Finding the right Balance: A Client Story
Going from being a solo-entrepreneur to working with (and managing!) a team is a huge transition for any business. One of our valued clients has been working as Architectural Designer for nearly ten years before expanding his business to include a team of two full-time and one part-time staff. Driven by his passion for sustainable architecture and contemporary design, Mathew* says he absolutely loves what he does and enjoys working with his clients to create their dream home - “I love what I do. Sustainability and design really drive me and fuel me every day.”
Financially, it has not always been smooth-sailing. Finding the right balance to have enough hands on deck to work across the variety of projects (the company works on both new builds and renovations) and at the same time, to ensure that the company will acquire enough business to keep the cash flow running and to keep everyone in work and pay is not an easy task.
“Lisa-Jean has been very helpful with the decision-making of taking on new staff, and she also had great tips for me on how to manage staff and work efficiently within a small team.”
For Mathew, having a set time for a monthly check in and coaching is proving to be hugely helpful in making decisions and feeling confident in growing his business to a team of four. “Lisa-Jean has really helped me to look at the financial realities - and possibilities! - of having more people on my team. And making that decision to have more staff has really helped me free up more time for design and for looking at the next possible steps for my business and my vision for the next five years. “
Mathew points out how important it is to work with an accountant who can offer a service that is tailored to one’s individual business needs and challenges. “Prior to working with LJ, I worked with an accountant for nearly ten years who did a great job but wasn’t able to put in the extra time that I needed. I needed someone to do more than just the end-of year-financials - I needed advice and I needed coaching - and maybe even a bit of accountability to help me achieve what I wanted to achieve. Lisa-Jean has been able to provide exactly that.” He says that the ability to really listen and to look at the bigger picture is what elevates Kindred.Co from providing excellent accounting services to a trusted sounding board and advisor for planning, and implementing, the crucial next steps for the business.
“As much as I wasn’t unhappy with my previous accountant, these new services and working with Lisa-Jean has been truly awesome.”
This year has thrown exceptional challenges at everyone. And again, for Mathew, Kindred.Co’s services were quick and on point. “With Covid-19, I was really impressed that as soon as things hit, Lisa-Jean immediately sent a newsletter with lots of helpful information and tips that were really useful. It was full of hands-on advice on how to navigate this.”
We say that the biggest compliment you could give us is to recommend us to a friend. When asking Mathew whether he would indeed recommend Kindred.Co to a friend looking for financial or business advice, he says, “I absolutely would. I’d basically say, “Look, I know this awesome accountant - go talk to her.’ But really, I’ve been working with Lisa-Jean for almost a year now and I have been really impressed with everything she has been providing.”
*Disclaimer: Please note that all names have been changed for reasons of confidentiality and privacy.
Lisa-Jean Foote
October 2020