contractors. They are easy to pay; the system tells me when they have opened the invoice, so I know when they have had their eyes on it. Additionally, we receive money from our clients that need their products transported.

Also, I appreciate your customer service. It is so difficult to get someone on the phone in today’s world, and you are sitting on hold all of the time. But I have spoken with Clark and know I can contact him anytime. He always responds quickly with a solution, and he has excellent communication skills. 

What financial institutions do you have connected to FINSYNC?

I was only 14 when I opened my first checking account with RBFCU. This is a big military town in San Antonio, and Randolph Brooks was connected to the airforce. My dad was active in the military, so we both set up an account. It made sense to create my business account here too.

When I first started using FINSYNC, I felt like it wasn’t syncing every day. I spoke with your customer service, and they looked into it. Now it syncs right away. It also has a “manual sync” option, but I rarely use this anymore because I see the transactions right away.

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

FINSYNC syncs up with Randolph Brooks so cleanly. I know that other accounting software does this too. FINSYNC does my payments, accounting, and payroll just as well as the bigger names in this industry. There are no compromises, and I have everything that I need all in one place at market standard for a far lower cost. 

It is easy to think that because something is cheaper, you aren’t getting the same quality or missing out on certain features. But that’s not the case. You guys are providing services just as well as everyone else and at a lower cost. What’s not to like about that?

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

The pennies matter, and it is important to understand how much cash is coming in and out. Knowing your “why” will help get you there.

What features could FINSYNC implement that will make your life a little easier?

I wish the timekeeping features were more robust. If I am using the billing system, it is clear how it has been updated; it is so clean and easy to use. Every step of the way, I can download pdfs and access everything from one place. It is far more polished on the accounting side than on the timekeeping product. 

 

If you’re looking for more helpful tips, the FINSYNC blog is a great resource. Maybe your successful business will be featured one day!

In today’s world, it can be tempting to choose the most expensive option, thinking it must be the best. However, this is not always the case. Sometimes the cheaper option can be better than the other more expensive tools. As a consumer and business owner, it’s important to know that just because something costs less doesn’t mean losing out on value or functionality. Often these lower-cost options will turn out to be superior across the board. 

This was a prominent topic during this week’s featured banker interview. Colleen Ward understands the needs of small businesses and has been a WaFd veteran for over 10 years. She is an experienced banking professional who understands what her clients need to succeed. Colleen enjoys delighting her customers when she can recommend an accounting platform that does everything the big brand names do, but for a fraction of the cost.

Read more about how Colleen recommends FINSYNC below.

What do you enjoy the most about your job?

Teamwork and brainstorming solutions to customer issues. I enjoy getting to know and helping the customers.

What is your favorite part of being part of your banking team?

I have been part of WaFd for ten years. I love the sense of community my team brings because we really support each other. 

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

I ask them if they have Quickbooks or another accounting software they are using. If they already have a platform, I ask them how open they are to exploring a similar software at a lower price, this usually gets their attention. 

I speak to both new businesses just starting their first account and existing customers as well. The more people I talk to, the more likely I will locate members that would benefit from FINSYNC.

Do you think your customers struggle with other software solutions such as Quickbooks?

I often question the value of Quickbooks and if I can save our clients money down the road, I am happy to provide an alternative. So many times business owners immediately sign up for Quickbooks by default because it is a familiar name. But I want to show them that they don’t have to spend so much on the same features. In fact, I have been told that FINSYNC is much easier to use. 

What do you like best about FINSYNC?

I like that it is an all-in-one platform. It is easy to recommend a financial platform with everything right there in one place. My clients don’t have time to open different tools and download account data into multiple systems. 

In today’s economy, we are all looking for ways to save money. And when you find something that can be just as effective but at a lower price point, why not try it out? You might end up happy with your choice and pleased by how much more efficiently and effectively you will be able to grow your business. 

 

Take advantage of FINSYNC’s all-in-one accounting platform and start your free trial today!

Elena is part of the Caldwell Branch for WaFd and is located in Caldwell, Idaho. Elena enjoys getting to know her banking clients and continues to improve her knowledge so she can consistently make the best recommendations for the people she serves. 

 

Read on about her story and why she feels FINSYNC is a great resource for small businesses that are just starting out. 

 

What do you enjoy the most about your job?

 

I enjoy working with our community, getting to know them better, helping where I can, and really establishing trusting relationships with our clients.

 

What do you like about being part of the WaFd team?

 

I like that the WaFd bank experience is more personal. Here, our members often contact their local bank directly if they need help with anything. It’s that comfort in actually knowing the person on the other line that I think makes the difference!

