Why I Started my Accounting Business
Do you ever get an idea that won’t leave you alone? That was me at the start of 2026. I’ve always had a desire to build something of my own, and over the years I explored different ways to make that happen. What held me back wasn’t ability, it was hesitation. Fear of taking the leap. Fear of the unknown. Fear of starting before I felt “ready” and prepared.
A little background about me: I graduated from The Ohio State University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in Business, specializing in Finance. At the time, I didn’t have a clear vision for my career. I just knew I was good at math, so a business degree felt like the safe choice.
Earlier that year, when COVID disrupted campus life, my mom asked if I could help at her CPA firm since I was sent home from school. What started as temporary help turned into a five-year chapter. I worked there while finishing my degree and ended up staying long after graduation. Along the way, I developed a genuine interest in accounting and realized I was good at it.
I grew quickly into a leadership role. I handled payroll, bookkeeping, financial reporting, and tax. I became someone others relied on for answers and eventually decided to pursue my CPA license. To do that, I completed additional college credits beyond my degree at a local community college. After that, I studied for and passed all four CPA exams on the first try, which is something I’m incredibly proud of.
In total, I worked six tax seasons at the firm. Those years gave me invaluable experience which I’m deeply grateful for. They taught me everything I know about accounting and tax, and they helped me discover what I truly value in a business.
They also helped me clarify what I don’t want.
Thoughts & Realizations
Employees
One of my biggest realizations was that managing and being responsible for employees is not my passion. Our firm operated fully in person, five to six days a week depending on the season. In today’s world, finding accounting professionals who want to work entirely in person is challenging. Over the years, we struggled to hire experienced CPAs. Many candidates had degrees, but lacked practical tax or bookkeeping skills. They may have said they did on paper, but in reality, there was a huge knowledge deficiency.
With my mom as the owner, I was often involved in difficult staffing decisions. Reprimanding and firing employees was emotionally draining and incredibly stressful. I realized that I don’t want to build a large firm with layers of management and constant hiring challenges.
That experience led to an important question: If I feel confident in my abilities and care deeply about quality, what if I built a solo firm where I controlled the standard of work?
Processes & Procedures
Another major realization came from observing our processes. Because we operated out of a physical office, clients came in for meetings and paperwork. While face-to-face relationships are valuable, accounting today can be done entirely online, securely and efficiently.
I strongly believe that a fully remote accounting firm can benefit everyone involved. Virtual systems save time, increase flexibility, and allow for streamlined workflows. I’ve spent significant time researching secure technology and building processes that prioritize efficiency and client experience. Paper is optional. Excellence is not.
Type of Clients
I want a small, intentionally curated client base. I would rather serve a limited number of clients exceptionally well than manage a high-volume operation where quality may suffer. To me, depth is more valuable than scale.
At my former firm, we completed over 2,000 individual tax returns each year, along with hundreds of business clients needing ongoing bookkeeping and payroll. That volume taught me another lesson: I don’t want to spread myself thin.
While stand-alone 1040s can be profitable, I’m more interested in long-term business clients where I can build real relationships and provide consistent, high-level support. I believe in being selective. Not every client is the right fit, and that’s okay. My business is built on slowing down, maintaining strong relationships, and producing thoughtful, excellent work.
In January 2026, I finally took the leap and formed my LLC.
It was scary. It still is. But I would rather try than live with “what if?”
I know the journey won’t always be easy. Building systems, finding clients, and growing something from the ground up takes time. But the freedom of self-employment has always called to me, not just because of flexibility, but because of ownership. Your effort directly impacts your outcome. Your success isn’t filtered through layers. The work you produce reflects you.
The heart of this post isn’t just about starting a business. It’s about perspective.
Even if you’re in a job you don’t love, there is value there. Show up. Learn everything you can. Pay attention to what energizes you and what drains you. Every experience teaches you something. One day, you may take all the things you didn’t like and design something better.
Don’t let fear make your decisions for you.
We’re all on this floating planet together. Some paths are harder than others, and some people face greater obstacles, but growth is available to anyone willing to pursue it with determination and courage.
Here’s to 2026 and the beginning of something new. I’m ready to put in the work and see where it leads.
If you’re standing at the edge of your own leap, just know: you’re not alone. We’ve got this.