Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Barstad.
Hi Sarah , we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Set Apart Bookkeeping grew out of a desire to build a career that worked with the life I wanted for my family. I spent nearly a decade in banking, starting as a teller straight out of high school and working my way up to management. By the time I was expecting my second daughter, I was ready for a change. I wanted to be home with my kids while still continuing to grow professionally and that’s ultimately what led me to start Set Apart Bookkeeping.
What started as a way to make that possible has grown largely through relationships, referrals, and word of mouth into a business I genuinely love. I’ve been fortunate to work with some wonderful business owners and build long-term relationships with many of them. One of my favorite parts of what I do is taking something that can feel stressful and overwhelming and making it feel manageable. I want my clients to feel like they have someone in their corner who understands their business and can take bookkeeping off their plate.
Today, I run Set Apart while raising four kids. Being able to build a career while still being present for my family is incredibly important to me, but Set Apart has become so much more than the reason I started it. I’m really proud of the business I’ve built, the relationships I’ve made along the way, and the opportunity to do work I genuinely enjoy.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road! I started Set Apart with a toddler and a newborn at home, so finding the time and energy to build a business while also navigating life with two very young kids was a challenge. I’m incredibly grateful for the support of my family, who really helped make it possible.
It took some time to get the business off the ground, and there have been plenty of ups and downs over the years: clients gained, clients lost, and busy seasons mixed with slower ones. Even now, finding the time to continue growing the business while keeping up with the demands of family life and our ever-changing schedule can be a challenge.
Through all of those ups and downs, the relationships I’ve built through Set Apart have been very rewarding. I have clients who have been with me for years and continue to trust me with their businesses and refer me to others. Those long-term relationships have become an important part of Set Apart and are something I truly value.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Set Apart Bookkeeping provides full-service bookkeeping for small businesses, with a focus on giving business owners accurate, timely financials without adding another thing to their already-full plates. We handle the day-to-day bookkeeping and monthly reporting, but I’ve always wanted Set Apart to be more than simply categorizing transactions and sending reports.
What really sets us apart is the relationships we build with our clients. We take the time to understand their businesses, answer questions, and explain what we’re seeing in a way that makes sense. I never want a client to feel intimidated by their own books or like they should already know the answer before asking a question. Our goal is for clients to feel confident that their books are being taken care of and that they have someone they can reach out to when they need help.
I’m especially proud of the trust we’ve built with our clients. Much of Set Apart’s growth has happened organically through word of mouth and client referrals. To me, there’s no better compliment than a client trusting us enough to recommend Set Apart to another business owner.
At the end of the day, I want our clients to be able to spend less time worrying about bookkeeping and more time running the businesses they worked so hard to build.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that building a successful business isn’t just about getting more clients, it’s about finding the right ones. Early on, it was easy to feel like I needed to say yes to every opportunity that came my way. Over time, I’ve learned that not every client is the right fit, and that’s okay.
Learning to say no, set boundaries, and recognize what my time and experience are worth has been an important lesson for me. I think there’s a temptation, especially when you’re first starting out, to measure success by how busy you are. I’ve learned that taking on more isn’t always the same thing as growing, and leaving yourself the time and space to do really good work matters.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.setapartbookkeeping.com
