Meet Jessica Potts | Accountant/QBO ProAdvisor Specializing in 501(c)(3) Organizations

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica Potts and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Freedom. I was crying myself to work everyday. I knew I had a skillset which was grossly underpaid across several business sectors and that I could make more money while working from home. I had a child to raise and bills to pay, making 80% less than what I should have been making on an hourly basis just wasn’t feasible anymore. I also knew I could provide a helpful service to fellow entrepreneurs who didn’t have the means to hire a staff member to handle their accounting. I recognized the accounting sector was changing fast because of technology and that I had to keep up with it to make any real money in my lifetime.

What should our readers know about your business?
With just over 18 years of accounting experience, I’m able to work with any business. While I specialize in non-profit, I have several for-profit clients including independent contractors, LLC’s, sole proprietors and corporations. I have a discovery process that allows me to find out the needs of each client, allowing me to tailor their accounting system to meet those needs. I build a work flow, automating as much work as possible so we can handle what’s really important – the story. Every set of books tells the story of a business; how you’re doing in revenue and profit margins, benchmarking goals and helping you move forward with strategic planning for growth. For non-profits specifically, I produce a monthly financial dashboard for the board of directors. This saves hours of time by telling the story in a concise snapshot – no more pouring over pages of financials just to leave the board with more questions.

One of the challenges of having my own business are the admin tasks. Learning how to delegate has been incredibly difficult. My advice to other entrepreneurs is: separate out your tasks and find a loyal helper.

I got to where I am because I paid attention to the need – I’ve worked with non-profits for over half of my career, I’ve dealt with fussy board members and scrambling, over worked staff. My goal is to make life easier for everyone so they can focus on their mission.

My goal with Yellowbird Accounting is to bring a positive attitude and simple explanations to complex and often frustrating financial pictures. My moto is “Here, let me help you with that.” because I just want to see my clients succeed and grow!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My favorite spot in the San Diego is the San Diego Bay! I love taking my sailboat out and enjoying our amazing climate. Every time someone comes to visit, they should expect a day sail! I’ve also lived in Normal Heights in the Adams Avenue Business District for years! I love it’s people, shops, eateries and nightlife.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shout out to Dan Marshall of Firmament – he and his team were key in my branding and website design. He understood me and helped me create a brand which truly reflects me and the services I offer. A magical thing happens after branding, if done well. My imposter syndrome vanished and I was able to take on any client because of the confidence Yellowbirdaccounting.com gave me.

Thank you to all of my clients for sticking with me over the years. Watching them grow and succeed has been an awesome experience for me!

Website: www.yellowbirdaccouting.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-potts-yellowbird/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/yellowbird-accounting-san-diego