I didn't completely ignore my father. I'll never tell him that he was right. Okay, let's get that clear. But like that goes for all of us. I'm telling you, I could have some stories where I don't claim that my father was right either cuz I'm just like you. It's like looking in the mirror. Don't tell him I said that, though. Hello. Welcome to Be Life Changers podcast where we share real stories, real purpose, and real change. I'm your host, Kathy Coats, and today's conversation is one every small business owner needs to hear. We're talking about the power of knowing your numbers. Preparing for tax season, right? And setting yourself up for success for the year ahead. My guest is Jordan Joyce, owner of Jordan's J Bookkeeping, who not only helps businesses owners stay on top of their finances, but also makes the process less stressful and more empowering, getting ready for insights that could change the way that you run your business. And I must say, Jordan is my bookkeeper and very good friend. Thank you so much, Jordan, for being on this show today with me. I appreciate it. Yeah. Thank you so much for having me. I'm really excited to get to come and actually see what you do in person. Oh, yes. It's something. And look, I mean, have you been to um JT Visual? I have not been to this upgraded studio. I'd done several videos with him in his smaller studio, but I'm very excited to see the larger, better studios upgrade. I mean, look at the graphics. I mean, yeah. Um, shout out to Stacy with Brandon. Go Casey. they helped um you know with that logo right there and of course Jared was in on it. It was like a we all three cut it together but it was it's so cool. I think it all turned out so well and I love the purple mics with a little touch, you know. So if you've ever thought about recording a podcast, definitely check out JT Visuals because they are more than meets the eye as you can see. If you've been thinking about making your own podcast like the one that you're watching or listening to right now, then JT Visuals is definitely the way to go. And that's JT Visuals without the eye because there's more than meets the eye. Podcast for business are popping like crazy. Everyone in their mom is starting a podcast. Why should you start one? Well, because the truth is it's actually still not too saturated. Not only do you get a show that's all about your business and bringing on guests and spotlighting them and stories, but you're also getting clips and media to put onto social media platforms. Whatever your vision is for your business that you want to accomplish and how you help people, social media is the outreach for that. And when you have a podcast show, it is the easiest way to get started and to conquer that social media that everyone's telling you you need to be doing. We will do everything. So, all you have to do is help come up with topics in collaboration with us, show up for a couple hours, and then leave, and everything else is handled for you. We would love to have a quick call with you to see if podcasting is right for you, and if JT Visuals is the way to go for you. Just go to our website at And now, back to the show. Well, I am so glad that you are on today and what we talk about at the life changers. We talk about, you know, real people, real stories that make a real change. And you have made a real change. I just love your story. It is so powerful. I think it's empowering to women um to know that no matter where you're at or what you're going through that you can own your own business and control your life. And so I was I thought of you right away and I was like, "Hey, I got to have Jordan on the podcast because everybody's going to love it." And what better season than I can't believe we're in the last quarter. So, you don't want to put it off. I mean, like a lot of people like, "Do I have to tell the story?" Yes, I do put things off. That's why I did find her. So, we'll just tell the truth. I did. I took a long time getting a bookkeeper and she probably wanted to strangle me, kill me, and everything else. But, you have to do it. It makes things so Yeah. Yeah. There's definitely I would say the majority of people are probably scrambling at the last minute, but there's a lot more planning and a lot of reduction in that bill that you might see the last minute that um I can help you out with if I'm seeing as I can catch things and plan for things as I'm going along month by month, quarter by quarter versus, hey, it's April 10th and got to make something happen now. I can't really make things go away at that point, but you know, if um someone's coming to me at this point with 6 months before their deadline, um we can make Oh, yes. She's a miracle worker. Like I said, I did come in late in the game, but not only did she help me finish out strong, she literally caught mistakes from what almost three years ago. Yeah. So given the statute of limitations, we can go back three years. So we can amend back uh unfortunately there were some that went back further, but that's as far as we were allowed to Um so yeah, we went back and amended as far as we could and yeah, those were So that made me a very happy person and it definitely made my husband happy. So but thank you. Thank you so much. As much I say thank you. But um let's go back a little bit. Tell me about like how did this whole like when when did you start realizing that you were a Yeah, I think I resisted that pretty hard. Um, initially um my father is a tax attorney. So I think he really tried to persuade or encourage me