Born and raised in Lewis County, Kelsey Blackwell started her entrepreneurial journey with a full-time job, two children and a dedication to professional development. With a passion for accounting and small businesses, Blackwell Bookkeeping was formed in February 2021 with the goal of helping small businesses understand their financials and get business owners back to what they love to do!
Company Name: Blackwell Bookkeeping
Owner: Kelsey Blackwell
Year Established: February 2021
blackwellbookkeeping.mynny.biz
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About the owner. My husband and I were born and raised in Lewis County and we have two beautiful girls we would like to raise here a
s well. While working full-time and with a 3-year-old at home I completed my bachelor’s degree in accounting in just under 3 years. I have the education to support my vision and I am not afraid to research topics in uncharted territory. I understand what it takes to get where I want to go.
Describe your start-up story. While working for a local manufacturing company, I was beginning to feel like I could be giving more of myself to small businesses and help them grow and thrive. I have the background to help small businesses understand more about their numbers and let them focus on their business. At first, I also threw the idea to the wolves to see where it would take me. I quickly realized there was a need for my business services in the area. I met my goal of 4 bookkeeping clients by June, in April. And since then, I have onboarded 4 more – crushing my goal.
Why did you choose to do business in Lewis County? What are the advantages and/or opportunities of doing business here? My husband and I were born and raised here; we are raising our girls here. I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. So much of my business can be virtual, but I also feel like you need to be able to trust the person behind the screen. Knowing the majority of my clients are in Lewis County - we just understand each other. I understand our love for the arena and the setbacks that we have to overcome. Being such a remote area, I have to work just that much harder to get our name out there.
What advice would you give to someone starting a business in Lewis County? The only thing holding you back is yourself. This area is wide open when it comes to opportunities, and we all support each other. Reach out and ask questions, use Naturally Lewis to help you get in contact with the right people. The resources are here - you just need to use them.
What are some of the current projects you are working on and what are you looking forward to in 2021? I am looking forward to continuing professional development to continue to expand my services to my clients. I played with the idea of getting my EA (Enrolled Agent) to be able to file taxes but all of a sudden Q3 is also over. I am making this my goal for 2022. And be ready to file taxes in 2023. I am looking forward to what the future holds!
Are there any local partnerships or organizations that have helped you along in your business journey? Naturally Lewis has always been extremely helpful when it comes to business needs. 