Choosing to work with someone new is always daunting – will you get on; will they understand your business; can they help you like they say they can and so on. An accountant forms such a large part of the support team for your company, how on earth do you choose the right one?
With this in mind, I thought I’d write this blog about me, my experiences and why I am, absolutely, the right accountant for you.
Once an entrepreneur…
At the age of 22, I had my own business. I was a designer, and manufacturer, of knitwear. I received the Enterprise Allowance at the time and I was awarded the highest award from The Prince’s Trust (following a nerve-wracking presentation to their board as I’d already had a test marketing grant from them!)
I sold to around five shops in my local area, I had private clients who liked the idea of an individually designed item and I also held “parties” that were quite fashionable at the time where we could get together, have a bit of a fashion show, drink wine and buy! It was hard work but it was fun.
Early on, I happened upon a shop that was closing down due to the ill health of the owner – one of those rare right-time, right-place moments. I was able to negotiate a decent price for the stock and was also given a lot of consumables free of charge – wool, ribbon, patterns etc.
Within two months of starting the business, I was employing four, part-time staff. Things were going great and I was on top of my finances, making deals with suppliers and selling to some high-end shops.
Then the recession hit! At the time, I couldn’t drive and so “chasing” the money was an issue. Suddenly the shops that were previously keen to stock my brand, found themselves struggling and going for cheaper, albeit inferior, imports.
Be confident to fail!
I closed the business after my first-year results were in. All of my equipment and surplus stock were sold and I just about broke even. I really had seen the highs and lows and, with the benefit of hindsight, would perhaps still be trading today as certain things would have been done differently – namely I would have learned to drive sooner.
What followed was a discovery that not only was I good at accounts, but I actually enjoyed it and I “saw” the picture the numbers told.
Jaine Wills, Director
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