Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Boyd.
Hi Amanda, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have always been an entrepreneurial spirit. Even from a very young age, I was involved in money making enterprises even as a pre-teen and teen, and was trained early as a leader through various youth clubs. In my 20’s, I was known for seeing how the work could be done better, or taking on more responsibilities within my role. My abilities were first recognized in a big way when I was promoted from an Administrative Assistant to a Financial Analyst at the First National Bank Chicago. For the first time in the history of the bank, I was promoted 5 job levels, and put in a degreed position without a degree. I made the 2nd highest grade on the SEC Series 52 test in the history of the Public Finance department, so they gave me the job! From there I stepped up to a Project Manager for a mutual fund manager and ran a $10M project with 12 staff members, all of which held degrees, though I had still not yet completed mine at that time. Then I really hit my stride in my mid-thirties when I started and built the first accounting and finance related business of my own. I built a great team that provided non profit and governmental agencies with accounting software and all the related services and grew to over 100 clients in 8 states across the US. After 15 years, I wanted to do some traveling, so I took a break, and when I returned to the workforce, I went more into doing the actual accounting rather than just providing software and training. I built a lot of experience by working for a number of firms and providing accounting service for all different kinds of client companies. I found that I really enjoyed this work and had lots of experience to bring to the table. But eventually, I wanted to branch out on my own and build my own firm again, taking into account all that I learned from the accounting firms I worked with and all the clients that I helped. This led to the launch of Sensible Strategies Consulting last summer. The biggest challenge has been building the firm from scratch with very few clients of my own. So this first 6-9 months has been a process of building visibility and credibility for the business with the strength of my resume and years of experience in providing client accounting services.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have to admit that it has taken longer to build the new firm that I anticipated. The biggest struggle has been for me to learn how to market as a lot has changed since I ran my last business. However, I have used the extra time to focus on what new skills I could acquire while growing my network. This has allowed me time to build my CFO skills and I have now added fractional CFO services to my accounting and bookkeeping services. By way of explanation, bookkeeping services focus on recording the past, accounting services are focused on the present, and fractional CFO services build the future, and safeguard the goals and visions of the entrepreneur. So naturally, I really love this forward-focused role and becoming a trusted advisor to CEOs of small, growing enterprises. I have always been a big educator among my constituents and the CFO role is just the cherry on the top! It’s the opportunity to make the biggest difference in my clients’ lives.
We’ve been impressed with Sensible Strategies Consulting LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
One of the first things that you should know about Sensible Strategies is that our name was chosen for two of our primary core values…the importance of being very strategic about keeping systems sensible. Too many people today are guilty of throwing lots of high end, complex apps and programs around as if they alone are the answer, while in fact they can make things impossibly complex. We don’t do this. We only use systems and processes to make things more simple and more efficient, and keep them in line with their ultimate users. The end goal is not to use the most apps, in fact, just the opposite. Afterall, what good is a fancy app if it takes many months for the employees to learn how to use it properly? We set ourselves apart by being masters of the past, present and future of a business’ life cycle and becoming that trusted advisor that an owner can rely on. Despite years of experience and knowledge, we are easy to talk with and to understand. Our concern for our clients’ growing enterprises is real and genuine and we keep our services reasonably priced so we can help more small business owners afford the help they need to compete against the larger corporations who can afford that $300k a year CFO. We love fighting for the underdog and firmly believe that everyone should have the support they need to attain their goals.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
My daily prayer, and a most important lesson, is to always remember to enjoy the journey. Whether the journey is long or short, or hard or easy all depends on perception. So always have a good eye, see the light, not the dark, the glass half full and not half empty. See your fellow human in their best light, and pass over their less than stellar moments. Be happy today, NOW, rather than at some nebulous future period. Always have a budget and a goal, otherwise how will you know when you made it, and it’s time to celebrate?
Pricing:
- Small Solopreneur Services average between $300-$400/month
- Small Business < $500k in Revenues average $600-$1000/month
- Businesses from $1M – $5M starting around $1500/ month and up
- Most pricing is fixed recurring monthly and customized to the Client
- Prior year catch up and clean up services are hourly.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sensiblebkpg.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandalboyd/
