WEBVTT
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Hi everyone, welcome back to the chamber chat.
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Uh, no Kelly today, she got called into another meeting, of course, but just me, and I am here with a special guest, Kenny Cooper, who owns Cooper's bookkeeping.
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Kenny, tell us about yourself.
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Anything you want to share?
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So personally, I live in Avon, just down the road here.
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Uh, wife and third kids on the way.
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Oh my goodness.
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Brownsburg grads.
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We've been in Hendricks County almost our whole lives.
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I went to college down at IU.
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So a few years down there, and then we've been up here ever since.
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Our whole family's from here.
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So love it.
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Um that's it.
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I'm a full-time fireman for Indianapolis too, and my wife was a manager at Starbucks for a long time, and she just started staying home last year.
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So we're keeping busy.
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Yeah.
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So how long have you been a firefighter?
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Firefighter for five years with Indianapolis.
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Um, pretty much right out of college.
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I started academy and then I've been doing that full-time, and then Cooper's bookkeeping started just over a year ago.
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Awesome.
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So are you doing that out of your house?
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You do it all at home?
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Do you have a storefront?
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Like what are not a storefront, an office front, I guess.
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No, it's it's actually kind of perfect because I was looking for something I could do that wouldn't take me for my family a whole lot that I could do from anywhere.
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And so bookkeeping, the way I run it at least, is entirely virtual.
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So I just my laptop and my phone, and uh no office right now.
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I just set up a coffee shop when I need some space away from the kids, otherwise I can work on it at home.
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Yeah.
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Okay, so have you always wanted to own a business?
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Is that what the dream was, or was it firefighting?
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And then this kind of popped up, or yeah, I think it was just kind of one thing led to another.
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I ran a painting company in college, okay, and so I sort of had some experience running a business and I knew it was an option, but when I was looking to sort of make more money to support our family, I was looking at traditional W-2 jobs as well.
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But um, I sort of stumbled across bookkeeping and I I thought it was a great idea, and so I just sort of rolled with it.
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It sounds like a hard and boring job.
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I don't know how I don't think I would be like, oh, that's a good idea.
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Is it hard?
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It's once not, it can be.
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I mean, some some of it's kind of technical and tricky, but um uh a lot of times it's you know, people think is pretty boring sounding.
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Yeah, and I was I was a business major, all my buddies went into like accounting and finance.
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I laughed at them beyond here I am.
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So yeah.
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Um, so what's been the biggest challenge of starting a business and just getting it up and running?
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I think getting it up and running was the hardest part, just getting my name out there.
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I mean, the actual job itself, um, like I said, I have an education in the topic.
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I had to go back and get some certifications, sort of refresh a lot of the skills.
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Um, but the software itself, the work itself isn't the hardest.
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Um, like for example, I started marketing myself in March of 25, and I didn't get my first client until September of that year.
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Oh wow, and so it just took a long time to figure out what worked.
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Um, you know, a lot of small businesses selling products, you see the really cool content on social media.
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Yeah, and I did social media for a while, but I'm like, how do I make bookkeeping interesting for people?
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That's you can't really take a cool picture of my laptop.
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Look what I did today.
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So um just getting that first client was the hardest, and then since then it's actually been um really great.
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They just recently this year, they've started calling me instead of me having to go find them, and it's um this year I feel like it's gone really well.
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Love that.
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Okay, so what is your like favorite or the most rewarding part of I feel like this is maybe no offense here, but I feel like bookkeeping is a little less rewarding than firefighting.
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I'm not sure.
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Um, but where do you like find the good in that part?
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So I'd say, you know, obviously with that first client after months of thinking this is what I wanted to do, but I hadn't actually done the work yet.
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Um I was sort of working through that first client, and it he had probably a year and a half worth of finances in his small business that were pretty messy and needed cleaned up.
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And so when I finally got those cleaned up and was able to show him what his reports looked like before and then what they looked like after, that felt pretty cool.
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Um, obviously, it's it's still dry, not a lot of people find it very interesting.
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But being able to show him, that small business owner, yes, clear finances, his 2025 taxes couldn't be filed because nothing was in order, so he could just go and get it taken care of.
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At that moment, I'm like, okay, I think this is it was fun for me to do, and it yeah, that was rewarding.
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Um, what is something about opening a business, starting a business, running a business that nobody like warned you about that has taken you by surprise?
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Oh man, I don't know.
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I'm like, because I ran that painting business and that one had all sorts of things.
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That was my first experience with, and that was everything I was um doing estimates, production, hiring, recruiting in college, and so that I feel like had more surprises for me.
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I bet this one right now, it's just me.
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Um, I will say, you know, I got into it thinking, oh, I can do it virtually, I can do it from anywhere.
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Um, it won't take me a whole lot of time away from my family.
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I think lately that's sort of I'm like, oh, I actually need to get some office hours and probably spend some hours away from the family.
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And so that's been kind of an adjustment.
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Um, but otherwise, this I feel like I found the golden goose.
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I mean, this is like a perfect balance for my family and what we need.
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It's gone great.
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Yeah.
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So do you meet with clients ever, or is it all Zoom?
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Like I know you said maybe office hours.
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Is it like, hey, come to the coffee shop, let's grab coffee, get and talk?
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Or yeah, I can't say never because I have met with people, especially um, and this will go back to one of your early questions.
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When I was marketing originally, like I said, I was doing social media and Facebook groups, and in my head, reach as many people as I can.
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I'll get more clients.
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Well, it wasn't until I was like, maybe I'll just focus on Hendrix County.
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This is where I live, this is where I grew up.
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I felt like maybe I was limiting myself a bit.
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How many small businesses could there possibly be?
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Yeah, right.
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That was um that worked great.
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Once I started focusing, I was actually going door to door to some um I say I used to do door-to-door sales, which everybody hates.
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Yeah, but it worked really well.
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This was less sales and more just I wanted to meet small business owners, tell them what I did.
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Um, so that worked really well.
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I was able to meet people, but for the most part, it's all virtual phone calls, emails.
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Uh, my office hours, I call them that.
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I just sit at Cabin Coffee usually and just sit on my laptop for a couple hours.
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But uh no, I will, and I have, but it's like I've got a client in Kansas, you know, so we're not ever gonna meet in person, um, but uh we don't have to for the job to get done.
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Okay, so at what point should a small business or business owner in general consider hiring you, a bookkeeper?
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It's a good question.
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Thanks.
