Lekas, Edgar & Co. Wins Prestigious NH Business Review BOB Award
We’re honored to share that our firm, Lekas, Edgar & Co., has been named a 2025 BOB (Best of Business) Award Winner by NH Business Review! As a women-owned accounting firm based in New Hampshire, this recognition means the world to us–especially knowing that the BOB Awards are nominated by and voted on by NH Business Review readers, recognizing the best Granite State B2B businesses in over 50 categories. With only one winner in each category, we were up against hundreds of other accounting firms across the state, including large regional firms, making this win even more meaningful.
As founders and partners, we’ve been on an incredible journey together, building Lekas, Edgar & Co. into what it is today. We wanted to take a moment to reflect on that journey, share what this award means to us, and what lies ahead.
Our reaction on hearing about our win:
Frankly, we weren’t expecting it. This was the first year we made it into the final voting pool, and to hear we won came as a surprise, especially as we were up against some much larger, regional firms. It really is encouraging to know that our work and relationships with clients are recognized and appreciated.
A bit about our firm:
We offer CFO consulting, tax planning and preparation for businesses and non-profits and individuals. We can also help with estate and trust planning and tax filing. Together, we have almost fifty years of experience in these areas. We specialize in small businesses and more complex individual situations, such as clients who manage rental properties. While most of our clients are in the New England area, we are able to service clients across the country. In fact, when our clients move out of state, they often continue with us. In addition, many of our new clients come to us through personal referrals.
We also have a great referral network of our own, including bookkeepers and attorneys. Our goal is to equip our clients with all the resources they need to succeed.
How our partnership came to be:
Joanne: We launched our partnership during the pandemic. Our first day as a new firm was in January of 2021. Isn’t a pandemic the best time to start a new business venture? Prior to this, I was working with another partner, and we found we had different goals for the future, so we went our separate ways. Kerry and I had worked together over the years, and I really enjoyed our collaboration and the knowledge and skills she brought to the table. After looking at different options and talking to Kerry, we decided to give it a go.
Kerry: I had moved up to NH from Massachusetts and was rebuilding my network of professionals. A bookkeeper friend of mine introduced me to Joanne, and we hit it off from the beginning. Our areas of work overlapped, but we also had our own areas of expertise. She would consult with me on some of her clients, and I would bring her in with some of mine. During the pandemic, it was such a confusing time with all the immediate tax law changes and so much going on. It was good to have that camaraderie. When Joanne and her partner split amicably, it was natural to discuss a partnership. We had such similar approaches to client care and how to treat employees. Although I had been on my own for eight or nine years, my gut told me this made sense. So, we took the leap.
How the firm has grown:
Between us, we had seven employees at the beginning. Now there are 14, so we’ve doubled our team. We’ve also doubled our client base since that time. So, the partnership has been powerful for both of us. We don’t aim to be a giant firm–just the right size to best serve our clients.
Our company philosophy and how we work with clients:
Joanne: Our focus is always on planning with our clients, whether that be tax planning or wealth building or, on the CFO side, helping them manage their companies. It’s not about just getting a tax return out the door. I think that part is what really sets us apart. We spend a lot of time understanding our clients and really being there for them. And our whole staff is a team. Our clients can reach anyone and that person will make sure they get exactly the help they need.
Kerry: We’re very client-centric. You know, accounting is not everyone’s language, so we understand the importance of reinforcing important information a second or third time or having an in-person meeting, so our client is comfortable they have the knowledge they need to make informed decisions. You know, our clients really learn to trust us as a resource, to the point they’ll call us for just about anything they need. It’s about sharing life together.
Our internal company culture:
Joanne: So, Kerry and I are pretty laid back, hands-off kind of managers. Work-life balance is paramount. We’re always there to help, and we’re always available, but we want people to work independently. Everyone does have goals, but we are also a team. We hold informal weekly staff meetings to bring up specific areas needing cooperation and communication. We have titles, but ultimately, they’re irrelevant, especially when it comes to interfacing with clients and meeting their needs.
Kerry: It’s important to have trust with your employees. Having flexibility is key to working at your best, so creating that environment is critical. For example, if you have a doctor’s appointment during the day for yourself or a family member, take that time. We know you’ll manage your work week as you need to meet your hours.
On being a women-owned independent business in a field historically dominated by men and larger accounting firms:
Joanne: Kerry and I both have good reputations for doing quality work, and we find there are other women-owned firms in the state that are open to networking and supporting each other. That said, there are fewer local firms as the number of acquisitions by large national firms and private equity increases. We have no plans to sell and are committed to remaining independent. We feel it gives us the flexibility and bandwidth to better serve our clients and work with smaller businesses that just couldn’t afford big firm rates.
Kerry: Accounting has certainly evolved. Although it was definitely male-dominated when I started, I never felt held back.
Some words of wisdom for small businesses:
Joanne: I’ve learned a lot over the years about what not to do in business. One key “don’t” is spending anticipated revenue; that can put you in a financial hole quickly. Second, is expanding your business too soon. It’s easy to get excited, but you need to put these decisions behind the lens of reality, including anticipating potential pitfalls. Finally, don’t go it alone. You need a team – a trusted mentor, attorney, bookkeeper, tax accountant just to name a few. We certainly run our own business with these principles in mind.
What’s next?
We would love to expand our CFO services. There is such a need for that expertise out there, especially for growing companies that need strategic direction. We have incorporated smart tools that have made us more efficient and virtually paperless, so we are poised for client growth. At this point, building redundancy in our staffing capabilities to give us, as business owners, more flexibility is our top priority.
