Every Intuit customer has their own unique story. Along each of their journeys, they find passion, share advice, take risks, celebrate success, and form a community of their own.
From small business owners, to the self-employed and those simply seeking ways to be more financially savvy – we’re here to be a part of each story and champion our customers as they take steps forward on their path to prosperity. Hear how the power of many comes together to support the business of one with #WeTheProsperous.
Meet Kimatra Maxwell, founder of Precision HR Management and an avid user of QuickBooks. She’s a #GirlOnFire, and is making life easier for small businesses struggling with HR capabilities.
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Intuit: Kimatra, tell us about your business!
Kimatra: Precision HR Management provides HR administration and coaching services for small businesses, as well as businesses that are just getting started and can’t afford in-house HR.
Intuit: Why did you choose to start your own business/become self-employed?
Kimatra: I started Precision last year in August. I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur, coming from a background in social work and counseling. I learned there is a high risk of burnout in social work, and management is, at times, ill-equipped to handle it. I found that people were not prepared for HR changes that come with starting a business, and there are always shortages on HR staffing. I kept telling myself, there must be a better way for businesses to manage relationships with employees. Because of high burnout and feeling like I wasn’t being treated well at times, I walked away from my job and decided that I would help businesses take care of their most valuable resources: their people.
I am originally from New York City and have a background in HR, specifically in the food and beverage industry. It was interesting to look at social work from the perspective of someone that went from grad school to HR, and then relocated from New York to Fitchburg, MA. Precision is a mixture of two backgrounds: HR, and social work education and training. I focus on helping employers work with and motivate employees.
The last few months have been remarkable. It’s been a huge learning experience, and one of the best journeys I’ve ever been on!
Intuit: What do you wish someone told you before you started your self-employed journey?
Kimatra: I was afraid of starting my own business, and I wish someone had told me just how much support and love would come my way. My family in Massachusetts and my husband are really supportive. One of my closest friends is also an entrepreneur, and it’s good to have people around that understand my dream. It’s a new and exciting journey – every day is a new day.
Intuit: What would you say was your main obstacle to becoming successful? How did you overcome it?
Kimatra: It is amazing starting something from scratch, but setting structure, making decisions, and selling myself and my business is a huge obstacle. It has been one huge learning experience, and I overcame obstacles by teaching myself new things and learning how to continue on, even when it was hard.
Intuit: Starting a business and becoming self-employed isn’t easy; what has made the journey worth it to you?
Kimatra: Having command over my time is one of the main reasons I became an entrepreneur. My last job was at a clinic. I had to be there at 5:30am each morning, and clients would not always show up. I love having command over my time – I can set my schedule and manage my own self-care, and not feel guilty about time going over. That’s the best part about it.
Intuit: What drew you to Intuit’s products? How do you use them?
Kimatra: I use QuickBooks, particularly the self-employed feature that links to my business account. It allows me to keep track of expenses and income. I love how simple it is, and how it connects seamlessly to all my accounts. It’s simple and affordable. In the world of entrepreneurship, I would definitely recommend to my friends!
Intuit: What are your prosperity hacks? What are some things you do each day to set yourself up for success?
Kimatra: I am very big on self-care. If I don’t care about my mental health, I’m not going to be successful in what I’m doing. A lot of being an entrepreneur is trying not to be in your own way.
Another hack of mine is to write down 10 things I am grateful for each morning when I wake up. By listing those 10 things, I remind myself why I get to do this, and it allows me to be grateful for that. I also like to spend 10 minutes on meditation each day, because my mind is always going, and this allows me to slow down and be present. I will work ridiculous hours, and having this ritual in the morning kicks off the process.
Intuit: Who do you lean on for support? Who do you go to for questions about your business?
Kimatra: I love Google. It has so many resources for entrepreneurship, especially in a small town. I also like calling people and networking with people in my town. I figured out how to do the entire LLC process online and through phone calls!
Intuit: What are your goals for the year?
Kimatra: My goals are to continue to grow Precision, become registered as a woman-owned business, become a thought leader in my industry, and help small businesses create cultures where employees are thriving.
Intuit: What does prosperity mean to you?
Kimatra: Prosperity means being able to live the life that I desire, being able to serve, and live a life that reflects who I am. I love helping people reach their dreams. I get to help businesses and be happy doing it on my time, in my own way. Prosperity is living a life where you can contribute to the world and enjoy doing it on your own time.