Christophe Choquart followed his passion for art and opened LM Frame & Gallery in July of 2020 in Marietta, GA. We had the opportunity to interview him and learn more about his journey and how FINSYNC has helped him along the way.

 

Tell me about your company and what inspired you to start

 

I have been a collector of art for a while, and I’ve always had the idea of opening a gallery where I could display Australian art. I ended up having the opportunity to purchase my gallery in July of 2020, right in the middle of COVID. When I saw that the business that was previously located here was going to close, I decided to follow my passion and open LM Frame & Gallery. I was looking to diversify and create an ecosystem with an art shop that could be a one-stop shop for art and framing.

 

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

 

There have been many challenges! Due to COVID, we’ve experienced supply chain issues. It has been challenging to keep up with inventory and inflation. As a small business owner, there are always things that need to be fixed. You’re accountable for every single mistake while keeping everyone happy and managing your team. Sometimes, there are not enough hours in the day to get everything done.

 

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

 

Following my passion and making clients happy. To me, the greatest thing is working around art and helping people enhance their art with custom frames.

 

What prompted you to start using FINSYNC?

 

I had the opportunity to work with FINSYNC software at my previous job. I wanted to have a tool that would be a one-stop shop where I could pay my suppliers, do my payroll, monitor my P&L, check my bank information, and get bookkeeping help. FINSYNC has allowed me to have a clear understanding of my business and where I was heading.

 

What financial institutions do you have connected to FINSYNC?

 

I have Chase Bank, which is my main operating bank.

 

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

 

I can very quickly categorize my spending. I have quick access to view my P&L, monitor cash flow, and make decisions based on cash flow scenarios. Having my accounts connected has helped me manage my cash flow and bookkeeping.

 

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

 

FINSYNC has allowed me to free up time to focus on running my business. I can go in at any time and see what is coming in and out. It’s such a productive tool that allows me to stay on top of my cash flow without spending too much time worrying about financials.

 

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

 

It’s important to have enough money saved up to go through the beginning stages of starting a business. Make sure you have the cash to support your initial investment until your business is profitable.

 

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

 

If you are looking for an accounting plus cash flow management tool, you should try FINSYNC. The customer service is great, and they offer so many resources for your small business, such as financing. In my opinion, when looking for a tool, you need something user-friendly that’s really going to let you know what’s working and what’s not. Numbers tell a big story, and it’s better to have one tool like FINSYNC that helps you understand and move your business forward.

 

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.

 

We had the opportunity to interview Bridget Chun of Chunogly Productions. Bridget wears several hats, including managing her own business, being a podcaster for Romance at a Glance, and mother of two children, to name a few. Read about her journey as a small business owner and how FINSYNC has helped her simplify cash flow management.

Tell Me About Your Company and What Inspired You to Start

I have been working as a freelancer in the entertainment and digital space for over 6 years. In the past, I was mostly working 1099 jobs due to being in the creative industry. I still wanted to have the flexibility and not take on the traditional W2 job. I started my company, Chunogly Productions, in 2016. My company consists of writing and consulting in the digital podcasting space.

What Are Some of the Challenges You’ve Faced as a Small Business Owner?

One of the largest challenges that I’ve faced is learning how to properly manage cash flow. Part of the reason why I chose FINSYNC for my small business is because of how easy it is to track profitability, invoices, and projects, and maintain all the financial aspects. As a result, I have been able to continue focusing on writing, consulting, and working closely with my clients.

Navigating through the pandemic has also been challenging. A lot of my clients paused their projects from March until October. This was a huge problem not only for me but for every small business owner.

What’s the Best Thing About Being a Small Business Owner?

Flexibility! I am a mother of two children. I have a three and a half-year-old and a one and a half-year-old. Having my own business has allowed me to spend significantly more time with my children than I would have if I were working full-time. I was fortunate enough to have been able to take off six months after having my baby. I was able to keep paying myself because I had a reserve of money. My clients have been extremely understanding during those times.

What Prompted You to Start Using FINSYNC?

My company was starting to earn more revenue from different places. I found myself needing to move from using spreadsheets to an actual system, and I was looking around at all the different options. All of the traditional accounting software systems did not seem intuitive enough for me since I am a very visual person. While I was searching and comparing different plans, I came across FINSYNC. After testing out the 7-day free trial, I found it very easy to use and decided that this was the best route for my business.

What Financial Institutions Do You Have Connected to FINSYNC?

