StreetSMART are experts in helping small businesses and investors. Unlike many accountancy firms where the partners or directors step up through an established firm until they get to the “top”, StreetSMART was built by a very different route…

The firm that is now StreetSMART started out as a practical solution to a personal problem of the founder Ann Loudon. Ann is profoundly deaf and after more than ten years with a large international chartered accounting firm realised that she didn’t fit the corporate mould (and had no desire to), and her promotional prospects were limited because of her profound hearing loss. She also had a passion for helping small business owners and wanted to start a family.

Coming from a large South Otago farming family meant that the “no 8 wire DIY” mentality was alive and well. So Ann decided, at the age of 29, to set up her own accountancy firm in the back room behind the garage at home in Manukau City.

Although starting from scratch with no clients and no hearing, the business grew. One year later Ann teamed up with a business partner, moved to business premises, and had her first child.

Now, 20 years later, the firm has created a name for itself as a medium sized chartered accounting firm with a passion for helping clients achieve financial goals and success. StreetSMART is now located in a high rise building in Ellerslie, Auckland… it’s a “garage to high rise” success story.

That background enables StreetSMART to identify with the many small businesses that have started in similar ways. In fact, a significant number of StreetSMART clients started from home and now have successful and profitable businesses employing staff and providing excellent products and services.

Through personal experience Ann can empathise with clients determined to overcome obstacles and barriers to their own success… Ann built StreetSMART while also having two sons, a divorce, a successful cochlear implant operation, bought out her business partner, moved business location three times, moved home several times, brought up teenage sons as primary care giver, contributed time to various community groups, hired and fired team members and generally dealt with the curve balls that life throws from time to time.

These experiences have shaped the values that StreetSMART is built on. Values such as creating win/win solutions, hard work, integrity, taking responsibility, self discipline, being accountable, caring about people, team work, work/life balance, continuous improvement, being proactive, and having daily passion.

Throughout your journey it helps to have support from experienced business mentors, and that is a role that StreetSMART often plays when working with clients.