There are a lot of challenges when it comes to running a successful business, from human resources to taxes, from getting the right licenses to maintaining proper accounts and a plethora of other time-consuming tasks. Luckily, there is help available, friendly and professional assistance with any and all of the obstacles that stand between you and business success.
RS Accounting & Consulting was founded in 2003 by Richard Scholten, who came to the island in 1996 as a technical assistant for the Tax office. From the year 2000 until 2003, he worked as a financial advisor for the Government of St. Maarten.
Scholten started the business as a sole-proprietorship, but it was transferred soon thereafter into an NV as business was booming. In fact, Scholten was able to establish satellite branches in Saba and St. Eustatius in 2006 and 2012, respectively. The activities in those days consisted primarily of processing of administrations, the compiling of financial statements and fiscal and financial advice. It is now time to expand once again, and the organization is getting a new name to reflect its new, wider focus: RS Business Support Center.
RS Business Support Center has a great team, perfectly matching the needs of the clients and representing the various nationalities of the existing population of the islands of St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius. At present, six people are employed fulltime and two are part-time at the main office in St. Maarten. Both Saba and St. Eustatius have two fulltime employees each.
The expansion is due to the company’s awareness that customers need answers to a wide variety of issues, they require more services, and they want to acquire all those services in just one place. Thus a “one stop shop” concept was created. Now those clients requesting services, such as hiring of qualified employees, assistance with licenses and permits, human resource management, IT services, legal advice and collection of outstanding invoices, and more - are all taken care of right at RS Business Support Center.
The company has organized to form partnership agreements and cooperation with several other companies. For instance, the Law firm Bloem, Soliana Bonapart & Aardenburg will be on board with regard to legal services and forced collections ending up in court procedures.
“We have an experienced staff previously working at the Receivers Office as a collector as well as a Marshall, while Mr. Bloem will be the representative in the event the collection ends up in court. Normal collections will be practically at no costs for our clients as only an administrative fee of US $75 will be charged, to be refunded if collection is successful. And this administrative fee will be waived if the collection is completely outsourced to RS Business Support Center,” shared Scholten.
“We also recently started operating an employment agency. Presently, we are offering the possibility to register interested companies (employers) as well as job-seekers at no cost. We will do our utmost to find the perfect match for a successful employment.
“Partnership was also sought with an IT firm so soft- and hardware solutions can be offered to our clientele, while the exclusive sales rights of a new and fully integrated Point of Sales system were acquired from European based Software Company ICG.
“Many businesses were/are complaining about the ‘user unfriendliness’ of existing Point of Sales Software and therefore ICG offers a perfect tailor made, practically limitless solution for each type of business. It also has the additional possibility of direct data transfer digitally to our office, so all information to submit Turnover Tax return forms is directly at hand. At the same time, the income information is already at hand too while compiling the financial statements.”
On October 18, 19 and 20, the Point of Sales product will be officially launched in Blue Mall with the President of ICG being present. The product, however, is already available and can be demonstrated upon request and further information can be given. Already, businesses are excited about this time-saving system that frees up their attention to more fun aspects of running a store or restaurant. Here are some of the existing RS clients using ICG Point of Sales Software: Lizzy’s Bar & Grill (Boardwalk), Simpson Bay Pharmacy, Cappuccino Restaurant, Prestige Store Beauty Supply, and Pay Less Shoe Store.
The office is located at Front Street 19 (next to Pasanggrahan hotel, off the street, it’s the entrance to the Yoda Guy Museum). Stop by on any business day 8:00am-5:00pm or call 542-0002/542-0008. Email the company at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Menu of Services
- Payroll
- Preparing, submitting and paying of monthly tax return forms
- Processing of administrations
- Compiling of financial statements
- Preparing yearly income tax and profit tax return forms
- Financial, fiscal and legal advice
- Assistance with tax-audits
- Assistance and advice with the incorporation of legal entities
- Preparing and submitting of business licenses & permits
- Assistance with work and resident permits
- Human Resource management & assistance
- Assistance with labour disputes, etc.
- In- and out-sourcing of employees (Employment Agency)
- Lending out employees on a temporary or permanent basis
- Collecting outstanding receivables
Special packages (hard- & software, service contract, accounting and payroll) are available.
Employees:
St. Maarten
- Sophia Cesar, Office Manager
- Alexandra Mathew, Administrator
- Jeanne Lemmens, Administrator
-Tione Rodney, Receptionist
- Rachel Prince – Fraser, Collection, HR and Licenses & Permits
- Charles Baptist, Marshall
- Miguel Encarnacion, IT Consultant
- Richard Scholten, General Manager
Saba
- Bettina Schroeter, General Manager
- Donna Hassell, Administrator
St. Eustatius
- Scarlet Chittick, General Manager
- Danica Amajan, Administrator
