Today we’d like to introduce you to Claudia Villacorta
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Hello,
I want to introduce myself. My name is Claudia Villacorta, and I am the proud owner of Payroll Plus. Thank you for taking the time to listen to my story. I want to motivate and inspire others. I started in the payroll business when I was 18, and now I’m 47 years old; 29 years have passed, and I remember trying to figure out what I wanted to do. Once an immigrant, always an immigrant, I’m now proud to be a US citizen, and I’m genuinely grateful that I’m living the American Dream. I was born in El Salvador, with both hard-working parents; my dad is a welder, and my mom cleaned homes and offices for a living. I remember my mom taking me after work to help her clean. I was only ten years old, sitting in the offices of the bank managers, saying to myself one day, I wish I could work doing this, and I would practice my signature on paper. That day became a reality when two souls gave me the opportunity, and I owe them all I am today. I remember being young, working in a few payroll companies, and not having a car; my husband would wait at the bus stop for an hour until I got off, and then we would ride the bus together. Even if my husband was working, I wanted to be independent and felt I needed it to work. More challenging is that my son was born with Spina Bifida, and we had gone through so much with him. I wanted good health insurance for his medical condition.
I started working in payroll companies as a receptionist. My previous employer, Paychex, was moving to a city about an hour away, so I got the phone book and called a local payroll company. I found a small payroll company in Northridge from a big corporate office in Paychex. The environment was different when working so close to the two business owners. One day, while the previous owners went on vacation, I remember walking around the office, telling myself I would one day own this company.
From that day, I worked so hard that I would clock out at 5:00 p.m. and continue working, learning more about the system; one day, the previous manager told me Claudia, you can’t be here. Unfortunately, your overtime hasn’t been approved. I’m like, I’m off the clock. Therefore, years went by. I became the office manager, and a few more years went by. I told Jim and Joyce, the previous owners, that they could please let me know when they were ready to retire. I would love to buy the business from them, and they said they would let me know one day; that day came, and they told me, “Claudia, it’s time for us to retire. We have spoken to Paychex and ADP, “two major payroll companies,” offering us 1.7 million dollars for the business. Here are both their offers. I’m like, what is that wild? I don’t have those funds; go out there and get a loan. Who will loan me 1.7 million? I went to a few banks, and they all said no, except SBA. They said yes, but only 100k. I’m like, no, that’s not enough. Long story short I said I’ll buy a few clients and then start on my own they said all or nothing Paychex, and ADP wanted all of them for that price. My husband told me to tell them to negotiate and for them to be your lenders. What do you have to lose? Why would they say yes to me when they can have it all at once? I figured I was going to lose my job. What did I have to lose? So, I got the courage to speak to them and asked what it would be like if you gave me Payroll Plus in payments and charged me interest. They said they would have to think; two months passed, and they called me to the conference room with tears in my eyes. I said I know the answer, and I know I was asking you for too much, but can I start looking for another job? You guys pay me a lot, and I want to look for a new job before the last day. Jim looked at me and said, “Actually, Claudia, we want to change your life, and we believe strongly in you and know that you will be able to make it instead of making both Paychex and ADP richer; we want to die knowing we changed someone life around plus I want to continue driving around here and see my business is still here in a couple of years. We need a 10% down 1.7 million, which is 170k, and you will pay us the last amount with interest. And if you miss one payment, we will take over and leave you enough money to pay employees, utilities, and yourself, and all the rest of the rest of the money would be paid towards the loan. I could not believe what just happened in that meeting. I was thankful and nervous about whether I could afford to make those payments and take over the business, but at the same time, I was excited and wanted to take the opportunity. I called my husband, crying. They said yes, and he laughed nervously. We only had 70k saved, and we called my father-in-law, and he gave us as a gift 100k to make our dreams come true. I will always be grateful to all three for changing my life.
Also, I believe everyone should have an equal opportunity to achieve and prosper through hard work, and there’s nothing like overnight success; it took me years, and Dreams do come true, and it’s not by wishing on a star… It’s by working hard… Even when you think nobody is watching! Someone gave me an opportunity that changed my life for the better! There’s no denying this journey was the most challenging and, at times, the most soul-crushing trip. I’ve met people who have tested, used, and loved me for who I am! Owning a business is the most significant headache and biggest blessing at the same time, and I thank God for giving me this challenge. I was a hard-working employee who dreamed of the stars. I was given an opportunity that changed my life forever with a strong work ethic, and I accepted the challenge that led me to new horizons, opened my eyes to things I was once blinded to, and one last thing to add for the most challenging part of owning a business was not the work it was the employees and people you deal with, and one day you get the perfect team, but all takes time, but at the end is it worth it YES it is and remember these words “I CAN AND I WILL”
Best,
Claudia Villacorta
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
How it gets done is through many struggles, long days, and nights working without looking at the clock.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about PAYROLL PLUS?
At PAYROLL PLUS, we offer all the advanced features that other payroll companies provide while maintaining a friendly and personal level of service. Based in Northridge, our organization serves over 500 clients, from employers with one employee to our largest client, with over 1000 employees at the highest level. Direct deposit, 401K, 125 Plan Deductions, EFTPS of tax deposits, and all other services that other companies offer their employees are available through us.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Beneath the tough exterior, I can be pretty sensitive and fear failing someday.
Pricing:
- Depends on the Payroll frequency, services, and number of employees on payroll.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.payrollplusonline.com
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