From Risk-Taker to Trailblazing CEO - The Journey of Bridgepath CFO Solutions

Meet Scott, the Founder, and CEO of Bridgepath CFO Solutions, a trailblazing entrepreneur who defied convention to forge his own path in the business world. From humble beginnings as a residential mortgage seller to navigating through challenging times, Scott's journey is one of risk-taking, resilience, and unwavering commitment to his passion for accounting and entrepreneurship.

First, tell us your title and company affiliation. 

I'm the Founder and CEO of Bridgepath CFO Solutions

Tell us about yourself and your journey to entrepreneurship/business ownership.

My path to entrepreneurship might not follow the typical trajectory, but hey, who's to say what's typical anyway? I'm originally from Atlanta, and like most of my peers, I was pushed into college at 18. But truth be told, I wasn't ready for it, so I dropped out and started selling residential mortgages from 2005 to 2009. It was a pretty sweet gig initially—I was raking in more money than ever before and living a lifestyle that exceeded my qualifications by far. However, when the crash of 2008 hit, I realized it was time for some serious soul-searching and a career reassessment.

That's when I decided to make a move to Columbus and enrolled at Columbus State University. It felt like starting from scratch, but the moment I took Accounting 101 (ironically the only class I aced in my first college experience), something clicked. I knew in my gut that this was what I was meant to do. I hustled hard and managed to cram in around 3.5 years' worth of undergrad credits into just a year and a half. I overloaded myself with 21 credit hours each during the fall and spring semesters and even took on an extra 15 credit hours over the summer. After graduating with my bachelor's from Columbus State, I pushed further and pursued a Master's of Accountancy at Auburn University.

I went on to work at different places like a local accounting firm, Aflac, and a few smaller private companies. Throughout my career, I always had this burning desire to do something entrepreneurial, but I had no clue where to start. Initially, my plan was to build my own company while holding down a full-time job, doing some tax returns and other gigs on the side. But then, things took an unexpected turn when my former boss and I had a falling out, leading to me getting let go from my full-time position. That event kicked my plan into overdrive, and life has been an absolute whirlwind ever since.

Can you give us some insight into your entrepreneurial experience?

When I started out, I took some big risks that defined my path to success. The two biggest gambles were:

First, I signed a lease for office space at CoWork Columbus without a clear way to pay for it. I had a job at the time, so I figured if things didn't work out, I could fall back on my paycheck to cover the rent. But when I got fired, I had no clue how I'd make those monthly payments. Surprisingly, having that space helped me land several long-term customers and build a solid client base, carrying me through those tough early years.

The second risk was paying for a pricey marketing referral source endorsed by a famous finance personality. I had no guarantee it would actually work, but I still signed up for another year to secure exclusive rights in my area. Turns out, it was a lucrative move. Back then, the majority (around 60-70%) of my business came from that source alone. Although it's a smaller part of my business now, it played a crucial role in getting me off the ground.

While I officially started my company in August 2018, I consider the day I received my last paycheck in February 2019 as the true beginning. That's when I fully embraced the risks and challenges, determined to carve my own path in the business world.

What is the hardest lesson you have learned throughout your experience as an entrepreneur?

There have been so many, it's hard to say which was the hardest. When I first launched, I was still living like I had a six-figure salary so I had to make massive adjustments to my lifestyle while I was ramping up. I've poured hours into things that had no return, and I've stayed up until who knows when getting things done, at the expense of my sleep and time with my friends and family.

But overall I'd say the hardest lesson for me has been there is no such thing as a half measure in entrepreneurship. If your plan is to commit 50% it's the same thing as 0%. It truly is 100% or nothing and every regret I have or mistake I've made when I look back, they all stem from me committing less than 100% to something.

What are your greatest accomplishment earned throughout your experience as an entrepreneur?

We've hit so many milestones, the most recent one I can think of was that we made more revenue in the month of March of 2023 than we did in all of 2019, that was pretty cool to see. We've never lost an employee, I'm proud of that as well. But what I think I'm most proud of is how we helped steer our clients through the 2020 shutdown. I feel like we came together and were truly there for our clients in their time of need (it was ours too, the company had just started and I was terrified at times that we might not make it as well). But it was truly a testament to what I believe separates us from our competition. I genuinely care about my people and I will always do whatever I can to serve them. I heard stories about other firms ignoring calls and not replying to emails, or being unwilling to assist for whatever reason. I will never run my business that way, and this was our first major test. I know there will be new challenges in the years to come and I'm extremely confident that we will be there to meet those challenges and guide our clients through whatever may come.

How has your business evolved since its inception?

I don't even know if I can possibly describe how much it's evolved. At its core, it is the same company, but how diversified we've become and how many different opportunities have become available to me through Bridgepath are truly incredible, whether it be sponsoring events and causes I believe in, to meeting so many amazing people that are doing incredible things. I've certainly become more confident both in myself and in the business as a whole. I almost never stress about day-to-day comings and goings because I know that no matter what, we'll figure it out.

Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently when starting your business? 

In a vacuum, sure, I made some mistakes and took on clients I shouldn't have and/or undervalued myself and the benefits our services provide, but I wouldn't change a single thing. Every mistake I made or path I took was all part of my growth. If I went back and removed those things, I'd be a different person today and I'd be less prepared for what lies ahead. I'm sure I will make mistakes in the future, but every single one of those will be just one more lesson learned, I wouldn't trade that for anything.

Do you represent any other brands/businesses? If so, tell us about the brand and your affiliation.

Nope, I'm 100% Bridgepath all the time!

What are your hopes for the future of your business(es)? Do you have any hopes for our community's aspiring entrepreneurs? 

I have a tremendous amount of hope for aspiring entrepreneurs in Columbus. We have so many resources available and so many companies and individuals (myself included) who are truly invested in the community and in building an entrepreneurial ecosystem and fostering an environment where other business owners can thrive. One of my favorite quotes is from Margaret Mead (though often credited to Donald Keys amongst others), it perfectly encapsulates my optimism about our future: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it's the only thing that ever has."

What advice would you give other entrepreneurs looking to take that leap of faith and find their ‘start?'

Don't be afraid to fail- I've seen far too many people (myself included) who let their fear of failure stop them from chasing their dream. One day you'll look back and you'll wish you'd done this or done that, but you let fear stop you. You'll never know how it could have gone and you can't get that back. Let that fear drift back into your mind once things have gotten tough and you're not sure how you're going to stay in business tell yourself that you may fail, but you are not going to fail today. Repeat that every day.

What do you think makes Columbus an exceptional community for startups to thrive? How can our community better support entrepreneurs?

Hands down, the people. You can start a business anywhere, but here in Columbus, there is a large group of people who will bend over backwards to help. Take advantage of that!

How can our readers learn more about you and your business(es)? This can include your website(s), social media, upcoming events, etc.

Check us on the web at www.bridgepathcfo.com or email or call me directly

Through a series of bold decisions and lessons learned, Scott's story reflects the essence of entrepreneurship—a journey filled with highs, lows, and the determination to succeed. His vision for the future extends beyond personal triumph, as he passionately supports the Columbus community and aspires to foster an environment where aspiring entrepreneurs can thrive and change the world, one venture at a time. To learn more about Bridgepath CFO Solutions and the inspiring leader, Scott, behind it, visit their website at www.bridgepathcfo.com.