Ivan Lau (Owner)
Ivan Lau places high value on a streamlined, stress-free lifestyle, which is one of the main reasons he left his unsatisfying 9-5 job to establish Bookbenders in 2015. Bookbenders offers accounting and bookkeeping with an unusually quick turnaround—they work closely with their clients to make the working relationship the best it can be for both parties.
A problem-solver at his core, Ivan loves finding solutions to unique challenges and was a strong advocate for his clients during COVID. During COVID, Ivan not only worked hard to learn the various supports and subsidies his clients could qualify for, but also ensured each client received all that they were entitled to.
Ivan’s next big challenge came as a result of connections made at NABI; Ivan will soon be starting a new firm with another accountant. Thinking into the future, Ivan sees how valuable it could be for personal taxes to become an automated process, allowing him to dedicate more of his time to other areas in the world of accounting. He also looks forward to a greater focus on corporate taxes and the growth potential of working in a partnership.
This potential opportunity involves moving to a new office space in Edmonton, allowing another budding entrepreneur to gain from NABI’s unique environment. When asked what advice he would give to fellow entrepreneurs, Ivan said the following: “Business owners need to manage their cash flow. Know your lane and stick to your lane. Understand what parts of your business can be outsourced so that more time can be spent on growing the business. You don’t need to micromanage as much as you think.”