Chase Bank.

How Does Having FINSYNC Connected to the Accounts Mentioned Above Make Your Business Life Easier?

Having my Chase accounts connected to FINSYNC makes my life significantly easier! It is especially convenient for my accountants when they do my deductibles or while figuring out how much we spend and what we spend it on. For example, categorizing everything and knowing exactly how much equipment or website fees we spend on a project is great.

What Are the Biggest Benefits Your Business Has Experienced Using FINSYNC?

Being able to get a very quick and clear picture of how much cash I have coming in or how much cash I have already promised to go out. The reporting feature allows me to pull up all kinds of different information as well. Another great feature is having the ability to send out reminders for my clients if they haven’t paid on time by implementing invoice financing.

What Advice Do You Have for Those Who Are Thinking About Owning Their own Business?

Don’t be afraid to pivot or market yourself in a different way if your original plan is not working out as expected. Oftentimes, we have a whole plan of how we would like for things to work out, but it’s okay to change your mind or figure out different ways to obtain your goals. Something else I’d recommend is to spend money on advertising your business.

 

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.

Asaneth French started her company, SOLV Maintenance and Repair, on March 14th, 2020. We had the opportunity to interview her and learn more about her journey. She shared with us how she’s managed to run her business amidst a pandemic and some general advice for other people thinking about starting a small business.

 

Tell Me About Your Company and What Inspired You to Start

 

We are a maintenance and repair company, and we cater to three demographics: residential, multifamily communities, and commercial. We do anything from installing light fixtures to minor remodeling and plumbing. Typically, we are placed in the handyman category, but I feel that we’re a little more than that.

 

My husband and I are co-owners, and we both have over 16 years of experience in the apartment industry. Previously, I was an apartment manager, and he was the lead maintenance supervisor. We knew a lot about budgeting why it’s important to repair something rather than replace it, and how to deal with vendors.

 

Our goal was for our business to be different. We wanted to offer repair before replacement and emphasize that we do everything we can to repair and keep the cost and budget down. I want to make sure people, especially in our community, are taken care of.

 

What Are Some of the Challenges You’ve Faced as a Small Business Owner?

 

Our company launched on March 14th, 2020. It was literally the week when everything shut down due to the Coronavirus. Besides the initial launch of a business in the midst of a pandemic struggle, it’s been very challenging to compete with larger commercial companies that have a multi-fleet fleet. My husband and I have only one work truck.

 

Establishing rapport without compromising our quality has been very challenging because they just see us as a handy service, but we provide the same services that commercial companies do.

 

What’s the Best Thing About Being a Small Business Owner?

 

One thing is that we’re able to accommodate the schedule of our customers because they range from residential to commercial. We can cater to that, personalizing our relationship with them, really getting to know them. I think the personalization of a small business has been awesome for me. That’s why I like what I do. I like to make sure we’re servicing our customers the way they need to be serviced.

 

What Prompted You to Start Using FINSYNC?

 

When I initially set up my account with Randolph-Books Federal Credit Union, they sent me a link, and they asked me if I wanted more information on services such as payroll and bookkeeping and all, and I said yes. Once I received the information, I visited FINSYNC’s website and saw which services were offered. The convenience of having my bank and everything in one was just awesome.

 

How Does Having FINSYNC Connected to the Accounts Mentioned Above Make Your Business Life Easier?

 

I am very thankful for the discount we received due to the partnership with Randolf-Brooks FCU. It’s awesome for my small business. I’ve never had an issue when I have to sync my account or with the transition between my bank. So far, it has been flawless. It’s very convenient to be able to log in and have all of my information there in one place.

 

What Are the Biggest Benefits Your Business Has Experienced Using FINSYNC?

 

Thanks to FINSYNC, I can offer my customers the option to pay with a credit card. This has been awesome. FINSYNC is also very user-friendly and saves me time. I know what I am doing, and it’s easy to find what I am looking for. If I ever run into any issues, I go to the chat option or send an email, and someone immediately answers. I’ve never had to wait more than 24 hours to get a response.

 

What Advice Do You Have for Those Who Are Thinking About Owning Their own Business?

 

The first year is always going to be hard. You have to put in elbow grease in order to achieve your goals. In my industry, I am literally climbing ladders and painting windows. So, if you have that willingness to labor for your own business, you’ll eventually reap what you’re selling. Just hang in there!

 

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.

