Meet the Team
Hi, I'm Silvia Guardado (She/Her)
I’m a bookkeeper and coach who works with passionate and resilient women and POC professional service providers who feel overwhelmed by their business or personal finances. I help them gain confidence in their financial decision-making and reach their goals by getting their books in order and creating a path toward building wealth.
It's great to meet you!
You might be struggling with your business or you have received a letter from the IRS. You have not paid yourself a decent salary in a long time and now you are behind in your taxes. You know your business has a potential for growth, but you have no idea what the next step is. You have worked with an accountant in the past, but they did not even respond to your calls and or messages. You need guidance, but you don’t know who to turn to.
I understand what you’re going through because I’ve been there too.
I arrived in this country as an immigrant from El Salvador in the 1980s with practically nothing, thinking that I was destined to work in low-paying jobs. My husband and I opened a manufacturing business several years ago. We struggled with that business, and unfortunately, we ended up closing, feeling as if we had failed.
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A few years later, in my early 40s, having raised 5 children, I realized that I wanted to reenter the workforce. While the manufacturing business provided me with significant experience, I didn’t feel I was prepared to go into business for myself again.
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At that time, a friend of mine told me that the CPA firm where she worked was hiring a part-time receptionist. I immediately applied for the position and was hired for the job. I liked the job environment so much that I decided to start taking classes related to accounting just to see what it was all about.
One class led to another and a few years later, I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting.
With hard work and a lot of support, I gained the skills necessary to embark on my new career as an accountant. When I finally got hired at an accounting firm, I found myself in an environment that was not supportive or compassionate.
Two weeks into my new job, on the day before Christmas, I quit.
With the new year came new resolutions and a great idea: I will start my own accounting firm. I realized I didn’t need to depend on others to build my income.
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While the thought of failing again terrorized me, I knew that I could build my dreams by being of service to others in a way that aligned with my values by listening to my clients and standing out with excellent customer service. Equipped with the skills I gained and a whole lot of personal experience, I went for it!
Fast forward to today.
I have built a successful accounting practice that has seen consistent growth and has provided me with great fulfillment as I compassionately serve my clients. Through all of my experiences, I am able to empathically understand the entrepreneur’s journey and support them with sound financial advice on their path toward profitability.
I would love the opportunity to hear from you.
I’d like to help you unscramble the ins and outs of having a financially healthy business. Check out the Work With Me page or send me an email at silvia@smgbusinessservices.com.
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