With 20 years’ experience in the accounting industry, Angelina and Stan Barratt are committed to providing accounting and business support using a sustainable and flexible business model. At Enviro Biz Solutions, their aim is not only to help you streamline your accounting needs, but to help reduce your costs and increase office efficiency. They have a huge passion for sustainability and ensuring they do everything they can to leave a healthy planet for generations to come. For them, it’s all about the environment, both in the office and globally, and that is how they like to help businesses evolve. This is something they are working on constantly, knowing that each step in the right direction makes a difference, and they want to help other businesses do the same. Here, Angelina talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about the inspiration behind Enviro Biz Solutions, balancing work and family life, and their hopes and dreams for the future.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
The inspiration behind the business was family, and being able to be in control of our future. As with so many people, all this started to become really important after our having our first child and even more so with the second.
The plan was always to have my own business as I have spent many years working in this industry and could see some really different ways to do things which would benefit customers. It’s all about the timing!
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
Well I am lucky enough that there was very little I needed to start out in the beginning. I have nearly 20 years of experience in accounting and business management so I just needed my brain and a computer. Once I had this, I just started slowly taking on clients and making sure with each one that I was setting good processes.
We had a couple of false starts. We decided to go ahead and start the business when I got pregnant with our first son, so on hold it went. We then decided to give it another go and got pregnant with our second son . . . so now that we have our two children, it is time to carry on with the business.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
Software, which I honestly think is key in my industry: finding the right software to do the right thing at the right time. I use a software called Ignition which I find amazing. It manages all customer proposals, engagements and payments. All I have to do is tell it who the customer is and what they need from us!
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
Wow, so this is a really tough question and I am not sure that we are making this happen at all, so if anyone else has tips, we are open to them! 🙂
It’s important to work with our natural rhythms. I am a morning person so I tend to start work early and finish mid afternoon, giving me time with the boys.
Communication is also key: discussing what is happening each day and where each might need help and trying to accommodate as much as possible.
Flexibility, which I am not going to lie, as an accountant, I am not great at this one, but having two young boys, a business and a lifestyle block with animals, our plans change almost daily. We try to just go with the flow and always have frozen meals in the freezer for those super busy days!