 

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

 

I start a conversation. For example, someone I signed up with recently was in the process of creating a new business account for their first company. I asked them if they had already signed up for QuickBooks, and they said they didn’t know anything about QuickBooks but asked me what I recommended. 

 

What is your approach like?

 

I tell businesses as they grow, this platform can perform payroll processing, pay their vendors, and everything all in one place. I also tell them if they are considering purchasing a tool or piece of equipment, FINSYNC can show what their finances will be like months down the road if they had actually purchased it.

 

Do you think your customers struggle with other software solutions, such as Quickbooks?

 

I don’t know a whole lot about QuickBooks, but I have heard it is a complicated platform to work with. FINSYNC has simplified many of the features that Quickbooks offers. 

 

What do you like best about FINSYNC?

 

User-friendliness and great customer service. It is easier to get new businesses on board than it is with more established companies. It is hard to get people to change their ways and learn different software. 

 

Thank you, Elena, for all that you do! One thing that separates FINSYNC from other competitors is we get on the phone and support our customers. If someone is having trouble with a feature, accounts not syncing correctly, or where to click to be able to pay someone, we will walk you through every step of the process. Our local support team is easy to contact via phone call, email, or chat.

 

Schedule a demo today if you would like to beef up your FINSYNC knowledge. It only takes about 10 minutes and helps to gain more experience about our features and tools that are available to everyone. 

 

How FINSYNC Can Help

 

FINSYNC allows you to run your business on One Platform. You can send and receive payments, process payroll, automate accounting, and manage cash flow. To learn more about how we can help your business start, scale, and succeed, contact us today.

 

For those of us who have never worked with large corporations, we probably never would have considered the logistics of moving thousands of employees in and out of the parking lots during a shift change. 

Well, this is precisely what Jackie and Daniel Arredondo focus on daily. They created a traffic planning business, and it is now a hugely successful operation that spans 14 states. 

 

 

Read below about their small business journey and how Jackie used FINSYNC to help navigate the ins and outs of creating their business.

Tell me about your company and what inspired you to start

My husband, Daniel, started our company, JPA Traffic Services. We employ off-duty police officers to do security, traffic control, parking lot control, and for anything else you would want a police officer. 

We started this because my husband was a police officer for 32 years and saw a need. Our major client is Amazon. We created a traffic plan to get their influx of over 1,000 employees in and out of the parking lot within a short period of time. 

It all began with one facility in San Marcos, TX, and has grown significantly over the past few years. We are now in 23 facilities in 14 states. 

Daniel goes to all of the facilities and creates the plan. I do all the books to ensure everyone is licensed with tax information and other paperwork is in order and up-to-date. 

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

We weren’t ready for the amount of growth that we went through. Previously, I managed retail stores, so I had experience with businesses and accounts receivable. But I had to learn to come at it from a small business perspective. Then we didn’t stay small for very long!

It was especially challenging during COVID when we had two kids at home. I had to help him run the business and try to teach my kids. It was a handful.  

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

I enjoy being able to do things when I need to do them. The flexible schedule allows me to take care of my kids and even take them to the pool. I worked this morning, and then I will work again just before midnight. It is so convenient to do things on my time when I need to.

What prompted you to start using FINSYNC?

We can link up our business account with FINSYNC and see everything in one place. It is easy for me because I can pay my officers all over the country as long as I have their email addresses. It is easy for them to sign up and not have to wait for a paycheck. UPS and FedEx aren’t the best way to send hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

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

I like how everything is itemized, just like it would be with a regular account. I can go in and categorize every transaction. Then our bookkeeper can run the reports and run everyone’s 1099. It is so convenient to do everything in one place.

What financial institutions do you have connected to FINSYNC?

For such a long time, we have been with RBFCU or Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union. We have our mortgage, vehicles, and both personal and business accounts. We like them a lot and everyone there is very helpful. They recommended FINSYNC to us, saying it was a service offered to business customers. We were growing and trying to find an easier way than handwriting checks every day. 

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

A couple of times, the officers didn’t put in their account information in time or correctly, so we have been able to utilize your customer service. They fix things for us and have helped merge the account and sync it. I am not very tech-savvy, so FINSYNC customer support has pretty much-done everything for me and made my transition very smooth. 

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

Take your time and look at all of your options when choosing a financial platform. Make sure you are picking the best model that will be the best for you. The services are there to be helpful and support you, so choose the one that will do the most for you.

 

Free up time to focus on mission-critical areas by putting administrative tasks on autopilot with intuitive online tools like FINSYNC that can do the heavy lifting for you.

