Call it a love letter to local: Vancity business member, omgheysam looks at Vancouver through a rose-latte-tinted lens. Sam’s social feed is a map to all things vibey in the Vancouver area, like cozy, sun-drenched cafés, tiny boutiques, and hard-to-find neighbourhood gems. In under two years, she’s turned boppin’ around on the weekends into a full-time business, Kafkas Coffee shop coffee bean collab and all.  

But behind the aesthetic grid is a practical financial system: Track every receipt, plan for taxes, and invest in ideas that grow. Sam knows small business bookkeeping isn’t just numbers—it’s how you build a business that lasts​​. 

We sat down with Sam to hear all about what goes on behind the grid.  

You’ve built omgheysam into a local brand with a cult following. What inspired you to start it? Was there an oh damn moment when you realized this thing was really going to take off? 

Sam: I used to be an elementary school teacher, and back in 2020, when the world shut down, I started a teacher TikTok® account. It was really just for fun, but I got a sense of trends and what people were looking for. That profile got to 150,000 followers, which blew my mind.

In January 2024, I started posting about places I was going on the weekends, cool boutiques, cute coffee shops, and vibey restaurants. After living in Montréal and Toronto, I couldn’t help but feel that Vancouver was living up to the stereotype of being boring. But I quickly realized  there were tons of cool spots, you just had to go out and look for the gems. 

People really resonated with my content. I told my now-husband there was no way I was doing this full-time. But a few months later—after getting laid off—I was like, okay, maybe this is a sign. My audience was growing, brands started reaching out, and I knew there was something there. 

You have a beautifully curated Instagram feed, but we all know that Instagram isn’t always “real life.” What does running your business look like behind the scenes? 

Sam: People often ask, “How do you make this a full-time job?” and the word business is exactly what you need to focus on. 

You need to see it as a business. That means pitching yourself, taking care of your finances, tracking your bookkeeping, and networking. 

Financially, it’s all about being consistent. I set aside a chunk for taxes every time I get paid, keep my receipts organized, and do a little check-in every week to see where I’m at. Having a separate business account helps, too. It keeps things cleaner and makes it easier to see what’s actually mine to spend versus what’s for expenses. 

Let’s talk bookkeeping basics. It might not be glamorous, but it’s what keeps the lights (and lattes) on. How do you keep your business expenses in check? 

Sam: I’m not perfect at it. I’m still learning as I go, but one thing my husband taught me early on was to save my receipts. 

Even just learning what a writeoff is was new to me. I record everything so that by tax season, I’m not sorting through paper receipts and email receipts and bringing everything together. Anything I spend that’s part of my content—a coffee, a meal, work-related travel—I can write off, so I make sure to track it. 

And, for the people just starting out, I learned that writing something off doesn’t mean it’s free. It just means the more you spend on your business, the less you’ll be taxed on. 

I also make sure to set a percentage aside for taxes since my income isn’t taxed at the source. And honestly, don’t be afraid to invest in your business. A year ago, I booked a solo trip to Seattle on my own dime to make content. Scary at the time, but it paid off. That trip performed so well that I now travel for work regularly. 

Pro Vancity tip: You can use Vancity’s recurring transfer feature to set up automated transfers to save for your end-of-year tax bill. 

Vancouver isn’t a cheap city to run a small business in. Do you have any advice on managing business finances and keeping cash flow healthy without losing your mind? 

Sam: Have conversations about finances with your partner or someone you trust, even with yourself. Being aware is everything. Open your bank account. Look at your spreadsheets. They’re not there to intimidate you. They’re there to help you feel empowered. 

Chatting with a Vancity advisor honestly made such a difference. I had lots of questions about how to manage money as a small business owner. Things like saving, planning ahead, and just making sure I’m setting myself up properly. They explained everything in a really approachable way, and it helped me feel like I actually have a plan now. 

Find people who make it approachable. Talk to an expert. Being open and honest with yourself about your finances is the key. 

Shameless plug, Vancity has a whole team of people who absolutely love talking about finances and small-business bookkeeping. They actually love it so much that we offer free business loan consultations.  

Have you ever made an expensive mistake, and what did you learn from it? 

Sam: Honestly, not saving my receipts at first. I thought, “It’ll be fine, I’ll just spend a day sorting through them.” Well, no. No, that’s not how it works. Don’t be like me.  

My content is about small local purchases, a $4 coffee here, an $11 sandwich there. It adds up fast. Making sure you track everything, maybe with an app, is huge. 

And keep tabs on your invoices, too. Sometimes payments come in months later, so knowing when money’s coming and going is essential. 

How has working with Vancity affected your business finances? Any advice you’d give other small business owners about finding the right banking partner? 

Sam: When I met with my Vancity financial advisor, the experience was so welcoming and warm. I came in completely unaware of what my options were in terms of business banking. What cards should I use? What makes sense for my business? And they were so kind and patient. There were no “silly” questions.  

After chatting with my advisor, I realized I needed a better system. So, I opened a business account to separate everything, and I started setting aside a percentage from each brand payment into my savings right away. It helped me see my income more clearly and plan ahead instead of reacting month to month. 

It felt wholesome. I think it’s because Vancity cares so much about the community and our city, they just want to help everyone. They feel like one of us. There’s no “the bank versus you.” It feels like we’re working together. 

And knowing my money is supporting our community and affordable housing and other local small businesses, just like myself. That’s the best feeling, right?  

I love that our values align. It just makes the most sense.  

Do you have any financial learnings you can share with other content creators or entrepreneurs who might be nervous about business finances? 

Sam: The biggest thing I’ve learned since becoming self-employed is that consistency matters more than perfection. My income changes month to month, so instead of trying to predict everything, I focus on building small habits that make things feel stable, like checking in on my finances regularly or setting money aside as soon as I get paid.  

Talking with my Vancity advisor also helped me see that money doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. It’s just about creating systems that work for you. Once I got organized, it stopped feeling stressful and started feeling empowering. 

Thinking about starting your own small business? Vancity can help. 

If you’re thinking of starting your own business, you’re in good company. There are 3.5 million entrepreneurs in Canada.  

You don’t have to figure it all out alone. We’re here to help your business through programs like our Women’s Entrepreneurship Program and Indigenous Entrepreneur Program. Plus, partnerships with WeBC and Futurepreneur, you’ll find mentorship, resources and funding support. You’re never on your own. Talk to a Vancity advisor – we can help you build your dream with confidence.  

Like Sam says, “Oftentimes, money can feel scary, or you might not want to look at what your finances are, or you just want to throw your hands up. But with Vancity, just meeting with financial advisors there, you feel empowered. You feel heard, like every question is valid.”  

Want to make running your business easier? Vancity has tools and advice to help you manage money and grow with confidence. Contact us today—we’d love to talk about money!