Meet SMJ Communications
Sharise Johnson, Founder & CEO
SMJ communications is a full scale strategic communications firm that provides support and consultation to schools, districts and educational nonprofits.
Hitting those high revenue months is something most entrepreneurs work diligently towards and when it finally happens in their business, it’s a milestone that’s exciting – and at the same time can feel overwhelming. Scaling your bank account and team often go hand-in-hand, and knowing where and how to manage and move that cash flow can help you reap more benefits in the long run so you continue to build a business from a new level of authority and confidence.
Let’s dive into the specifics that we helped SMJ Communications navigate!
The Challenge
In late 2021, SMJ Communications looked like a thriving company from the outside – with clients flowing in left and right and handfuls of independent contractors gaining hours of steady work – but on the inside, it was doing everything to keep its head above water as demands increased and more money filtered in quickly.
Rather than try to stop the momentum, CEO and Founder, Sharise Johnson, wanted to continue growing and scaling financially, but in a way that felt controlled and ethically aligned.
Having been in a partnership with Young and Co for some time – and being an intentional business owner, seeking support from a trusted source was a no brainer for Sharise.
Sharise explains, “I can’t stop the momentum that we’re experiencing right now. So how do I quickly bring people into the fold, acclimate them to the way that we do the work? In this moment, I knew that finances just was not my area of expertise. And so that’s how we found each other and it was a match made in heaven.”
The Solutions
After reaching out to us for insight, we discovered areas of the business that needed closer attention, including the billing structure of their services and the team as a whole. Together, we crafted a plan that would benefit both the company and the clients. Here is how we paired hypergrowth with strategic financial decisions:
- Financial Organization
First, we did a deep dive on the business’s current finances to create a bird’s eye view of how money was being moved around. This allowed SMJ to get clarity on where money was (or was not) being spent, saved and invested to help make more strategic financial decisions.
- Understanding of Cash Flow
Having never seen this much income in her business before, Sharise was feeling nervous about the next steps to take. She had questions, like:
- What is the amount of taxes I need to pay now?
- How do I pay my employees appropriately?
- How do I manage a payroll system correctly?
- How many people do I need to hire?
We gave Sharise the tools needed to understand the influx of cash flow and how to navigate these new margins and tax brackets.
- Upgrade Pricing and Pay Structures
SMJ was billing clients on an hourly basis and creating proposals with unclear project expectations. This led to overhiring and team burnout, so they created clear service guidelines to shift into more customized service-based packages for their clients. This made for a stronger customer experience and allowed them to retain clients for longer periods of time without a need to take on more contract hires.
- Hiring A Sustainable Team
One of Sharise’s goals for the business was to build out a team that reflected the diversity that was missing in the education system and that helped to increase the pipeline of people of color, who were very talented and experts in the education sector.
After restructuring the service packages and having a clearer view of cash flow, Sharise was able to move away from contractors to hiring employees that aligned with the mission, the vision, and the values of SMJ Communications.
The Results
As an Impact Tier client receiving our high touchpoint virtual CFO services, the implementation of the strategy was the catalyst for SMJ’s significant growth and achievement over the last two years. Check out the short and long-term results Sharise experienced!
Short Term Results (6 Months)
Overall Financial Clarity
With stronger knowledge and confidence in making financial decisions for her business, Sharise went from, operating and leading her company from a place of, “I have to do this. There’s no other option’” to, “‘I choose to do this because I enjoy it’.”
Increased Quality of Work
Sharise initially thought that shifting from billing hourly to project-based package pricing would deter clients from continuing to work with SMJ Communications.
But to her surprise, having a more detailed and customized offer structure made it clearer for both her clients and her team, resulting in increased quality of work and an influx in referrals for the business.
They had happier clients and team because everyone had clarity on the work that they were doing.
Snowball Effect of Strategic Planning
When SMJ implemented the proactive approach to creating a streamlined work and client experience, Sharise was also able to pull the trigger on new hires, revamping their service proposals, and restructuring their pricing and payroll, increasing business productivity internally.
Long Term Results (12 Months)
Consistent New Business & Client Referrals
SMJ’s focus on client empowerment and approaching the finances of the company strategically skyrocketed once they got clear on their offer structure. This allowed them to scale and receive new business through referrals and recommendations only – without any money spent on marketing.
External Wealth Creation
The strategy that Young and Co created alongside SMJ Communications was built with the thought of long term growth in mind.
This gave Sharise the ability to move her eggs into multiple baskets, including investing in assets outside of her business, as a wife and mother of three children, that built generational wealth and other sources of income over time. One of those was bringing her lifelong dream of owning a beach house to fruition just two years after starting a partnership with Young and Co.
“I remember you kept telling me that, yes, you have a salary, but at the end of the day, your entire business, your profits, what your business is making, is an asset for you. And that I would not have that asset if I gave up the business and went back to a full time job. I think that opened my eyes to really doing other things that I had on my goal’s list and my vision board.”
We love client wins like these!
Mid 6-Figures to Over a Million in One Year
SMJ scaled to a 7-figure business through a strategic, yet holistic approach in just a 12 month period. In turn, this has allowed SMJ Communications to deliver exemplary results for their clients and build lasting relationships throughout their community.
Discover the inspirational work that Sharise and her team are providing in the educational space by searching for @SMJCOMMS on Instagram or going to www.smjcomms.com.
Today, Sharise credits Young and Co as an integral part of the trajectory of SMJ’s outstanding success.
“I feel like you and your team truly value the people that you work with and want to see them succeed. And that shows in the level of care and attention that you all give throughout this partnership.”
Young and Co empowers service-based business owners to make an impact in their world through strategic financial services. Let us be your partner in understanding how to confidently handle growth in your business. Together, we’ll build a strategic plan that sets you up for long term financial success. Learn more about our service tiers and how we can support you in your business endeavors by visiting our website today!
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