The Bookkeeper Who Built Freedom (One Nap Schedule at a Time)

Emma Caveness didn't set out to revolutionize small business bookkeeping. She set out to not lose her mind.

With a 19-month-old running laps around the house and another baby due in February, Emma runs Self-Employed Solutions, a bookkeeping and payroll service that's equal parts financial lifeline and sanity-saver for small business owners across Charlotte. But this isn't your typical  bookkeeping firm with mahogany desks and judgment. This is bookkeeping that actually gets it.

The "Oh Shit" Moment

Like most new moms, Emma had a moment of complete shock and adjustment when her son  arrived. "How time consuming breastfeeding/pumping is—really another full time job!" she says.

And there it was: the math that doesn't add up. Full-time job + full-time parent + sleep deprivation = how exactly is anyone supposed to do this?

So Emma did what any ambitious, exhausted, fed-up woman does: she built something better.

The Origin Story (Where Corporate Finance Goes to Die)

"I didn't just start this business to crunch numbers, I started it to create freedom," Emma explains. "Freedom for myself, and freedom for the small business owners I support."

After years in rigid corporate finance environments—you know, the kind where leaving at 5pm feels like a revolutionary act—Emma realized she needed something different. "I needed flexibility: the ability to set my own hours, work with intention, and build a career that aligned with my life, not the other way around."

But she also saw a need in the community: small business owners drowning in financial confusion. "They were trying to scale without systems, and making costly mistakes simply because they didn't have the right support."

So she built a business that does more than reconcile accounts. Self-Employed Solutions offers hands-on bookkeeping, payroll, and operational guidance tailored to each client's goals. She designs workflows, helps clients prep for S-Corp transitions, and coordinates with attorneys and CPAs to keep everything compliant and scalable.

"Because when your back office runs smoothly, your whole business runs better, and when you have clarity around your finances, you make decisions with confidence," she says. "That is what I want for myself and every entrepreneur I work with."

Motherhood Meets Balance Sheets

Here's the thing about Emma's business: it was built on the same foundation as her approach to motherhood.

"This business was born from the same values I bring to motherhood: flexibility, clarity, and care," she says. "I wanted a career that allowed me to be present for my family while still making a meaningful impact, and bookkeeping gave me both."

When she became a mother, the typical 9-to-5 stopped making sense. "I realized how much I craved a work life that could flex with nap schedules, daycare pick ups, and the beautiful unpredictability of raising kids. I didn't want to choose between being a great mom and doing work I love, so I built a business that lets me do both."

And she's not alone. Many of her clients are mothers too, juggling growth, ambition, and family life. "I see how hard they work, and I know how much mental space is freed up when their finances are in order. That's why I offer more than just bookkeeping, I offer peace of mind. I help moms in business reclaim their time, make confident decisions, and build something sustainable for their families."

She created systems that help small business owners scale with clarity, confidence, and less stress. "And I did it all without waiting for permission."

This Week's Wins

Emma's current victory lap includes onboarding a new client ready to clean up their books before year-end, hitting a personal pregnancy milestone ("that reminded me how powerful and adaptable this season can be"), and wrapping up 1099 tracking ahead of schedule.

Because nothing says "I've got my shit together" quite like being pregnant with a toddler while hitting tax deadlines early.

The Bottom Line

Emma's closing pitch is simple: "I'm proud of the systems I've built, the trust I've earned, and the peace of mind I help create. If you're a small business owner (especially a fellow mom) who's ready to stop guessing and start growing, I'd be honored to support you."

Translation: If you're drowning in QuickBooks while your toddler eats crackers off the floor, Emma's your person.

Because at the end of the day, this isn't just about bookkeeping. It's about building a business, and a life, that doesn't require you to choose between showing up for your family and showing up for yourself.

Find Emma: Self-Employed Solutions, LLC @self.employed.solutions www.selfemployedsolutions.com