Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Estefania Torres, Owner of Crown Consulting, located in Coral Springs, FL, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I am a remote bookkeeper that manages the QuickBooks Online books of small businesses. I usually work with small businesses that are too big to be managed by one person alone and need to outsource their financial management.

Tell us about yourself

I first started my business during my junior year of college. There were many friends around me that were starting their own small businesses, and I realized that they needed a bookkeeping system to properly manage their businesses.

I have seen many businesses thrive once they have a bookkeeping system in place, as it gives them control over their financial decisions. Every time a client tells me about the stress that I have lifted off their shoulders, I am that much more motivated to continue doing what I do.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Definitely, my biggest accomplishment is to be involved in the startup of several businesses. There were several clients where I have been a guiding force since the conception of the business itself. It is extremely fulfilling to see a business sprout from an idea and to provide a foundation of a financial organization that can be vital in the startup process.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Being able to properly price your services and provide an accurate estimate of the time that it will take to complete a project. Since I work on an hourly basis for each project, I provide an hourly range estimate to each client. This is something that can be tricky and takes years of experience to develop properly.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Create a thorough but concise business plan. Establish exactly what you want to sell, who you want to sell it to, and the process you will achieve to get the product/service to the market.
  2. Once you have a plan, establish an estimate of the funding you need to accomplish this business. Keep in mind that there are many administrative costs (website domain, phone, office, licensing) in addition to the cost of producing your product/service. With this estimate, work to fulfill your funding goals.
  3. Once the plan and funding are established, as a bookkeeper, I highly recommend getting a separate business account. The separation of your business and personal finances is integral in ensuring that you are sticking to your funding goals and expense estimates. It will make it much easier to keep track of exactly how much the business is costing you.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

As someone who is a small business owner, I can understand the impulse to try and get everything done yourself. However, your business will eventually grow to a point where you will be unable to get it all done. Be sure that your financial management does not slip through the cracks!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.crownconsultingfinance.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crownconsultingfinances/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crownconsultingfinance/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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