KAREN JAYNE
Real Estate Exec: B and J Bookkeeping
Service, LLC

Moving to a brand new city and starting a business from scratch may seem like an overwhelming endeavor, but Karen Jayne, owner of B and J Bookkeeping Service, LLC, is always up for a challenge. In fact, it was a similarly gutsy endeavor that helped her to land her first major accounting job as a relative newcomer in the 1980s. When an under-qualified manager at her company stepped down, Karen confidently volunteered to take over; though she had never undertaken such a comprehensive project, she was sure of her ability to handle things. Within a few months, she proved herself to be a shining star, reorganizing the entire department for maximum efficiency—and leaving no doubt that she was a gifted and capable bookkeeper. “It was the best education I could have gotten,” she says.

It was a leap of faith that led Karen to Las Vegas in 2002. She had raised her two children in the San Francisco Bay area, and was ready for a change—and a job that gave bookkeepers the credit they deserved, which is why she decided to start her own business. “Many people don’t think of bookkeeping as an actual profession,” she says, “and anybody can go out and say they’re a bookkeeper. But it isn’t just a matter of working with some software; you have to know all the aspects of the job.” Building a successful business from the ground up was more difficult than she had anticipated, but Karen pressed on with her trademark determination, and had soon built a solid reputation among her clients.

Much of B and J Bookkeeping’s success is due to the fact that they don’t practice what Karen calls “assembly-line bookkeeping”—accounting that utilizes the same procedures for everyone, and offers very little interaction between the accountant and the customer. Karen’s business tailors the bookkeeping setup specifically to a client’s profession. “Each industry needs different information,” she explains. “I always ask clients, ‘What kind of information do you need from this?’” The requirements of one industry may be vastly different than those of another, and customizing the books accordingly can make a substantial difference.

It isn’t often that a service provider will encourage people to do the task for themselves. Educating her clients, however, is a tireless crusade for Karen, who firmly believes that knowledge of how accounting works is one of the most valuable tools for small business owners. They often try to save money by doing their own books, and the first thing they turn to is accounting software such as QuickBooks or Peachtree, but such software can only teach so much. “You should understand what’s going on in your own business,” advises Karen. She says that many people are surprised once they see exactly where their money goes. “How do you know where you want to go if you don’t know where you’ve been, or where you are now?” Because of this, she offers a six-week program that trains business owners to properly keep their books themselves, teaching topics such as how to keep charts and records, and how to read and understand reports.

But the education doesn’t stop there. B and J Bookkeeping Service also offers workshops that teach people how to choose a good bookkeeper, and how to protect themselves against embezzlement. “People assume that they would know if someone was stealing from them,” Karen says, “but that’s hardly the case. Embezzlers are sneaky people.” Before an unsuspecting business owner knows it, a criminal-minded employee could have virtually ruined them. Karen’s workshop also deals with how to handle the aftermath of embezzlement—legal ramifications, lowered credit ratings, and tarnished reputations.

Improper bookkeeping can lead to a whole plethora of problems, a fact that Karen has seen played out all too often in the form of problems with the IRS, or even business loss. Those in the Real Estate industry have to be especially careful because the nature of their jobs makes them more susceptible to an audit. “A lot of expenses are deductible,” she says, “but only if you keep proper records.” And knowing the ins and outs of bookkeeping—or hiring someone who does—can free up enough time to keep the focus on what’s important: the business.

Instead of struggling with figures for countless hours every week, Karen says that small business owners shouldn’t have to spend more than 20 to 30 minutes per day on their books. To assist the bogged-down business owner, B and J Bookkeeping can either keep a company’s books for them, like traditional accountants, or conduct an in-house efficiency consultation for existing accounting departments, setting them up for more efficient operation and more accurate information. B and J Bookkeeping’s flexibility and willingness to come to their clients’ workplace makes it easier for the clients themselves; the records are at their place of business, and any information they require can be easily accessed.

While bookkeeping is certainly Karen’s passion—and, obviously, her forte—she realizes that it isn’t everyone else’s. But it’s a necessity. “It’s up there with death and taxes—you have to do it,” she says. “The question is, are you going to use it to your advantage and do it right?” If it’s left up to Karen and the rest of the B and J Bookkeeping staff, it’ll be done right for sure, and clients will be left with a proper education on how to keep it that way.

It’s a January tradition to get things in order, and the books are no exception. B and J Bookkeeping will usher in the new year by helping business owners keep their resolution to get organized and take stock of their assets and expenditures, providing them with a clean slate for ’08.

Photography: Britt Pierson