We had the opportunity to interview Romeo Bagherinia, founder of Mr. Robert’s Handyman Services, a contracting company located in San Antonio, Texas.

 

Tell Me About Your Company and What Inspired You to Start

 

The name of our company comes from my father-in-law. He was always a huge inspiration to me. Back in 2011, we lost him due to cancer, and the stuff we do now is his trademark. He was always working outdoors building something. Even when he was diagnosed with cancer, you couldn’t stop him from working on something outside to help homeowners.

 

Our goal at Mr. Robert’s Handyman Services is to help our clients upgrade their homes in a way that makes them feel comfortable, whether they want to make it their forever home or if they’re doing upgrades required before selling. My wife and I are both retired. We figured out a way to help folks without having to feel like they are getting ripped off at the same time. It’s something that we can feel accomplished about when they are proudly looking at their homes.

 

What Are Some of the Challenges You’ve Faced as a Small Business Owner?

 

I officially started this maintenance business 12 months ago, and along the way, we have learned so much from our mistakes. One of the biggest challenges when running your own business is making sure you have the right staff. It’s especially challenging in this industry because our main goal is to have happy customers and offer quality work. It’s a hard pill to swallow when a client is not happy with the work, and looking back at April 2020 there’s no way to go back and fix the previous jobs.

What’s the Best Thing About Being a Small Business Owner?

 

I really think that because of my prior military experience, there are a lot of concepts that I try to bring to it that enable the employees to feel good about working with us. I’ve got a couple of part-time employees, and they tell me: “Wow, man, my previous bosses are nothing like what you are,” and that makes me feel great.

 

We’re still a new company, so we’re still working on quirks, and now we are finally in a position to offer benefits. I can’t offer complete 100% benefits just yet, but little things like that keep reminding me why I do what I do. One of the most rewarding things is to be able to have that kind of situation where I’m probably taking a bigger step than I should, but when it comes to helping people, there is no bigger step. I would rather not make the money I think I can make if it means I can hire somebody to help me, and they are not left in the dark.

 

What Prompted You to Start Using FINSYNC?

 

We previously used a competitor at a more expensive price point. They didn’t offer nearly as many functions as FINSYNC. We signed up for the service right when COVID hit, and we could not use the program, but they were still charging us the full amount. Due to the pandemic, money wasn’t coming in. That’s when we began doing more research. We opened a business checking account at Randolf-Brooks Federal Credit Union, and FINSYNC was recommended. We haven’t had any complaints so far, and the user-friendliness has been very helpful.

 

What Are the Biggest Benefits Your Business has Experienced Using FINSYNC?

 

I would say that one of the biggest benefits is it is user-friendly. Our first two transactions took a little longer because we were new to the system, but everything was explained. I never felt like I was left in the dark. My representative, Karima, is awesome to work with. Any time I have questions, she is there to answer them for me. Once you get started with FINSYNC, everything makes sense. One of the things I enjoy the most is having one constant person to work with versus having different people helping each time.

 

What Financial Institutions Do You Have Connected to FINSYNC?

 

Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union.

 

How Does Having FINSYNC Connected to the Accounts Mentioned Above Make Your Business Life Easier?

 

One of the biggest advantages of having Randolf-Brooks Federal Credit Union connected to FINSYNC is how easy it is to track things. When a client pays a deposit, we see the tracking from the moment they pay their deposit, when materials are purchased, invoice financing, and then clearing. I am also very impressed with the chart flow.

 

What Advice Do You Have for Those Who Are Thinking About Owning Their Own Business?

 

Set yourself a goal that’s reachable. For example, my reachable goal was that I wanted to be doing this business for 12 months and see all of the mistakes we made. No matter how small the mistakes were, for example, forgetting to put gas in the truck or not putting air in a tire. I wanted to examine each mistake, and I wouldn’t say to scrutinize it but to capitalize on that error and find the best solution. That’s the best advice I can give somebody after 12 months of bumps and bruises, you know you can continue. I strongly recommend looking into your business from a 12-month perspective.

 

Anything Else You Would Like to Share with Other Potential and Actual Small Business Owners?

 

You can do it! There are so many resources in today’s society. Bless millennials and the 21st century! There are way too many resources out there to feel like you can’t do it. Don’t be afraid and give yourself realistic goals to achieve. As a fellow entrepreneur, if you find yourself needing help or have any questions, I am here to help.

 

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.

