WORTHINGTON -- Brad Shaffer had long dreamed of opening his own accounting firm, and now that dream is a reality.
Shaffer opened his office Feb. 23 in the Armory Business Center, located at 225 Ninth St. in downtown Worthington.
A licensed certified public accountant, Shaffer provides all of the services of a CPA firm, from tax service and bookkeeping to accounting services, small audits, reviews and business consulting.
"I'm trying to hit the market between the larger CPA firms in town and the smaller bookkeeping firms," he said. "I'll work with those who don't think they need the size of a bigger CPA firm."
A graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, with a bachelor of science degree in business administration, Shaffer has worked in the accounting field since 1988. The Des Moines native moved to Worthington in July 1995 for a position with Dennis L. Rick Ltd., and later worked for Gordy's and Prairie Holdings.
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"I've always had an entrepreneurial spirit," Shaffer said, adding that he'd been waiting for the perfect opportunity to venture out on his own.
"I decided I needed to make the perfect start, I went out on a limb and started this," he said.
Experience is key, especially in the accounting field, said Shaffer, adding that he and his wife had discussed the idea for quite a while before making the decision.
"I had a good job at Prairie Holdings," he said. "It's difficult to make this kind of decision -- to leave the safety net of the job I had before, but I'm going to put my best foot forward and hopefully the community will respond."
While working at Prairie Holdings, Shaffer provided tax work to clients on the side. He now hopes to build up that list of clients.
"It's still early enough in the tax season, and I will continue to build the business after April 15," he said.
Shaffer's office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and he is available evenings and weekends by appointment.
He and his wife, Dawn, have four daughters, ages 14, 10 and 4-year-old twins.
