Learn How This Enterprising Immigrant Built An Award-Winning Bookkeeping Business

Moving to a new country is daunting enough. But moving to a new country and launching an award-winning and niche e-commerce bookkeeping business? This impressive feat is exactly what Arielle Smith accomplished, immigrating to Canada and founding the thriving company, Fix My Books.

Fix My Books assists small online businesses, including individuals, with crucial bookkeeping services like receipt categorization, tax filing, and much more. It's a huge benefit for people who might otherwise not be able to afford this type of support, which can lead to financial confusion and other problems.

"I help entrepreneurs grow their businesses by guiding them through the tricky process of dealing with sales tax filings across different areas, which can be a major headache," says Smith. "This challenge is becoming even more widespread as online selling platforms such as Shopify, Etsy, and others continue to grow and individual sellers grapple with taxes."

Image Credit: Arielle Smith, Fix My Books

Bookkeeping is an integral but often overlooked part of any business, and the information gained from effective bookkeeping practices can provide an important boost for small company owners, giving them insights about their revenue, expenses, and much more to help with their strategic planning for the future, as one recent press report explains.

Born and raised in the Philippines, Smith moved to Toronto in 2019 and was determined to build a successful enterprise in her new home. During the coronavirus pandemic, Smith realized she needed another way to earn an income. Through extensive research and applying her pre-existing skills and knowledge, she identified a gap in the bookkeeping industry. With that, she pursued every essential step to earn professional qualifications.

She first received a bookkeeping certificate from Loyalist College before planning the launch of Fix My Books. Since then, Smith has earned membership in the Certified Professional Bookkeepers of Canada (CPB), elite status in the Intuit Quickbooks’ ProAdvisor Program, silver partner status with A2X, and advanced certifications with Hubdoc.

The CBP recognized Smith’s outstanding efforts in the sector by awarding Fix My Books the "New Firm of The Year Award" in 2023, a major industry recognition of the company.

"I was honored to receive the award because I felt it was an acknowledgment of all the time and hard work that I put into my career and company since immigrating," says Smith. "It was incredibly difficult to move to a new country and start a business with zero professional contacts. Everything I've achieved is the result of my hard work and commitment."

Smith dives deeper into her remarkable story in her blog on the Fix My Books website, where she regularly provides tips and information about the latest developments in the bookkeeping industry and explores how bookkeeping is relevant to businesses of all sizes and sectors. Smith’s blog posts are linked to the Fix My Books YouTube channel, which boasts almost 4,000 subscribers and expands on the important elements of bookkeeping.

This post was authored by an external contributor and does not represent Benzinga’s opinions and has not been edited for content. The information contained above is provided for informational and educational purposes only, and nothing contained herein should be construed as investment advice. Benzinga does not make any recommendation to buy or sell any security or any representation about the financial condition of any company.