to kind of go that route, follow in his footsteps so naturally as any daughter would do. I said absolutely not. um he's going to try and encourage me to go one way. I'm going to go as far the opposite direction as I can, obviously. Um so I think anyone that knew me in high school probably would have thought I would have gone somewhere along the lines of graphic design or journalism or something like that. Um and that's a lot of what I did in high school. Uh I then from there in college I started touring schools and I went into college with accounting, finance and real estate. So, you know, we resisted minimally and I did stick with it. I think initially still in college, I was pretty sure I was going to go the finance route. So, working, you know, corporate investment banking, so you know, my father was really still pushing accounting. So, you know, I was like, I gave him some leeway, but I was still like, no, not today. Um but I think uh life had some different plans for me. So I've always grown up with a heart condition known as POTS postural orthostatic tachicardia syndrome but it definitely it got worse when I went to college and I developed some autoimmune issues in college. So that I mean it really blew my life up honestly. I really had to completely take a look at my options and I realized that a corporate a big corporate job like investment banking was not going to work with my body. Um and so I kind of had to rethink some of those plans and what I had envisioned myself doing and what I that's the reason why I chose the school that I went to um and why I went down the initial path that I did. But luckily, I didn't completely ignore my father. I'll never tell him that he was right. Okay, let's get that clear. But like that goes for all of us. I'm telling you, I could have some stories where I don't claim that my father was right either cuz I'm just like you. It's like looking in the mirror. Don't tell him I said that though. No, never. Um, luckily I did keep that accounting major um to support my finance degree and that's what I'm doing now. So, I was also on top of developing some autoimmune issues in my freshman year of college and having to pivot initially. Um, I was still going to go into finance and I was going to work as a investment analyst in real estate firm, but I was a May 2020 grad. So, as I'm sure everyone is aware, what happened in 2020? Everything shut So, um, my job offer in Dallas was rescended with about two months left for me to graduate. And there there was nothing open left for me to do, So, I moved myself back to Kansas City, which was not what I wanted to do. Uh, oh, yes. The the plans that we say that we're not going to do or places we say we're not going to go and find ourselves there. I understand, right? Um, so I moved back home with really no clear plan, but I did graduate with honors from Texas Christian University in accounting, finance, and real estate. So I knew I had some solid ground and I had my family that loved me and supported me. So I ended up working doing the accounting for some small businesses that were my dad's clients. And then I took a job um underwriting at a local bank for a year and a half. So I was basically doing the reverse of what I'm doing now. So I was getting financial statements from small businesses and taking them apart to assess their creditworthiness, right? So that's kind of when I realized how bad some financial statements and these were like reputable businesses. I was looking at portfolios exceeding a million dollars and I was still getting financial statements with uncatategorized or ask my accountant or basically we don't know what this is expenses like just with the numbers that are astronomical and having to say hey I need this to be categorized or that's an extreme amount that's a very large number I we have to know what that is to so I realized that it was definitely the proper accounting and bookkeeping was definitely a need. Well, and I think that's an important thing that you say because it's what I talk about a lot and that is that we can't do everything and you know when you're first starting we do tend to take that because we don't have the money to spend like we may go without a loan like you know c you know when Casey Women's Event started we and we have never had to borrow any money for it but we also had to do a whole lot of the work on our own right and then you you know, there's other people that may get grants, but it may not be a lot. So, you all lot it to other things. And sometimes we think we can wait with a financial partner, right? Because of course, I too was in banking for a while. Like I was a bank teller for, you know, a year and a half before I had my first child. And so, I know about, you know, I'm not good with numbers. I won't say that. But I but I know how to keep books. Like, you know, I knew the the basics. So since I knew the basics, I thought, okay, I can get myself started and then, you know, I can use this money somewhere else and then allot that later. That would have been fine if I would have like turned it over instead of just, oh, I'm just going to save myself money. I'm going to save myself money. And then I find myself doing less and less. And I know I'm not the only one admitting this because I'm probably speaking to you, too, because you think, okay, I get it. But the next thing you know, you got a mess because you didn't get enough stuff taken care of and you know and you're not recording everything you spent and then all these different things happen or you