By: Matt Emma

The story of Starlight Bookkeeping LLC doesn’t begin with a lifelong fascination for balance sheets but rather with curiosity, courage, and a $200 bike. Founder Karen Reese, a business financial coach, drew her inspiration from a bike she purchased online, which quickly became an intimidating project of assembly. “It sat in my apartment for months,” she says. “Then I finally faced my fear, and built it.” That experience, she realized later, was a reflection of what many entrepreneurs may face: starting a business only to feel uncertain about managing finances.

“It’s okay to not know what you’re doing sometimes,” Reese says. “You don’t have to hand over everything, but you don’t have to be afraid of learning either.” This empathy and empowerment have become the foundation of Starlight Bookkeeping, which this year celebrated its tenth anniversary of providing efficient financial bookkeeping, consulting, accounting software training, and financial literacy services. The firm offers cleanups, cloud-based record-keeping, and customized bookkeeping plans that can fit the needs and budgets of the client, but Starlight also takes its work one step further by offering customized training for business owners and an all-encompassing fractional CFO service.

Before Starlight, Reese’s career path meandered through restaurant management, property management, and even trucking before she rediscovered accounting, ironically, the very subject that once baffled her in college. “I had to work on homework and assignments that I couldn’t make sense of. I didn’t think I could get through three semesters of accounting,” she says. “Ironically, I run a business that relies heavily on it now. And I feel a part of me is teaching my 19-year-old self today.”

Unlike thirty years ago, Reese now approaches accounting by making sense of the story behind the numbers. She often compares bookkeeping to organizing a garage. “You’ve got all these boxes, plumbing here, toys there, decorations in another,” she explains. “Your transactions are the stuff in your garage. We just need to get everything into the right box so you can see where you have too much or too little.”

Her plainspoken analogies and a visceral focus on understanding have helped Starlight Bookkeeping grow a loyal base of small business owners, most earning between $200,000 and $3 million annually. “Small business owners often have little time to manage their money as they’re so focused on the task of making money itself,” she says. “We aim to support their growth through our streamlined financial management services, so they can focus on the business’s growth.”

Technology, too, plays a major role in her firm’s philosophy. Starlight Bookkeeping was founded in 2015 out of Reese’s frustration with outdated systems. “My last corporate job didn’t want to incorporate advanced accounting software,” she recalls. “Due to this, I had to give less to clients, and I didn’t like that.” That moment of defiance motivated her to start her own firm, one that would evolve with technology instead of resisting it. “When I began learning the software, I spent 30 days in agony not understanding anything,” she shares. “But I figured it out.” Today, she and her team embrace innovative tools that help automate and simplify processes while keeping clients connected and in control.

But beyond the systems and software, Reese’s work is deeply human. She sees herself as a supporter of dreams, the silent partner helping entrepreneurs focus on what they do best. “What I love about this work is that I’m helping people reach their dreams,” she says. “That’s actually where the name Starlight came from. Everyone has a dream they’re chasing, and I get to help them map out how to get there.”

Reese even reimagines financial planning as “money mapping.” Budgets, she says, often feel restrictive, but mapping gives people direction. “Sometimes, a client comes to me saying, ‘I’m making good money but can’t seem to keep any cash.’ I help them find those leaks, make the tweaks, and guide them to getting their dream back,” she says.

A decade on, Starlight Bookkeeping stands as a testament to her belief that finance doesn’t have to be cold or complicated; it can be creative, empowering, and personal. “I never stop learning,” Reese says. “I’m fascinated by this work because it’s seldom about the money; it’s about stories, people, and progress.” And as she reflects on ten years of helping others find their footing, Reese remains guided by the same principle that inspired her first bike assembly: courage to face the unknown, in finance and in life.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the content, the strategies and services mentioned may not apply to every individual or business. Results and outcomes will vary based on unique circumstances. It is recommended that readers consult with a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions or changes to their business practices.