Small Business of the Year Finalist: Dunton & Associates LLC

Dunton & Associates LLC
Address: 1835 E. Republic Road, Ste. 200
Employees: 25

While the everyday work revolves around numbers at accounting firm Dunton & Associates LLC, communication is key and people are the focus.

“We have to communicate with each other and with our clients,” said founder and President Bill Dunton. “We have to do the numbers, we have to do them right and get the best results. But in the end, it’s about people.”

The company, which primarily offers accounting and tax preparation for small and midsize business clients, has made creating a great work environment an ongoing goal since it opened May 1, 1998, Dunton said.

Weekly lunch-and-learn sessions are held in the firm’s Springfield and Branson offices, with topics as varied as new tax law, business philosophy, professional fashion trends and proverbs.

“I’ve seen great results from that investment,” Dunton said. “The employees are better trained so they’re more confident. They deal better with clients and each other.”

Dunton’s return on his investment in staff is demonstrated through the company’s growth, he said. While he declined to provide revenues, he said the business has achieved double-digit percentage growth almost every year. Employees have been added to help cover the additional work. The firm’s staff count was five at the end of the company’s first month, increased to eight by the end of 1998, and now stands at 25, he said.

The company’s focus on employees has garnered some recognition for the company. Dunton & Associates was named a 2009 Choice Employer by Springfield Business Journal, earning No. 5 honors in the 5- to 24-employee category.

Moving forward, Dunton isn’t resting on his laurels, as the company is pursuing continued growth.

“We plan to make a positive impact on Springfield, the business community and society as a whole,” he said.