RED tape, bureaucratic hurdles, and high entry barriers continue to frustrate many Jamaicans trying to start formal businesses, especially those working a 9-to-5 job with little time to chase down documents and licensing.

For Dr Kesha Christie, founder and CEO of KCLH Full Business Solutions Limited, these challenges were not just systemic — they were personal. Her company, operating under the acronym KCLH — Kesha Christie Love and Hope — is a reflection of the values that guide her life and business philosophy.

“I always operate from a place of love and hope for the future, taking on global responsibilities,” she told the Jamaica Observer in a recent interview.

What is now a full-service business solutions firm started out in auditing through which Dr Christie saw, first-hand, the struggles small business owners faced — from poor record-keeping to loan application hurdles, and the lack of proper documentation to function efficiently. Recognising the gap, she began assisting entrepreneurs on the side, gradually evolving her services to cover everything from financial structuring to formal registration. Her first independent venture was a microfinancing business which was rooted in that same desire to help others, but it ended badly.

“The man ran away with the money,” she recalled bluntly in her interview with Sunday Finance.

Still, the experience reaffirmed her calling. By 2010 Dr Christie was operating informally, offering business support to clients who, as she puts it, “are busy people and don’t have the time to go around to get everything done”. Slowly, she phased out other hustles, including a period of higgling, to build KCLH Full Business Solutions Limited into a formal operation.

“It’s [driven by] a passion to help people in business, and the gratification you get when someone achieves their goals that you helped along the way,” she said.

Dr Christie began as a sole operator, frequently making the rounds to the Companies Office of Jamaica on behalf of entrepreneurs who couldn’t spare the time from their 9-to-5 jobs to handle documentation. The idea was simple: do the legwork for busy professionals who needed to formalise their business but were constrained by time.

“The challenge of staying in the tax office and Companies Office for almost a day was a serious challenge for me,” she told
Sunday Finance.

She noted that her own experiences with inefficiencies in public systems helped shape the company’s services today. Initially operating from a small office, Dr Christie started with auditing, preparing financial statements for individuals seeking business loans. But in 2012 the scope of the business expanded to include tax compliance, cash flow management, business processing, and consultancy. Full Business Solutions was later incorporated as a limited liability company in 2015. Her own struggles with accessing financing gave her further insight into the roadblocks others faced. Starting with no financial history, she found that banks preferred limited liability structures and consistent banking records. As a sole trader, she lacked both.

“Without the right structure in place, even opening a business account or qualifying for a loan became difficult,” she explained.

But a year into operations the company began to gain traction, with clients appreciating the convenience. To reduce her own travel time and cut costs, Dr Christie moved closer to the government agencies she often dealt with. By 2017 she had secured her own office space at 5 Balmoral Avenue. Today, KCLH Full Business Solutions operates from its headquarters at Real Equity Professional Suites, 218 Mountain View Avenue in Kingston, with additional branches in Rose Hall Shipping Village, Montego Bay, and most recently, Linstead, St Catherine.

Auditing and taxation remain areas of major misconception among small businesses, largely due to a lack of awareness and education. Many entrepreneurs, according to Dr Christie, mistakenly believe that auditing is a simple matter of signing a document, without understanding the detailed process that includes internal controls testing and the time required to produce a credible financial report.

“A company that has been incorporated as a limited liability company, after 18 months should produce their first set of audited financial statements, whether or not they have been operating,” she told Sunday Finance.

As part of its service offerings, KCLH Full Business Solutions not only supports clients in compliance but also takes the time to educate them about what auditing entails and how their business can benefit from structured financial documentation. Dr Christie estimates that less than half of her clients truly understand what audited financials are and why they’re needed. Others, she noted, would rather find ways to avoid tax obligations than learn how to manage them effectively. In response, the company is exploring plans to host conferences focused on taxation and business development. Tax Compliance Certificates (TCCs) remain the most frequently requested service from the firm. KCLH is also expanding its taxation services to support SMEs operating in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with an eye on broader Caribbean markets. Dr Christie said the firm’s vision includes offering region-wide support through lectures and training sessions, including plans to deliver ACCA certification courses and introduce industry-specific business support packages.

“The plans that we have are guided by one core principle, and that’s empowering business owners to focus on what they do best while we take care of the rest,” she said.

In June, Dr Christie launched her debut book, The Currency of Grit, as a personal reflection on the obstacles she’s overcome as a businesswoman and to inspire others to persevere through similar challenges. The book is currently available on Amazon and is being rolled out in local bookshops. Her second title, focused on taxation, is already in development and is scheduled for release in time for the upcoming tax season.

Dr Kesha Christie delivers remarks at a business and wealth-building conference held last year to promote entrepreneurship and tax compliance among aspiring business owners.