Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Reusch.
Hi Amber, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Before starting Dots & Digits Accounting, I spent over a decade working in accounting, finance, and small business management — everything from city government and nonprofits to running my own creative ventures.
One of those ventures was *Holistic Hemp Company*, which I co-founded in 2016. We were one of the first hemp-based businesses in the South, focused on clean, natural products long before the industry went mainstream. The company grew quickly — but when COVID hit, everything changed. Between market volatility, supply chain issues, and mounting debt, we ultimately had to close. It was one of the hardest businesses experiences of my life, but also one of the most valuable.
That chapter taught me what so many entrepreneurs experience behind the scenes — the emotional weight of financial stress, the complexity of managing growth, and the vulnerability that comes when your passion and your livelihood are the same thing. It deepened my empathy and completely shaped how I guide business owners today.
When I launched Dots & Digits Accounting, I wanted to build something that *felt different*. Not just another accounting firm, but a true partner for artists and creatives — the people who pour their hearts into their work but often feel lost in the numbers. Our approach is modern, AI-forward, and deeply human. We use real conversations — about profit, purpose, and sustainability. I ask the questions that most owners have never been asked about their business life and finances.
I work with creative entrepreneurs all over the country — helping them turn financial chaos into calm, and building the kind of financial systems I wish I’d had during my own early ventures. That experience didn’t break me — it built the foundation for everything Dots & Digits stands for today.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not a smooth road. When I first started focusing on artists, most CPAs and CFOs I network with would laugh when I said I wanted to work with artists. They’d say, “Artists don’t make money.” But that couldn’t be further from the truth. I work with clients who are making anywhere from $100,000 to well over $10 million plus a year — selling art, running studios, managing galleries, and building creative brands that rival traditional businesses in both revenue and impact.
The challenge wasn’t convincing artists that they needed better financial systems — it was convincing the accounting world that creativity and profitability can absolutely coexist. Many of my clients come to me after being dismissed by other accountants or handed generic advice that didn’t fit their world. Artists don’t think or work like typical business owners — and that’s exactly why I built a firm that gets them.
Another big struggle early on was building trust in an industry that often feels intimidating or overly corporate. I had to reimagine what accounting could look like — something approachable, transparent, and collaborative. And of course, starting any business is its own rollercoaster. Balancing growth, expanding by bringing on more team members, and keeping my own boundaries while serving high-performing clients has been a constant evolution.
Experiencing my own debt challenges with the last business really influenced how I talk and work with other business owners.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Before Dots & Digits, I was deeply rooted in the art world myself. I started a crystal jewelry business years ago that became really popular in my area — I sold at art shows, boutiques, and even hotel galleries. Funny enough, this very publication actually wrote about it back then! I did countless art shows, and I know firsthand how hard, rewarding, and unpredictable that world can be. You learn to juggle everything — creating, selling, packing up, traveling, connecting — and doing it all with heart. That experience shaped so much of how I understand my clients today. I get the grind. I know the culture. I was pursuing my CPA at that time so I put that business on hold to focus on the exams.
As a kid, I always wanted to be an artist, but everyone around me told me that you could never make any real money doing that. So I went into accounting instead — and I’m glad I did. Focusing on artists now feels like closing that loop. It’s my way of proving to my younger self that you can make a good living in the art world, and that creativity and financial success don’t have to be opposites.
These days, I’m working on finding my way back into my own art again. It’s a little harder to carve out time while running a firm, managing life, and being a stay-at-home mom to a toddler — but the creative spark never goes away. It’s always there, and honestly, it’s what fuels everything I do.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Follow your heart and do what you’re passionate about — but treat it like a business from day one. Creativity and financial success aren’t opposites; they actually thrive together when you give your art a solid foundation. Keep track of your numbers, understand your cash flow, and plan for growth — that’s how you build something sustainable.
Also, listen to yourself. You’ll get a lot of opinions, but no one knows your vision like you do. Find mentors who have done what you want to do and surround yourself with people who inspire you to keep going. Network. Learn how to talk about what you do in a way that connects with others — because at the end of the day, relationships build businesses.
And while AI is transforming everything around us (and I’m a huge fan of using it in smart, strategic ways), it can never replace real human connection. Your creativity, your story, your conversations — those are what make people trust and believe in you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dotsanddigitsaccounting.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dotsanddigitsaccounting/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063871100899
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberreusch/
Image Credits
Jessica Irvin
