Q: Describe your business. What do you do?
A: We provide various finance and accounting services. The main service is fractional CFO/controller services. These are great for small to mid-size businesses or nonprofits that don’t have a senior/executive financial person on staff, but have something going on where they require those services/expertise. We also perform financial projects, accounting and bookkeeping services and income tax preparation.
Q: What made you start your business?
A: I loved my time in large and mid-sized companies, but I wanted to be able to have more control of what was occurring in the organization along with the work I was performing.
Q: What has been the most difficult obstacle in running or starting a small business?
A: Being responsible for everything. I spent most of my career in larger firms that had IT, marketing and other departments. I would rely on them to take care of computer problems, marketing materials, etc. Now, the team of me, myself and I handle things.
Q: What’s new in your business or industry?
A: The big thing was last year’s change in the tax code and how it impacted small business. Looking forward, it appears that more and more accounting and financial activities are becoming automated. As a result, an accounting/finance professional will need to understand what the automation should be doing and will be performing more analytics/financial consulting.
Q: What do you enjoy most about operating your business?
A: I enjoy the time that I spend planning and making decisions on the business. I have always advised business owners and executives, and I now have a new appreciation for the decision-makers and leaders.
Q: Is this what you pictured yourself doing when you were young? When you were young, what did you want to be?
A: No, not at all. I wanted to be a teacher when I was young. I think, in some respects, there are some similarities. A teacher works with students to learn and reach their potential. We work with business owners to help their business succeed.
Q: What keeps you up at night?
A: When I can’t figure something out, I will have dreams where I am constantly working ... trying to find the answer, or trying to finish the report. Unfortunately, when I wake the report I was working on in my dreams is nowhere to be found.
Q: If you could give one tip to a rookie business owner, what would it be?
A: I think I’m still a rookie myself, so I think I will share the best advice that I received and that is to trust my gut.
• If you have a small suburban-based business you would like us to feature, send a brief description of your company and contact information to Richard Klicki at