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So that's it's a good question because I'm sort of like in that niche area where a business just starting up like me, for example, you know, I wouldn't need someone to manage my finances or a brand new company or brand new small business, excuse me.
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They could probably manage it themselves and they usually do fine.
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And then you get into the really big ones, like when I was, like I say, going door to door, I was walking into some contracting offices that I thought, oh well, they're based locally.
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I had no idea they've got huge teams that do all that for them.
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Right.
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And so there's kind of this niche area where they're probably making up to a million dollars a year, they could be making as little as 50,000 a year.
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Um, there's no secret number, it's just the uh small business owner typically seems to know, like, hey, this is getting out of hand, my books are a mess, I don't want to handle this myself anymore.
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My accountant says I need some help and any of those things.
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So it is sort of that niche, maybe a few employees.
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Um, but there will come a point where some of my clients get so big they hire everything in-house, and that's just part of the job.
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Yeah, yeah.
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So is it like you wait till oh crap, or is it like is it a preventative thing of hiring you earlier?
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Well, hopefully it's preventative.
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Um that would be the cheaper and less stressful route for everybody.
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But every client I've had so far, and I won't say they've not every client, they they haven't all gotten to an oh crap moment.
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Some of them do, where we're cleaning up hey, it's August of 26th and 2025 isn't filed yet.
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I need help cleaning up 2025.
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So we're looking at 18 months or so of getting your books caught up.
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That's a big job.
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That's a lot of work, it's expensive, it takes me a lot of time, and there's a deadline, right?
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Because those have to get done eventually.
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But I have some clients who a couple of them are brand new.
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They immediately they started their small business, they're like, I don't want to do this, hire me.
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And that's awesome.
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I take over from the beginning and we're good to go.
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So it's a mix of both.
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Gotcha.
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So, what is one bad money habit that you see a lot, or one that like you wish people would not do?
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So the classic answer, and it's true, is people miss mixing personal and business finances together.
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Yes, that's the messiest for me to handle.
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If things are miscategorized or go to the wrong account, or you don't have the accounts that you need, those are pretty easy fixes.
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But when I'm looking at hundreds of transactions, and I have no idea if you know that Lowe's trip or that Amazon purchase was for your business, or if that was for your home, we've got to track that down as best we can.
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And again, when you're looking at 18 months of yeah, how do you even do that?
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Right, and so a lot of times you do the best you can.
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You work, I'll talk with my client CPAs and figure out hey, how there's there's a lot of you want to be accurate for tax purposes, and then once I'm doing monthly maintenance, I want to be specific so the business owner has good information, right?
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But a lot of times, especially when we're taking care of 2025, hey, let's just be as specific as we can and get it done.
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Um, and that's what it turns into sometimes.
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Because I'm not gonna track you down for like, hey, what was this Amazon purchase on January 1st of last year?
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Yeah, right, and but that's why it's tricky, that's why I recommend keep them separate as best you can.
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So if someone right now is listening and they're like, my books are just a complete mess, what should they do?
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Where should they like what's the first step?
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Where should they start?
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Well, is it just call you?
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I mean, they're more than welcome to call me.
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Uh I would say it depends on the software you're using.
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So QuickBooks is what I exclusively work with, and that's what a lot of small businesses go to.
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And so I would ask for help.
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I mean, if you feel like they're sort of falling apart a little bit, and there's plenty of online resources that people can use to try to get their books in order.
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Um, if you are using QuickBooks, it's one of those things where it can be trickier than it looks.
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It seems pretty user-friendly at first, but it's pretty also pretty easy to make mistakes that compound over time.
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And so, yeah, I would say just reach out for help.
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You know, it's not an easy task once you hit a certain point, you know, when you're dealing with just a few transactions a month, it's easy to say, hey, I write on a piece of paper, I spent this, I bought this, right?
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You know, I was paid this, but pretty quickly it can get out of hand.
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So just ask for help.
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Yeah.
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Okay, so now with owning your own business and then also working with a lot of other businesses, what's a piece of business advice that you disagree with and you're like, yeah, you should not actually do that?
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Yeah, I don't know.
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I again I feel like I go back to social media where it's everybody's like, that's where you have to be to market.
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Yes.
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And I think it's just a matter of finding what works for you.
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Um, I'm trying to think of my other clients and advice that they've shared with me that didn't work.
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I mean, I've I've definitely been working with some clients who are struggling, but a lot of them too seem like they're on top of it, at least that's the impression I get.
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And so I would I think that's the best I have for my personal business is just um find what works best for you.
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Everybody says you're a virtual business, do social media, you'll be fine, you'll get lots of success.
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Other bookkeepers online, you know, nationally that have you know, they make hundreds of thousands of dollars doing this.
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Oh, I'm just on social media, just Facebook posts.
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Yeah, there's no way I don't maybe it works for them, but I wanted to get out and meet people.
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So was yours just door to door, word to word of mouth?
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Like what was successful for you, I guess.
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Yeah, and so I did that once.
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Um, and I hate saying door to door because it makes me sound like a salesman.
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Yeah, but you're but you're right, that's what it is.
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I went on Brownsburg's Main Street.
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Okay, you know, I grew up right by the high school, my in-laws live right there, and so I knew a lot of those businesses already, and I just I hand wrote cards with my um business card kind of stapled to it, and hand-wrote the envelope, everything, and I actually found a lot of their, you know, I'd find businesses on the chamber directory.
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Right, yes.
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So, anyway, so I I'd go in and just hey, is the business owner here?
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I'd like to meet him, introduce myself.
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Hey, here's this card, just tells you what I do.
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Yeah, you know, nice to meet you, and that was it.
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And it worked really well.
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I um I I think what was it?
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I talked to 19 people that day, and I think I booked four clients from that alone, just from that day.
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It took me an hour and a half, and then since then I haven't had to do it again.
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I I got um one of those clients worked with the CPA who's an independent CPA, and since then he's been sending me clients um networking with those original few clients that I got.
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Um, so I've done that once and I haven't had to go back out and do it again.
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Nice, it worked out really well.
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Yeah, so if you were starting Cooper's bookkeeping from scratch today, what would you do completely differently?
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Or would you just do the exact same thing and it worked perfect?
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Yeah, I mean it's hard to like it's worked out well, so I'd be worried to change anything.
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But I guess looking back like that period from March of 25 to September of 25 when I felt like nothing was getting done, I probably would have jumpstarted that focusing on Matrix County, meeting people that and that was the other thing because I was focused on businesses around me.
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Pretty much everybody I've talked to knows somebody that I know.