We had the opportunity to interview Isaiah Grant from Dream Fitness Client Academy. Read about his journey as a small business owner and how his past health issues inspired him to create the thriving business he has today.

Tell Me About Dream Fitness Client Academy

We have been in business for four years. Initially, we began as a digital agency; working with local businesses and with online coaches from a broader perspective.

Fast forward, we decided to go very niche in regards to working with fitness and health coaches. We have a 13-week implementation program to show the coaches how to go from being a person who has a hobby and turn that hobby into an online coaching business. A business that enables them to have time and financial freedom.

Our motto is helping folks get off the coaching hamster wheel so that they can ultimately have the freedom to work when they want to work.

We leverage systems, people, and different products and processes to help them actually scale and drive more impact to their audience.

What Inspired You to Start Dream Fitness Academy?

I was born and raised in a single-family household where my mom was personally disabled. At an early age, I had to be resourceful and learn how to build meaningful relationships with people and ultimately learn how to execute and get things done.

From an early age, I was an entrepreneur. As you can imagine, in middle school, I sold everything: pencils, erasers, CDs. Ultimately, fast forward to eighth grade, I was sitting in my science class, and I was doing a year-long project on diabetes and ironically was diagnosed with diabetes during that class year. This was a pivotal stage in my life. I decided to get my own health and wellness coach, who helped me get rid of diabetes and helped me see the importance of being physically, mentally, and spiritually fit.

After spending 5 years in the corporate world, I was ready to become a small business owner. I decided to leave and start my own agency. I was inspired to impact other financial or fitness and health coaches, like the individual who impacted me in eighth grade.

What’s the Best Thing About Being a Small Business Owner?

I think it’s the discovery and the process of developing as a leader and realizing that you’re your biggest bottleneck to your business. The more you can fire yourself from each of the different core departments like marketing, sales fulfillment in your business, the bigger you’ll grow.

So for me, it’s been a lot of the personal development associated with being a small business owner that has been the most enjoyable. From outside the business, the impact of being able to see these fitness and health coaches grow tremendously in terms of being a business owner. That drives me to be even more of a leader for my company and for the people we serve.

What are Some of the Challenges You’ve Faced as a Small Business Owner?

A huge part of my company is systems. We live and die by systems and numbers. Prior to this year, we weren’t crystal clear in regards to our numbers and our KPI.

We’ve become more clear on our value chain which is marketing, sales, and fulfillment. We’ve identified the top KPIs in each of those buckets. One of the huge parts was figuring out the right people who can manage those systems. It was hard for them to figure out what those numbers were without understanding the true health of our finances.

That was one of the reasons why we ended up with FINSYNC. We saw that you guys offer cash flow management and a concierge service that would help us with the people planning of our business.

It has been super easy working with you guys to hire a bookkeeper who is almost playing a CFO role for us at a fraction of the cost and investment. She’s helping us with budgeting, forecasting, and also seeing our actuals for cash flow expenses.

What Prompted Dream Fitness Client Academy to Start Using FINSYNC?

During the earlier days of COVID, we were in the process of applying for several different loans and grants and that’s when FINSYNC was recommended to us as a great financial tool.

FINSYNC gives you clarity around your cash flow, business expenses, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and also helps with managing your books. One of the things that stood out to me was the ongoing support.

Did you Consider Any Other Software Prior to FINSYNC?

We were previously using QuickBooks but found it to be very challenging. Their software was not as user-friendly as FINSYNC. At first, it was a helpful tool, but it didn’t necessarily stay up-to-date. We constantly had to sync our accounts.

What are the Biggest Benefits Dream Fitness Client Academy Has Experienced Using FINSYNC?

We have been able to get more clarity around our numbers and most importantly the user-friendliness of the tool. Getting rid of the accounting jargon has been great and the ongoing support.

I would say the value that’s given at the price is great. In addition, having our bookkeeper, who is serving as not only a bookkeeper but also almost like a CFO, the investment into her, and into our business is very reasonable. With FINSYNC, you see the value and the investment are completely reasonable.

What Advice do you Have for Those Who are Thinking About Owning Their Own Business?

1. 1. Fall in love with creating systems, they help you replicate yourself and delegate out to other people who are just as good as you are.
   2. Become in love with the numbers. Numbers are important to learn about the growth and bottlenecks in your company.
   3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. When searching for a new tool for our cash flow management, I asked FINSYNC for a demo. I was not sure what to expect, but it turned out to be an amazing tool with an amazing support group.
   4. Invest in yourself constantly, so that you can continue to become a better leader, meet people, lead systems, and impact the overall growth of your company.

