An Accounting Firm, Why Did We Start One
Posted On: 24/05/23 - 0

Many budding entrepreneurs start their own business because they want more flexibility with their schedules. Others, want an improved work life balance. One of the reasons that Paul and I wanted to start an accounting firm was because of our passion for entrepreneurship. We both had grown up in family businesses and one could say entrepreneurship is in our DNA. Plus, we wanted to bring our big corporate experience and knowledge back to create an Edmonton accounting firm that we could call our own. We were then, and still are now, passionate about providing and delivering a service with honesty, integrity and efficiency.

Top Reasons Why I (Cheryl) Wanted To Start A Business

Firstly, I was increasingly becoming a non-conformist. I was a sales and business development professional for a few different multinational companies for the majority of my career. I was a key account manager with a division of Dow Chemical for many years. Following that role, I decided to transition to the health care industry and became a pharma rep for many years. Some of my experience came from working at Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. After 25 years of travelling throughout Canada, and wanting to be closer to home, entrepreneurship became a very attractive option. Plus, the the more I matured, the more I realized I needed to be happy working and living my truth. As the years passed, I started to resent how much I had to keep up with the status quo working for someone else.

Bottom line, I do not regret any of the positions I accepted, and I am so grateful for all of the amazing people that I met along the way. The experience, training, education and encouragement has proven to be invaluable. Some of my closest friends to this day, are people I met through work several years ago.

Secondly, my career was very important to me. I had sacrificed having a family for a corporate career. Well into my 30’s I realized that I indeed wanted to be a mother. I had my daughter and continued to travel for almost another 10 years. It was becoming increasingly difficult to leave home and easier to warm up to the idea of the risks of entrepreneurship.

Top Reasons Why Paul Wanted To Start A Business

Paul was sold on the idea of starting a business together. Paul’s 25 years experience as an accountant and controller in the veterinarian, construction and national theatre industries have proven to be invaluable. He brings extensive experience in accounting, CEO advisory and government compliance to our business and our client’s businesses.

Firstly, Paul was excited that we could bring our very unique talents to the business we started together. It really resonated with him that we would be responsible for our own results. We would be in control of the direction of the company.

Secondly, he loved the idea of building an asset together for the future. One that would help us to raise our blended family. Building a business meant that we could create a future retirement plan and not just buying ourselves a “job”.

Thirdly, Paul wanted to embrace more flexibility and balance in his lifestyle. He too, wanted to create something we could call our own and do it our own way with balance.

Starting An Accounting Business Is Not For The Faint Hearted

The biggest challenge was getting through the lean years as new entrepreneurs. Mortgages, car payments and financial responsibilities with kids did not automatically disappear because we decided to make this tremendous corporate change.

Another challenge that we have had to navigate, especially in the first few years, was bringing 2 A type personalities together with different management styles. Not many of you know, because you do not see me in the office often, we did start working together side by side in a commercial space that we created together. Within a couple of years of self-employment, I decided to work from home. I prefer to work remotely as I find I am way more productive, and it brings a healthy distance to our personal relationship. I had been used to running my own show as a sales professional and I found it very humbling and difficult at times if I was really honest to collaborate with a life partner in business. Thankfully, Paul and I eventually found our “same page” and created a balance that works for us and our business.

Would I do It Again?

I can’t believe we have been in business for over 16 years! How fast it has all gone. Would I do it again? Often, I say yes. But this has been the most humbling experience I have ever had in my entire work history. I approached the business start up idea thinking I knew so much and, how hard could this be with our experience? The biggest lesson I have learned is I control nothing, and I better keep up because NOTHING stays the same for too long in business. I sit back and laugh now at how sales/marketing and business development has evolved throughout the years. Paul has said the same about accounting, the only thing you can count on in business is constant change.

If you are thinking of starting up a business and you want to partner up with an accounting firm that puts their client’s first, call Cheryl today to book a no charge consultation.

12203-107 Avenue.
Edmonton, Alberta.
T5M 1Y9

Call us:
780.482.7297