Today we’d like to introduce you to Nathalie Wagner.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I made my entrepreneurial start as a photographer. I loved capturing memories and moments for families and loved learning and adding to my skill set. I did not love tax time. I’m a numbers person (I have an engineering background), but I had somehow gotten myself into a position where I was trying to get all my business finances together while doing my taxes. It took one tax season for me to decide that I needed to learn how to do bookkeeping well for myself. I could see all of the benefits of keeping up with it, but as a small business owner doing everything can be so overwhelming.
When I got pregnant with my 3rd child it was clear that scheduling around my clients and the sun for photography was not going to be so easy. By this point, I had a decent handle on my bookkeeping but was still thirsty for more knowledge. I figured that regardless of the next business step after photography, bookkeeping was going to be something that I needed to know. That’s when I stumbled on a course taught by am amazing CPA. The aim of the course is to help people start their own bookkeeping businesses. After some thought and a huge leap of faith, I decided that it would be my next move.
I know what it’s like to run a small creative business. I know what it’s like for tax time to roll around, and to be completely and totally overwhelmed and afraid that I’m not doing it right. I know how much value a good bookkeeper can add to a business. Starting this business was a way for me to stay plugged into the creative community that I loved so much while helping small business owners take the scary out of their numbers.
Now I’m working with clients that I LOVE, and actually making an impact on them and their businesses.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Is owning a business ever smooth? I’ve had bumps along the way. My biggest struggle has always been with pricing. My first clients got a bargain on cleanup work because I underestimated the time it would take to untangle some of the messes I was met with. I also underestimated my value as a member of their team. The beauty of struggling is that there is always an opportunity to grow and learn.
The Balanced Creative – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The Balanced Creative offers bookkeeping solutions for creative entrepreneurs. I take the scary out of numbers for the creative world. I’ve been where my clients are, and I can empathize with all those feelings that they have about their business finances.
I am most proud of the emails my clients send me thanking me. Sometimes I get these before they’ve even seen an official financial report from me. They can tell that I am invested in their business and in helping them and that I will do everything in my power to ensure that things are done correctly so that they can let go of all the stress they’ve felt surrounding their business finances.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success to me is all in customer satisfaction. Sometimes it takes a little longer for clients to see my value, but by the time they walk through their first tax season with me they know, without a doubt, that I’ve taken a huge weight off their shoulders.
I also love watching my clients grow. All that time and mental energy that they used to spend fumbling through bookkeeping tasks is now freed up to dream up new goals and grow their businesses. It is so rewarding to play a small part in that and to celebrate with them along the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thebalancedcreative.com/
- Email: nathalie@thebalancedcreative.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_balanced_creative/
Image Credit:
Christine Wright
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