Case Studies
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22nd Nov 2011 - RedQuadrant Ltd
We decided to appoint Farnell Clarke because, first and foremost, I know and trust Will Farnell. He is an entrepreneur and a small business owner himself, but his background in blue chip companies demonstrates his ability to understand a range of markets.
We feel it’s important to have an accountant who has an understanding of our business – and can explain accountancy to us in terms that make sense. Secondly, the approach Farnell Clarke takes suits our style. Like us the firm is ‘lean’, informal and focuses on doing ...
We decided to appoint Farnell Clarke because, first and foremost, I know and trust Will Farnell. He is an entrepreneur and a small business owner himself, but his background in blue chip companies demonstrates his ability to understand a range of markets.
We feel it’s important to have an accountant who has an understanding of our business – and can explain accountancy to us in terms that make sense. Secondly, the approach Farnell Clarke takes suits our style. Like us the firm is ‘lean’, informal and focuses on doing the necessary stuff and doing it well, with the minimum of fuss.
From handling our initial start-up as a business, Farnell Clarke has helped us achieve £750k first-year turn-over and probably £1m in year two, by providing the right kind of support to us as we grow a consulting business. Perhaps most importantly, Farnell Clarke also provides services to a large proportion of our associates which helps them in setting up their own first business and means we have assurance that their billing, tax management, accountancy etc are all being handled properly and they, and we, have the same expectations.
In terms of what elements of the Farnell Clarke service are especially useful to us, there are so many. Farnell Clarke introduced us to Kashflow, our online accounts package. We love Kashflow because it’s very intuitive and makes a lot of sense. We can get and update our information instantly and so we make sure our accounts are up-to-date on a weekly basis. I just wish I had an iphone so I could use the app – I can’t wait until they do one for the blackberry!
Farnell Clarke also handle our payroll very efficiently. Most useful though is Will’s catchphrase ‘I’m always just on the end of the phone’, which really is true: he’s available very quickly to respond to all queries and explain things in plain English.
“From handling our initial start-up as a business, Farnell Clarke has helped us achieve £750k first-year turn-over and probably £1m in year two, by providing the right kind of support to us as we grow a consulting business”
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23rd Dec 2011 - Plain Speaking PR
We initially decided to appoint Farnell Clarke because of Will Farnell. He's not like other accountants in that he really understands the ups and downs of running a small business and has the ability to see how finance fits in as part of the bigger picture. We now work with the whole Farnell Clarke team and they are a fantastic bunch to work with. Whilst they know their stuff, they talk in a language that we understand - plain speaking!
Farnell Clarke has helped us in a multitude of ways. If Plain Speaking PR is facing any sort of business challenge, Will is...
We initially decided to appoint Farnell Clarke because of Will Farnell. He's not like other accountants in that he really understands the ups and downs of running a small business and has the ability to see how finance fits in as part of the bigger picture. We now work with the whole Farnell Clarke team and they are a fantastic bunch to work with. Whilst they know their stuff, they talk in a language that we understand - plain speaking!
Farnell Clarke has helped us in a multitude of ways. If Plain Speaking PR is facing any sort of business challenge, Will is one of the first people we call: from considering an office move to taking on additional staff members; from dealing with maternity leave issues to the decision to move to Limited company status. Will is someone I trust implicitly with every area of my business.
One of the elements I particularly like about working with Farnell Clarke is that we can call on Will or one of his fantastic team for advice, without having to listen to the clock ticking and the invoice being prepared. The transparent, fixed fee approach to billing works really well for us. Knowing that Farnell Clarke is always on hand to answer tough - or simple - questions provides huge reassurance.
Pippa Lain, Managing Director, Plain Speaking PR Ltd
“Farnell Clarke really understand the ups and downs of running a small business and see how finance fits in as part of the bigger picture. They also talk our language - plain speaking!”
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5th Jan 2012 - Your Mortgage Solutions
I met Will Farnell at a meeting and was very impressed with the way in which he communicated with people. The feedback that other people gave regarding his service also impressed me.
In terms of the specific ways in which Farnell Clarke has helped my business; I believe the service I get is over and above a typical accountant. I have always been able to call Will and his team with any query I have.
For example, when I needed to make a presentation to my bank at very short notice, Will put together all the information I required. It meant we got what we needed from the ban...
I met Will Farnell at a meeting and was very impressed with the way in which he communicated with people. The feedback that other people gave regarding his service also impressed me.
In terms of the specific ways in which Farnell Clarke has helped my business; I believe the service I get is over and above a typical accountant. I have always been able to call Will and his team with any query I have.
For example, when I needed to make a presentation to my bank at very short notice, Will put together all the information I required. It meant we got what we needed from the bank; this defnitely would not have been possible without Farnell Clarke.
I had no idea that I had overpaid my tax - thanks to my previous accountant. Will picked up on this and arranged for me to get a tax rebate of £6.400. It's likely that I never would have known about this and certainly wouldn't have received it back.
I find the online accounting system that Farnell Clarke use - Kashflow - particularly useful. The fact that a member of the Farnell Clarke team (a lovely lady called Tracey) comes into our business once a month to ensure that we are up to date with everything is also invaluable.
www.your-mortgagesolutions.co.uk
“I had no idea that I had overpaid my tax - Farnell Clarke picked up on this and arranged for me to get a tax rebate of £6400.”
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5th Jan 2012 - Fountain Partnership
When we started Fountain Partnership in early 2009, several local businesses we met recommended Farnell Clarke. We had heard that some accountancy firms would charge for every phone call and every query: as we were setting up our first business we felt it was important to find an accountant who was available for those 'silly' questions we might need to ask.
It was Lambda Films that initially sent us in the direction of Farnell Clarke and it took one meeting with Will for us to see that he was helpful and supportive (without being patronising) and understood exactly the type of acc...
When we started Fountain Partnership in early 2009, several local businesses we met recommended Farnell Clarke. We had heard that some accountancy firms would charge for every phone call and every query: as we were setting up our first business we felt it was important to find an accountant who was available for those 'silly' questions we might need to ask.
It was Lambda Films that initially sent us in the direction of Farnell Clarke and it took one meeting with Will for us to see that he was helpful and supportive (without being patronising) and understood exactly the type of accountancy service Fountain needed.
Having been with us right from the start, Will has a good understanding of how Fountain is growing. He is patient with us when there are things that it takes a while for me to get my head around and he has helped to explain the best course of action in several situations; including as we expanded to work with internationally based clients. As we have gone through a phase of rapid growth, Will has always been at the end of the phone when we have a quick question - or ten!
One of the best things about Farnell Clarke service is that we never feel too nervous to call and ask a question. Will is there for support and advice as well as doing our accounts. This means that as we encounter moments of change or growth we can feel secure that we have access to expert advice at any time. I'm also amazed at how great Will is at getting back to us: he knows that there are instances when a quick answer will make a huge difference.
At the end of the day, having Will and his team at the end of the phone allows us to relax about our accounts - we certainly feel in safe hands.
“One of the best things about Farnell Clarke is that we never feel too nervous to call and ask a question. Will is there for support and advice, as well as doing our accounts.”