Modernizing Friday Financial Services in CEO Start

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.”