By David and Helen Parker, founders and directors of purpleaccounts.com
Picture this....
We’re in our spare room at home in April 2007, diligently working on a handful of our first accountancy clients, to whom we aimed to provide a simple service that would give small businesses exactly what they wanted: excellent service, easy access and exceptional value for money.
Our humble abode was where we created purpleaccounts.com.
The basis of this service was to use technology efficiently by providing a secure online portal, available to use 24/7, for clients to store all their information and even input data. We would then be able to access their accounts and update them, with the client able to view them online.
It turned accountancy on its head, as no longer did businesses have to wait a whole year to see exactly how their business was performing, as accounts are updated in days. No need to purchase software or even learn how to use it.
Our clients also could call us whenever it suited them, as running a small business is rarely 9-5, so we needed to fit in with that demand for ease of access.
The main benefit to the small-business owner of coming to purple was the unlimited access to free advice and support from a qualified accountant.
We have never charged our clients for calling us or for asking for advice – something that so many of our clients were afraid of with their previous provider.
The message spread and within two months we had outgrown our tiny spare room. We found small premises that we could lease for a reasonable rate and our first office was born.
It became apparent that the venture would work, so we looked for ways to get our brand known by small businesses UK-wide.
So where are we now, you may ask? We have a fantastic small team of professionals, dedicated to small businesses. We still operate as a small business ourselves, combining oodles of experience and genuine enthusiasm for our clients’ success.
We have opened the first ‘Purple Small Business Centre’ in the town centre of Douglas that has proven an instant hit. Other businesses centres are planned for when the business grows.
The ultimate reward was the accolade of TheBestOf.co.uk Best New Business 2008 – a true achievement and testament to our dedication and commitment to the small-business community.
It has been an amazing adventure so far, albeit very hard work – but isn’t everything worth having in life hard work?
