In the competitive world of business services, standing out requires more than just expertise—it demands innovation, resilience, and determination. Amanda, the founder of Novel Business Solutions, embodies all these qualities and more. Since launching her business last year, Amanda has been focusing on empowering small businesses with tailored solutions that drive growth and efficiency. In this interview, she shares the story behind Novel Business Solutions and what led her to opening this company.
Interview:
Can you tell us about your career journey, and what led you to opening Novel Business Solutions?
I started out my career as a secretary, moving into financial planning. I had also worked in customer service. I really started my bookkeeping work back in 2017 when I became an office manager for a small company. With that role, I was the personal assistant, HR director, AP manager, AR Manager, secretary, IT support, bookkeeper, accountant… I had to learn to basically run the company. I learned a lot of things along the way and saw first hand the mistakes that a lot of small business owners make when they first start out, and exactly what was involved in fixing those problems. I was in that role for 5 years until I moved on to full fledged accounting and AP specialist for a company in Charlotte. That has really helped me round out my knowledge on the accounting and bookkeeping side of running a company.
How did you come up with the name "Novel Business Solutions?"
I am a HUGE reader. So with the word novel, obviously books are implied. But novel can also mean something ingenious or a good idea. So with that double meaning, Novel Business Solutions was the name I went with.
What specific services do you offer, and how do they cater to the needs of small businesses?
I offer many services to small business owners. Like I mentioned, I have seen the mistakes that first time business owners have made that need to be fixed. So my biggest service is offering to set business owners off on the right foot. Filing paperwork to establish a business, finding the right software for business management, getting the books of a company started off correctly, etc. I also offer monthly and bi-monthly bookkeeping services. I try to be a one stop shop for small business owners, so they don’t have to juggle so many tasks in starting or managing their small business. I can take care of anything that their business might need, from things like accounting services, all the way to website design and marketing. I offer mobile notary services as well and I am a proud member of National Notary Association. This has proved helpful with companies that are needing to validate legal documents or business loans.
What makes your approach to bookkeeping and business services unique compared to others in the industry?
Most bookkeeping services don’t offer the full package of being the go to person for whatever they need. They only handle the books. CPAs typically (but not always) don’t want to do the everyday bookkeeping services, but instead focus on the big picture accounting and taxes. And business services typically don’t handle either of those but instead offer consulting services. I feel that my company is unique in offering all three.
How do you ensure your company stands out in a competitive market?
Having a personal touch and a boutique experience is important. I want my clients to be able to pick a choose what services they want. I don’t want to offer a one size fits all service and they have to take it or leave it.
Can you share what resources are especially helpful to you?
Staying on top of things like taxable sales is handy to me. I keep the IRS form on hand at all times. That way I can help business find tax breaks in their sales items anywhere possible. Bookkeeping software is my go to tool, especially QuickBooks. It helps me manage my different clients from a specific portal, offer them discounts since I am a ProAdvisor, and take care of my own books.
What has been your favorite experience running your own business so far?
I have had clients that have problems with their books and that can be super complicated to fix. Being able to locate the problems and fix it for them is so satisfying. And the relief of the client makes the headache of fixing the problem all worth it!
What feedback have you received from clients that makes you proud of the work you do?
"We own a small plumbing business and use quickbooks to keep track of our books, but quickly ran into problems and glitches with the software and our own record keeping. After many many hours of pulling our hair out with a problem we thought would be impossible to solve, Amanda came in and fixed everything! The amount of relief we have felt having her on our team and taking care of our books is tremendous. She is one of the greatest problem solvers I’ve ever met. She’s professional, quick to respond, and catches every detail. All in all a 100% pleasure to work with and we’ll be recommending her to everyone we know!"
If you could work on a dream project or with a dream client, who or what would it be and why?
I would love to work with either a book store or a veterinarian. Both of those industries are for things that I am very passionate about, and I find that most of the business owners for those industries are extremely passionate about it as well. For ones that are sincere and especially locally owned, they started that business from love. My favorite people are the ones that love books and/or animals! But anyone that is passionate about their business is someone that I would love to work with!
What do you think the next big trend in the bookkeeping industry will be?
Going virtual. Since the pandemic, so many people have found that working remotely or outsourcing departments to other stand along businesses is most effective. It saves the company money and you have professionals in your pocket. And you don’t have to struggle to find professionals that work for you only in your area. It can be anywhere in the country! Virtual accounting and even virtual notarization services are on the rise!
Since you are someone who sees both the financial strengths and weaknesses that companies face, what advice would you give to small business owners when it comes to managing their finances and operations?
Keep your personal expenses SEPARATE!! Business owners are playing with fire when they mix personal and professional expenses from the same account. That can cause HUGE problems down the road if you are ever audited, and it makes it virtually impossible to get a true snapshot of your company from a profit and loss POV. I would also recommend not winging your books if you have no accounting background. One small mistake in your books has a cascading affect on your entire company’s books that can be time consuming and costly to fix.
How do you stay motivated and inspired as a business owner?
Experiencing successes and completing hard projects is extremely motivating. Not only that, but being your own manager and having your own schedule is a huge pro!
How do you balance your professional life with your personal life?
It’s always a struggle, especially when you are trying to make your business grow. Taking on one project at a time per day helps me to stay focused and know when it is time to stop and pay attention to my family and other responsibilities that I have. Having a supportive husband is also a huge help to me. He reminds me of things that I need to get done, but also when I’ve done all I can do for one day and it’s time to take care of myself. This wouldn’t be possible without him.
What are your future goals for Novel Business Solutions?
To grow large enough to have different departments of my business. A bookkeeping department; marketing; consultation; sales; etc. All business owners' goal is to have a successful well oiled machine that can be self-sufficient. We all just want to see the benefits of our hard work!
Conclusion
As Amanda continues to grow Novel Business Solutions, her passion for helping small businesses thrive remains at the core of her work. Through innovative strategies, personalized support, and a deep understanding of her clients' needs, she is not only building a successful company but also fostering growth and resilience in the businesses she serves. Through her insights and experience, she offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to turn their ideas into reality. Novel Business Solutions is poised to become a trusted partner for even more businesses, driving success one solution at a time.
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