Case Study – Inglis Chartered Accountants

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When did Inglis Chartered Accountants start trading:

June 2010

Who started the organisation:

Donald Inglis

Tell us what you do and how you do it:

We help businesses and their owners define their ambitions and goals, and then with a combination of brilliant business and accountancy advice, we work together to make sure these are achieved.

For some clients, we operate a very light touch approach perhaps only meeting them once or twice a year, through to those who need monthly management accounts and support at board meetings.  It really is all about understanding what each client needs on a bespoke basis.  No two clients are the same and whilst the problems each business faces can be similar – we strongly believe every business is unique and deserves to be treated as such.

Who buys your product / service:

The vast majority of our clients are small and medium-sized businesses and their owners. 

There are 5 main reasons why clients join us;

• They are fed up with not being able to get in touch with their accountant and their accountant never responds to requests for callbacks or emails
• They are unsure as to whether they are making a profit or a loss at any point in time
• They have no confidence in their numbers so feel they miss out on opportunities and do not have the knowledge and therefore the confidence to drive their business forward
• They feel they are paying too much tax.  Whilst nobody wants to pay too much tax, due to a lack of communication and trust, they are unsure if they are being as tax efficient as possible.
• They wish they had their very own finance department that would take away all the hassle, stress and general faff involved with bookkeeping, payroll, VAT, invoices, bank reconciliations etc.

What makes your business stand out from your competitors:

As a small business ourselves we know exactly the importance of keeping track of your numbers and making sure you are on top of your aged receivables, PAYE and VAT.  We live, breathe and feel the ups and downs of our clients. 

What are the main strength/s of your business:

It is bizarre that anyone with no training at all can themselves an accountant.  The difference we bring to our clients is that we are chartered accountants – as a minimum, we have done years of exams and continually train and learn – to ensure we can provide the very best advice.  We are members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and as such we are governed by their rules and standards which are amongst the strictest of all the professional accounting bodies.

What are the values that drive your business:

Our fundamental values are integrity, objectivity, independence, confidentiality, care and family.  We are more concerned with these values than making money and growing the business.

Which business success are you most proud of:

Helping our clients achieve levels of success they never thought possible.  Is it all down to us – of course not, but I do like to think we have helped them along the way!

When clients challenge me and say what do you know about growing a business your just an accountant.  We have grown from working from my dining room with zero clients to now looking after over 300, and employing 7 amazing members of staff.  

What’s your favourite business book and why:

The standout book for me is Why by Simon Sinek.  I have it on audible and listen to it at least twice a year – it really resonates with why we do what we do and how we can do it better.

What is the most useful lesson you’ve learned through experience:

Plan, plan and plan again.

If you are not going in the right direction – go back to the plan.  If you want to grow faster – go back to the plan and make sure you have all the resources required.  Nothing takes up more cash than a growing business.

What is the main mistake to avoid in future:

I have learnt that clients will forget what has been discussed, forget that unpaid extra work was done – but they will never ever forget how they were treated by their previous accountant.

No matter how much our turnover grows, how many staff we take on – our clients will always be treated with care, compassion and individuality.

What are your future ambitions:

Our mission is to inspire businesses to be brilliant and be able to provide a better world and eliminate poverty. 

We firmly believe that abundance is possible for all

If you are a successful or interesting Yorkshire based business or organisation and you’d be willing to share your experiences by completing a case study then please contact us.

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