 

I had the pleasure of speaking with Mandy Perkins, the Executive Director of Choices of the Heart. Choices is a non-profit organization that provides support and compassion to women who are or think they may be pregnant. Choices of the Heart offers emotional support without judgment by providing counseling, testing, education, and resources. They are with women every step of the way, regardless of their income.  

 

What drew you to the company and to join in a leadership capacity? 

My husband and I have been business owners of a fabrication business for the past 20 years, and I also own an antique shop near the clinic. Our pastor started Choices of the Heart in 1983, so I have always supported it in some capacity. In March 2021, there was a huge staff change, and the pastor asked me to use my business knowledge and take over as Director. I agreed, and even though there has been an enormous learning curve, I feel very blessed to be here. 

 

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced running a non-profit organization?

A non-profit is very different from a regular business. With a non-profit, you aren’t physically selling anything to pull in income. We are entirely donor-supported, which adds a whole other stress element because we can’t operate if we don’t have the donors’ support. 

 

How does your work fulfill your passions?

We support women who are pregnant or think they might be. We provide pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, counseling, and additional resources. Even though this role can be very exhausting, I know this is my purpose right now. 

 

Who or what prompted you to start using FINSYNC? 

I was so tired of QuickBooks. I used them with our fabrication business. I have used it for years and have never been impressed. But when I came here, it made zero sense how QuickBooks works for a non-profit. Because with our non-profit, we are not here to take payments and invoices. Instead, we need to outline our budget and collect money from donors. QBO is set up for invoicing, bringing in cash for a service rendered. 

When I first came on board, QBO disconnected from Synovus, the bank we were currently using. However, I kept going back and forth between these two companies, trying to get to a real person, and they each pointed their fingers, saying it was the other’s fault that the business bank account no longer synced. I worked for four months trying to reconnect! I was reconciling accounts pen to paper with a spreadsheet. It was ridiculous. 

I finally got fed up with it and decided to change banks to Morris Bank, which eventually led me to FINSYNC.

 

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

QuickBooks treated our donors as invoices, as in businesses being invoiced, which did not make any sense. This ended up being more work on my part than it should have been. 

Plus, ACH donations were not tracked in QBO. These donations were only tracked through the bank. So, each month, I had to go to the bank and log into two accounts, transfer ACH donations using a token code from one account to another, and then manually put this into QuickBooks. It was ridiculous, and I just knew there had to be a simpler way.

The most significant benefit FINSYNC offers is its customer service, without a doubt. I talked to Phil Weidner on many occasions because I am not very comfortable with technology, and Phil was very patient with me and helped me get set up. Phil is still helping me, and he has transferred all my bank statements from 2021 to be up to date. Phil has helped me with ACH payments and transfers and eventually reconciling. I know he will walk me through whatever I need to ensure I am doing it correctly. 

 

We have to thank our friends and partners at Morris Bank for this introduction and relationship; tell us a little more about your relationship with them.

I am so happy with Morris Bank. My feeling all along is that we are a local non-profit, so we should be with a local bank and have each other’s back. When we moved Choices from Synovus to Morris, I told Robert Benson, who I have known for some time at Morris, that I was so frustrated with Quickbooks. Immediately, Robert said, “Let me tell you about FINSYNC.” I told him that if it keeps track of my donors and allows me to reconcile donations, I am in! So Robert put me in touch with Jack Stone, who walked me through the software and showed me how simple it is, which I like. I am so happy with what FINSYNC allows me to do. 

 

Could you talk more about the partnership between Morris Bank and FINSYNC, particularly at the beginning of the relationship?

My husband and I already have our personal accounts and other business accounts through Morris Bank here in Statesboro. So when I called, Robert was extremely helpful in this transition. Robert is the son of Dr. Benson, who we know personally. When I started working at Choices of the Heart, my first thought was Morris Bank. 

 

Do you have any other financial institutions connected to FINSYNC? How would you compare the relationships?

When I go into Morris, everybody recognizes me and says, “Hey Miss Mandy!” so happy and cheerful. When I walked into Synovus, it wasn’t like that at all. I wasn’t recognized. They didn’t know who I was; they were there to do a job, and that is it. They weren’t involved in the community. 

It is a huge difference, and I guess if you are not a business owner, maybe it doesn’t matter so much. But when you are a business owner, you want to call up your banker, and they know who you are. 

 

How would you grade your experience connecting your bank accounts to FINSYNC? How has this helped make your business life easier?

Very high! It was very easy. Phil did most of it. He will tell me to press here and click on that. I really appreciate that extra help. Phil was able to design it for what we needed. If I ever have a problem, I know he will figure out a strategy somehow. 