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Right.
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Maybe even like, hey, I follow your wife on Facebook.
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It's like, well, I had no idea.
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You know, she was my kid's small group leader at church when we were in high school, and you don't get that when you're on yeah, social media, right?
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You know, and and that helps some, but I probably would have skipped all that and just gone straight to local yeah, yeah.
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Okay, so do you have like a what's next?
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What are you working on right now?
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For I don't, I mean, I guess I just don't really know how bookkeeping works that much, but is it like there's a next thing coming?
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Yeah, it's kind of it is kind of a behind-the-scenes industry.
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Um it's actually this is good timing, it's a good question because I'm getting to the point where I can probably take on a few more clients myself.
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Okay.
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Um, but again, I was talking about that work-life balance and trying not to be away from my family too much, and I think I'm getting to the point where I'm gonna need some help, and so I'm probably looking at building up my team soon.
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Love that.
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Um, subcontracting or hiring some work to take over some of my older accounts, and then I'd still be hands-on with those accounts, but I could focus more on getting more clients, and right.
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Um, so I think that's the next step.
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Um, I'm also talking talking to my first nonprofits.
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Oh, fine.
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That's sort of its own whole world, and I probably need some help with that if I end up getting some nonprofit clients because there's a lot more that goes on with them than standards.
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Yeah, I just truthfully cannot imagine being a firefighter, also.
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Like that's crazy.
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What are your hours with that?
00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:50.480
Are you like so?
00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:54.080
Most, maybe not most, a lot of firemen have other jobs too.
00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:58.000
So we work every at least for Indianapolis, we work every third day.
00:15:58.080 --> 00:16:00.320
So 24 hours on, 48 off.
00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:04.080
And so, you know, that comes out to about nine days a month.
00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:06.720
Yeah, and uh it feels like cheating when I say it out loud.
00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:23.600
You know, there can be long days, but I work nine days a month, and so that leaves two-thirds of my days open for something else, and um like I said, I don't want to take it all up with another job, but I knew I had time to do something else, and uh so a lot of them though do, and this is what I looked at originally.
00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:30.559
I was gonna go back to painting houses or power washing or being a handyman or yeah, a lot of firemen do landscaping.
00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:34.240
Um but again with the business background, I sort of stumbled across bookkeeping.
00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:35.440
I'm like, I think this is perfect.
00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:36.879
Yeah, so and it has been.
00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:39.759
So, where can people what's the best place to find you?
00:16:39.919 --> 00:16:43.279
Is it your website, Facebook, call you if they want to connect?
00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:45.919
So I have a website, I'm actually hoping to work on it soon.
00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:47.360
It hasn't really been touched in a while.
00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:49.840
That's another thing I want to get up and going better.
00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:51.440
But you can find my information there.
00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:53.679
Um, you can fill out a request form there.
00:16:53.840 --> 00:17:02.159
Um, a lot of people find me, I think, just through Google search, or lately it's been word of mouth, and they'll find my phone number on Google and give me a call.
00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:02.480
Yeah.
00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:06.559
Um, but most of the people, I feel like it mostly it's email.
00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:16.400
So you can find my email and just reach out to me, and then we'll set up a phone call and we'll do 15-20 minutes to figure out what your business is and what you need, and then we'll go from there.
00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:16.880
Yeah.
00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:20.640
Do you have anything else that you want to share before I ask our final question?
00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:23.839
I feel like that was a quick conversation, but well, yeah, it was good.
00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:26.880
Um if you have more you want to tell us, please do.
00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:27.440
Okay.
00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:29.440
Um just about the business.
00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:30.079
Yeah.
00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:37.759
And I'd say, like right now, if you're a business wondering, if you need bookkeeping, I mean they all do, and I work with all different kinds of clients.
00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:45.599
Um, some bookkeepers will niche down on a certain industry, uh, but I think with me, it's pretty much only targeting Hendrix County.
00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:46.799
That's sort of already done.
00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:54.960
So I work with restaurants, wholesalers, um, landscapers, um, I've got like an artificial turf company.
00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:59.839
So there's lots of different businesses and they're all set up a little different.
00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:02.400
And again, you know, they they use QuickBooks.
00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:07.920
I think there are other softwares out there that um work well, but QuickBooks is pretty adaptable.
00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:17.839
And so I would say, like, if you're a business that um just feel like your books are getting out of hand, or you even just want to ask me some questions, you know, I'm I'm happy to help, you know.
00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:20.319
Just because you call me doesn't mean I have to take over your books for you.
00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:25.039
I can just walk you through whatever your problem is and um see if we can get you on the right track.
00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:26.000
I'll do training too.
00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:29.440
I haven't had too many clients take me up on that, but I can do just some hourly work.
00:18:29.599 --> 00:18:41.359
Like if you're still at that point where I think I can manage this, I just need some help, then we can sit down and go through your account together and I can try to train you up a little bit and get you going so you can manage it on your own for a little bit longer.
00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:42.160
Nice.
00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:48.160
Um, otherwise, if I could give a shout out to real quick, my uh, because I've got to, I told her I would.
00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:53.680
My wife just started up a small business too a couple weeks ago called Cozy Cup Coffee.
00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:57.519
So she was a manager at Starbucks, and she sort of missed that world.
00:18:57.680 --> 00:19:02.559
And on a whim, she's like, Well, I think I'll make some homemade coffee syrups at home.
00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:06.400
And uh, she's like, I'll just tell my friends and family about it.
00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:11.039
And she woke up to like 20 orders, yeah, and then since then it's just taken off.
00:19:11.119 --> 00:19:12.880
So she just pulled me inside yesterday.
00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:14.079
She's like, I think I need some help.
00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:19.519
She's like, I know we're already pretty busy, but um like the orders just keep coming in through Facebook.
00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:21.920
And she's like, So I think I have a small business now.
00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:24.240
So it's all on Facebook and it's right now.
00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:25.039
What was it?
00:19:25.119 --> 00:19:26.480
Cozy Cozy Cup.
00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:27.359
Cozy cup.
00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:28.640
Oh my gosh, I'll have to check them out.
00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:32.400
Homemade coffee syrups, and um, she's excited.
00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:35.440
She's she just got through we call them menus, I guess.
00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:38.079
So her summer menus, she just launched her fall menu.
00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:42.880
I think she's talking about a second fall menu here in you know a month or two.
00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:47.359
Yeah, and it's three drink rotations or three syrup, three flavors.
