Just a quick update… I know everyone understands that this is tax season and I kinda fall off the face of the blogosphere this time of year, but exciting things have been happening, so I thought I’d better write it down 🙂
In the last two months, a LOT has changed in my business. ATS is now incorporated, which was WAY more work than I anticipated (changing business licenses, opening new bank accounts, changing everything with all of my vendors, etc). Add all of that work to the massive amount of unanticipated work in January, and the year started off wild and crazy. It’s really funny to try to compare 2008 numbers with 2007 numbers… the percentage increase is immeasurable.
Not to be outdone, February is even crazier. The first week of February was so overwhelming, I HAD to hire help. I met my new assistant Carol in one of the QuickBooks seminars I gave in January. I really felt that her energy and passion for helping business owners get organized would be a great fit with ATS’s mission, and when it became apparent I needed help she agreed to step in and help out. I’m SO grateful to have someone here part time. Her mere presence helps me buckle down and get some of this really complicated backlog of work started. As of today, February 22, I’ve already logged in as many tax returns as I logged in on April 12 last year. Just when I think, “maybe everyone just came in early”, I go look at the drawer of files of those that haven’t come in yet and think “Wow, there’s a lot of work left to do!”.
City of Lynnwood says I can’t have an employee in a home-based office, which is fine. My office really isn’t big enough for me, Carol, and whatever clients I have lined up, so smack dab in the middle of tax season, ATS is MOVING! I signed a month to month lease today for a nice corner office in a brand new building called Creative Workspace, 1.6 miles from home. I’m SO excited, but on top of the massive list of tax and bookkeeping work to get through, I now have to call Verizon to move the phone line, call Comcast to set up internet, buy primer and paint (my painter client is going to do the painting next week), order furniture at Office Depot (who incidentally is having an awesome sale on Sunday), and arrange to move my existing furniture. Oh, and I had to buy and set up a new computer so Carol wouldn’t have to suffer trying to do bookkeeping with my little MacBook 🙂 (I’m SO enjoying my new 22″ widescreen monitor!).
I’m really excited about the space. It has 3 big windows, so lots of natural light. And being in a secure building, I don’t have to worry about manning the office all the time. I don’t want to be tied to the office any more than I have to be, and I can’t afford to have someone else there all the time. I also love that it’s month to month, so if the cash flow upward trend doesn’t continue as I’m hoping it will after tax season, it’ll be ok.
I’m continually reminded that I’m completely insane and not happy unless my plate is completely full.  🙂 Anyway, I HAVE to get the kids to bed and get back to work. Love to all!
