Most Remarkable - Asbury Park, New Jersey

The best part about being a Sole Proprietor is the ability to craft a vision and remain uncompromising in pursuit of said vision. So it goes for James Gay and his production company, Most Remarkable. In 2002, caught up in the post-9/11 production slowdown, James made the transition from freelance writer/producer/director to owner of a thriving creative agency and production company. Trading freelance day rates for business ownership may sound like a no-brainer, but entrepreneurship is never as easy as it sounds in hindsight.

"I was very fortunate that I formed my company at a time when vendors like myself could perform the functions formerly performed by larger, more expensive production companies. That has kept me going during the tough times when TV networks have smaller budgets to work with."

And Most Remarkable is most diverse. Whether it's producing a spot for America's Top Model, a campaign for Isaac Mizrahi, or a promo for Sex in the City, James will accommodate the production size and focus.

Instead of carrying the costs associated with full-time employees, James taps talent from a pool of independent contractors. While allowing him to match his costs with his income, it's also created more accounting complexity.

"As a creative type, numbers and finances had always intimidated me. Now with my own business and contractors to pay, 1099s to file, I was overwhelmed."

When it came time to organize his financial life, James asked a fellow creative professional and Mac user for a recommendation. That's how he found AccountEdge.

"My record keeping was a mess and I didn't know where to start, so I felt l needed someone to hold my hand."

That's when James sought the help of joAnn Ortiz, an AccountEdge Certified Consultant. joAnn provided one-on-one attention to his specific business needs.

"joAnn is fabulous and remains a constant source of guidance and support."

Now free from the angst and uncertainty of managing his business without a proper financial system, James is able to better focus on his work and what drove him to launch his company in the first place.

"To be honest, it changed my life in a significant way. I feel much more in control. Tax time used to feel like I had a dark cloud over my head - not anymore!"