00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:49.839
So uh I just wanted to give her a shout out.
00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:50.960
She's really excited about it.
00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:53.599
It sort of you know started as a small thing.
00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:56.720
It seems like it's taken off, and so we're excited to see what that looks like.
00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:57.440
So fun.
00:19:57.839 --> 00:20:02.880
Okay, my final question for you that I always ask, and I forgot to give you a warning about this, so I'm so sorry.
00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:09.200
But I asked best piece of life advice, business advice, scripture you live by, whatever you want to share.
00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:09.759
Oh, that's good.
00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:12.000
But you just because I just learned so much.
00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:15.200
This is the point where I'm like, oh, this is good, this is what I want to know.
00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:25.519
Yeah, I mean, I I think it's funny because they asked us that too in our first week of academy was trying to tell the next people, like, hey, what's a good piece of life advice?
00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:32.559
And I don't know, for me it's always been like, and I said it already here too, like, do what you find works best for you and play to your strengths.
00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:39.599
And um, so that was relevant in academy because you know, I was always a bit more academic, and so there's a lot of that involved too.
00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:47.599
And yeah, the actual fire academy was new to me, and um so as far as succeeding there, you know, just played I played my strengths there.
00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:53.440
And then here I never thought I'd be doing bookkeeping, but when I came across it, like I know I can do that, right?
00:20:53.920 --> 00:20:56.079
And it came up with the marketing too.
00:20:56.160 --> 00:20:59.599
I'm not, you know, it's not to say don't stretch your comfort zone, yeah.
00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:04.720
You know, eventually I'll probably have to get back into social media, but I was forcing it and it wasn't working.
00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:10.880
I knew I was good at talking to people, yes, and I knew I had a pretty good network, so go do that, you know, and and it worked.
00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:19.039
Yeah, and so I guess whatever it is you're doing, just try to play to your strengths and then go from there.
00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:22.559
Um scripturally, I wish I had some to share.
00:21:22.640 --> 00:21:26.079
I mean, my family is a family of faith, and and that's definitely been a big factor.
00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:44.319
And yeah, I'd say our success and a lot of even a lot of the opportunities that have closed, you know, we thought we were gonna be purchasing and acquiring a small business in Brownsburg several years ago, and that door kind of got shut and just recently opened again, but we're to the point where it's like, oh, I can see now why that door got closed.
00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:45.519
We're not interested in it anymore.
00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:50.160
And if we had forced the issue, we'd probably be in a pretty big mess right now.
00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:57.279
And so um, you know, if you have faith, I would say just trust in the Lord's plan for you and try to pay attention to what he's telling you.
00:21:57.440 --> 00:22:06.640
And um, you know, we were kind of upset about that small business at the time, and like I said, now we can look back and realize that was for our benefit, that was for best.
00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:09.519
So um that's that's I love that.
00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:10.400
Thanks for being on.
00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:11.440
Yeah, this is fun.
00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:13.039
This is fun.
00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:14.079
Bye guys.
00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:15.039
Thank you.
00:00:24.879 --> 00:00:27.600
Hi everyone, welcome back to the chamber chat.
00:00:27.679 --> 00:00:37.119
Uh, no Kelly today, she got called into another meeting, of course, but just me, and I am here with a special guest, Kenny Cooper, who owns Cooper's bookkeeping.
00:00:37.359 --> 00:00:38.640
Kenny, tell us about yourself.
00:00:38.799 --> 00:00:39.840
Anything you want to share?
00:00:40.479 --> 00:00:44.000
So personally, I live in Avon, just down the road here.
00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:46.320
Uh, wife and third kids on the way.
00:00:46.560 --> 00:00:47.039
Oh my goodness.
00:00:47.280 --> 00:00:48.159
Brownsburg grads.
00:00:48.320 --> 00:00:50.399
We've been in Hendricks County almost our whole lives.
00:00:50.479 --> 00:00:52.399
I went to college down at IU.
00:00:52.479 --> 00:00:55.280
So a few years down there, and then we've been up here ever since.
00:00:55.359 --> 00:00:56.479
Our whole family's from here.
00:00:56.560 --> 00:00:57.520
So love it.
00:00:57.759 --> 00:00:59.119
Um that's it.
00:00:59.200 --> 00:01:05.760
I'm a full-time fireman for Indianapolis too, and my wife was a manager at Starbucks for a long time, and she just started staying home last year.
00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:07.280
So we're keeping busy.
00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:07.680
Yeah.
00:01:07.840 --> 00:01:09.680
So how long have you been a firefighter?
00:01:10.079 --> 00:01:13.120
Firefighter for five years with Indianapolis.
00:01:13.280 --> 00:01:14.959
Um, pretty much right out of college.
00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:22.400
I started academy and then I've been doing that full-time, and then Cooper's bookkeeping started just over a year ago.
00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:22.959
Awesome.
00:01:23.040 --> 00:01:24.719
So are you doing that out of your house?
00:01:24.879 --> 00:01:26.319
You do it all at home?
00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:27.359
Do you have a storefront?
00:01:27.519 --> 00:01:29.760
Like what are not a storefront, an office front, I guess.
00:01:29.920 --> 00:01:37.760
No, it's it's actually kind of perfect because I was looking for something I could do that wouldn't take me for my family a whole lot that I could do from anywhere.
00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:41.599
And so bookkeeping, the way I run it at least, is entirely virtual.
00:01:41.840 --> 00:01:45.680
So I just my laptop and my phone, and uh no office right now.
00:01:45.760 --> 00:01:50.879
I just set up a coffee shop when I need some space away from the kids, otherwise I can work on it at home.
00:01:51.120 --> 00:01:51.439
Yeah.
00:01:51.599 --> 00:01:54.719
Okay, so have you always wanted to own a business?
00:01:54.799 --> 00:01:57.680
Is that what the dream was, or was it firefighting?
00:01:57.760 --> 00:02:02.079
And then this kind of popped up, or yeah, I think it was just kind of one thing led to another.
00:02:02.239 --> 00:02:17.039
I ran a painting company in college, okay, and so I sort of had some experience running a business and I knew it was an option, but when I was looking to sort of make more money to support our family, I was looking at traditional W-2 jobs as well.
00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:22.960
But um, I sort of stumbled across bookkeeping and I I thought it was a great idea, and so I just sort of rolled with it.
00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:24.879
It sounds like a hard and boring job.
00:02:24.960 --> 00:02:27.680
I don't know how I don't think I would be like, oh, that's a good idea.
