Meet Jillian Gum of Biz Babe

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jillian Gum.

Hi Jillian, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
In all honesty, my story was never headed towards becoming a CPA — it was somewhat of a “happy accident”. After high school, I took a gap year in Nashville to sing and write music. While I loved the experience, I learned it wasn’t something I wanted to build a life around. Flash forward, I went to school at UMKC as a business major and took the required accounting classes… I breezed through them. One of my professors noticed how naturally Accounting came to me and encouraged me to pursue it as my major.

A few years later, I graduated with my Bachelors of Science in Accounting, earned my CPA designation, and began work in public tax, serving large corporations and high-net-worth families, and then worked in tax for a private multi-national construction and steel company.

Corporate culture, overworked busy seasons, and a general disinterest in the work I was doing led me to look for something else. In 2020, I began serving women-owned small businesses as their outsourced bookkeeper, and Biz Babe CPA was born.

Today, Biz Babe CPA is my full-time gig, helping a growing number of women-owned businesses thrive financially so they can focus on what they do best!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It was a really hard decision to quit a stable full-time job and go out on my own. It went against all my responsible and cautious “accountant instincts” to trade something reliable and steady for something risky and unknown. That being said, I was also trading something that was draining and exhausting for something that I am so passionate about.

When I thought about it that way, the right choice was abundantly clear. It still has its challenges. Being an entrepreneur, just like my clients, I have to wear many hats. Social media for example, is not exactly in my wheelhouse, but I’m doing it!

We’ve been impressed with Biz Babe CPA LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am passionate about women building successful businesses. My job is to help them know their numbers so they can make informed decisions that lead to growth and entrepreneurial confidence. I want these women to have someone in their corner, that gets them and can answer their money questions. Women deserve to feel empowered in their businesses… I see my role as one important way for them to get there.

Think of me as an outsourced bookkeeper/accountant solution. I completely handle all bookkeeping and accounting each month. I provide customized reporting at month-end so clients clearly see their business performance in real-time. This frees up their precious time to work on other aspects of their business.

I tell all my clients, “it’s your job to handle the biz, I’ll handle the books” the time and energy these business owners save can be poured into growing their business all while having the peace of mind that their books are done right.

How do you define success?
I define success as being able to wake up every day and do something you enjoy, with the freedom to live life on your own terms. I love that my clients are also supporting a female-owned business when they work with Biz Babe CPA. They make it possible for me to have autonomy over my own schedule and do something I love every day.

In addition, one of the greatest “successes” I can have is knowing that I’ve made a positive impact on my clients’ businesses. I love celebrating their wins with them, and supporting them as they shape their communities for the better.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: bizbabecpa.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bizbabecpa/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bizbabecpa

Image Credits
Andrea Larson