It took Fatih Aydin less than 10 years to go from international student to owner and operator of his own business, and from speaking with him, it’s clear he has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.
“From day one, the goal was to open my own accounting firm,” said Aydin, who moved to Canada from Turkey in 2013, joining Carleton’s Sprott School of Business.
Following a four-year stint with McCay Duff LLP as well as a couple of years with MNP, Aydin set out to make his goal a reality, launching AYDIN CPA Professional Corporation in June of 2022. A family-owned company, Aydin’s firm is geared towards helping small-to-medium businesses and owners manage their finances, offering services including tax preparation for individuals and corporations, HST/GST returns, financial statements, payroll, bookkeeping, business advisory, and income tax planning and optimization.
While the entrepreneurial journey is never easy, Aydin had a clear vision of the clients he wanted to help along the way, including one community near and dear to his heart: international students.
“I know from experience how difficult it can be to file a tax return when you’re new to Canada,” he said.
Relying on his acute business knowledge and eagerness to create a presence for himself in Ottawa, Aydin has grown the firm in a matter of months, expanding to four employees, and servicing a variety of clients ranging from big players in the real estate development and investment industries, to small businesses like restaurants and hair salons.
New on the Ottawa scene with big plans for the future
Located in Stittsville, Aydin has big plans for growth for the accounting firm.
With many connections and clients both locally and in Toronto and Montreal, he is already looking toward a future that will include office space to serve those clients locally.
“We want to be an essential partner helping clients achieve their financial goals through expert tax, assurance and business advisory services, wherever they are,” he said. And, as a business owner himself, Aydin says he is committed to bringing his real-world experience to the table to help his own clients overcome challenges and make smarter financial decisions.
At his side through the entire journey — and now at the office as well — is his wife Merve, who he met while studying at Carleton and then brought on as the firm’s bookkeeper.
“I converted her to go into business with me,” he said, adding with a chuckle, “Why not?”
As a family-run business dedicated to having an impact not only on its clients but the broader Ottawa community, Aydin sees no end in sight for the potential of the company and his team.
“Clients count on AYDIN CPA Professional Corporation to make a positive difference in their lives, and that’s been my vision since the start,” he added. “Our team prides itself on providing personalized financial advice built on mutual trust and a commitment to excellence, and I hope anyone who comes through our doors will see that.”
