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FEATURED ARTICLE
Small town girl building her dreams
ACCOUNTING
September 7, 2026 at 6:42:45 PM
Thanks for taking the time to meet with us and share your story with our readers. For those who may be meeting you for the very first time, we'd love to start with a proper introduction. Can you tell us who you are, what you do, and what excites you most about the work you and your team are doing today?
Hi! My name is Kate Lemke and I am the owner of Small Town Bookkeeping LLC! I am based out of Geneva, NE where my husband and I and our 6 kids have lived for the last 16 years. For the last 15 years I worked in the medical billing field. While I enjoyed what I did there was something missing and I unfortunately got burnt out with it. I have always loved working with numbers and making accounts balance out perfectly. Being able to work with and help small businesses succeed in their business is what excites me the most!
Every successful company has an origin story, and we're always fascinated by the moments that lead people to start building something new. Can you take us back to the beginning and tell us how this journey started and what inspired you to create or join the business you're part of today?
Back in March of this year I unfortunately lost my job. Just as one would I spruced up my resume and got busy looking for a new job. After a few months of hearing nothing back or getting rejection emails I had had enough. I sat down and wrote out what I wanted my life to look like for me and my family. I knew I wanted to be in control of my schedule and be able to truly have work life balance. I also knew that I wanted to make an impact in my community and the small businesses operating in and around my town. With my education in accounting and background in medical billing I knew I could join all of that together and offer my knowledge and skills to businesses in bookkeeping. So, after a month or so I went for it and opened Small Town Bookkeeping LLC.
When people describe your company to friends, colleagues, or peers, what do you hope they're saying about the experience of working with your team and what you provide?
I hope that my clients, friends, family and community are saying that I give my all to my business. That I take the time to truly understand their business and their business needs. I hope they say that I am trustworthy, honest and treat everyone with respect and kindness.
What's something that surprises people once they become customers or work with your team that they probably never would have expected beforehand?
I think one thing that surprises people is how big of a scope of services I actually offer. I think a lot of people tend to think of bookkeeping as just keeping tracking of what’s coming in to the business. In reality it’s so much more than that. It’s making sure that all money coming and going out is accounted for and that bank accounts balance out every month. That they can actually see exactly where their business is financially and how it is going. It’s about learning what’s going well and what improvements can be made to help their business grow.
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Where do you believe your industry is heading, and what should organizations be doing today to position themselves for success tomorrow?
The bookkeeping industry is always evolving. With AI technology coming to the forefront very quickly it’s imperative that professionals in this industry keep learning and take advantage of new opportunities and keep themselves competitive.
Every organization develops principles it refuses to compromise on. Are there values or beliefs that sit at the center of how you operate your business and serve your customers?
My business is based on honesty, integrity, and embracing community values. I believe that building relationships whether personal or professional is the foundation to a successful business. Treating people with kindness and respect and showing respect for what they have built from the ground up speaks volumes and is what keeps customers coming back.
What's one strategy, habit, mindset, or practice that has consistently served you well throughout your career and that you believe others could benefit from adopting?
Always be up front and honest with your customers or clients. I don’t beat around the bush on anything. I shoot it straight to my clients. If I don’t make sure that they have all the information they need and help them understand that information then I’m failing them. It’s my job to make sure their business runs smoothly financially and offer feedback when necessary to help them grow their business.
Well, we could talk all day. Thank you so much for taking the time to join us today and contribute to the Biz Amplified community. Before we let you go, we'd love for you to share where readers can connect with you on social media, visit your website, or follow along on your journey moving forward.
This has been an honor to share my story and my business! For those who anting more information or to follow me you can go to my website, https://small-town-bookkeeping-ne.web.app or you can find me on Facebook! Small Town Bookkeeping.
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