Dida Clifton built a business model that’s unlike anything on the market. Her secret? She pinpointed what the majority of entrepreneurs don’t enjoy doing and built a team to do it for them: running the back office. By Sarah Lindauer
Dida Clifton built a business model that’s unlike anything on the market.
Her secret? She pinpointed what the majority of entrepreneurs don’t enjoy doing and built a team to do it for them: running the back office.
Meet TheOfficeSquad, a team of professionals that handles bookkeeping, customer support, phone reception and other office tasks for their clients. They help business owners focus on key details – from growing revenue to expanding into new markets – by keeping the back office running like a well-oiled machine.
“When someone starts a small business, they usually start with their cell phone, bank account, credit cards and fly by the seat of their pants,” said Clifton. “I believe that a lot of them fail because they don’t do their research and have the right support from the beginning.”
Clifton is on a mission to become the go-to brand for small businesses, securing TheOfficeSquad a spot in any entrepreneur’s business plans.
Luckily, franchise owners can now get behind the pursuit. TheOfficeSquad offers a simple-to- operate, quick-to-launch model for professionals interested in supporting American small businesses.
As a military veteran herself, it’s no surprise that Clifton is mission-driven – highlighting TheOfficeSquad’s purpose as a big selling point.
“Potential franchisees don’t have to know bookkeeping. We can teach all of that. That’s the training part. But they do have to believe in the mission and want to work with small businesses. When you go into that first Discovery Day here, and you see and feel the culture, it will engulf you just like military recruiters do. It’s something bigger, something that will help the future, not just a new job,” Clifton explained.
TheOfficeSquad has also benefited from the shift to remote work and now – more commonly – hybrid arrangements.
“The downsizing means that companies don’t need to have a bookkeeper and receptionist and accountant and all of that. You have it all in one place,” Clifton explained. As a result, more and more companies need a back office that runs on autopilot.
Dida summarized it best: “I don’t know if there’s anything on the market like us. That’s what makes us stand out.”
Sarah Lindauer