Q&A with Andrea Rotondo of Liquid Cents Bookkeeping
In this Q&A series, Liz Gray, LCSW, RPT, and Clini-Coach® of Organize and Thrive shares an interview with Andrea Rotondo of Liquid Cents Bookkeeping!
PART 1: ABOUT YOU
Everyone’s favorite open-ended question. Tell us about yourself (i.e. hobbies, quirks, etc.)!
I’m Andrea, bookkeeper and owner of Liquid Cents Bookkeeping.
Helping others has always been important to my family and I so I have a ton of experience volunteering in youth and children programs. I’m also very “black and white”, so working with numbers totally fulfills that need in me.
My husband was in the military and that meant we moved a lot. I learned to love nature and being outdoors thanks to the places we went to (Yosemite, can’t wait to see you again!).
I also love reading, cheesy movies, and food! Not too surprising for a millennial mom!
A FEEL GOOD or FUNNY STORY –What wisdom have you gained from your line of work?
I love meeting with my clients! I really enjoy creating a safe space to talk about their money, and that’s exactly what happens! We talk about their fears or worries, their goals and ambitions, and all the in-betweens.
From my experience, this curated space for them works as a catalyst for their confidence when it comes to money. Regardless of their background or starting point.
These conversations have taught me that everyone’s story is worth listening to, including mine! That people actually are interested in what you have to say. And this is priceless, especially when you feel defeated as a business owner while everyone around you looks like they have it all together.
A difficult situation that impacted your life’s trajectory.
My career goal was to become a counselor. I came to this conclusion after volunteering with my church’s youth program for several years and seeing the impact of having someone who cared.
After several years and many breaks, I finally obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. At this point, I was a military spouse and a new mom. My obstacles grew and grew: finding the right school/program for me, a place to complete my hours, trustworthy childcare, dealing with postpartum depression, unemployment, and on and off solo-parenting. I didn’t see a way to make it happen so I set aside this goal to focus on my family and my own health.
Those years as a military spouse were by far the most challenging for me. However, I’m learning to use those experiences into “I did that” memories that help me reframe my current situations for the better.
What’s your greatest strength or superpower?
Creating genuine and pleasant client relationships is one of my strengths! I’m able to help my clients feel heard and comfortable, even though money is usually a hard topic for most. This also means that I’m able to explain all those numbers in a way that is easy to understand and to apply.
What’s your biggest internal barrier?
Perfectionism and anxiety are big for me. This combination makes me look at challenges as something to run away from rather than something to attack and conquer.
What’s your biggest external barrier?
Life transitions! Over the past 8 years, we became parents, lived in 3 different states, and transitioned out of the military back to our home state. It’s been transition after transition. The most challenging impact of these, in my opinion, are not the logistical/external effects, but the emotional toll it takes on us.
Part 2: ABOUT YOU AS A BOOKKEEPER
What is a bookkeeper?
A bookkeeper is someone who keeps records of your daily financial transactions. For example, tracking your bank accounts and credit cards in a spreadsheet or software program.
This process is super important because it helps you assess any disadvantages or loopholes you currently have in your system. Additionally, these numbers are used in Financial Reports. If the records are incorrect, then the Financial Reports will also be incorrect, and vice versa.
What’s the difference between a bookkeeper and accountant?
The main difference is that bookkeepers handle the record-keeping process, and an accountant analyzes those records and provides insights.
However, when meeting with an accountant or bookkeeper, ask specifically what kind of tasks they provide because nowadays, many bookkeepers like myself provide financial reports and are equipped to help the business owners understand what those numbers mean to them.
How long have you been practicing?
I’ve had my bookkeeping firm since 2020. Prior to launching my business, I worked with Quickbooks for about 6 years.
Who do you serve?
I serve women therapists, coaches, and consultants who have been in business for 5 years or less who want organized finances and 1:1 year-round support.
What made you decide to become a bookkeeper?
As we planned my husband’s transition out of the military, I took time to think about how I could support my family financially and also have the flexibility to stay home since my kids were still little. I knew I liked working with finances and that I wanted to help business owners thrive. After considering several options, we landed on this one.
What’s your favorite metaphor, analogy, or story you share with clients?
I love to emphasize the importance of looking at their financial statements. It’s easy to have a goal and dreams. That’s your destination. But you won’t know HOW to get there unless you know where you currently ARE. Those numbers let you see your trajectory or path up until this point and help you create the next steps in order to move in the right direction.
Part 3: ABOUT YOU AS A BUSINESS OWNER
How did you choose the name of your business, Liquid Cents Bookkeeping?
I kept on reading and researching so I could pick the perfect name. Some experts say “your business name doesn’t matter” and others say “your business name has a huge impact and it’s massively important”. I was stuck! I wanted to choose a name that was easy to remember, related to money, and with a positive connotation.
While brainstorming with my husband, he helped me pick the word Liquid. Cash is the most “liquid” asset a business has, and through my business I help my clients understand their money so they can make and keep more of it. It was the perfect word!
What kind of organizer are you?
I loved taking this quiz! I’m a Systems Sam. And I totally agree! I do have systems in place and I really enjoy finding the right flow that helps me stay organized and keep things under control. However, I’m at a point where I need to reassess and make some changes.
Best time-management/productivity tip or advice for an overwhelmed biz owner?
Stick to ONE system at a time. For example, I prefer to have things written down on an actual planner. But I have so many tasks that adding them to a planner was getting out of control. I was trying to use a planner AND a virtual checklist. It felt like a great solution, but it backfired. I had to check in 2 places and it was driving me crazy!
What’s your favorite way to “organize and thrive?”
I always start by organizing my workspace. I try to have the least amount of things possible so I have less things to declutter. It also helps my space feel “light”. I think your environment plays such a huge role in how productive you are so I start with this.
My other favorite way to “organize and thrive” is a good checklist! I love love love checklists! They help me make sure I complete everything, and also help me repeat the process to ensure the “quality” of my work without having to rely on my memory.
Is there a product or service you offer to overwhelmed therapists? Please describe:
Yes! My bookkeeping services help therapists connect with their finances. So many therapists complain about not learning how to run a business when they went to school. And this is true for almost everyone! However, running a private practice, no matter how small or big it is, requires good money management to survive and thrive.
By keeping good financial practices, therapists are able to connect the rest of the pieces needed in overseeing a business.
Where can we learn more about you?
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