 

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

We had the chance to connect with Mike Fuller, who spoke to us about his journey to business ownership and his passion for helping others become successful in their careers.

His company, Elite Source Solutions is a recruiting company founded in 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee, and Tampa, Florida. They provide talent ranging from professional services to technical staffing or IT recruiting services. As the business has grown, their focus has become the Southeast while they periodically work in other markets as well.

Mike was kind enough to share some thoughts with us about starting and running a business:

What inspired you to start Elite Source Solutions?

I always had a passion throughout my career to start something of my own. Previously, I worked for another staffing company. After 12 years of working there, I felt like I was ready to take on a new challenge. I was ready for something new, and I knew I wanted to build something that I could be proud of.

What are some of the biggest rewards of running a small business?

It is extremely rewarding to watch people grow in their careers. I enjoy being able to mentor and directly help and watch others achieve success.

Several of our recruiters and entry-level positions come right out of school with no prior work experience other than their degree. Watching them grow and achieve success and maturity in business is by far the most rewarding thing.

Watching the company grow is so rewarding as well. It is incredible to see how we started with nothing and as time has gone by, we have gone from crawling to walking, and hopefully soon one day we will be running. It is so satisfying to see that.

What are some of the biggest challenges of owning your own business?

You never know what your day is going to hold. When you start off you are doing a little bit of everything. At first, I was running the business on my own. I found myself doing everything from accounting to sales management. It is also challenging when you have no revenue coming in at first.

There is always so much going on. You really have to learn to prioritize and master time management in order to run a successful business.

Why did you choose to start working with FINSYNC?

FINSYNC was the option that had the best value for the cost. I looked at several other payments platforms and FINSYNC offered the best overall value. If I ever had an issue with anything, I knew that I could call and a real person would answer the phone and could help me through it. The quality you get for the cost was a no-brainer. I would recommend FINSYNC to any small business.

Has FINSYNC made running your business easier?

It definitely has. A lot of small things that are needed are easily accessible. For example, when I need certain documents, I know where to find them. The reporting, creating an invoice, and payroll are all located in one place. We are able to gather reports quickly and efficiently. The software is very user-friendly and easy to navigate.

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

Nowadays it’s common culture for people to come directly out of college and want to become an entrepreneur and start their own business right away. I think this is great, but I feel like learning is so important. If you have the opportunity to work for another company and really get to know the business and work your way from the bottom up, I think that is very valuable. This is a great way for you to learn what to do and what not to do once you build your own business. Learning about challenges and how to overcome them is so valuable. Success takes time.

 

 

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

Darren Smith spoke to us about finding the right balance of visibility and control over accounting and admin tasks while staying focused on running his startup, Traipse.

By FINSYNC

The mobile app startup Traipse guides users through streetscapes, historic landmarks, and locally owned businesses while challenging them with scavenger hunts and puzzles. When Founder and CEO Darren Smith aimed to solve the puzzle of accounting and payroll, he found a guide in FINSYNC.

We spoke with Darren Smith about how Traipse got started, the challenges and successes he’s faced as a startup, and how he’s found the right balance of oversight for his accounting.

What inspired you to start Traipse?

I started with a background in urban planning and have a passion for the historic business district as an important piece of the economy, and of our society. That was the underlying thing for me.

Then, for about ten years the Washington Post ran an annual event called The Washington Post Puzzle Hunt which brought thousands of people downtown to solve puzzles they had set up. Before that, my hometown radio station used to do a treasure hunt where clues would be posted in local stores.

So the idea was a combination of those things — a way to engage local merchants and to get people out exploring and learning about different places, whether or not they live there.

That got my brain thinking about how something like that could be built to run at any time. I set out to create an app that lets people in a neighborhood or business district solve puzzles built around things that are always there: signs, statues, etc. 

What are some of the biggest rewards of running a small business?

The flexibility is nice. There are things that I never anticipated in terms of what it does to your psyche. To always be thinking that you need to be working to build the business. But, particularly early on, for the first years of my son’s life, I was able to be home with him three days a week and work on the early stages of the business. That was great to be able to do that.

In terms of the business itself, it’s really cool to create something and then hear from people who have used and enjoyed it. We hear from people who have walked through an area hundreds of times and never knew or noticed something. Or to hear from local merchants who are able to increase business from the added foot traffic. That piece is unique to our business and makes it really rewarding.

