If you found me on social media, you might know that my sister (Owner, Michelle Marie Studio) is also a creative (she’s all right brain, and I’m all left brain) small business owner. And if I’m being honest, she started Numbers by Jen. It was December, 2019, and she was panicking about her books. Like so many small business owners, she had ignored her books all. year. long. And during the holidays, sitting at home on our parents couch with nothing but time, the realization hit her. Shit.

So she asked her big sister for a favor…

“Jen – could you do my bookkeeping? I think I can give you Quickbooks for free??” Insert shrugs and questions marks.

We both had no idea. But because I’m a certified numbers nerd whose idea of a good time was curling up with a glass of wine and a spreadsheet in the evenings while my husband watched football, I said “yeah, sure”, (as I secretly held in my excitement).

But that favor (you’re welcome @michelle!) quickly grew into something more. As the leader of the corporate accounting team at a major construction firm, I loved the work, but the pull to continue building my own business grew. I knew that intimidation over numbers was holding tons of creative business owners back from reaching what they really wanted. Or even paying themselves regularly (or at all, let’s be honest) for their hard work! And I knew I could help.

So, after a 10 second search to find a business name (left brained, remember?) I hit up my sister for some brand essentials, and then took to social media to put it out to the universe that Numbers by Jen existed. I got a few hits almost immediately. And if you own a small business and remember the first days, you can probably sympathize with me when I say I had no idea what I was doing. No systems, no processes. I was armed only with accounting knowledge and a desire to help. (And, not going to lie, with a 2nd child on the way, the money was a factor, too).

So in my “free time” (do you hate that term too?) I completed my Quickbooks certification, taught myself Dubsado, signed up for Asana, and dove head first into this online business world. I started to love it more than I loved my corporate job, and so I left.

Now, instead of working for the goals of one CEO, I work for many CEOs, and I am a CEO. It’s one of the greatest adventures of my life. Which is saying something because I’ve lived in Europe, in South America, been sky-diving, ziplining, etc. I love my clients, I love this wild & beautiful online space, and I love spreadsheets.

And when my numbers nerdiness is turned off, I love hanging with my kids, my husband, our dogs, our chickens, and our sourdough starter.

Thanks for being here.

-Jen