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10 Years of Anne Napolitano Consulting: Lessons, Milestones, and Gratitude From a Decade in Business

This is a personal note from Anne, founder of Anne Napolitano Consulting, in celebration of 10 years of Anne Napolitano Consulting serving our clients and building something meaningful together.

A Look Back at the Beginning

Anne Napolitano Consulting began in 2016 with a simple goal: to help people through clear, meaningful accounting support. After years of working in corporate roles and running a personal chef business of my own, I wanted to create something that combined technical expertise with real-world understanding.
Starting ANC was exciting and intimidating. I leaned on relationships I already had, took on a range of clients, and slowly built trust. I still remember landing our first client — a local church that remains a client to this day.
Reaching 10 years is both humbling and energizing. What began as a one-person practice is now a 12-person team of talented professionals who care deeply about the clients we serve. I’m proud of what we’ve built together, and grateful to everyone who helped along the way.
If there’s one takeaway from this milestone, it’s this: sometimes the decision that feels uncertain becomes the one that changes everything.

Growing With Intention

ANC has grown in steady phases — each step shaped by client needs and a desire to serve better. Early on, I worked with all types of clients. But I quickly found my love for the food and beverage world. While we still work with a range of industries, specializing in food and beverage has been a big step for the firm. The complexity, creativity, and energy of this industry aligned perfectly with our skills and values.
Over the years, we’ve moved from just bookkeeping and accounting to providing higher-level advisory and CFO services. We adopted tech that brings clarity, not confusion. And we developed a 3-person team structure to ensure clients feel supported by a group that knows their business inside and out.
Growth has allowed us to specialize, deepen our expertise, and raise the bar on what financial service should look like.

What Still Matters Most

Through all the growth, some things remain constant. We’re still grounded in the same core values: clarity, expertise, partnership, innovation, and service.
We approach every client relationship with the same goal I had on day one — to reduce stress, provide insight, and act as a true partner. Whether we’re building new processes or using new tools, our approach remains personal and practical.
We’ve grown, but we haven’t lost what made this work meaningful to begin with.

10 Lessons From 10 Years

A decade in business teaches you a lot — not just about financial strategy, but about people, priorities, and what really matters. Here are 10 moments and lessons that have shaped ANC over the past 10 years:
  1. Helping clients through COVID was a turning point. From PPP guidance to cash flow triage, we became more than accountants — we were lifelines.
  2. Find what you love, and lean in. Specializing in food and beverage wasn’t the original plan, but it quickly became the right one.
  3. Your first client matters. Ours was a local church, and 10 years later, they’re still with us.
  4. Don’t waste your time working with jerks. The best partnerships are built on mutual respect.
  5. You can’t do it all — nor should you. Building a trusted team is essential.
  6. Growth can look different than you expected. We’ve evolved into a 12-person, all-female team — and that’s something to celebrate.
  7. Invest in people, not just profit. Genuine relationships create real results.
  8. Never stop learning. Staying curious keeps us sharp.
  9. Take risks. Whether they succeed or not, they move you forward.
  10. Your team matters more than anything. Trust, kindness, and a sense of humor go a long way.

With Gratitude

To our clients: thank you for trusting us with your business. You’ve allowed us to be part of something bigger — building and sustaining great businesses.
To our team: thank you for showing up with integrity, care, and dedication. You make ANC what it is.
To our network: thank you for the referrals, encouragement, and continued support. We wouldn’t be here without you.
This milestone belongs to all of you.

Looking Ahead

The last 10 years of Anne Napolitano Consulting have meant more than I ever imagined — and we’re just getting started.
We’re excited to grow, expand our services, and continue leading the way in accounting for food and beverage businesses — helping industry leaders find clarity in their numbers. Our commitment to client-first service remains as strong as ever.
If you’re building something and want a financial partner who understands where you’re headed, we’d love to talk. Learn more about our approach to accounting by scheduling your free consultation.

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