Sara Feldstein, CPA, CA

Founder and Toy Creator, Barumba Play

starting a business, e-commerce, accounting, tax, burnout, depression, career change, self-care, motherhood, juggling work and parenting, pandemic personal struggles

Media

In Conversation with Sara from Barumba Play

LEGO makes a play for those who never grew out of the toy

Pivot Magazine, April 12, 2022Print

URL: https://www.cpacanada.ca/en/news/pivot-magazine/2022-04-012-lego-for-adults

LEGO makes a play for those who never grew out of the toy

Hold the Fort!

Style at Home Magazine, September 1, 2021Print

URL: https://styleathome.com

Product featured in the September 2021 issue

Homegrown Business: Barumba Play by Sara Feldstein, Founder and toy creator

Toronto Guardian, August 22, 2022Online

URL: https://torontoguardian.com/2022/08/toronto-business-barumba-play/

Barumba Play ™ is a local toy company created by former tax accountant Sara Feldstein who left the boardroom for the playroom during the pandemic. We spoke with her to find out more about them.

Meet Sara Feldstein

Canvas Rebel, July 15, 2022Online

URL: https://canvasrebel.com/meet-sara-feldstein/

Stories and Insights

Written by Ethan Rotberg Monday, December 20th, 2021 Are you thinking of starting an e-commerce business, either on the side or as a new career? You might be dreaming of trying something new, but are you prepared for the unexpected costs? Last spring, CPA Sara Feldstein was working at an accounting firm in Toronto. But the combination of increased work demands during the pandemic, tax season and working from home with two small children took a toll on her mental health. Months after resigning, she launched Barumba Play, an e-commerce company selling play couches for kids. Feldstein's accounting experience gave her unique insights into the costs of running a business. “I've done people's financial statements for the past 10 years," she says. “So I already know a lot about these different costs." As prepared as she was, there were still some surprises. She shares some unexpected expenses and a few ways she's managed to keep costs down. 1. Shipping costs For many e-commerce businesses, shipping can be one of the most unpredictable expenses, especially since shipping costs have spiked during the pandemic. “In my projections, I figured I'd have a lot more Toronto and local sales. But I've been getting so many sales from the east coast, west coast, even Yukon. So I had to bump up my shipping calculation." 2. The website Feldstein hired a developer to create a website as stylish and eye-catching as the product itself. But it requires extra expenses every time she wants to make an adjustment. “For every little thing, you either pay a coder a couple hundred dollars or you need an app that costs $10 a month. I just thought in 2021 a website would come with all these things." 3. Payment plan apps It's become an expectation to include buy now, pay later payment plan apps on your website, Feldstein says. “I didn't think they were so popular, so I didn't account for them in my margin, which was a mistake. But they can take six per cent of the sale price. I pay $40 per sale when someone uses it." 4. Extra insurance Feldstein knew about business liability insurance. But other insurance costs were unexpected, she says, even if they weren't big amounts. “I did not realize I had to pay separate insurance to protect me if my goods fell off a ship and separate warehouse insurance for when my goods are at their warehouse," she says. Running an E-Commerce Business: Expect the Unexpected Feldstein has been able to weather unexpected costs by building a buffer into her margin. “I prepared a spreadsheet of my expected expenses, and I made a line for $10,000 of 'Unknown,'" she says. Budgeting for the unknown has helped, especially as costs can change rapidly and substantially during a pandemic. Feldstein is also discovering ways to run the business more efficiently after joining an online community where e-commerce entrepreneurs share tips. “You can kind of make incremental improvements through sharing best practices," she says. She's also taught herself some aspects of entrepreneurship that were entirely new to her, such as social media strategy. “I see people not knowing what to do, so they outsource it. But no job is beneath you when you run a business." Share now Twitter Facebook Linked-in Spend and save at the same time with the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card. Learn more Learn about Tangerine’s options for spending that put you in charge. Learn more

Tangerine, December 21, 2021Online

URL: https://www.tangerine.ca/forwardthinking/spending/the-unexpected-costs-of-starting-an-ecommerce-business

Are you thinking of starting an e-commerce business, either on the side or as a new career? You might be dreaming of trying something new, but are you prepared for the unexpected costs?

This Accountant Had to Give Up Her Career During the Pandemic. Now she designs modular kids toys.

Small Business Financial Planning

Knowing What Burnout Looks Likes

Linkedin Online

URL: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/knowing-what-burn-out-looks-like-sara-feldstein-cpa-ca/

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of burnout

Starting a Business While Overcoming Depression During the Pandemic

Women On BusinessOnline

URL: https://www.womenonbusiness.com/starting-a-business-while-overcoming-depression-during-the-pandemic/

Starting a Business While Overcoming Depression During the Pandemic

What the heck am I supposed to do with my toddler when I’m busy with my newborn?

Medium, July 21, 2021Online

URL: https://medium.com/@sara_60873/what-the-heck-am-i-supposed-to-do-with-my-toddler-when-im-busy-with-my-newborn-9d16b492aa68

Strategies for entertaining your toddler when you are busy with your newborn

"From Tax Accountant to Toy Creator" with Sara Feldstein

Working Mothers Survey: We Asked Women About Work & Home Challenges During COVID-19

Entrepreneurial Small Business 7th Edition
by Jermone Katz
McGraw Hill

Entrepreneurial Small Business, 7e, continues its tradition of being readable, relevant, and real – and provides students with a clear vision of small business as it is today. Its practical approach focuses on starting and managing the type of small businesses that we patronize every day – restaurants, beauty salons, plumbing companies lawn care companies, etc.

Sara Feldstein & Barumba Play™ are a featured case study

Biography

Tax accountant turned toy designer, Sara Feldstein walked away from 12 years in public practice during the pandemic after experiencing burnout and depression from running her accounting firm from home through tax season while parenting two young children. She used her depression to turn her life around and now runs Barumba Play, a toy company that designs imaginative toys with parents in mind.

Expertise

  • CPA
  • working mom
  • depression
  • small business
  • toys
  • e-commerce
  • accounting
  • tax
  • burnout
  • career change
  • self-care

Education/Éducation

  • CPA Ontario (Formerly Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario)
    Accounting
    Chartered Accountant, 2011
  • McMaster University
    Commerce
    Honours Bachelor of Commerce, 2008