Modernizing Friday Financial Services in CEO Start
For more than 20 years, Yolanda Friday, founder of Friday Financial Services, has been helping individuals develop family financial plans and businesses report their finances—giving both peace of mind during tax season.
She likes to say, “We make every day feel like Friday—when the work is over, and the stress is gone.”
After decades in operation, however, she saw a need to update her business to compete in today’s changing marketplace and appeal to a new generation of families and businesses. As a longtime tax professional, she knew the numbers and process hadn’t changed, but people were looking for something new. She knew she wasn’t equipped to develop a new brand or website herself without wasting a lot of time and energy.
So, she looked to Elevate Hennepin for advising and to collaborate with other business owners in CEO Start, a group-learning opportunity that helps small business owners and entrepreneurs validate their ideas and develop a solid business plan to move forward. Even though she had been operating successfully for many years, her business didn’t have a cohesive strategy.
"Rebranding my business and adding new services required guidance, and Elevate Hennepin was there at the right time,” says Yolanda. “The CEO Start program, in particular, was an absolute godsend. Networking and getting advice from others has been invaluable.”
She said that peer support helped her stay relevant in a fast-changing field, while also benefiting from a network of advisors and fellow entrepreneurs. And she advised other entrepreneurs to dedicate the time, invest in themselves, and see what Elevate Hennepin has to offer.
"You don’t realize the fundamental impact this support has on your business until you experience it,” she reflects. “Sometimes you just need to trust the process and take the help available.”
Join entrepreneurs like Yolanda in a group-learning opportunity or connect with one of dozens of expert business advisors today.
Show all resources
Get connected to professional resources, tools, and guidance from business experts.
Schedule a consultation
Meet one-on-one with a Business Navigator to assess your best next step.
Real businesses, real stories.
Stinson Services smooths the roofing-industry rollercoaster in HR Next
Stinson Services was growing, but HR challenges were too. So, Ryan Stinson joined HR Next to take on those challenges and develop a HR strategy to smooth out the seasonal volatility and strengthen the company culture for the long term.
Advisor Tashie George offers support and connection
Tashie George has built several successful businesses and now she's guiding small business owners and idea-stage entrepreneurs on how to avoid the many roadblocks she faced as the lead advisor with IFRI-TRYV, a nonprofit small-business support organization.