When Trevor Brewer left his secure position at a large national law firm in 2008 to start his own practice, he faced immediate challenges. “Right after quitting my well-paid job to start this firm, I got a letter from my bank that said that my credit line had been frozen,” he recalls. “That was a little tense.”
Despite the economic uncertainty, Trevor and his partner Mike Long pressed forward with BrewerLong Business Law. Nearly 17 years later, their Orlando-based firm serves small businesses with 10 full-time employees.
From doing it all to building a team
In the early days, Trevor handled everything himself. “I used to get the checks myself and stamp them and put them into our bookkeeping program,” he remembers. While he discovered he enjoyed the operational aspects of business, he also realized the limitations: “Everything took a long time and was very, very hard.”
As the firm grew, Trevor recognized the need to delegate. “As soon as we learned that we had the ability to bring in other people who could help us, we did,” he explains. His advice to other attorneys reflects this evolution: “Don’t ignore the business side. It doesn’t do any good to practice law unless you can maintain the business.”
Finding the right financial partner
When Trevor began looking for professional bookkeeping support about six years ago, he was specifically interested in working with someone experienced in Xero accounting software for law firms. This search led them to Amanda and her team at Padgett Louisiana.
One of the immediate impacts from working with Amanda was her recommendation to separate their operating and trust accounts within Xero—essentially creating two different companies in the system. For law firms, this separation is crucial because they must keep client funds (held in trust) separate from their operating expenses. “I really did like that,” Trevor says. “One of the things that we had trouble with previously is that we’d end up owing money to our trust accounts,” a potentially serious compliance issue for any law practice.
Beyond bookkeeping: Strategic partnership
Amanda and Katie became more than bookkeepers—they became trusted advisors. “There have been a handful of times where I will message Amanda and say, ‘Hey, I’m thinking about this. What do you think?’ And she’s great about talking to us through that.”
They’ve supported major milestones like purchasing their office and bringing in a new partner. They’ve also helped navigate unique situations, like providing employee benefits. “We wanted to get one of our employees a golf cart,” Trevor explains. “We relied on Amanda and Katie to tell us how to do that—you can’t just give them a golf cart and call it a day.”
The value of professional support
Trevor’s advice reflects his appreciation for professional partnerships: “You don’t have to be an expert in everything, but you do have to be an expert in what your business requires. The best way to use professionals is to help augment your abilities as a business owner, not to replace yourself.”
With his finance background, Trevor particularly values the peace of mind Amanda and Katie provide. “We deal with business owners all the time, and we see how not having your books in order can really wreak havoc. Just having that peace of mind is fantastic.”
Building for the future
Today, BrewerLong continues growing while serving small businesses “not very different from ourselves.” The firm now has 10 full-time employees and operates with the systematic approach Trevor has developed over nearly two decades.
Trevor’s daily routine reflects the discipline that’s driven his success: converting emails into tasks each morning, prioritizing the top 10 items for the day, and staying focused despite the unpredictable nature of legal work. “Some days it’s just like a fire hose and everything comes in at one time,” he explains. “I kind of think about it like the emergency room—who’s most urgent, who’s in the greatest need?”
His advice to aspiring law firm owners comes from hard-won experience. The key, he emphasizes, is building a business for longevity: “We don’t just put every dollar that comes into our pockets—we’re building this as a business, and that’s the first and foremost focus.”
With Amanda and Katie handling financial complexities, Trevor can focus on what energizes him most: practicing law, mentoring young attorneys, and building client relationships.
“They are very much part of our team,” Trevor concludes. “It’s a great relationship and I really appreciate it.”
Padgett’s Support
If you’re looking for more than just seasonal support—someone who understands your business and can help you make confident, informed decisions all year long—Padgett is here for you. From tax and payroll to accounting and strategic advisory, our local offices are ready to be the partner you can rely on every step of the way.