Straight-Line Aims For Growth in Polk County and Beyond
When certified public accountants Scott Schwarb, Nick Davis and Corey Keith combined their shared vision and entrepreneurial spirit to launch Straight-Line in 2017. Today, the company is growing, and the goal is to continue to expand locally, then beyond the Polk County and Florida boundaries.
Straight-Line – the name comes from the straight-line method of depreciation in accounting – eases payroll and related services for companies between five and 50 employees, said Nick Davis.
The native of Central Florida grew up in Winter Haven and still lives there. He handles the day-to-day operations alongside Scott Schwarb. Corey Keith is the minority partner and an Army veteran who also runs his own business.
The company website describes Straight-Line this way: “To combat complex methods, we created a no-fuss, clear-cut process that allows customers to choose their own services. Think of it as gaining the trust and experience of traditional CPAs but with a simplified and technologically savvy approach for today’s forward-thinking business.”
It helps that Davis, who jumps on the Polk Parkway to get to his office in Grasslands in Lakeland every day, Schwarb and Keith all had roots and relationships in the area.
“We started in Lakeland because it had the growth,” Davis said. “In 2017 the airport (Lakeland Linder International) was on the way up. Amazon was coming. Deliveries, manufacturing, all things The Ruthvens do like commercial parks were doing well. Business was booming here, and our business is put together to help small companies. The growth made Lakeland a good spot for us then.”
A Growth Mindset
Straight-Line rented in Downtown Lakeland but always wanted to buy, so when land became available in Grasslands in 2020, the company bought it and moved. “We decided we needed to purchase, so we bought a 13,000-square-foot building and we have two renters, which gives us rental income,” Davis said.
The 4.5 acres allows them to grow further, and they are now planning to break ground in two to three months on an 8,000-square-foot, two-story facility that Rodda Construction will build. “We’re creating spots around the office we’re in now – there are about 15 of us here and it’s a little cramped. We are still in growth mode.”
Strategically, the goal is to diversify and move up the coastline, Davis said. “The hub is built – the centralized location is Polk County. All the payroll and customer service is here.”
The company is working with a consultant, but right now its goal is to find sales representatives and pods throughout Jacksonville; Savannah, Georgia; Charleston, South Carolina; and even the outskirts of Atlanta. “We want to build out small offices throughout those regions and become a regional player. It’s not that far off. We’re going to have more space – we don’t know how big the goal is. Right now, we can’t hire everyone we want to hire.”
Straight-Line’s clients include everyone from restaurants like Nineteen61 in Lakeland and Harborside in Winter Haven and moving companies like Two Men and a Truck to contractors, homebuilders and law firms like Smith Feddeler & Smith.
The company helped many small businesses with PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) funding during COVID. “We worked with banks so companies could get funding. We are more than just a payroll company.”
Employee Satisfaction
Straight-Line has created a great culture for its employees, all of whom work in the office, Davis said.
His company has to provide excellent customer service because he’s not selling something tangible. “I’m selling you a service. The only way we can get people to think of us is to take care of the clients. We have to service them to keep them here. That’s what our team is good about doing.”
He said 70% to 80% of new business is referred to Straight-Line by current clients.
The company doesn’t have a motto, but he lives by this philosophy: “Everyone pays more if the experience is topnotch, an environment you are shopping within is cleaner, nicer and you get personal service,” he said. “It’s best in service, best in class. We sell service. We have great customer service. Once you’re set up, we are servicing you each week.”
That service includes personal touches. “It’s about communication, not certification. We don’t send an email. We call. You’re working with human interaction. We make mistakes but having a human to correct the mistake right away, like being able to cut a check and pay an employee by 5 p.m. — you don’t get that with the big guys.”
Giving Back
The company supports local baseball and softball, but its real focus is on the dogs, “the stuff we do with other organizations that have to do with pups,” Davis said.
Schwarb’s two pups roam Straight-Line’s office, so if you’re a dog person, you’re in, he said. “Scott’s trying to put them on payroll. I said NO.”
But they do work to keep clients happy. “One company’s staff comes in on Fridays,” Davis said, “and they always ask where the dogs are. And the FedEx drivers bring them treats.”
