I joking state that I started my business because every time I had a child, I lost my job. So, I stopped having kids and started my own business. The facts are essentially true. Yet I was working full time when I started my side business that grew into my livelihood.
I had dabbled with tax returns since a former supervisor I worked for, informed that would be preparing her tax return tax year. It continued that way for a while.
Then I was working for a group of financial advisors as compliance and back office financial planner. They liked the idea of a CPA doing the work.
A few of them told me to get licensed and that they would make referrals to me. So, I got myself licensed and they never gave me a single referral. Luckily others did.
Then my position was eliminated across the company, they were getting out of the variable business in a massive restructuring. I was hired by one of the advisor’s part-time to keep his books and prepare his financial plans. He has me meeting directly with his clients in joint meetings and I picked up several clients and the others in the office kept making referrals.
So, I had a base income from the part-time income and grew my business from there. There have been many ups and downs over the years.
I have no idea what I would be doing if I had not started my side business. I was raised to look for only W-2 income, told to keep my mouth shut and my head down. My parents were not entrepreneurs, nor knew any. They did not think that way, so they could not teach me to think differently. At Loyola, all the talk was to get a job with as big a company as you could for safety.
It took me a long time to unlearn my training and to think more entrepreneurly. I am thrilled I was able to do so. I think I have been happier being my own boss. I don’t think I could work for anyone every again.