Location

Management, accounting and tax services

Kathy Habring has always felt comfortable with financials. An accountant by trade, Kathy did not feel as comfortable marketing her business – herself – to potential clients. In 2005, Kathy completed WEV’s Self-Employment Training course and walked away with increased confidence and marketing skills to improve her business. When she needed to work from home to care for her husband, she felt prepared to ramp up her accounting business to full-time status. Kathy now maintains a consistent and loyal clientele, and is pursuing a second business based on her hobby. 

Is this a new business or are you growing an existing business?
I had provided bookkeeping and tax services on a part time basis for approximately 10 years before my business became a full-time endeavor.

What prompted you to go into business for yourself?   
Firstly, my WEV class provided the self confidence to “stretch” myself. Secondly, I chose to work primarily from home in order to care for my husband.

What has been your biggest business challenge?   
Being the boring type of accountant, marketing was never my realm of expertise. This is a whole new area for me. I am an introvert by nature so to put myself out there and market is difficult. WEV was very helpful in breaking down some of those barriers. Aside from advertising through Craigslist and a few cold calls, I have generated enough clients to meet my criteria based on referrals and just being out and about.

The other element that is difficult in my business is pricing. You go out to the small business owner and you look at them and you are sympathetic to their plight. They are trying to earn a living just like you are and you want to give them good value for their money. On one hand, I probably charge a little less than I could get in the open market. On the other hand, I have loyal people who come back to me who I know I will always tell them truth as I see it. I will refer them to other experts if there is an area that’s not in my expertise. I do believe in honesty with my clients, and I think that comes back to me and has given me referrals.

What has been your biggest business success?   
This is hard to answer. However, I enjoy the challenge of meeting a potential client, and then talking to them about their business and how it fits into their “whole” life. It is important to know the business owner’s future vision in order to suggest processes that will fill their needs today and for the future. I truly enjoy this process because each client has a unique personal and business vision. It is important that they both be in sync, as well as accepted and supported by their family and associates. When I help a client clarify their “vision” and work their business plans towards that vision effectively, I feel a real sense of satisfaction.

Who is your ideal customer?
A diligent business person who needs additional accounting and management expertise to assist in achieving their busines goals. 

What has been the biggest surprise about owning a business?   
The sense of achievement that is realized when a client is well-served and appreciates that service. 

How do you juggle all the pieces of your life (family/work/self/volunteering) to make it all come together, especially having a home-based business?  
This is definitely a work in progress! Since my goal is to be billable between 20-30 hours a week, I set Monday, Wednesday, Friday as my work days and I try to keep those days open so that I’m available if a client calls. I am very willing to be there for my client if there is an “emergency,” but find that in most cases, a phone call to the client with a plan of action based on the next “work-time” meets their needs. Tuesday and Thursday then become my days. Any volunteer work that I do is in the evenings and I save the fun things with family and friends for the weekend (except during tax season).

What advice do you offer other women who might want to start their own company?
Don’t be afraid to try! Before doing anything else, be sure that your business model makes sense.  A lot of time should be spent on this - WEV is great in this area! Working for nothing is not an option! So, be sure that you are priced to make a profit and that your product/service is marketable.  

Use common sense and don’t put your family or yourself into a situation of potential financial hardship. Be sure you have enough money available to start up, plus a buffer in case results are slower than expected. Being the conservative accountant, I usually recommend starting the business on a part-time basis, or cutting down existing work hours (if financially feasible) to allow time to develop the business. Also, be sure to have the support of your friends and family.

How did WEV help you to achieve your goal or dream?
WEV covered all the major areas of business and gave me confidence in marketing.

Is there something you learned from WEV that you use every day?
Yes, the sense of confidence. When a door closes, attack the marketing from another angle. 

What does ‘success’ mean to you?
I think success is a very personal thing. You set goals for your lifestyle and what it is that you want to accomplish. Priorities can be different when you are in your 20’s, 50’s and so on. I’m at the point where I have decided that what’s most important to me is being able to provide a living for myself, but to have time for my family, friends, and other hobbies. I am currently in a position where I am able to meet my living needs from my business income. I also have the confidence that I can expand my client base and services when I am ready to do so. I’m in the process of starting a second business! 

What is the biggest reward you get from your business? What makes it all worthwhile?
Client satisfaction, because I am a people pleaser! Also, I value the free time to pursue other interests. (I am currently researching another business opportunity.)

How do you picture you and your business in: one year? Five years? Ten years?
Since I am a “mature” individual, I plan to continue my present volume of business for the next five years or so. If, along the way, I find an individual with integrity and knowledge, I’ll offer them the opportunity to work with me to expand the business.  

If your business is being affected by the economy right now, how? And what are you doing to deal with this challenge?
I have worked in private industry as a controller and am a very experienced accountant with in-depth knowledge in a wide variety of industries. Thus, I can offer services by working online, at my clients’ office or from my office. I can train employees in proper business processes and complete financial statements and tax returns or provide the information to my clients’ CPA firm. I pride myself on my ability to work smoothly and effectively within my clients’ business framework. My services are offered at a very competitive rate and I am very flexible and responsive in meeting my clients’ needs. This assists me during this economy.

Photography courtesy of Maria Carreras Photography: www.mariacarrerasphotography.com