Turn on suggestions
Auto-suggest helps you quickly narrow down your search results by suggesting possible matches as you type.
Showing results for
Business: AZ Business Consulting
Founded: 2006
Dawn Brown is on a mission. As an accountant running her own business, she wants to make her all clients’ numbers add up. But Dawn is also deeply committed to contributing to society in a meaningful way. By staying true to those two parallel goals - growing her accounting business and doing good - Dawn has successfully carved out a niche for her business. Today she specialises in helping charities manage their money to achieve goals.
What made you start working for yourself?
I spent many years as an accountant and a CFO for companies and clients. I worked on projects that were assigned to me. Not every project was a great fit, and I often felt I wasn’t making a meaningful contribution. I also saw businesses being sold products or services they didn’t need. I wanted to be straightforward with the customer. If I couldn’t help them, I wanted to send them to someone who could.
When my husband and I moved across the country, I decided it was time to cultivate my own group of clients. I really wanted to get into the charity sector, because—while I may not be a doctor or a lawyer—I can use my skills to help people who are helping other people.
How do you make yourself stand out?
There is no shortage of accountants out there. Many simply list their services on a web page. That’s so boring. In terms of branding, I position myself as a charity specialist. I truly believe accounting needs to conform to your business, not the other way around.
My goal is to be totally reachable and accessible to my clients. Charities are really complicated, so I encourage my clients to talk to me early. I’d much rather help them avoid a problem than have to clean it up later.
What’s your most effective marketing strategy?
In my industry, person-to-person networking works best. I’ve found very few people select professional service companies based on traditional marketing and advertising approaches, including social media. Potential clients want to get to know you and feel comfortable with you.
With that in mind, I work with clients as a QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor, and I teach free classes about charities at my public library. I’ve learned not to be discouraged if only 2 or 3 people show up for my classes. If you keep at it, your audience will grow. In my experience, it can take a few years of running a monthly class or a regular meet-up before people realise the value. The media wants us to believe success happens overnight. It doesn’t. But if you keep building personal connections, you will create a following.
What do you want from a small business community?
In everything I do, I believe in collaboration instead of competition—that way everyone wins. I hope no one in this community is ever afraid to ask for help, particularly from someone who may have already “walked in their shoes.” It’s surprising how many “competitors” are willing to share their expertise and stories if you only ask.
You know, I used to lament that I wasn’t doing anything “worthwhile”. I wasn’t curing diseases or fighting for people’s rights. I was just an accountant. Eventually, I realised my job was helping other people do all those things. I get great satisfaction from helping others—both clients and other small business owners—and contributing to their success.
Before you go, we would love you to share your journey in the comments below, what made you start your own business or become self-employed?
Ready to be a part of an online business community to get virtual help and support from other small business owners like Rachel? Join the QB Community! Click HERE to sign up in a flash!
