Across the United States, small businesses and agricultural producers remain foundational to the economy yet face a persistent set of barriers that continue to threaten their stability and growth. From navigating a complex tax code to securing credit and adopting digital financial tools, these entrepreneurs are often left without the resources or guidance necessary to thrive. These challenges are especially pronounced in rural areas, where outdated bookkeeping methods, limited financial education, and restricted access to funding compound systemic disadvantages. As automation transforms other sectors, these underserved communities risk being left behind unless targeted innovations step in to close the gap.
In Kentucky, one such innovation is taking shape. CodeCraft Consulting LLC, a software development company founded and led by veteran technologist and financial systems expert Michelle Henriques, is preparing to deliver solutions tailored to the issues most often overlooked by mainstream financial software providers. With more than two decades of experience in software engineering, much of it focused on financial and accounting systems, Henriques brings a rare fluency in both backend technologies and regulatory compliance. Her work has ranged from modernizing legacy platforms to building scalable, cloud-based tools that improve accuracy and streamline processes for financial institutions and businesses alike.
Now based in Richmond, Kentucky, she is channeling this expertise into a national mission: to simplify financial management and planning for small businesses and agricultural enterprises through targeted, intelligent automation. By focusing on sectors that represent both economic potential and deep vulnerability, the company aims to shift the conversation around financial inclusion from one of access alone to one of usability, adaptability, and long-term resilience.
“Small businesses and farmers are the heartbeat of many American communities, yet they are often asked to navigate complex financial systems without the tools or support to do so effectively,” says Henriques. “We want to change that, not by replacing financial professionals, but by empowering business owners with better, more accessible software that complements their everyday realities.”
CodeCraft Consulting’s offerings are built with these end users in mind. While many commercial platforms serve large enterprises or require advanced accounting knowledge, the company’s approach centers on user-friendly design and industry-specific functionality. One of its cornerstone developments, an automated platform for financial and tax management, will help small business owners track revenue, control expenses, and maintain tax compliance through a centralized dashboard. The platform’s design emphasizes automation, from income categorization to deadline alerts, to minimize the administrative burden on entrepreneurs who often manage multiple responsibilities.
For the agricultural sector, where income is highly seasonal and access to financing remains limited, the company is developing a separate planning and credit tool. This software will allow farmers to forecast crop-related costs and returns, simulate financing options from cooperatives and banks, and identify applicable tax incentives while accounting for real-world variables such as commodity price swings and weather disruptions. The goal is not simply to provide more data but to make that data actionable and tailored to the rhythm of farm operations.
Beyond its product features, the broader significance of CodeCraft Consulting lies in its alignment with national economic priorities. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small firms account for nearly half of the nation’s private workforce, yet almost 20% fail within their first year, often due to financial mismanagement. For farmers, limited access to credit and reliance on manual accounting methods continue to hinder profitability and modernization. By addressing these issues directly, the company is not only offering tools but contributing to a larger effort to strengthen the economic backbone of rural America.
The timing is critical. Amid rising labor shortages in both finance and technology, particularly in hybrid roles, CodeCraft Consulting’s model may offer a sustainable path forward. By embedding educational content and guided learning into its platforms, the company hopes to reduce dependence on hard-to-find specialists and foster a more self-sufficient user base. This emphasis on capability building also defines its internal strategy, where cross-training and mentorship are prioritized to cultivate hybrid talent capable of bridging software development and financial consulting.
For Henriques, the initiative is both professional and personal. With a background that blends technical precision and financial insight, and a track record of developing solutions that enhance compliance, transparency, and user autonomy, she views this venture as the culmination of her expertise and a chance to contribute meaningfully to economic equity. “This is not just about software,” she says. “It is about closing systemic gaps and ensuring that small businesses and rural producers are not left out of the future we are building.”
As CodeCraft Consulting prepares to launch its tools and expand its reach, the company represents more than a new entrant into the fintech space. It embodies a shift in priorities toward inclusivity, regional revitalization, and practical innovation rooted in lived experience. If successful, its model could serve as a blueprint for how targeted software solutions can support long-term national growth, not by disrupting traditional systems, but by reinforcing the people and industries that keep them running.