00:02:27.919 --> 00:02:28.719
Is it hard?
00:02:29.120 --> 00:02:31.599
It's once not, it can be.
00:02:31.680 --> 00:02:39.840
I mean, some some of it's kind of technical and tricky, but um uh a lot of times it's you know, people think is pretty boring sounding.
00:02:39.919 --> 00:02:44.000
Yeah, and I was I was a business major, all my buddies went into like accounting and finance.
00:02:44.240 --> 00:02:46.960
I laughed at them beyond here I am.
00:02:47.039 --> 00:02:47.919
So yeah.
00:02:48.080 --> 00:02:54.159
Um, so what's been the biggest challenge of starting a business and just getting it up and running?
00:02:54.479 --> 00:02:57.919
I think getting it up and running was the hardest part, just getting my name out there.
00:02:58.080 --> 00:03:03.120
I mean, the actual job itself, um, like I said, I have an education in the topic.
00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:07.520
I had to go back and get some certifications, sort of refresh a lot of the skills.
00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:11.039
Um, but the software itself, the work itself isn't the hardest.
00:03:11.280 --> 00:03:19.280
Um, like for example, I started marketing myself in March of 25, and I didn't get my first client until September of that year.
00:03:19.439 --> 00:03:22.240
Oh wow, and so it just took a long time to figure out what worked.
00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:26.879
Um, you know, a lot of small businesses selling products, you see the really cool content on social media.
00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:31.599
Yeah, and I did social media for a while, but I'm like, how do I make bookkeeping interesting for people?
00:03:32.080 --> 00:03:34.080
That's you can't really take a cool picture of my laptop.
00:03:34.960 --> 00:03:36.000
Look what I did today.
00:03:36.159 --> 00:03:42.400
So um just getting that first client was the hardest, and then since then it's actually been um really great.
00:03:42.560 --> 00:03:50.319
They just recently this year, they've started calling me instead of me having to go find them, and it's um this year I feel like it's gone really well.
00:03:50.639 --> 00:03:51.280
Love that.
00:03:51.439 --> 00:04:02.560
Okay, so what is your like favorite or the most rewarding part of I feel like this is maybe no offense here, but I feel like bookkeeping is a little less rewarding than firefighting.
00:04:02.639 --> 00:04:03.360
I'm not sure.
00:04:03.520 --> 00:04:06.639
Um, but where do you like find the good in that part?
00:04:06.879 --> 00:04:13.520
So I'd say, you know, obviously with that first client after months of thinking this is what I wanted to do, but I hadn't actually done the work yet.
00:04:13.680 --> 00:04:24.560
Um I was sort of working through that first client, and it he had probably a year and a half worth of finances in his small business that were pretty messy and needed cleaned up.
00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:32.639
And so when I finally got those cleaned up and was able to show him what his reports looked like before and then what they looked like after, that felt pretty cool.
00:04:32.800 --> 00:04:37.120
Um, obviously, it's it's still dry, not a lot of people find it very interesting.
00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:47.519
But being able to show him, that small business owner, yes, clear finances, his 2025 taxes couldn't be filed because nothing was in order, so he could just go and get it taken care of.
00:04:47.680 --> 00:04:52.480
At that moment, I'm like, okay, I think this is it was fun for me to do, and it yeah, that was rewarding.
00:04:54.160 --> 00:05:03.199
Um, what is something about opening a business, starting a business, running a business that nobody like warned you about that has taken you by surprise?
00:05:03.519 --> 00:05:04.639
Oh man, I don't know.
00:05:04.720 --> 00:05:08.319
I'm like, because I ran that painting business and that one had all sorts of things.
00:05:08.480 --> 00:05:19.439
That was my first experience with, and that was everything I was um doing estimates, production, hiring, recruiting in college, and so that I feel like had more surprises for me.
00:05:19.600 --> 00:05:21.920
I bet this one right now, it's just me.
00:05:22.160 --> 00:05:27.279
Um, I will say, you know, I got into it thinking, oh, I can do it virtually, I can do it from anywhere.
00:05:27.360 --> 00:05:31.040
Um, it won't take me a whole lot of time away from my family.
00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:38.959
I think lately that's sort of I'm like, oh, I actually need to get some office hours and probably spend some hours away from the family.
00:05:39.040 --> 00:05:41.040
And so that's been kind of an adjustment.
00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:44.959
Um, but otherwise, this I feel like I found the golden goose.
00:05:45.040 --> 00:05:49.360
I mean, this is like a perfect balance for my family and what we need.
00:05:49.439 --> 00:05:50.079
It's gone great.
00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:50.480
Yeah.
00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:53.680
So do you meet with clients ever, or is it all Zoom?
00:05:53.839 --> 00:05:55.360
Like I know you said maybe office hours.
00:05:55.439 --> 00:05:58.160
Is it like, hey, come to the coffee shop, let's grab coffee, get and talk?
00:05:58.240 --> 00:06:04.240
Or yeah, I can't say never because I have met with people, especially um, and this will go back to one of your early questions.
00:06:04.319 --> 00:06:13.279
When I was marketing originally, like I said, I was doing social media and Facebook groups, and in my head, reach as many people as I can.
00:06:13.360 --> 00:06:14.560
I'll get more clients.
00:06:14.720 --> 00:06:18.319
Well, it wasn't until I was like, maybe I'll just focus on Hendrix County.
00:06:18.399 --> 00:06:20.000
This is where I live, this is where I grew up.
00:06:20.160 --> 00:06:22.480
I felt like maybe I was limiting myself a bit.
00:06:22.639 --> 00:06:24.639
How many small businesses could there possibly be?
00:06:24.720 --> 00:06:25.360
Yeah, right.
00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:27.360
That was um that worked great.
00:06:27.519 --> 00:06:33.839
Once I started focusing, I was actually going door to door to some um I say I used to do door-to-door sales, which everybody hates.
00:06:33.920 --> 00:06:35.439
Yeah, but it worked really well.
00:06:35.600 --> 00:06:40.560
This was less sales and more just I wanted to meet small business owners, tell them what I did.
00:06:40.879 --> 00:06:42.560
Um, so that worked really well.
00:06:42.639 --> 00:06:48.079
I was able to meet people, but for the most part, it's all virtual phone calls, emails.
00:06:48.240 --> 00:06:49.920
Uh, my office hours, I call them that.
00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:54.000
I just sit at Cabin Coffee usually and just sit on my laptop for a couple hours.
