Counting on Emotional Support
When the business going gets tough, who wouldn’t appreciate a friendly financial Guardian Angel taking them by the hand?
Thinking of a bullet brings to mind images of speed, accuracy and targeted efficiency – ideal qualities for an accountant.
But these cold, hard images and their association with accountancy are only part of the services provided by Haley Emerson’s Bullet Business Solutions.
There’s a clue in the reason behind the title of her company – named after a beloved former pet dog
Haley's business services are a long way from the norm as Haley likes to take a holistic approach to all her customers as not one size fits all!
Alongside valued advice and counsel on bookkeeping, payroll and taxation, she also offers friendly emotional support for companies who may be reeling from the effects of unexpected adversities.
She’s a rarity in the world of business – a dedicated numbers person with heart and a passion for getting close to what makes small businesses tick and helping them to overcome adversity to reach successful new heights.
Numbers Whiz
Haley’s own background in business goes a long way to explaining where her empathy for businesses in need comes from.
Although a whiz with maths and numbers at school, she also had a desire to be involved in the hospitality sector and work closely with people, so she joined the staff of a Sydney hotel at the tender age of 17. Starting at the bottom in various roles among the hotel’s housekeeping department, her natural flair was quickly recognised and within five years she’d reached a managerial position.
After that she moved to other prestigious Sydney hotel and hospitality properties, gaining more insights into different management cultures.
“Those years involved in all the various nuts and bolts of a hotel’s services gave me an appreciation of how different layers of business integrate and depend on each other for a successful outcome,” says Haley.
“It also got me involved in accounting and financial functions, which re-ignited my love of numbers and finance. It also got me thinking about the fundamental role of accounting in business and how essential good accounting is to success.”
Haley’s expertise in business was then further developed during six years of managing a Tourist Park in the scenic South West Rocks, when Haley discovered a real love of bookkeeping and tax.
Then a family move to Forster in regional New South Wales provided the opportunity to work with accounting firms as a bookkeeper/ accountant, as well as working in payroll for a local firm with more than 100 staff.
The icing on the cake was the completion of her Advanced Diploma in Accounting
But along with Haley’s growing understanding of business functions came a realisation that emotion also accompanies business success – and a determination that emotional support would be a big part of her own business she was planning to establish.
This all came to fruition when she established Bullet Business Solutions last year to bring this ideal to reality.
Hand-in-Hand
And with cruel irony, when Haley launched Bullet Business Solutions in her hometown of Forster in February 2020, it was at a time when small businesses were at their lowest and in dire need of all the emotional support they could get.
Already stunned by the turmoil of raging bushfires, businesses were then hit by all the unprecedented effects of Covid-19.
“It wasn’t a matter of providing straightforward business services – and it still isn’t,” says Haley. I wanted to be there for them, to work hand-in-hand to guide them through all the confusing regulatory procedures - that in some cases they weren’t even aware of.”
Her knowledge and expertise enabled her clients that were hit by the bushfires to claim the government’s stimulus grant to help them back on their feet.
This work carries on today, with Haley liaising on behalf of clients to process claims for other government stimulus funding, which is sometimes obscured by bureaucracy and officialdom.
“With Jobkeeper, it’s now more important than ever for small businesses to ensure all their accounts, tax returns and finances are in good order,” she says.
"It’s also important to have a forensic examination of a business to identify any red flags that may appear in the future to trip them up."
“I want to make sure all these businesses get that done so that they can sleep at night. Working as a team with a client and other 3rd parties like their Accountants enables us to plot the direction of their business to achieve their goals.”
Holistic Service
Bullet Business Solutions’ client roster includes businesses right from Haley’s Forster hometown and from Port Macquarie all the way down the Mid North Coast to Sydney.
They’re all diverse businesses operating across different business sectors – in hospitality, cleaning, beauty, landscaping, and even dance studios. What they all have in common is a business support that’s truly holistic and not simply confined to professional assistance with accounts, payroll and taxation.
It’s the emotional element that makes a striking difference with these services – an honest empathy with the emotional needs of a business and a dedication to getting everything on an even keel.
According to Haley, there’s some common mistakes made by businesses that can lead them down the path to trouble.
“The biggest mistake is to assume that everything’s fine and running well, without taking a really good look at the details,” she says. “More often than not a detailed examination will uncover inaccuracies with the potential to cause real damage.”
These can usually be traced back to miscoding – the wrong figures being initially inputted into the system, which then snowball to set everything out of line.
“Setting up payroll systems requires the same level of accuracy. Modern software-based accounting systems are great and simplify things – but they’re only as good as the numbers inputted into them. This knowledge of accurate bookkeeping is all so important with Superannuation to consider.”
It’s all food and drink to this self-confessed “tax geek,” who even spends some of her spare time reading up on tax and business.
Work-Life Balance
That’s not to say she’s a total workaholic – with two young daughters and a growing puppy to raise, as well as a supportive husband - Haley strives to achieve a work-life balance with a fulfilling family life alongside her dedicated work for clients.
“I don’t overbook my schedule and ensure that I’m organised each week – family is so important as my girls are six and nine, with a very busy dance schedule!
“While my girls are young, I’ll only take on so many clients which will allow me to dedicate my work time to them.”
There’s a philosophy behind all this which inspires Haley to strive for success both for herself and her clients.
“I enjoy working with people and I also love numbers and tax, which most people may not,” she says.
“My aim is to help other small businesses thrive in their chosen business sector and maximise their potential – and also to help them create their own work-life balance.”
“I want to support business owners as little or as much as they need, so that they know they can call upon help when needed.”
Building a Future
One aspect of Haley’s life away from work is linked to her passion for work-related activities, however.
Together with her husband, they focus on their own investment portfolio which will hopefully one day enable them to not have to work as hard and then spend more time with family.
It’s a pastime with a purpose that’s had Haley researching funding, architects and builders to coordinate their projects.
And with a natural eye for cost-cutting, she’s already made savings by using her husband to complete the landscaping!
Contact Haley Emerson:
t/ +61 425 563 402
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