Case Studies

The client

Kodiak Smith co-owns Great Harvest Bakery & Cafe in Crown Point, Indiana, with his sister and wife. The family opened the franchise in September 2023, excited to build a business around a brand they believed in.

Before long, they realized managing the books themselves was taking time away from running the bakery. They opted to go with an accounting partner that seemed to meet all their needs, expecting it to give them dependable support and a clearer view of the business.

Instead, the relationship created a much bigger problem.

The challenge: an accounting firm that disappeared

“All of a sudden, they stopped communicating. Basically, we got bounced around from one accountant to another accountant to another accountant, and every accountant made their own mess of our books and records.” — Kodiak Smith, Co-owner, Great Harvest Bakery & Cafe

By early 2025, the books were a mess. Kodiak understood his business and knew what the numbers should show, but QuickBooks did not reflect the reality of his business.

The problem went beyond incorrect records. The team could not rely on a consistent monthly close, trust the information in front of them, or get timely answers from people who understood the business.

The Certus difference

Kodiak met with Certus in July 2025. The first priority was clear: untangle the books and rebuild confidence in the numbers.

Certus brought the QuickBooks knowledge and franchise-accounting experience needed to work through the records. The team helped clean up the full year of 2024 and continued working through 2025, moving the business toward the monthly rhythm Kodiak wanted: close the books, review the results, confirm that everything looks right, and move forward.

Certus also gave Kodiak consistency. The same people stayed on the account, learned how the bakery’s point-of-sale system posted transactions, understood how bills were paid, and carried that context into future work. He did not have to explain the same details again every few months.

When Kodiak spotted something that did not look right, he could share what he was seeing and provide the supporting information.

That combination of knowledge, continuity, and responsiveness created what Kodiak described as a “growing, compounding level of trust.”

The result: clearer decisions and greater peace of mind

At the time of the interview, the cleanup was nearing the finish line. More importantly, Kodiak had gained a clearer line of sight into where the business stood and where it needed to go.

That visibility matters in the food industry, where margins are tightening and costs continue to change. With better data behind the business, Kodiak and his family can focus on the decisions in front of them instead of wondering whether the numbers are dependable.

“making sure you have a good, solid understanding of your business, where it's at, where it needs to go, and that you have a partner like Certus that can help you maintain that visibility, I think is critical.”

Why Kodiak recommends Certus

For Kodiak, the value of Certus comes down to having skilled, accessible people who understand the business and respond when help is needed. He knows the work is being handled by a team that has learned the bakery’s systems and can turn reliable information into practical support.

Ready for numbers you can trust?

When your books are accurate, organized, and supported by people who understand your business, you can spend less time untangling the past and more time planning what comes next. Talk with Certus about building an accounting process that gives you clarity, consistency, and confidence.