What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a startup? 

For someone who had not done this before, and didn’t come from a business background, there was a lot of learning I had to do and mistakes that were made. Things that if I had known six months ago I could have avoided. But there’s no instruction manual.

Some of the challenges related to capital, especially with a business like this where you’re trying to build a user base while making sales. Our model is we have contracts with local tourism and business development organizations. So we’re trying to please a lot of people. Sometimes the things you need to do to build a user base versus a client base can make it difficult because you are allocating resources to two different areas. It is the challenge of a B2B2C business. 

Why did you choose to start working with FINSYNC?

We’ve been FINSYNC users for a long time. I hadn’t done really good accounting of the business to that point and I was about to start getting everything into Quickbooks. When I heard about FINSYNC, it sounded like it was more tailored to the needs of a startup and had other tools that no other provider had at that point. It was very appealing to me.

It seems easier to manage as a business with investors and various revenue streams. We haven’t really taken advantage of a lot of the FINSYNC features. I hope to be able to do that in the future. We’re currently laying the foundation needed to do some of those more advanced things. I’m looking forward to getting to the point where we’re able to take advantage of the different possibilities.

What challenges has FINSYNC helped solve?

I feel like it’s the right place on that spectrum of hands-on and hands-off. It is the most affordable solution that I know of that allows me to manage accounting, payroll and other administrative tasks that as a startup founder I don’t want to be dealing with. I also don’t want it to be a black box that I’m not aware of at all times. To me that was the biggest advantage.

Do you have any advice for other small business owners?

You need to figure out early on where on that spectrum you want to be. Also where you can be in terms of how much you want to manage your own accounting and how much you want to or are able to turn that over to someone else. Most startups can’t afford to pay a full-service accounting firm to do all this stuff for them. FINSYNC allows a founder to affordably turn some of that over to other people who know what they’re doing. It allows you to have some automated processes, synced accounts and other features that allow you to generate reports very easily and create the types of things you need as a founder.

My advice is to figure out early on how you’re going to address your accounting and payroll as a business. Then, figure out what tools are out there. Focus not just on the functionality they offer, but where on that continuum they allow you to be to suit your needs.

Neisha Casey had already been working for years as a CPA. She began to sense that her need to focus exclusively on a niche industry might make her professionally unmarketable outside of that particular niche.

 

As a lifetime learner who thrives on variety and acquiring new skills, she decided it was time to turn her focus to other opportunities. Ones that would allow her to leverage her skills while gaining exposure to new industries and perspectives.  

 

We had the opportunity to catch up with Neisha to discuss her journey. Also, get some takeaways for small businesses and independent contractors. 

 

How did you decide to become an independent CPA?

 

I decided to become an independent CPA because of the variety of work and flexibility. I enjoy variety in my work and the opportunity to gain new skills and exposure. FINSYNC affords me the opportunity to take on clients within various industries. Also, independently manage the workload to meet the client’s needs.

 

Flexibility is also a major advantage, especially because I have decided to further my education. Although my new career path pivots into analytics, I am able to continue to utilize my accounting background and expand my skills. 

 

What are the benefits and rewards of being an independent financial professional?

 

The benefits of being an independent professional are the flexibility and exposure to different clients and industries. When I’ve taken on different roles in my profession, it was always with the intent to diversify my skillset: What can I learn from this opportunity that I did not necessarily learn in my last opportunity?

 

Sometimes, the best way to diversify a skillset is to gain exposure to multiple industries. The added benefit of working independently is flexibility. I set my own schedule to complete work within the specific timeline communicated. 

 

What’s the most challenging part about being an independent contractor?

 

Sometimes, communication can “get lost” in the context of an email or text and even by phone. Verbal and nonverbal cues play a major part in communication. It becomes very important to become cognizant of every written dialogue. Also, provide clarification if communication is even the slightest bit unclear.  

 

What inspired you to join FINSYNC’s services network? How has joining FINSYNC impacted your career and career trajectory?

 

I was still working as an accountant when a FINSYNC representative contacted me to discuss a remote opportunity. My first thought was: How am I going to be able to manage the workload of two jobs?

 

After giving it more thought, I decided that now was the right time to pursue career interests while also continuing to hone my skills as an accountant. My long-term career trajectory combines both my finance and accounting backgrounds as an entrepreneur. Working with the FINSYNC Accounting Program allows me the opportunity to balance my goals while also making the full breadth of my skills available to clients.  