00:06:54.160 --> 00:07:04.319
But uh no, I will, and I have, but it's like I've got a client in Kansas, you know, so we're not ever gonna meet in person, um, but uh we don't have to for the job to get done.
00:07:04.959 --> 00:07:12.480
Okay, so at what point should a small business or business owner in general consider hiring you, a bookkeeper?
00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:13.360
It's a good question.
00:07:13.439 --> 00:07:13.759
Thanks.
00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:27.439
So that's it's a good question because I'm sort of like in that niche area where a business just starting up like me, for example, you know, I wouldn't need someone to manage my finances or a brand new company or brand new small business, excuse me.
00:07:27.680 --> 00:07:30.480
They could probably manage it themselves and they usually do fine.
00:07:30.720 --> 00:07:39.839
And then you get into the really big ones, like when I was, like I say, going door to door, I was walking into some contracting offices that I thought, oh well, they're based locally.
00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:42.399
I had no idea they've got huge teams that do all that for them.
00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:42.560
Right.
00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:53.839
And so there's kind of this niche area where they're probably making up to a million dollars a year, they could be making as little as 50,000 a year.
00:07:54.000 --> 00:08:04.720
Um, there's no secret number, it's just the uh small business owner typically seems to know, like, hey, this is getting out of hand, my books are a mess, I don't want to handle this myself anymore.
00:08:04.959 --> 00:08:08.399
My accountant says I need some help and any of those things.
00:08:08.480 --> 00:08:11.680
So it is sort of that niche, maybe a few employees.
00:08:12.079 --> 00:08:19.680
Um, but there will come a point where some of my clients get so big they hire everything in-house, and that's just part of the job.
00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:20.160
Yeah, yeah.
00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:26.639
So is it like you wait till oh crap, or is it like is it a preventative thing of hiring you earlier?
00:08:26.879 --> 00:08:27.920
Well, hopefully it's preventative.
00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:32.480
Um that would be the cheaper and less stressful route for everybody.
00:08:32.799 --> 00:08:38.960
But every client I've had so far, and I won't say they've not every client, they they haven't all gotten to an oh crap moment.
00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:45.519
Some of them do, where we're cleaning up hey, it's August of 26th and 2025 isn't filed yet.
00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:47.360
I need help cleaning up 2025.
00:08:47.440 --> 00:08:51.360
So we're looking at 18 months or so of getting your books caught up.
00:08:51.519 --> 00:08:52.320
That's a big job.
00:08:52.399 --> 00:08:57.440
That's a lot of work, it's expensive, it takes me a lot of time, and there's a deadline, right?
00:08:57.519 --> 00:08:58.879
Because those have to get done eventually.
00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:03.039
But I have some clients who a couple of them are brand new.
00:09:03.200 --> 00:09:07.759
They immediately they started their small business, they're like, I don't want to do this, hire me.
00:09:07.840 --> 00:09:08.480
And that's awesome.
00:09:08.559 --> 00:09:10.559
I take over from the beginning and we're good to go.
00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:11.679
So it's a mix of both.
00:09:11.840 --> 00:09:12.399
Gotcha.
00:09:12.559 --> 00:09:19.440
So, what is one bad money habit that you see a lot, or one that like you wish people would not do?
00:09:19.679 --> 00:09:25.440
So the classic answer, and it's true, is people miss mixing personal and business finances together.
00:09:25.679 --> 00:09:27.440
Yes, that's the messiest for me to handle.
00:09:27.519 --> 00:09:33.759
If things are miscategorized or go to the wrong account, or you don't have the accounts that you need, those are pretty easy fixes.
00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:47.039
But when I'm looking at hundreds of transactions, and I have no idea if you know that Lowe's trip or that Amazon purchase was for your business, or if that was for your home, we've got to track that down as best we can.
00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:50.320
And again, when you're looking at 18 months of yeah, how do you even do that?
00:09:50.559 --> 00:09:52.399
Right, and so a lot of times you do the best you can.
00:09:52.480 --> 00:10:06.639
You work, I'll talk with my client CPAs and figure out hey, how there's there's a lot of you want to be accurate for tax purposes, and then once I'm doing monthly maintenance, I want to be specific so the business owner has good information, right?
00:10:07.039 --> 00:10:13.679
But a lot of times, especially when we're taking care of 2025, hey, let's just be as specific as we can and get it done.
00:10:13.840 --> 00:10:15.679
Um, and that's what it turns into sometimes.
00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:20.639
Because I'm not gonna track you down for like, hey, what was this Amazon purchase on January 1st of last year?
00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:25.759
Yeah, right, and but that's why it's tricky, that's why I recommend keep them separate as best you can.
00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:31.039
So if someone right now is listening and they're like, my books are just a complete mess, what should they do?
00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:33.120
Where should they like what's the first step?
00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:34.320
Where should they start?
00:10:34.559 --> 00:10:36.000
Well, is it just call you?
00:10:36.399 --> 00:10:38.399
I mean, they're more than welcome to call me.
00:10:38.559 --> 00:10:41.600
Uh I would say it depends on the software you're using.
00:10:41.759 --> 00:10:46.960
So QuickBooks is what I exclusively work with, and that's what a lot of small businesses go to.
00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:49.360
And so I would ask for help.
00:10:49.440 --> 00:10:57.919
I mean, if you feel like they're sort of falling apart a little bit, and there's plenty of online resources that people can use to try to get their books in order.
00:10:58.080 --> 00:11:03.200
Um, if you are using QuickBooks, it's one of those things where it can be trickier than it looks.
00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:10.399
It seems pretty user-friendly at first, but it's pretty also pretty easy to make mistakes that compound over time.
00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:13.759
And so, yeah, I would say just reach out for help.
00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:23.679
You know, it's not an easy task once you hit a certain point, you know, when you're dealing with just a few transactions a month, it's easy to say, hey, I write on a piece of paper, I spent this, I bought this, right?
00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:27.360
You know, I was paid this, but pretty quickly it can get out of hand.
00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:28.320
So just ask for help.
00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:28.879
Yeah.
00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:40.399
Okay, so now with owning your own business and then also working with a lot of other businesses, what's a piece of business advice that you disagree with and you're like, yeah, you should not actually do that?
00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:41.519
Yeah, I don't know.
00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:45.840
I again I feel like I go back to social media where it's everybody's like, that's where you have to be to market.
00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:46.159
Yes.
00:11:46.320 --> 00:11:50.159
And I think it's just a matter of finding what works for you.