are missing things. There's things I didn't know. It's super important. And so I think that we got to understand we do have to turn it over because when we do turn it over, you will make more money because that first of all, you're going to show us where to save money because you've already showed me where to save in lots of places. And um just by knowing how to, you know, schedule things better, you know, spend better, and then when you get to the point of taxes, of course, definitely knowing how to do all of that. So it's super important. Um, but I think a lot of businesses make that mistake of just trying to do it and sometimes even close their doors because they just didn't ask for the help because they're trying to Yeah. And I think a lot of business owners I see they are like, well, I know it in my head and then when I'm kind of sitting down with them, there's a lot of little things that get missed and it adds up. So, yeah, I realized that that was there was definitely a need there. And so when I realized that my body was not going to allow me to work a regular 9 toive job anymore, um I knew that I couldn't work in an office and I realized that there was that need I was really passionate about helping other small business owners and I really liked connecting with them that that might be a great fit for me. Right. So, let's talk about that just cuz I know um a lot of people out there do face the same thing of having an issue that makes it hard for them to work and they kind of feel like, you know, I'm not good for anything or, you know, I I couldn't own my own business because they couldn't work in the workplace, so they assumed that they can't do anything at home either. how tell me a little bit about how that felt when you first found out like you had all these big dreams and stuff and then you found out that you had this condition and then how did you work what was your um mindset like how did you shift your mindset into yes I can do this on my own like I know there's probably a struggle through that cuz not only did you have the struggle of I found this and then it was I you co hit cuz that's two big things well actually three because that's two big things because you know with co and then coming to find out that door closed on the job that you thought so I know when you have pivots and shifts like that you got to get your mindset straight right or you're going to fall flat on your face tell us a little bit about that how what was your thinking process how did it's terrifying and I think now I'm connected with so many more people that are going through the same thing so now when these little things come up and I haven't really had anything as big as I did then. But now when I had these little things come up, I have such a greater support system to tackle those. But at the time, I really didn't and I didn't know anyone else that was going through that. And it was really just me kind of taking it piece by piece, step by step, trying to figure out what to do. I I knew I wasn't going to give up or lay down or die. So, you know, step by step, client by client, like picking myself up piece by piece because I, yeah, I wasn't going to give up on myself. I worked every piece that I had and step that I had taken before. I had worked so hard for that for my degree to get. So, I wasn't going to give up on all of that. So, it really is like I had to take it's terrifying. I had to take a and think and assess and then like take steps forward. But truly, even as I did get started with my own business, if I had not been connected with the community that I had gotten connected with, I would have given up, right? cuz I really did not have the support from family or anyone that was like built a built-in community in that way that understood or wanted to understand what I was going through and support me. So, if I had not gotten connected with, you know, like you and Stacy or, you know, some of those groups through networking that I met that could sit with me and offer me advice and tell me that they understood what I was going through and tell me that I could do it and that I was going to be okay, I would And that's the only reason that I Oh, community is so important. Yeah. And I can't say how proud of you I am because I know it's hard. Yeah, it is hard cuz I mean like you know I mine's reversed. It's not myself but you know, and so you don't you're not in control of your time, right? So all those things you hear about you got to get up early in the morning 5:00 you know it's when your body lets you it's when you know I have a down time and not with my son having meltdowns or you know and and so we had to like adjust and that's super hard and I know there's a lot of people out there that are in our situation whether you have um someone you're taking care of or you know a special needs child or you know dealing with you know ailments yourself. Um, those are extra challenges. Already challenging. It's already scary enough to start a job. It just really is. It's already scary enough to start your own business. I mean, I mean, new jobs, you're still just as nervous as I'll get out. And then when you take that risk Yeah. There's no safety net doing. There's no safety net when you're doing it on your own. And then you're like, "Oh, I don't even have no control of my time. Who's going to want to I I I'm going to show up late or I can't do it today. I I just can't do it. And and there's times it's gotten that frustrating, you know, like Absolutely. I mean, like where I thought maybe I'm just supposed