Chamber Insider Blog

Congratulations to Yield Bookkeeping Services for being a finalist this year for the 25th Anniversary of the Loudoun Small Business Awards! View the full list of finalists here. These awards will be held on November 8, 2019 at The National Conference Center. Register Here!

Yield Bookkeeping Services is up for Virtual Business of the Year. Post submitted by CEO Rochelle Dallons.

1.  Tell us your story of how your business evolved into what it is today.

Back in 2013, I had determined that there was probably a very small chance of advancement in the company that I had worked for 18 years simply because I was a woman.  I had to figure out my next professional move so I decided to try freelance bookkeeping.  It started out very laid back, sitting in my house in my pajamas just working for my 3 or 4 clients.  I started to advertise a little on Craigslist and my hourly rate was ridiculously low.  The new client calls started coming in so fast that I had to hire my first assistant within 6 months of starting the business.

Shortly after that I realized that there weren’t very many reputable bookkeeping companies in the NOVA area.  There are a lot of CPA’s that will do it for a high hourly rate.  There are a lot of individuals that are doing it themselves on the side and some of them are simply entering data with no accounting background.  But there wasn’t a company, that I was aware of, that solely concentrated on the small business bookkeeping services that we offer.  I had found a unique niche for a business by accident!

Since then we have grown about 50% year after year!  I currently have over 200 bookkeeping clients and 14 staff members all across the NOVA area and in South Florida.  Our staff is thoroughly vetted and have extensive backgrounds in accounting.  I am very proud to be a certified woman owned business!

Our approach is unique because we really care about our small business clients and love it when we can watch them grow from a new business to a multi million dollar business over time.   For Yield, it is a pleasure to transition companies from our services to a full time in house staff accountant when the time comes.

2.  What would it mean to you and your company to win a Small Business Award?

We would be absolutely honored to win a small business award with the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce.  This award means recognition by the community that we are making a difference and helping other small businesses grow, which is our ultimate mission.

3.  What is the smallest thing that has made the largest impact on your business?

At the beginning, I remember going to a new potential client site for an interview.  I completely BOMBED it.  I wasn’t prepared for the questions they had and I walked out of there thinking that this may be too difficult for me.  But instead, I learned from that experience and over time I have gained confidence and decided that to be my authentic self is the best way to move forward.  The support from the Loudoun Chamber, the B2B Leadshare groups that I belong to and my CPA colleagues has also helped me grow into the CEO position that I am in now.  I’m forever grateful for everyone’s support throughout the last 6 years.  I’ve come a long way but definitely still have a lot to learn.

4.  Who is the one person that has influence you the most in your career?

Michael Anderson, CPA who is the owner of The Anderson Group in Oakton, VA happens to be one of my closest friends.  We go far back to when we were both at Oakton High School in the late 80’s.  It was his idea for me to start Yield Bookkeeping and he has been my support system ever since.  He also is always there when my clients have specific tax return questions.

5.  What is your favorite thing about running a business in Loudoun County?

By far, my favorite part of running my own business is the people that I meet.  A lot of clients have become my friends over the last few years.   In addition, our county has the highest median income in the nation so the opportunity here is incredible.

6.  How do you see your business evolving in the next 10 years?

My ultimate goal is to franchise my company in other areas of the country.  In the short term my goal is to make it to $1 million gross revenue by the end of 2020!

7.  If you’re not in the office where can we find you/what is another passion you have?

Well, honestly, if you are a small business owner you know that there isn’t much time when you are NOT in your office!  However, in my spare time (haha) I like to spend time with my family and my labradoodles, Hazel and Holly.  My husband and I are also HUGE fans of the band Pearl Jam and when they tour we follow the band to different cities with a non profit called The Wishlist Foundation.  We raise money for Pearl Jam related charities, travel with fans all over the world and see the greatest band of all time.  My company is named after them!  Yield is the name of Pearl Jam’s fifth album.

8.  What did you want to be when you grew up as a child? 

When I was 6, I wanted to be a crossing guard….true story.  When I got a little older I literally would pass the time by filling out forms that were in catalogs around the house.  My mom thought it was the weirdest thing!  I was 10 and all I wanted to do was fill out order forms.  My dad was a CPA as well as my brother, and my sister has a finance degree…I guess its just in my genes that accounting and lots and lots of forms would be in my future.

9.   If you have 24 hours off, and your family was out of town, what would you do?

SLEEP and watch true crime documentaries.

10.  What is one book that you would recommend everyone read?

I think the point of this question is to recommend some business related book that inspires us to make better management choices.  Unfortunately, I only read trashy romance novels!  I do, however, highly recommend the poem Desiderata by Max Ehrmann circa 1927.

Congratulations to the Yield Bookkeeping Services team! Good luck at the Small Business Awards this year.