Over the years, as an accountant specialising in the care sector, I’ve often pondered the broader business advice landscape.
There’s a lot of buzz in the accounting world about providing more than just compliance work—offering business growth services, strategic advice, and being that all-encompassing advisor that helps clients not just survive but thrive.
But here’s the reality check: most of my clients don’t want that.
They’re not looking for a business guru; they’re looking for someone to make sure their books are in order, that HMRC and Companies House are happy, and they can sleep soundly knowing the compliance side of things is handled.
The Reality of Compliance vs. Business Growth Services
There’s this prevailing narrative that compliance services are “dead” or that they don’t add much value anymore. But from where I stand, nothing could be further from the truth.
Compliance work—getting the accounts done, filing the necessary returns, keeping everything in line with regulations—is still the bread and butter of what my clients need. For many, the mere thought of diving into more complex, strategic planning or business growth discussions feels overwhelming.
They’re running foster care agencies, child nurseries, care homes, or are independent social workers. Their focus is on caring for others, not necessarily growing their business empire.
Does compliance work help their business? Absolutely.
It saves them time, which in turn allows them to focus on what they do best—providing care. It frees them up to enjoy their lives or spend more time with their clients and their families, rather than getting bogged down in numbers and deadlines.
And in a way, it indirectly contributes to business growth by removing the stress of financial compliance and letting them put their energy where it truly matters.
Why Compliance Work Is Still Essential
1. Peace of Mind: Knowing that the financial side is handled properly is a huge relief. It’s one less thing for my clients to worry about, especially in an industry where emotional and physical energy is constantly being expended on the people they care for.
2. Time Savings: Compliance work isn’t glamorous, but it’s necessary. It’s the kind of work that, when done right, goes unnoticed—but when done wrong, it causes chaos.
My clients appreciate not having to spend their evenings figuring out how to file a VAT return or chasing receipts for expenses.
3. Focus on Their Mission: My clients are passionate about their work.
They’re driven by a sense of purpose, not profit margins. Compliance keeps the administrative side of the business ticking along, so they can keep their focus on what they’re passionate about—providing care.
Are Business Growth Services Really for Everyone?
There’s been a big push in the accounting industry to offer more advisory and business growth services. And while these are great and can certainly help businesses expand, they’re not a one-size-fits-all solution.
Some might but not every business owner wants to grow their business exponentially. Some are perfectly content with where they are, valuing stability and work-life balance over rapid expansion.
For my clients in the care sector, the focus is often on providing high-quality care rather than scaling up operations and the idea of adding more services or expanding locations can be daunting, and for many, it’s simply not necessary.
They’re looking for sustainability, manageable workloads, and the ability to do their job well without unnecessary stress.
Compliance Isn’t Dead—It’s the Foundation
So, is compliance dead? Hardly.
It’s very much alive and kicking, especially for the businesses I work with. Compliance work lays the foundation upon which everything else is built.
Without it, there’s no solid ground for any sort of business growth or strategic planning. It’s like building a house; you wouldn’t start with the roof—you start with a strong foundation.
For many of my clients, compliance work is that foundation.
So, in conclusion, while business growth services have their place, they’re not the be-all and end-all for every business.
Compliance work may not be flashy, but it’s invaluable in its own right. It provides security, saves time, and allows business owners to focus on what truly matters to them.
And as long as my clients are happy with that, then so am I.
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