00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:55.679
Um, I'm trying to think of my other clients and advice that they've shared with me that didn't work.
00:11:55.759 --> 00:12:03.120
I mean, I've I've definitely been working with some clients who are struggling, but a lot of them too seem like they're on top of it, at least that's the impression I get.
00:12:03.200 --> 00:12:10.799
And so I would I think that's the best I have for my personal business is just um find what works best for you.
00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:15.279
Everybody says you're a virtual business, do social media, you'll be fine, you'll get lots of success.
00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:21.360
Other bookkeepers online, you know, nationally that have you know, they make hundreds of thousands of dollars doing this.
00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:24.080
Oh, I'm just on social media, just Facebook posts.
00:12:24.159 --> 00:12:29.279
Yeah, there's no way I don't maybe it works for them, but I wanted to get out and meet people.
00:12:29.679 --> 00:12:32.480
So was yours just door to door, word to word of mouth?
00:12:32.639 --> 00:12:34.639
Like what was successful for you, I guess.
00:12:34.799 --> 00:12:36.240
Yeah, and so I did that once.
00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:39.039
Um, and I hate saying door to door because it makes me sound like a salesman.
00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:40.639
Yeah, but you're but you're right, that's what it is.
00:12:40.799 --> 00:12:42.240
I went on Brownsburg's Main Street.
00:12:42.399 --> 00:13:05.360
Okay, you know, I grew up right by the high school, my in-laws live right there, and so I knew a lot of those businesses already, and I just I hand wrote cards with my um business card kind of stapled to it, and hand-wrote the envelope, everything, and I actually found a lot of their, you know, I'd find businesses on the chamber directory.
00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:06.080
Right, yes.
00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:09.200
So, anyway, so I I'd go in and just hey, is the business owner here?
00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:10.960
I'd like to meet him, introduce myself.
00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:14.960
Hey, here's this card, just tells you what I do.
00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:17.200
Yeah, you know, nice to meet you, and that was it.
00:13:19.039 --> 00:13:20.159
And it worked really well.
00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:22.559
I um I I think what was it?
00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:31.039
I talked to 19 people that day, and I think I booked four clients from that alone, just from that day.
00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:35.039
It took me an hour and a half, and then since then I haven't had to do it again.
00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:46.240
I I got um one of those clients worked with the CPA who's an independent CPA, and since then he's been sending me clients um networking with those original few clients that I got.
00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:49.200
Um, so I've done that once and I haven't had to go back out and do it again.
00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:50.399
Nice, it worked out really well.
00:13:50.639 --> 00:13:56.399
Yeah, so if you were starting Cooper's bookkeeping from scratch today, what would you do completely differently?
00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:59.039
Or would you just do the exact same thing and it worked perfect?
00:13:59.200 --> 00:14:02.960
Yeah, I mean it's hard to like it's worked out well, so I'd be worried to change anything.
00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:21.840
But I guess looking back like that period from March of 25 to September of 25 when I felt like nothing was getting done, I probably would have jumpstarted that focusing on Matrix County, meeting people that and that was the other thing because I was focused on businesses around me.
00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:25.039
Pretty much everybody I've talked to knows somebody that I know.
00:14:25.200 --> 00:14:25.360
Right.
00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:27.919
Maybe even like, hey, I follow your wife on Facebook.
00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:29.120
It's like, well, I had no idea.
00:14:29.200 --> 00:14:35.600
You know, she was my kid's small group leader at church when we were in high school, and you don't get that when you're on yeah, social media, right?
00:14:35.679 --> 00:14:41.919
You know, and and that helps some, but I probably would have skipped all that and just gone straight to local yeah, yeah.
00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:44.720
Okay, so do you have like a what's next?
00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:46.240
What are you working on right now?
00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:52.399
For I don't, I mean, I guess I just don't really know how bookkeeping works that much, but is it like there's a next thing coming?
00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:55.919
Yeah, it's kind of it is kind of a behind-the-scenes industry.
00:14:56.240 --> 00:15:04.240
Um it's actually this is good timing, it's a good question because I'm getting to the point where I can probably take on a few more clients myself.
00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:04.720
Okay.
00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:15.679
Um, but again, I was talking about that work-life balance and trying not to be away from my family too much, and I think I'm getting to the point where I'm gonna need some help, and so I'm probably looking at building up my team soon.
00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:16.240
Love that.
00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:27.200
Um, subcontracting or hiring some work to take over some of my older accounts, and then I'd still be hands-on with those accounts, but I could focus more on getting more clients, and right.
00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:29.840
Um, so I think that's the next step.
00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:32.720
Um, I'm also talking talking to my first nonprofits.
00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:33.360
Oh, fine.
00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:43.200
That's sort of its own whole world, and I probably need some help with that if I end up getting some nonprofit clients because there's a lot more that goes on with them than standards.
00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:46.559
Yeah, I just truthfully cannot imagine being a firefighter, also.
00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:47.840
Like that's crazy.
00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:49.120
What are your hours with that?
00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:50.480
Are you like so?
00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:54.080
Most, maybe not most, a lot of firemen have other jobs too.
00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:58.000
So we work every at least for Indianapolis, we work every third day.
00:15:58.080 --> 00:16:00.320
So 24 hours on, 48 off.
00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:04.080
And so, you know, that comes out to about nine days a month.
00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:06.720
Yeah, and uh it feels like cheating when I say it out loud.
00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:23.600
You know, there can be long days, but I work nine days a month, and so that leaves two-thirds of my days open for something else, and um like I said, I don't want to take it all up with another job, but I knew I had time to do something else, and uh so a lot of them though do, and this is what I looked at originally.
00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:30.559
I was gonna go back to painting houses or power washing or being a handyman or yeah, a lot of firemen do landscaping.
00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:34.240
Um but again with the business background, I sort of stumbled across bookkeeping.
00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:35.440
I'm like, I think this is perfect.
00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:36.879
Yeah, so and it has been.
00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:39.759
So, where can people what's the best place to find you?
00:16:39.919 --> 00:16:43.279
Is it your website, Facebook, call you if they want to connect?
00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:45.919
So I have a website, I'm actually hoping to work on it soon.
00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:47.360
It hasn't really been touched in a while.
00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:49.840
That's another thing I want to get up and going better.
00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:51.440
But you can find my information there.
00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:53.679
Um, you can fill out a request form there.
00:16:53.840 --> 00:17:02.159
Um, a lot of people find me, I think, just through Google search, or lately it's been word of mouth, and they'll find my phone number on Google and give me a call.
