Why Swell?
You’re on a mission to use the power of business for good. As a natural innovator and entrepreneur, working for a purpose is what gets you out of bed in the morning.
And even though you hit the ground running, it’s become overwhelming to stay true to your vision while managing your day-to-day operations.
Striking that balance is tough, right?
Our financial services evolved out of this specific need. In our experience, the people who dream big are often bogged down by the nitty-gritty work that underpins their ideas.
Like, say… bookkeeping.
And after 10+ years of seeing this reality in the businesses we managed, we set out to create a specialized service for businesses that are responsible, purpose-driven, and striving to make a positive impact.
By handling your books, we take the weight off you, so you can focus where you truly shine. Our bookkeeping services instill confidence and ensure that the financial foundation of your business is stable and clear.
We specialize in social entrepreneurs, B Corps, nonprofits, and brands that champion the environment.
The fact is, qualities like vision and creativity don’t always come bundled with the desire to crunch numbers and handle financial planning. And that is just fine by us - we exist to empower individuals and brands we deeply admire by amplifying their success with our organized minds.
Our team
Co-founders Sandra Merrill & Chris Zimmermann have been enabling small businesses to thrive for the past decade.
We understand your needs because before starting Swell Advisors, we ran businesses ourselves. Sandra led the finance, sales, and operations for a founder-driven jewelry company with a focus on repurposed materials. Chris oversaw bookkeeping, sales, and inventory management for a mature, family-owned ski and active apparel business.
As a husband and wife team, we met in the mountains 15 years ago, and also recently spent 1.5 years in pursuit of the best surf around the world. As we did so, we supported local people by helping them grow their eco-focused ventures. Our analytic skills and communication styles have made us trusted partners to founders and business leaders near and far. But, what truly separates us is our grounded energy, integrity, focus, and dedication.
At Swell Advisors, we believe positivity is powerful. We’re passionate about business, sustainability, and the impactful space where the goals of both align. We’re here to empower small companies and their big ideas and can’t wait to hear all about yours!
Services
Wherever you’re located, our virtual bookkeeping services allow for a seamless, real time connection. We take advantage of the leading cloud-based accounting software, backed by bank level security and encryption, to give you access to your financial records anytime, anywhere.
You need a solid foundation for your company, based on accurate and up-to-date bookkeeping, to reach your lofty goals.
Our services get you there, with precise financial statements and reports that will pave the way for smart business decisions.
We customize our services and fees to the size and needs of your business.
Whether you’re just starting out or have been operating for many years, we’ll help you grow your business sustainably.
Our standard services:
Weekly Bookkeeping/Transaction Categorization
Receipt Management
Bank Reconciliation
Monthly Financial Statement Preparation and Interpretation
Unlimited Email Support
Subscription for Quickbooks Included
Monthly Video Conference & Consultation
Annual Year-End Reports for Your Tax Professional
Additional services:
Setup for Quickbooks
Financial Consulting
Software Education
Accounts Payable/Bill Pay
Accounts Receivable/Invoicing
Budgeting & Financial Planning
Benchmarking
Historical Clean Up
What our clients are saying…
Callee: Owner, Bestowed Essentials
“As an ethical & eco-friendly business owner, I value partnerships with like-minded individuals & companies. That's why Bestowed Essentials is proud to have Swell Advisors as our bookkeepers! Their priorities of environmental conservation, social impact, and financial freedom are directly aligned with our own company values, as well as my personal morals. Having monthly bookkeeping review calls with Sandra & Chris help me better understand the patterns, projections & long-term possibilities for my small business. As a person with a brain more geared towards creativity than numbers, the easily-digestible financial information they analyze & explain to me helps me make more mindful decisions as our business expands & evolves. I highly recommend the conscious & compassionate guidance of Swell Advisors to all my fellow eco-entrepreneurs who want to focus more on changing the world than on their balance sheets!”
Kenyon & Eryn: Co-founders, MRMRS Creative
“As two creatives whose backs are constantly against the wall with deadlines, Swell Advisors did for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves: They set up our QuickBooks, processed years of financial reporting, and were there for us every step of the way. Thanks to their patience, generosity and no-dumb-questions policy, we went from literally being afraid of QuickBooks to relying on it for our invoicing, expense tracking, and banking.”
Lex: Founder, Three Prisms and Sea + Soil
“Since working with Swell Advisors, there has been a tremendous shift in my approach to finances, as well as my recognition of my professional potential. Having Swell to bounce ideas off of and ask questions has been a total game-changer. They have helped me to recognize my strengths and put energy towards what I’m good at, what I love to do, as well as what aligns with my personal and professional ethos. Now I am swimming in new opportunities and I give so much credit to the support I received. Thank you Swell Advisors for helping me craft a business that is a truly authentic offering that provides for me, my community, and the planet at large!”
Katie: Founder, Storyroot
“I spend so much less time worrying if things are done well. I LOVE having a process and knowing exactly where the business stands financially. Before, I felt like I had to negate my own needs to put my clients/the business first. Having clarity of mind about our business financials carries over in a very meaningful way into my personal life. Being a sole proprietor can be very lonely and having a financial powerhouse by my side is very comforting.”
Click the link below to schedule a discovery call & learn how we can take the weight off you by handling your monthly bookkeeping.