It’s a Kashflow day. That’s the way it rolls sometimes.
From time to time I check in with my old practice, shoot the breeze and talk about new trends. It’s a sanity check with people I’ve known for over 25 years and who are at the sharp end of small practice. Today, I heard from my old running mate partner following a mid-year conversation about SaaS/cloud. At the time the firm was a bit hesitant. Today?
Shortly after our communications last year on this subject I was approached by a long standing client, who wanted to set up a specialist accounting practice serving the licensed trade. He had been made redundant from a national firm that specialises in this sector but which is hemorrhaging clients due to poor service. It outsources the number crunching to India, but it is just not working for them.
I suggested to that he might want to look at SaaS and give him details of the main providers that you gave me. His potential client base are pubs spread over southern Scotland, with a mixed bag from those who struggle to keep a simple cash book to those capable of keeping a proper computer based system. A cloud product is ideal. It lends itself to home working enabling the bookkeeping to be done ‘off site’ by the client or our own staff, gives him direct access to clients records without having to leave his home base, and of course enables clients to access their records at any time irrespective of who does the bookkeeping.
The product he chose was Kashflow. He, and everybody who has looked at it, are very impressed. It is not the most comprehensive of products and not as good as the likes of Viztopia or Sage for batch processing, but is ideal for low volume processing by reasonably competent clients. The company have been extremely good to work with (unlike the current Sage customer experience).
I have since gone into partnership with him, primarily because he could never afford the cost of my time if I billed him at partner rates! It is still primarily his business and my role is mainly advisory and giving technical and management support. I don’t expect to make much money, if any, out of this venture but I am really enjoying it. Something different but still using my skills.
These are the kinds of success story I like to hear. Oh – and who said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?
