At the heart of every thriving small business lies a story of resilience, passion, and vision. Megan Schwan, the Founder and CEO of Sidekick Accounting Services, is the embodiment of that story—a leader who has turned her love for numbers into a mission to nurture the dreams of entrepreneurs across the country. Her journey is as inspiring as it is empowering, and it all started with a freshman-year high school accounting class where a passion was ignited.
Graduating Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Liberty University, Megan has dedicated over 15 years to mastering the art of financial management. Her expertise is reflected not only in her academic and professional accomplishments but in the way she’s redefining success for small businesses. As a speaker, coach, and published author, Megan is on the frontline of a larger movement to reshape how entrepreneurs see and utilize accounting as a strategic tool, rather than a necessary burden.
But Megan’s role goes beyond that of a financial expert. As a single mother of four, she knows firsthand the stakes of financial stability, not just for her family, but for the employees and small businesses she serves. This dual perspective fuels her passion to rewrite the statistics, combatting the troubling trend that 8 out of 10 small businesses fail. Megan believes that financial literacy and forward-thinking management hold the key to breaking this cycle.
Accounting with a Purpose
Sidekick Accounting Services, under Megan’s leadership, goes far beyond crunching numbers. The firm offers customized financial packages, catering to businesses at every stage of their journey. Megan and her team pride themselves on being true partners to their clients, guiding them toward scalable, sustainable, and profitable enterprises. “We’re not just here to do your bookkeeping or taxes,” Megan explains. “We’re here to help you see the bigger picture and drive your business forward.”
Megan has become a trusted guide in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, collaborating with organizations like the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC), NARI, Scale Up Milwaukee (SPARC), and StartUP Wisconsin, to name a few. These partnerships underscore her dedication to fostering meaningful growth within her business community.
Championing Financial Education
One of Megan’s greatest talents lies in simplifying financial data into actionable roadmaps. She often sees small business owners overwhelmed by their financials, unsure how to use their numbers to make informed decisions. Megan’s approach transforms complexity into clarity, equipping entrepreneurs with the knowledge they need to unlock new paths to growth and opportunities they didn’t even know existed.
Her ability to educate and inspire people goes beyond her clients. As a speaker, Megan engages with small business communities across different forums to demystify accounting and inspire confidence in financial management— breaking down barriers for entrepreneurs hesitant to dive into their numbers. Her message is simple: understanding your finances can unlock a future of growth, stability, and success.
Challenges that Shape a Leader
Of course, building a thriving business while raising a family as a single mother is no small feat. Megan is no stranger to balancing dual responsibilities—nurturing her family while leading a team of financial experts. She openly shares that her challenges reflect the resilience required not just to lead but thrive in both capacities.
Megan also confronts industry-wide challenges, including shifting how small business owners perceive accounting. For many, financial management feels like a stress-inducing obligation. Megan is on a mission to turn that thinking on its head, showing entrepreneurs how understanding their numbers can drive creativity and innovation.
Building an Ecosystem of Success
What stands out most about Megan isn’t just her knowledge or her accomplishments. It’s her dedication to impact. Whether she’s working shoulder-to-shoulder with a business owner to refine their processes or mentoring a room of budding entrepreneurs on financial literacy, Megan’s work comes from a place of passion and purpose.
Her story exemplifies the power of influence and empowerment. Megan’s success is measured not just in numbers, but in lives changed and communities strengthened. She’s shifting the narrative for small businesses—showing them that failure is not inevitable, and success can be built on a steady foundation of informed decision-making.
Megan’s Vision for the Future
Through Sidekick Accounting Services, Megan continues to pave the way for others. She dreams of an entrepreneurial community where financial literacy becomes the standard, where the overwhelmingly daunting statistics of small business failures become irrelevant. Her leadership reminds us of the personal side of business—how success doesn’t happen in isolation but is built through shared knowledge, support, and a collective commitment to seeing others win.
Megan Schwan is, without question, more than a financial expert. She’s a visionary. A trailblazer and an advocate for anyone with a dream to build something extraordinary.
Learn more at: https://www.sidekick-accounting.com/
Magda Kamande is a journalist and freelance writer dedicated to spotlighting influential voices and uncovering stories that inspire change and spark meaningful conversations.