Cindy Zromkoski is a certified, insured bookkeeper with 20 years experience including a stint as an administrative assistant at Taltree Arboretum in Valparaiso. The Portage mother of three eventually decided she wanted to work from home and "by accident" discovered online Bookkeeping Express, a company founded in 1984 that has grown to more than 150 locations through licensing agreements.

New owners purchased the company in 2007 and began franchising last year.

Zromkoski researched the company and eventually opened her own Bookkeeping Express in March. Zromkoski is principal owner through her and her husband's limited liability company, RCZ Enterprises, LLC.

"I'm the first and only one in Indiana right now," Zromkoski said. "I like the idea of having a corporation behind me and helping with things like advertising."

Bookkeeping Express services small businesses in both Lake and Porter counties.

The business can also assist medium-sized companies that either don't have a bookkeeping or accounting department, or if they have one, are short-handed with staff and can outsource.

"I can do everything from an hour a day, an hour a week or an hour a month," Zromkoski said. "It doesn't matter how small."

Using today's technology, Bookkeeping Express can assist in analyzing and evaluating a business along with providing accurate monthly reports that show how the business is doing and will work with their CPA to make sure they have all the necessary information needed at tax time.

Bookkeeping Express also offers custom flex pricing so customers only pay for the services they need.

Zromkoski said bookkeeping has always been a love of hers, ever since she took an accounting class in high school.

"I've always liked math," she said.