We were lucky to catch up with Jill Jacobs recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jill, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with talking about how you serve the underserved, because in our view this is one of the most important things the small business community does for society – by serving those who the giant corporations ignore, small business helps create a more inclusive and just world for all of us.

Yes, my business serves an underserved community—small to medium-sized businesses that often get overlooked by traditional accounting firms. These businesses are crucial to the economy but don’t always have the resources to hire big firms, which often prioritize larger, more profitable clients. I noticed this gap when I spoke with a small business owner who was struggling to manage finances and felt neglected after reaching out to a few large accounting firms. They were turned away because their business wasn’t considered “big enough.”

This lack of support matters because small businesses are the backbone of local economies, driving innovation and creating jobs. However, without access to proper financial guidance, many of them struggle to thrive or even survive. That’s where I come in. I’ve structured my services to be affordable and approachable, making sure these businesses get the attention and expertise they deserve. From handling their books to offering budgeting strategies, I help them navigate complex financial landscapes, empowering them to grow and succeed.

My passion is serving this overlooked yet essential community.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I grew up on a farm near Meadow Grove, NE, and now live in Lincoln, NE with my husband and son. It took me a long time to figure out what I wanted to do professionally (does anyone know what they want to do right out of high school?!). I graduated from Peru State College when I was 28 years old, and it still took me until I was 35 to find my purpose. I have worked in public accounting as well as with private small businesses and because I got to experience both worlds, I saw that there was a need. A need for a personal, professional, and affordable bookkeeper. Every business needs bookkeeping, but not every business can afford the help. I have created a world where people can get the help they need at an affordable price. It is a scary thing to start your own business (especially as a 35-year-old woman and a mother). Imposter syndrome, mom guilt, etc. I took the leap and have been able to help over 200 small businesses manage their finances as well as being able to provide work from home jobs to “non-traditional” employees. It is challenging, but the joy and relief on businesses owners faces knowing they aren’t alone is the greatest reward of all.

Entrepreneurship is a lonely world, especially when it comes to managing your finances. That is where I come in. I am able to provide a service that is traditionally viewed as “unaffordable” at an affordable rate. I work closely with startups and small business owners to manage their finances and create usable financial statements to help guide them through this particular part of owning their own business. Most of my clients are makers and their brains don’t work the way that mine does. They started a business to do what they love and the thing they love is NOT bookkeeping! I provide monthly reports (balance sheet and profit and loss statements), sales tax reporting, payroll, payroll taxes, budgeting, and general financial help. I exist to take away that sick to your stomach feeling you get when you even think about this sort of thing!

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

Yes, my side hustle definitely turned into my main business! It all started when I was working for a local electrician, and one night, I randomly ran into an old client from my previous big firm job at a bar. They recognized me and asked if I could handle their bookkeeping for a lesser rate than they were used to. I agreed, and that one gig set everything in motion.

At the time, my long-term goal was to start my own business within five years, but within three months of taking on that first client, word spread. I soon had 12 clients, just through word-of-mouth, and it became clear that this side hustle was turning into something more. So, I made the leap, quit my job, and went all in.

From there, the business kept growing, and now I have 7 employees and over 200 clients, focusing on helping small to medium-sized businesses who often get overlooked by traditional firms. Some of the key milestones were quitting my day job, expanding from a solo operation to hiring employees, and growing my client base through word-of-mouth, networking, and providing affordable, high-quality bookkeeping services to businesses that needed it most.

Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?

When I first quit my stable, comfy job to go all in on my business, I panicked—big time! I had no idea how to get new clients, and suddenly the reality hit me hard. I felt like I was drowning in doubt and anxiety. So, I went into overdrive. I started doing everything I could think of—leaving flyers at local businesses, sending out handwritten letters, and striking up conversations with anyone who’d listen.

One of my favorite stories happened while I was standing in line at the grocery store. I was still in that “freaking out” mode, and I remember thinking, “If I don’t put myself out there, I won’t get anywhere.” So, I turned to the person in front of me and casually asked, “What do you do?”

It turns out, they owned a business and needed a bookkeeper! That one simple question, in the middle of a grocery store, landed me a new client. It was such a rush, and I learned a valuable lesson: taking risks, no matter how small, can lead to big rewards. It taught me to never underestimate the power of simply putting yourself out there, even when the odds seem stacked against you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jilljacobsbookkeeping.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jilljacobsbookkeeping/