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Steve Barrett started Quart A Accounting Services in 2005. Located in Northwich, Cheshire, he’s grown the business steadily ever since, offering accounting services to local clients (as well as some not-so-local ones – one of his biggest customers provides services in Barbados, which makes client meetings more enjoyable than average).
Working mainly with sole traders and some limited companies, Steve started using QuickBooks in 2006 after switching from a competing product. “I haven’t looked back since,” he says. “I’ve never had any problems. I’ve been really impressed since day one.”
Extra Clients, Fixed Costs
Although he offers day-to-day bookkeeping services, the bulk of Steve’s work involves reporting his clients’ figures. He uses QuickBooks to produce profit and loss reports, balance sheets and quarterly VAT returns. “I use the reports in QuickBooks a lot,” reckons Steve. “I’ve never had to customise one – I’ve always found them straightforward and very to the point.”
He also praises the reporting flexibility QuickBooks offers. “I have several clients who like to see reports for odd periods in time,” he explains. “It might be a ten day period where they’ve had a boost in sales. You can pull out that particular period and compare it to the same period twelve months ago.”
Steve uses QuickBooks to run payroll for clients too. “It’s not a problem,” he says. “The initial set up of employees is a little involved, but that’s generally because there are so many pieces of information to enter. On a day-to-day basis, running payroll is simple and straightforward.”
Plans for Expansion
With around 40 clients to keep happy, Steve’s busy. And he plans to take on even more work. “QuickBooks helps me grow the business because there’s no additional charge for new companies,” he explains. “I can run as many sets of accounts as I like for a flat fee.” This means that although his client base is growing, his software costs remain the same.
In the longer term, he’s thinking about getting some extra help in. “There’s borderline too much work for one person,” he thinks, “but not quite enough to bring someone else in yet. I’m probably looking at employing someone within six to 12 months.”
And yes, as his accountancy practice grows, Steve still has complete confidence in QuickBooks: “I couldn’t live without the whole package.”
What Next?
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