The Independent Consultant Growth Lab is a 6-month experience designed to support the growing number of independent consultants in the ATD Greater Atlanta community.

This initiative is designed to:

• Provide members with practical, trusted resources to grow their consulting practice

• Strengthen the chapter’s ability to support this expanding segment of our membership

Why You're Working Hard But Not Seeing the Money

Whether you're considering the leap to independent work or already running your own business, understanding the financial side is what separates "busy" from "profitable." And most people skip this part... not because they don't care, but because nobody breaks it down in a way that actually makes sense.

Join Stephanie Smith of New Light Financial Solutions for a practical, plain-English conversation about the money side of running a business. This session covers why independent consulting might be more within reach than you think, the financial fundamentals every business owner needs to know (including bookkeeping, tracking, and keeping your books in order), and how to tell the difference between making money and actually keeping it. You'll also learn how to spot what's driving profit in your business and what's quietly working against you.

No accounting jargon. No spreadsheets full of formulas. Just real financial clarity for anyone who wants to build something that actually pays them what they're worth.

What attendees will walk away with:

• A realistic look at the advantages of starting and running your own business
• An understanding of why bookkeeping and financial tracking matter from day one
• A clear picture of revenue vs. profit and why the difference matters more than you think
• How to spot what's actually driving profit (and what's eating into it)
• Confidence to make better financial decisions, even if numbers have never been your thing

Facilitated By:

Stephanie Smith is the founder of New Light Financial Solutions, a bookkeeping and CFO advisory firm built for business owners who want financial clarity without the chaos. A former math teacher turned financial strategist, Stephanie has a gift for making the numbers make sense, whether you're handling your own books or ready to hand them off. She's a certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor and active Zoho Finance Partner, and her firm's One Clear Path method helps business owners understand the financial drivers that actually move the needle on cash flow and profit. From DIY bookkeeping support to full-service CFO advisory, Stephanie meets business owners where they are and helps them build a business that works for them, not the other way around.