00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:02.480
Yeah.
00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:06.559
Um, but most of the people, I feel like it mostly it's email.
00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:16.400
So you can find my email and just reach out to me, and then we'll set up a phone call and we'll do 15-20 minutes to figure out what your business is and what you need, and then we'll go from there.
00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:16.880
Yeah.
00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:20.640
Do you have anything else that you want to share before I ask our final question?
00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:23.839
I feel like that was a quick conversation, but well, yeah, it was good.
00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:26.880
Um if you have more you want to tell us, please do.
00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:27.440
Okay.
00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:29.440
Um just about the business.
00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:30.079
Yeah.
00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:37.759
And I'd say, like right now, if you're a business wondering, if you need bookkeeping, I mean they all do, and I work with all different kinds of clients.
00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:45.599
Um, some bookkeepers will niche down on a certain industry, uh, but I think with me, it's pretty much only targeting Hendrix County.
00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:46.799
That's sort of already done.
00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:54.960
So I work with restaurants, wholesalers, um, landscapers, um, I've got like an artificial turf company.
00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:59.839
So there's lots of different businesses and they're all set up a little different.
00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:02.400
And again, you know, they they use QuickBooks.
00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:07.920
I think there are other softwares out there that um work well, but QuickBooks is pretty adaptable.
00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:17.839
And so I would say, like, if you're a business that um just feel like your books are getting out of hand, or you even just want to ask me some questions, you know, I'm I'm happy to help, you know.
00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:20.319
Just because you call me doesn't mean I have to take over your books for you.
00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:25.039
I can just walk you through whatever your problem is and um see if we can get you on the right track.
00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:26.000
I'll do training too.
00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:29.440
I haven't had too many clients take me up on that, but I can do just some hourly work.
00:18:29.599 --> 00:18:41.359
Like if you're still at that point where I think I can manage this, I just need some help, then we can sit down and go through your account together and I can try to train you up a little bit and get you going so you can manage it on your own for a little bit longer.
00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:42.160
Nice.
00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:48.160
Um, otherwise, if I could give a shout out to real quick, my uh, because I've got to, I told her I would.
00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:53.680
My wife just started up a small business too a couple weeks ago called Cozy Cup Coffee.
00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:57.519
So she was a manager at Starbucks, and she sort of missed that world.
00:18:57.680 --> 00:19:02.559
And on a whim, she's like, Well, I think I'll make some homemade coffee syrups at home.
00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:06.400
And uh, she's like, I'll just tell my friends and family about it.
00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:11.039
And she woke up to like 20 orders, yeah, and then since then it's just taken off.
00:19:11.119 --> 00:19:12.880
So she just pulled me inside yesterday.
00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:14.079
She's like, I think I need some help.
00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:19.519
She's like, I know we're already pretty busy, but um like the orders just keep coming in through Facebook.
00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:21.920
And she's like, So I think I have a small business now.
00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:24.240
So it's all on Facebook and it's right now.
00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:25.039
What was it?
00:19:25.119 --> 00:19:26.480
Cozy Cozy Cup.
00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:27.359
Cozy cup.
00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:28.640
Oh my gosh, I'll have to check them out.
00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:32.400
Homemade coffee syrups, and um, she's excited.
00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:35.440
She's she just got through we call them menus, I guess.
00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:38.079
So her summer menus, she just launched her fall menu.
00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:42.880
I think she's talking about a second fall menu here in you know a month or two.
00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:47.359
Yeah, and it's three drink rotations or three syrup, three flavors.
00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:49.839
So uh I just wanted to give her a shout out.
00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:50.960
She's really excited about it.
00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:53.599
It sort of you know started as a small thing.
00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:56.720
It seems like it's taken off, and so we're excited to see what that looks like.
00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:57.440
So fun.
00:19:57.839 --> 00:20:02.880
Okay, my final question for you that I always ask, and I forgot to give you a warning about this, so I'm so sorry.
00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:09.200
But I asked best piece of life advice, business advice, scripture you live by, whatever you want to share.
00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:09.759
Oh, that's good.
00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:12.000
But you just because I just learned so much.
00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:15.200
This is the point where I'm like, oh, this is good, this is what I want to know.
00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:25.519
Yeah, I mean, I I think it's funny because they asked us that too in our first week of academy was trying to tell the next people, like, hey, what's a good piece of life advice?
00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:32.559
And I don't know, for me it's always been like, and I said it already here too, like, do what you find works best for you and play to your strengths.
00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:39.599
And um, so that was relevant in academy because you know, I was always a bit more academic, and so there's a lot of that involved too.
00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:47.599
And yeah, the actual fire academy was new to me, and um so as far as succeeding there, you know, just played I played my strengths there.
00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:53.440
And then here I never thought I'd be doing bookkeeping, but when I came across it, like I know I can do that, right?
00:20:53.920 --> 00:20:56.079
And it came up with the marketing too.
00:20:56.160 --> 00:20:59.599
I'm not, you know, it's not to say don't stretch your comfort zone, yeah.
00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:04.720
You know, eventually I'll probably have to get back into social media, but I was forcing it and it wasn't working.
00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:10.880
I knew I was good at talking to people, yes, and I knew I had a pretty good network, so go do that, you know, and and it worked.
00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:19.039
Yeah, and so I guess whatever it is you're doing, just try to play to your strengths and then go from there.
00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:22.559
Um scripturally, I wish I had some to share.
00:21:22.640 --> 00:21:26.079
I mean, my family is a family of faith, and and that's definitely been a big factor.
00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:44.319
And yeah, I'd say our success and a lot of even a lot of the opportunities that have closed, you know, we thought we were gonna be purchasing and acquiring a small business in Brownsburg several years ago, and that door kind of got shut and just recently opened again, but we're to the point where it's like, oh, I can see now why that door got closed.
00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:45.519
We're not interested in it anymore.
00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:50.160
And if we had forced the issue, we'd probably be in a pretty big mess right now.
00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:57.279
And so um, you know, if you have faith, I would say just trust in the Lord's plan for you and try to pay attention to what he's telling you.
00:21:57.440 --> 00:22:06.640
And um, you know, we were kind of upset about that small business at the time, and like I said, now we can look back and realize that was for our benefit, that was for best.
00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:09.519
So um that's that's I love that.
00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:10.400
Thanks for being on.
00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:11.440
Yeah, this is fun.
00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:13.039
This is fun.
00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:14.079
Bye guys.
00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:15.039
Thank you.