 

What advice do you have for others running a business or 501c3 (non-profit) like yours?

Pray a lot! Learning along the road is the best way because if you come into a non-profit with no prior experience in 501c3, it will shape you to what it needs. Versus someone coming in thinking they know everything and changing the organization. 

With non-profits, our budget is our main thing, and we have to stay in line with our budget since we don’t have discretionary funds. 

Finally, you have to have the attitude that we are here to serve, not just be served. I think all non-profits work in that way. 

 

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

You need to love what you are doing. If you don’t love it, you don’t need to be in a non-profit. This is not a job; this is a calling. If you want just to earn a paycheck, don’t work for a non-profit.

The girls that walk through those doors into our clinic need to know the moment we greet them that they are not being judged. They are truly our #1 focus. You can’t do that if it is not in your heart. I have often said if this ever gets to be “just a job,” I will move on to something else. Right now, my heart is here.

 

 

FINSYNC allows you to run your business on One Platform. You can send and receive payments, process payroll, automate accounting, and manage cash flow. To learn more about how we can help your business start, scale, and succeed, contact us today.

Building relationships with her community and supporting small businesses ranks among the top of Traci Kelly’s key pillars for life enjoyment. Hear about how she and Doug, her husband of 33 years, have successfully managed their business, Kelly Limestone. 

Learn more about her story, what brought Traci to FINSYNC, and why she is passionate about connecting with small organizations.  

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

Kelly Limestone is a family business that Doug’s parents started in the 1940s. After Doug’s mother passed away in 1991, we moved from Aspen, CO, back to Missouri to help with the family business. At the time, this business was a rock quarry, mining rock, and manufacturing limestone, which ultimately grew into the business today. 

In 2002 we officially purchased the entire business from Doug’s father. We sold the rock quarry section of the company in 2007 and concentrated on manufacturing limestone and gypsum products. 

The limestone contains calcium deposits which feed the plants and makes other nutrients work better. Calcium is critical to the human body and plant growth as well. 

Our target markets include golf courses, agricultural farms, and lawn care. We manufacture this product in Missouri and ship it to over 38 states and countries. 

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

Over the years, the challenges we have faced are the growing pains of a capital-intensive business, and raw material sourcing has been a big challenge. 

We have been blessed and have always had wonderful employees. We have not had a lot of employee turnover, high employee retention, and we are grateful for that. 

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

This is so easy! We forge meaningful relationships with our customers and our employees. We have come to know many of them personally and their families; we are truly blessed. They have made our lives fuller. 

Many of the companies who have been our clients since 1991 are also small businesses. We have known them personally over the years, and we go to their funerals when loved ones pass. Their lives are intermixed with ours in lots of wonderful ways.

What prompted you to start using FINSYNC?

I researched all the bigger companies because I knew our software had to be web-based since our secretary was working from a different location. 

I have always been a supporter of small businesses. In fact, I told our friends and family that I am buying all Christmas presents locally this year.

I felt like FINSYNC was a small company where I could call and talk to an actual person if I needed help. Since I have always been a big supporter of small businesses, I felt you fit me.

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

There are actually a lot of things I like about you. I like working with real people. When I have a question, David, or another customer support member, get back to me quickly. When I send an email, I like that someone will get back to me within a few hours. That’s a big thing for me.

I recently had a banking glitch which was kind of frustrating. But it is incredibly great to know I could talk to a person and they would help me through it, and we would figure out the solution together even if it is just a connection issue that was the root cause of my problem. 

Keep doing your customer service the way you’re doing it because that is such an asset for your company!

What financial institutions do you have connected to FINSYNC?

I previously was with US Bank, and during COVID they closed the lobby of their branches. I was tired of calling these 1-800 numbers, not reaching a real person. My husband and I decided we were going to try a small, local bank instead. We switched to OakStar using FINSYNC. I am so thrilled I made this change and have nothing but good things to say about that decision. 

Moving away from giant conglomerations and supporting small businesses is kind of a theme for me.

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

The bank sync is definitely a game-changer for me, and I can compare transactions and click “done” from my car. So quick and easy.

I also like Lockbox for checks. This feature is a good thing for me because I am always on the move. 

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

I would say go for it! It has been an incredible ride for us since 1991. It is rewarding, yet exhausting. If you are fortunate enough to do it with someone you love, it makes it all the better. I am very blessed to be in business with my husband.

We have a joke in our family that he is the “rainmaker” because he is that guy that goes out and makes everything happen, and I come home and put together the details. We really complement each other. 

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

If you are thinking about starting your own business, I highly recommend going with FINSYNC and the smaller banking institutions. I feel both are readily available and interested in your success. 

 

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