Brenda Ramos Almeida helped her husband start J&B Gardens while working full time as an office manager for another contractor. In 2019, she turned to WESST, a nonprofit business development organization, for one-on-one counseling and workshops to help her manage the Northern New Mexico landscaping business as she maintained the company’s books. It wasn’t long before she spotted a need and decided to start a service to assist others with bookkeeping and acquiring permits and applications for their own small businesses.

Libelula Financial focuses on the Spanish-speaking small business community. Being bilingual, Ramos Almeida knew she could provide customers with the highest quality of service in both Spanish and English, offering bookkeeping and general business assistance.

Many Spanish speakers face a language barrier that impacts their ability to move their business forward. They need assistance with understanding not only the bookkeeping aspects of their business, but also how to obtain permits and financing and correctly file reports. Ramos Almeida helps with it all.

When Ramos Almeida meets with clients, she reviews their bookkeeping practices and discusses new opportunities and the successes they have had. Her experience in her own business, along with helping clients, has allowed her to recognize what it takes to create a successful business. Ramos Almeida teaches clients to be proactive, invest in themselves, include marketing in their planning, and not wait for customers to walk in on their own.

One of the biggest challenges Ramos Almeida faces is educating her clients on the concept of time and money. As with many entrepreneurs starting a business, she found it challenging to set prices correctly and recognize the value of time. Now she helps others overcome the same challenges.

“WESST has helped me learn and develop with the resources they’ve shared and the advice they provided,” she said.

In 2024, WESST is celebrating 35 years of helping small businesses grow through one-on-one consulting, workshops, connections, financing and small business loans. Learn more about the services offered by WESST.

Contact Libelula Financial.

Edited version of WESST original story.