Meet Liana Sepulveda | Small Business Bookkeeper

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

Hi Liana, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I started working when I was 15 years old, and between constantly moving around (20 times in 36 years!) and being stressed at almost every customer service job I had in the following years while attending college full-time, I quit my last job and moved in with my paternal uncle and aunt, the latter who helped me learn taxes and bookkeeping while finishing my Associates Degree in Accounting (an unreal privilege and a gift). When I got my degree, and with the skills I was taught, I was able to find more small office accounting jobs but also my own clients that I could work with on the side – it was those clients that gave me a feeling of ownership and responsibility that encouraged me.

With the office jobs also proving to be stressful, I looked inward and asked myself – “Am I the problem?” After all, I was the common denominator in all these situations. My mom helped me answer this by telling me my late dad, who started his own business, also had trouble working for others. After I received an ADHD diagnosis, it really clicked – being overstimulated in both retail and office environments and having an insatiable need for my own autonomy weren’t by any means flaws – these were just signs that I had to work for myself. On top of all this, having two very large families on both my paternal and maternal sides, plus a wealth of friends, I was left feeling like I couldn’t make space for everyone when I was working a “9 to 5”. I needed the flexibility to work whenever and wherever I could because supporting my immediate community is an inherent virtue that drives me. With much help along the way from said community, I finally made the leap when I had just enough clients to feel financially comfortable.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My bookkeeping business is my greatest achievement in life. After the years of struggling with all the jobs I had, plus many mental and physical struggles such as depression, anxiety, endometriosis, etc., being able to say I have my own business is an immense sense of pride. Younger me, an imposter syndrome extraordinaire, would have never believed it was coming. Not only do I have my own business, but considering all my clients have come by word-of mouth, I think I can safely say my clients love having me as their financial partner. I’m incredibly organized and thorough and take my time answering all questions they may have. I have also helped many with financial matters outside of “just the books” such as helping clients apply for loans, apply for FAFSA, saving them money when reviewing their taxes, etc. The list goes on and is a testament to my desire to help my community. Yet, I’m still having trouble learning that I can’t help everyone. I’ve unfortunately disappointed some people along the way that needed help with years of bookkeeping work – I was absolutely ecstatic to take on these big time consuming projects, only to realize after many attempts that I simply have not figured out how to stay focused on and top of the work (thanks, ADHD). There are many bookkeepers out there, do-it-yourself apps, and also the impending AI takeover, but I bring the human touch – a little comedic levity and personality alongside immense compassion to what can be such an overwhelming and sensitive topic for many.

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?
LA is so vast and I have yet to discover much of it, but after moving from the westside to Lancaster, CA, I can safely say the endless options for every kind of food is what I miss the most. The burger at Father’s Office in Venice near Helms Bakery is a non-negotiable, unless you enjoy a plant based diet. Don’t quote me on this, but I’m sure LA has more vegetarian and vegan restaurants per capita than any other city in the nation. Every ramen joint near Sawtelle and Olympic must be visited (special shout out to Tatsu Ramen – I’m pretty sure my blood is half “hippie broth”). Donut King on Santa Monica is a local legend thanks to an old high school friend, Mayly Tao, who with the help of her brother, grew it into an empire before moving on to other endeavors. Of course, you can’t eat every hour of the day every day (thanks, metabolism), so naturally one must visit the beach! The closer you get to Malibu, the more beautiful the water and the overall vibes. There are too many museums that I need to visit, too! If shopping or even window shopping is your thing, there’s always Abbott Kinney!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This one is easy and probably a common sentiment, but I need to shout out my mother. My father died by suicide when I was 8 years old, leaving my mom as a single mother to me and my older brother, whom did not make it easy on her over the years. Shortly after my father’s death, her mother died, and shortly after that she received her first breast cancer diagnosis. This amazing woman kept her faith through all of it, always hoping for the best and fighting like hell to give my brother and I the love and support of two parents, which she succeeded in doing and then some. Many stories could be written about her trials and tribulations, but writing about her kindness and generosity over the years would take endless novels. Acts like adopting a 6-month old child after we learned her mother was struggling with addiction, and soon after taking in my brother’s child so he wouldn’t end up in foster care, all while asking for absolutely nothing in return, demands the kind of writing reserved for saints. Ever since she was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in January, I’ve watched her meet every challenge with an immeasurable courage and grace. Her unwavering compassion, resilience, and love not only make me proud to be her daughter but motivate me to live as the best version of myself every day. I would not be the person I am today if it wasn’t for her guidance and unfathomable patience and support.

Website: https://www.sepulvedamoney.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liana-sepulveda/

Twitter: @sepulvedamoney

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sepulvedamoney

Image Credits
Christina Ferrada