 

What company were you paired with, and what do you do for them?

 

My first client through FINSYNC’s network is a prominent photographer based in the Atlanta area. Therefore, I handle their bookkeeping and reporting.

 

What’s your working relationship like with the client?

 

I like to keep it professional but also personable. We keep the lines of communication open and work together to meet deadlines. 

 

How does FINSYNC’s platform make your job as an accountant easier?

 

FINSYNC’s platform is very user-friendly. As a result, it helps to streamline and optimize efficiency for all parties involved. 

 

Would you recommend FINSYNC’s virtual assistance network to other independent skilled professionals?

 

Absolutely, yes. I highly recommend FINSYNC’s virtual assistance network to other skilled professionals. The entire FINSYNC team is very interactive and makes certain each engagement runs as smoothly as possible. I’ve never met a more supportive and encouraging work group. In addition to flexibility and diverse work opportunities, the FINSYNC team is what makes the network unique. Allowing for an even more rewarding experience.

 

Any advice for other independent professionals out there?

 

If you desire variety and flexibility within a supportive virtual team environment, look no further than FINSYNC. 

 

FINSYNC Accounting Partner Program

 

We understand accounting professionals’ critical role in a business’s success. This is why we have designed the FINSYNC Accounting Partner Program. Where a dedicated Account Manager will help you achieve your firm’s goals. FINSYNC’s platform consolidates all financial operations into an all-in-one system, ensuring smooth financial management while connecting businesses with the right financial experts.

Kathy Pieper spoke with us about successfully navigating her way through the rewarding journey of small business ownership with a little help from her credit union, RBFCU, and FINSYNC’s all-in-one payments platform.

By FINSYNC

It’s been a busy year for Kathy Pieper, who took over Learning Cycle Tutors on the first day of the new year. Mike Shenk originally founded the business in 2015. He had recently retired from active military duty. Mike was considering moving his life in a different direction around the same time that Kathy relocated to central Texas from the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The stars seemed to align as the two began discussions, and Kathy officially took over the business on January 1st. She was first introduced to FINSYNC by Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union (RBFCU). About the same time she was considering this exciting new venture.

RBFCU started to offer it’s 60,000+ business members access to FINSYNC’s cash flow management platform last year to support the credit union’s ongoing mission to help their business clients succeed through better financial management. 

As Kathy stepped into her new role running Learning Cycle Tutors, she found that being able to access her RBFCU account information through the FINSYNC platform helped simplify the process of taking over an existing business, and set the course for future success. 

We sat down with Kathy to learn about her new venture with Learning Cycle Tutors, and to find out how FINSYNC and RBFCU helped make the challenging journey a little bit easier.

What are some of the biggest rewards of running Learning Cycle Tutors, and owning a small business? 

I’m passionate about the work I do with my students. I love the one-on-one relationships I build with my students and their families. And nothing compares to being your own boss!  

And the biggest challenges?

Health insurance!

How were you first introduced to FINSYNC?

When I set up my business account with RBFCU. They mentioned that this service was available. In the past, I’ve used various versions of Quickbooks. I never felt completely satisfied. Once learning about the benefits of FINSYNC, it only made sense to try it! I’ve been very satisfied and the learning curve has been well worth it! 

How has FINSYNC helped you get up and running with Learning Cycle Tutors?

FINSYNC has been a wonderful and affordable alternative to other accounting packages out there. It’s easy to use and the customer service is outstanding! I’ve found the software very easy to learn. In addition, whenever I have a question Nathan has been readily available to help me figure things out! 

What FINSYNC features have benefited your business the most? 

I like the all-in-one model, the ability to accept many different methods of payment from a single platform, and that everything is synced from my bank account. 

Has it been helpful to access your RBFCU account through FINSYNC’s platform? 

Yes, that was one of the strong selling points for me — that I can access my account information through FINSYNC. Working with RBFCU and FINSYNC together has made it much easier for me to get Learning Cycle Tutors off the ground! Thank you!

If you’re an RBFCU business member, consider signing up for Business Elite Pro. It includes FINSYNC and other benefits to help you grow your business.

A master of many trades who loves to invest time in her clients. Jennifer Brenner understands what it takes to help small businesses succeed through FINSYNC’s Services Network.