to just stay home and do nothing but but my home and take care of my family. But then I thought, no, you know, that's that calling that when we find out what our true purpose is, what God has called us to do, like, you know, it grounds you back in like, okay, yes, you know, and or if it's something you're going through and you're feeling, okay, I'm going to get through this and nothing is going to stop me, right? And so it's it's finding that that source and finding that energy and I'm going to definitely is. There are things that, you know, I have to stop and pause and take a break and let myself breathe for a minute. And then, you know, it's kind of like when everything else is gone, just remembering myself and why I'm doing this and why I started this and kind of letting every all the other noise and everything else fade away and yeah, reggrounding myself and remembering what I'm doing, right? And sometimes it's really easy to get caught up in like what's right in front of you that day or that minute or that hour. But I've had to think really hard about my long-term goal in supporting myself and what I'm trying to do cuz I'm my energy is just going to decline over time. So I'm really trying to build like something long lasting for myself. So a lot of other people are not going to understand that why I'm not going after something bigger right now, right this minute. And it's there's a bigger goal. I'm trying to achieve something larger for a long period of time for I'm the one that has to live with this for with my entire life, right? So remembering what I have to stop and breathe and remember what I'm Well, and I encourage you in that because that really is the smart way. Sometimes people build too quickly and so it's like building on sand. You're just going to sink at some point in time because you're catapulting too fast. Like so I always look at it as if things are coming slow and steady, you're building a firm foundation and and then you see how it grows. We don't have to know what our next step is. We don't have to know about tomorrow. Like we need to worry about today cuz today has its own worries of its own. And when we can take that attitude and mindset and be grateful for the things that have already happened and then as we're moving in on in our businesses, we realize that okay, I couldn't have handled that anyway. And this and you're going to make less mistakes. Yeah. So, you know, I that's great. That's awesome. That's awesome. So, I know we're getting ready like we're in the fourth quarter and so tell me just, you know, briefly what um people can do to get kind of set up for that year. Like what what is things that you what would you want to say to a you know, to be prepared that may not have a bookkeeper? Like why is it important? And then maybe a tip for taxes like what what how do you be ready Yeah. So, if you're a small business owner that doesn't have a bookkeeper, I'd probably just tell you to get one even a lot of times with people that are really on top of it on their own, it's there's still a lot of in-n-out and gets really tricky to stay on top of it. So get with someone that knows what they're doing that can help even just give you pointers if you want to continue doing it on your on your own. Um there's a lot of planning and strategies that go into allowing you to strategize to avoid taxes, but again that does require planning. So having an idea of where you're sitting at your end so that you can kind of make some of those moves as the year wraps up and before your tax return deadline is coming. um 1099s. If you paid any independent contractors over $600 within the last year, that's gonna that deadline's coming quickly, January 31st, and that's always a scramble. So, make sure you're collecting people's W9s. other than that, I would just say keep an eye on tax law changes coming up. make sure that you're aware and informed of any changes that may positively or just regulation, more paperwork impact your business. So, really just find a good find a good source that you can Definitely. I mean, and Jordan is someone you can really trust, I'm telling you. So, reach out um to Jordan Jookkeeping. And how do they follow you on social media and how your email, how do they get a hold of you? Yeah. So, my social media on all platforms is just My website is jordanjjoyce.com and any consultations can be booked directly from there and my email and everything is listed on all of those as well and on my website. So, and my phone number, my all my contact. Definitely check her out on social media. You have so much great fun content. I'm telling you, you always have me laughing and then feeling guilty because I'm like, she's talking about me. I don't know if she's talking about me. But it's okay. It's It makes it fun. It is. If you want some fun and light in in numbers, definitely check it out for sure. And I can't believe that we're already almost to that season. And so, thank you for coming on today to make sure that we are ready for this. Um cuz, you know, it's coming faster than we know. I cannot believe that we are already at the end of 2025, rolling into 2026. I feel like we just got this started and here we are in the last quarter, but I wanted people to be prepared and ready. And so definitely reach out to Jordan or a a secure source. Get yourself. It is worth it. I mean, the more you can turn over really the more money you make and that's just how that is. So, thank you for watching Be Life Changers on this episode and I will see you on the next episode.
