Author’s Note: As we continue the search for the 2021 Top 100 ProAdvisors and ProAdvisor of the Year, we want to take this opportunity to highlight our 2020 award winners. Learn more about Insightful Accountant’s Top 100 ProAdvisors Award Program here.
Sharon Vetsch
Sharon Vetsch is our 2020 Top 100 ProAdvisor Spotlight this week. She’s “The QuickBooks Queen” from Oak Lawn, Illinois.
“I took a job back in 1996 (version 4.0) where the company had purchased QuickBooks and no one (literally no one knew how to use it). I used to call Intuit Tech Support and would have to teach them A, B & C so they could help me figure out D,” she shared with us. “So, for two years I went out and helped people to learn the program. The joke was – I didn’t know much, but I knew more than you LOL.”
Vetsch went on to continue to learn and shape her QuickBooks knowledge. “So, I learned how to write a check and then I went out and taught everyone who wanted to learn how to write a check in QB’s. This went on for two years. I didn’t charge people, I just wanted to help them because I knew how challenging and frustrating it was for me. Then my phone started ringing off the wall and I realized there were people in real need of my help, so I started my business and as they say, ‘the rest is history.’ This is my 25th year in business!”
Using the knowledge and expertise she has attained over her career, Vetsch continues to grow her own business. “Every day is different. My office hours are from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. I am fully committed to my clients who have mostly all also become my friends. I will typically have 3-4 clients scheduled for the day and then I normally will have at least that many call me with an issue.” Vetsch’s commitment to her clients never stops, “I just continue throughout my day supporting my clients, whatever that means for them at that point in time.” That’s dedication, for sure!
Although she stays busy with her clients, Vetsch still makes time for continuing her education and training to make sure she’s bringing the best tools back to her practice. “I, of course, have never missed an Intuit conference, a Scaling New Heights conference and in the past a Sleeter Group conference. I attempt to attend as many webinars as possible. I read everything I can, especially Insightful Accountant to stay up on the latest [training and education]. If I can’t watch the webinar live, I go back and watch the recorded version. But when you are so busy it’s really hard to stay on top of doing everything you want to, which is why I love going to the conferences. You can just focus on learning!”
Like almost everyone else, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Vetsch’s clients and practice. “[My practice] has exploded. My phone has been ringing off the wall since it hit. For 2 weeks, I tracked my incoming calls from my call log on my phone and I was averaging 55 calls a day. I couldn’t even get back to people it was so incredibly busy.” Vetsch continued, “I think the pandemic forced small business owners (which is my niche) to really look at their books and their spending. I think that there has been a lot of uncertainty and anxiety and apparently over the years my clients have learned that I can be an invaluable support system for them and they have heavily relied on me this past year. Which I look at as a huge compliment.”
Being this level of an advisor to your clients does make you an invaluable resource to your clients – but it certainly comes with struggles as well.
“I basically had no work/life balance in 2020. But I made a commitment in 2021 to spend at least 2 hours a day for me. I started walking 3 days a week with a couple of girlfriends at lunch time (but that mid-day interruption proved to interfere with my productivity so now we go at 3 p.m. for an hour. I think the key is scheduling things on your calendar to be sure the day doesn’t get away from you – because then you don’t have any balance!” Vetsch shared.
To be this dedicated to your clients and growing your practice, you have to love what you do an know it’s importance. Sharon Vetsch leaves us with her final thoughts:
“Find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. And I truly love what I do. I help small to mid-size businesses become successful through understanding their finances and the tools I use to make that happen is QuickBooks.” We are very proud to have you as a 2020 Top 100 ProAdvisor, Sharon!