About Kelly
I like figuring out how things work. And why they stop working.
I'm Kelly Claiborne. I fix the back end of growing businesses.
How I got here
Inside it when it broke.
I've spent 10+ years running operations inside growing businesses, in the middle of it when things broke. Missed handoffs, time nobody billed, sales promising what the crew couldn't deliver, the one person holding it all together.
I kept being the one who helped fix it, and somewhere along the way I realized I'm a builder.
After you've seen the same problems show up in enough places, you start to recognize them early and know where to look. I care about systems people can actually use on a busy Tuesday, not 17-page SOPs nobody reads.
What you can expect from me
- Clear thinking about what is actually happening.
- Direct feedback, delivered collaboratively and without condescension.
- Questions you may not have considered.
- Research when we need it, and an honest answer when I need to find out more.
- I don't recommend a tool because it pays me. Some tools I suggest have affiliate links, and I'll always tell you when one does. If what you already have works, we keep it.
- No pretending every problem needs AI.
- No rebuilding parts of the business that already work.
- Hands-on setup, tested on real work, not a slide deck.
The kind of work I've done
Range, not a résumé.
Back office and job costing
Subcontractor onboarding with W-9s, agreements, insurance certificates and workers' comp requirements where they applied, vendor setup, invoicing, AP and AR, payroll, budgets and job costing, set up as repeatable workflows so the owner could see project costs, cash flow and profitability.
CRM that does the follow-up
I designed, built and tested a custom GoHighLevel CRM: lead intake, pipeline stages, missed-call text-back, consultation reminders, estimate follow-up, and review and referral requests, so follow-up stopped depending on memory.
Billing and system changes
I have reconciled recorded time against invoices and engagement terms, found exceptions and unbilled work, and fixed the billing workflow with time-entry standards and training. I have also run system changes across time tracking, billing, HR, payroll and project management.
Writing it down so it sticks
SOPs, policies and training, written from how the work actually runs and rolled out inside growing businesses.
Education: Bachelor of Science in Business Management, Western Governors University. MBA in progress, Western Governors University.
Outside the work: Philly born and raised, which probably explains the directness. I also founded a coffee bar, which taught me a lot about inventory and early mornings.
How I think about the work
The problem behind the problem.
I look before recommending.
A new tool, hire or process might help. First, I want to understand the problem and the business around it.
I find out when I do not know.
I ask questions, investigate, compare options, and bring in a qualified specialist when the work calls for one.
We choose what matters first.
The point is not to change everything at once. We scope the biggest current priority as a fixed project, finish it, and then see what the business needs next.
Who I work with
Growing service businesses.
Construction and trades, professional services, and owners who don't fit neatly into either one. If the business is growing and the back end isn't keeping up, bring me the problem.
There is no single revenue number that defines fit. It is more about whether the business has consistent work, enough complexity for systems to matter, and an owner ready to put changes into practice.
Know an owner like that? Here's how to send them my way.
Tools I have worked in
Tools are named only to describe compatibility. Some tools I recommend have affiliate links, and I always say so when they do.
QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Time, JobTread, ServiceTitan, Jobber, Housecall Pro, HubSpot, GoHighLevel, Salesforce, Zoho, Pipedrive, Airtable, Asana, ClickUp, Monday.com, Ramp, Rippling, Gusto, Lever, Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Dropbox, PandaDoc, DocuSign, Dropbox Sign, 1Password, ChatGPT, Claude.
What I am not
Not a CPA, accountant, tax advisor or attorney. Not a lender, loan broker or financial advisor. Not a software developer or reseller. I don't do inbox or calendar management. Tax, audit, legal, insurance and other licensed or specialized work belongs with the appropriate qualified professional, and I am glad to coordinate with yours.
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Common questions
Who is Kelly Claiborne?
Kelly Claiborne fixes the back end of growing businesses. She has spent 10+ years running operations inside growing businesses and fixing what broke along the way.
Is Kelly a CPA or developer?
No. Kelly is not an accountant, CPA, tax advisor, attorney or software developer. She offers bookkeeping support and back-office help, and coordinates with your CPA or attorney for tax, accounting and legal questions.
Does Kelly sell software?
No. She is not a software reseller, and she does not recommend a tool because it pays her. Some tools she suggests have affiliate links, and she always says so when one does. If what you already have works, you keep it.
Where my work stops
Kelly is not an accountant, CPA or lawyer. What she shares is operational guidance from running businesses and operations departments, not accounting, tax, legal or financial advice. For those, talk with your own CPA, attorney or financial professional.
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