Connie Koerth knows farming, so she's a natural to start a business that involves keeping the books for farmers.

"My husband and I farm. I also grew up on a farm," she said. Her husband Joel and his brother Gary operate a century farm - a farm that has been in the Koerth family for more than 100 years - in rural Brillion. The brothers became partners 10 years ago when their father retired.

Koerth also has a knack for bookkeeping. "I absolutely love bookkeeping. I love to take a bunch of papers that are in disarray and organize them. I work on the figures until they balance out to the penny. I can't sleep at night if they don't. If I never got paid to do this, I would love it so much that I'd still do it," she said.

Though her bookkeeping business is only about a year old, Koerth is no stranger to operating a home-based business. A medical transcriptionist with an associate degree from Fox Valley Technical College and several years' experience at local hospitals, Koerth "retired" from working outside her home five years ago to be with her young children. She has been running a medical transcriptionist service from her home since.

My schooling: Koerth said her mother-in-law, Faith Koerth, "taught me (bookkeeping). She was meticulous, a perfectionist, and I mean that in a good way. She had done the books for the farm and then taught me." Koerth also took an online accounting class last summer through Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and has taken three different Quickbooks courses.

Koerth said her education will continue. "I take part in small business development seminars. In fact, every time they offer a seminar, I'm there. I love it. I'll never stop learning."

What led me to the job: When Koerth's husband partnered with his brother nearly 10 years ago, she took over the farm's bookkeeping from her mother-in-law. Koerth modernized her work last year by entering the information into a Quickbooks computer program. It was the start of her business. "I was approached by a farmer to do his bookkeeping and that's how I got started doing bookkeeping for others."

Her business has grown through word of mouth and through her recent attendance at the Wisconsin Public Service Farm Show where she set up a booth designed to inform farmers about her services.

What makes the job interesting: "I find it interesting to see how different people do their bookkeeping and how others organize their files," Koerth said. "I enjoy helping them and advising them. Most of the time I do their bookkeeping, but if all they want is advice, I enjoy doing the coaching too. What I do is case-by-case. I'll do what they want me to do."

Some advice from a bookkeeper: "Don't do this just because you want to work at home. You need experience, you need education, and you need to love what you do," Koerth said. "Never stop learning. Go to as many seminars and forums as you can afford. You have to do that to stay current," she added. "You also need to be patient and persistent when you're starting a business."

What do I do when I'm not at work: Koerth's favorite hobby is playing volleyball in winter and summer leagues.

Family: Koerth and her husband have two children, Tyler, 7, and Nicole, 5.

This article appeared in the Green Bay Press-Gazette on April 3, 2002.