By FINSYNC 

Jennifer Brenner’s path to bookkeeping genius wasn’t necessarily a straightforward one. A former social worker looking for a way to be independent yet still help “save the world” in some regard, she was taken under the wing of a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) friend to learn the ins and outs of bookkeeping, and the rest is history. 

The Portland, OR native (who runs a non-profit in her spare time) named her company after her love for tattoos as well as the fact that black ink in a ledger historically meant that your money was in good standing.

We had a chance to chat with Jennifer to learn more about her journey and get her advice for small businesses.

 

How did you become an independent bookkeeper? 

I used to be a social worker, and I was looking for a way out of that industry into a different one. My friend, who was a CPA, offered to teach me bookkeeping. I started doing that with her part-time, then went to a bookkeeping school, and then I went to accounting school and got an accounting degree. 

I was looking for a way to be independent but also still help people because as a social worker we’re always out to save the world. This was a way for me to still be helpful, but also be the master of my own time and earn a living wage.

Once I started fully focusing on bookkeeping, by word of mouth my clients would tell other people. Other people would begin to contact me and before long you’re running a business

What are some of the biggest rewards and challenges of being an independent contractor?

The biggest reward is being the master of my own time. I put in what I get out. It’s very much my energy. I know where it’s going and what I’m supporting, and it’s very fulfilling running my own business. 

The challenges are always the variation in cash flow and managing that. It’s not like a wage job where you are certain you’re getting a specific number of hours. It’s variable. Also, with the nature of what I do, I’m by myself a lot and that’s always a little difficult. You have to be very disciplined with your time and also managing your money. 

What has it been like to partner with FINSYNC through the Services Network? 

I really enjoy the people at FINSYNC that I’ve spoken with. The team is very supportive, very responsive. They have all the tools in place to help facilitate an easy relationship. They are there throughout my engagements to make sure everything’s going well.

What advice do you have for small business owners out there?  

Create your own business accounts that are just for the business, and don’t use them for personal use. Generally, every business either survives or fails within the first three years. Budgets for your business are key: your projected cash flows, your projected expenses. 

And don’t give up. It’s going to be hard running a business, but it’s also very rewarding. If it’s something you really want to do and it’s what you want for your career, make sure you really want to do it because you’ll be doing a lot of it. 

How do you help small business owners who are just getting started?  

By spending time educating new business about which business structure they have, whether they’re single-member LLC or S corporation or C corporation. I cover what the tax ramifications are and how they affect personal tax returns. It’s important for me to look at things from the umbrella of taxes because I came from preparing taxes and that’s usually a big concern for people. 

I also spend time educating them on estimated taxes for the business including S corporations, and their personal returns, and then running payroll for themselves. What it is to have a salary, depending on what kind of corporation they are, what kind of salary they can pay themselves but maintain the greatest tax benefit. 

I do a lot of educating on what it means to have a set of books, such as help them interpret a profit or loss, balance sheet, or a statement of cash flows. 

What’s the biggest accounting mistake you’ve seen a small business make? 

The biggest mistake that I’ve seen is business owners trying to do their own books. Doing your own books is the quickest way to create a mess. Especially if you don’t have a background or aren’t well taught.

My advice is: The skill that you start your business with is the thing that makes you money. Your best use of time is to use those skills to make your money versus trying to learn the whole accounting theory of debits and credits and trying to do your own books. It’s worth the money to pay someone well to do your books. 

If you don’t value your bookkeeper, your business is going to suffer. I have clients who every year insist on doing their own books. Every year I end up having to charge them a lot to clean up their books.  

What should small business owners know about working with their bookkeepers? 

I would encourage people to communicate with their accountant or bookkeeper. When they ask you for something, like documentation, or say “Hey, we have to get this in by this deadline,” respond appropriately. 

Many people tend to stick their head in the sand when it comes to the financial part of things. Responding to requests from your bookkeeper or accountant is very helpful for the relationship. 

When somebody has a bunch of clients and they have to ask you 20 times for something, they’re going to stop asking after a while and then your accounting will suffer. Do it as soon as possible.

What bookkeeping tasks should small business owners tackle now so they aren’t scrambling later in the year?

If they’re a new business, getting their books and bank accounts set up. If they’re an existing business, in terms of bookkeeping, it’s important to create their budget for the year. 

For me, January is the ending of the year before, but it’s also the beginning of the new year. If you’re a single-member LLC or you’re a partnership and you’re wanting to move to S corporation or you’re wanting to create a corporation, January is the time to do that. It’s good practice to get going at the beginning of the year.