Today we’d like to introduce you to Britt Brown.
Britt, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
In 1994, I began managing a doctor’s office in Newport Beach, it was a busy chiropractic office with three doctors and I handled all patient care, office duties and the bookkeeping. In October of 2001, I was 29 and on maternity leave, my daughter was six weeks old and I was due to return to work for one of the doctors; eight hours a week on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.
My husband came home from work on Monday and I was in tears, I could not endure the thought of leaving my little girl. He quickly assured me not to worry, he said don’t go back and we’ll figure out the finances. We had a new baby, we were newly married, had a new house, and there was a lot to be apprehensive about. I did have a contracted bookkeeping job at a restaurant that would provide additional income. I called the doctor I was working for at the time and he said I was more valuable handling his finances, he then agreed that I could work for him from home, and so my business began. With my husband’s support, and giving me the confidence I needed, I continued to advance my training in QuickBooks and by word of mouth my business has grown bigger than I could have ever imagined.
2018 was my 17th year as a business owner and it was my best one yet! I enjoy helping people, figuring out their needs and solving problems. If there is a need, I will fill it. I have a hard time ever saying no in order to help someone in any way I can. I strive to rise to the challenges and like to make people happy. I did not graduate from college; I got my first job at 15 ½ and have never been afraid to work hard. To have this successful career is such a blessing! I have had the freedom and flexibility to make my own schedule and to be the hands-on mom that I wanted to be and to volunteer for all of the activities she has been involved in…more than I have time for! To be present and involved in my daughter’s life has been such a gift.
Has it been a smooth road?
It’s hard to juggle your own business and work from home. Thankfully, I am very disciplined and it has worked for me, but I know if there’s something that takes me away from work during the week that I will be working over the weekend. I am, however, grateful to have that option.
I’m self-employed, I like that I don’t have all my eggs in one basket, but when I’m not working, I’m not getting paid. There’s no vacation pay, no benefits, no 401k’s, but there’s also no one that can tell me what to do. If for some reason I lose a client (which doesn’t happen often) it’s not going to crush me financially… it did happen in 2011 but now, I make sure I don’t set myself up like that anymore. I like being in control of who I work for and spend my time working with.
I believe I can do anything I put my mind to, not because I am an overly confident person, trust me, I have the same insecurities most of us have, but I believe I have the street smarts to figure it out and I have the right people behind me that encourage me every step of the way. I did not have the traditional accounting background but did possess a natural proficiency in this work and now I manage several multimillion-dollar accounts. I’m just a hustler willing to work hard and I think that’s the best advice I can give. Don’t be afraid to roll up your sleeves and go for it, you really can accomplish anything!
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I provide bookkeeping services. I have a wide variety of clients and the services I provide vary with their needs. Some require a lot of my time, some I just work on once a month. With some clients, I go to their office but the majority I work on from home. I manage their bank accounts, reconcile their bank statements, handle accounts payable and accounts receivables; I dabble in management, human resources and just about anything else that presents itself. I have a client that owns property and I manage those rentals. I had a client that wanted to do a charity golf tournament and I coordinated that event for 11 years. I have bought homes and cars for my clients, I have negotiated deals, terms, contracts… you name it. I am always learning and growing. I have clients pushing and pulling me in new and different directions and I am always trying to figure out how to manage it all.
When I was eight years old, Santa gifted me a new Apple computer for Christmas; I was the only one I knew at the time that had one. I taught myself everything about that computer, how to make it run, how to type; I mostly remember when I was in junior high, I used to organize and type up mine and my best friends outfits each week and print them out. I loved to play office, had every adding machine, calculator, and carbon copy receipt book and loved doing it with my Lee press on nails. Who knew this would be my destiny! I love the people I work with; I am so grateful for this life and for this business that has given me so many opportunities. My husband has always had my back and as our lives grew bigger and more expensive, my clients grew and so did my income. I am a small business, just paying the bills, but enjoying life and I couldn’t ask for anything more!
Which women have inspired you in your life and why?
My daughter inspires me the most. She is such a hard-working student and she’s a very talented dancer. She has a life-threatening allergy to nuts and she has had some difficult health issues come her way. She works tirelessly day in and day out, she never gives up, she works through pain and sickness, and she rarely complains. That girl always perseveres. When I am struggling to finish all the tasks on my list, her dedication and discipline are always a reminder to me to keep on going! She inspired me from the beginning to be a better version of myself, to be the best mom I could possibly be, and I’ve been driven by those desires every day since. I am also very lucky to be surrounded by an amazing group of strong women. I love how we are all just trying our best. My best may look different than my friends, but we are working together and we’re doing it all, juggling careers, husbands, kids, trying to find time to exercise, eat healthy, and have some fun along the way.
I recently had a birthday and hosted a party in celebration of these ladies in my life and how important their friendships are to me, lucky to have one of them be my sister, each of them bringing their own uniqueness and their own special gift to my life. I’ve met some incredible women along the way and we really can conquer the world! We are constantly multi-tasking, growing, putting in the effort, loving deeply and trying our hardest, and we are always supporting each other! I am so proud of them! My dad has also been a great example to me; he always woke up early to leave for work, drove far but made the sacrifice so we could live in a good area, worked hard all day, and then was home for his kids. He’s taught me family always comes first, you always show up for your friends, money is not important, and you help as many people as you can along the way. He has always been such a huge supporter and has cheered me on every step of the way.
It’s been such a joy to stop for a minute and think about my journey and I so appreciate the opportunity to share my story with you.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 949-496-4236
- Email: brittbrown@cox.net
Image Credit:
James Chriss
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