We recently connected with Eric Trettel and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Eric, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with something countless entrepreneurs have had to figure out on the fly – how have you dealt with the rise of remote work?

My vision for Sota Bookkeeping has always been to be a 100% remote company. There’s rarely an unpreventable emergency in accounting, so the industry is perfect for remote work.

Early on, I took on a few clients that wanted me to come onsite for various reasons, but it’s no longer an option. That said, I make it clear that I’m happy to meet with clients in person from time to time if they’d like.

I choose to work remotely because of all the efficiencies. On my end, I can work when and where I want. I’m not held back when my wife and I want to travel or even something as simple as working on a Sunday rather than a Wednesday.

I’ve converted many small business owners into believers that virtual bookkeepers can be just as great, if not better, than our onsite counterparts. Working remotely, it becomes a necessity to know of all the great technology available, whereas an onsite bookkeeper is typically just trained to take over “what we’ve always done”. Introducing and implementing new processes is one of my favorite things to do with new clients because they find that their business doesn’t need to stop whenever they want to take a vacation.

Eric, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I didn’t realize it growing up, but my financial acumen comes from my parents. My mom clipped coupons and taught me the importance of saving money, and my dad was always getting as much value out of everything he had or searching for things he could sell at a higher price.

Somewhere along the way, I developed an entrepreneurial spirit. We would have an annual garage sale with family friends and I remember selling homemade cookies and other treats with my friend. In college, I decided to pursue a Bachelor’s in Accounting because it combined my financial knowledge with my love for small business.

After college, I worked for several employers, never staying longer than 2 years. At each job, I found myself getting bored because I had solved their problems and was no longer challenged. As a person that strives to constantly learn, I had to find the next thing. During lunch with a colleague, I was introduced to the world of fractional work, and I immediately knew I was perfect for it.

I applied at a local fractional bookkeeping company and quickly accumulated their biggest portfolio in terms of number of clients and revenue. After working there about 17 months, an unexpected push came and there was no better time to start Sota Bookkeeping.

I’m very grateful to say that my client base grew faster than I could’ve imagined. Many people have asked me how I did it, and while it’s difficult to pinpoint, I’d say my biggest differentiator is communication. I’ve had clients say things like “You don’t speak like an accountant” and “You’re so easy to talk to!”, and I can’t think of better compliments!

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

One of my favorite books is Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success by Adam Grant. The book essentially categorizes people into three types:

Givers – They help others without expecting anything in return. They share knowledge, provide mentorship, and make introductions.

Takers – They seek to get as much as possible from others while giving little in return. They often try to outshine others and protect their own interests first.

Matchers – They try to keep an even balance of give and take — helping others but expecting something back in return.

It really resonated with me because I’m a Giver, and Givers tend to either be at the bottom or the top of the success ladder – not the middle. The differences are having the ability to set boundaries, helping in ways that energize (rather than burn out), and avoiding those who exploit generosity.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I don’t have much of an audience on social media, but the goal with any of the company’s social accounts has been to show my personal side. There are plenty of great resources out there if you need financial advice, so the majority of my social posts show who I am as a person, what it’s like to work with me, and that I’m not just another stuffy accountant. I’m a firm believer that being genuine and down to earth is always the best course!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sotabookkeeping.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sotabookkeeping
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sotabookkeeping
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sotabookkeeping