"BELAY has been a great resource for us. They are trusted advisors, and I feel like they're a team that I can depend on. I'm just really thankful that they're the resource they are to us. I'm not sure I'd know how to do this without them."
— Allyson Seitz, Co-owner and CEO
The Challenge
When Allyson Seitz became co-owner and CEO of Prairie Elder Care — a residential dementia care facility operating three homes on five acres and serving 30 residents — she discovered that passion and industry experience only go so far. The transition from dedicated staff member and leader to business owner introduced an entirely new layer of responsibility: complex financial management.
Allyson and her business partner brought more than two decades of hands-on care experience to the role, but their backgrounds had never demanded financial oversight at this scale.
"I'm so thankful because although my partner and I have both been in this industry for 20-something years, it hasn't been as business people."
The stakes were uniquely high. Prairie Elder Care's residents are among the most vulnerable members of the community, and employees and their families rely on the facility's financial stability for their livelihoods. For Allyson, financial instability wasn't just a business risk — it was a moral one.
"There are 30 residents that depend on our company running smoothly day to day, and many employees and their families. So I feel that responsibility that they know that they're going to be well cared for, that we're feeding them with good food, that we are taking care of them with all the resources they deserve, and that our employees know that they are going to get paid every pay period."
The Solution
Fortunately, Prairie Elder Care already had a relationship with BELAY when Allyson stepped into ownership, giving her immediate access to the professional financial infrastructure her organization needed. What she found was far more than basic bookkeeping — it was a team of experienced financial experts who quickly became indispensable to the facility's operations.
"BELAY has been a lifesaver for us. They help us with our monthly financials, they do all of our bookkeeping. They are able to give us a cash flow understanding that we wouldn't otherwise have. They help us see where we're aligning with our budget and where we're not meeting our budget. So it's been an amazing resource for us."
At the center of the partnership is Lisa, a BELAY Financial Controller who leads Allyson's team of financial experts. Lisa structures her support around weekly touchpoints and forward-looking reporting designed to keep Allyson informed and prepared.
"Lisa has been such a great resource. We do weekly touch bases, and she gives me a sheet of what we need to be working on, breaking it all down so I can even see a 90-day visual of what's coming up. That helps a lot."
Lisa's team also focuses on Prairie Elder Care's single largest expense category — personnel — helping Allyson monitor staffing costs and adjust allocations to stay within budget. The relationship has expanded into strategic planning conversations, including discussions about what additional BELAY resources, such as a Fractional CFO, might support the organization as it grows.
"Knowing that I can rely on services to help keep us on track brings huge peace of mind for me."
— Allyson Seitz, Co-owner and CEOThe Impact
The most immediate impact of BELAY's support is time. By taking comprehensive financial management off Allyson's plate, Lisa reclaims hours each week that Allyson can reinvest in the mission-driven work she loves most.
"So Lisa takes care of all of that, all of that financial accounting. That's hours she saves me through that kind of support."
Those reclaimed hours flow directly into community programming and resident engagement — the areas where Allyson's heart and expertise truly shine. She has been able to expand initiatives like the CAPS program, which partners Prairie Elder Care with local high school students interested in healthcare, teaching them about brain health and how to meaningfully engage with people living with dementia. These partnerships extend the facility's impact far beyond its five acres and 30 residents.
But perhaps the most significant outcome isn't measurable in hours saved or budget lines aligned. It's the peace of mind that comes from knowing trusted professionals have her back.
"It's all about having a good team and putting the right people behind you... I trust that they're going to see the details that I may miss at times, so I feel like I have somebody that has my back, and that's huge."
That foundation of trust allows Allyson to lead with clarity and confidence — focused on the residents, families, and community she has devoted her career to serving, rather than the financial complexities that could otherwise consume her attention.