For accounting and bookkeeping firms with 5 to 50 staff
For accounting and bookkeeping firms with 5 to 50 staff
For accounting and bookkeeping firms with 5 to 50 staff
We’ll make your firm AI-native and give your team back 20 hours of admin a week. Within 90 days. Guaranteed.
We’ll make your firm AI-native and give your team back 20 hours of admin a week. Within 90 days. Guaranteed.
Chasing clients for documents, coding transactions, building BAS packs, writing up the monthly report. We take that work off your people, one process at a time, and measure the hours saved. That's about $48,000 a year of salary back into real work.
Chasing clients for documents, coding transactions, building BAS packs, writing up the monthly report. We take that work off your people, one process at a time, and measure the hours saved. That's about $48,000 a year of salary back into real work.
Book a 20-minute call
We’ll look at how your firm runs and tell you honestly whether 20 hours is there.
We’ll look at how your firm runs and tell you honestly whether 20 hours is there.
30+ systems built
200k+ users on apps we built
Built on your existing software
Every firm knows AI should be doing more of the work. Almost nobody knows where to put it.
Every firm knows AI should be doing more of the work. Almost nobody knows where to put it.
Every firm knows AI should be doing more of the work. Almost nobody knows where to put it.
You’ve seen the demos. Maybe someone on the team uses ChatGPT for emails. But the actual work of the firm still runs the way it did five years ago: a senior chasing a client for the third time, a bookkeeper coding the same transactions every month, a manager rebuilding the same report by hand.
You’ve seen the demos. Maybe someone on the team uses ChatGPT for emails. But the actual work of the firm still runs the way it did five years ago: a senior chasing a client for the third time, a bookkeeper coding the same transactions every month, a manager rebuilding the same report by hand.
You’ve seen the demos. Maybe someone on the team uses ChatGPT for emails. But the actual work of the firm still runs the way it did five years ago: a senior chasing a client for the third time, a bookkeeper coding the same transactions every month, a manager rebuilding the same report by hand.
The problem isn’t the tools. It’s that nobody has the time to sit inside your firm, work out which jobs can be handed to software, and then actually build it and switch it on.
The problem isn’t the tools. It’s that nobody has the time to sit inside your firm, work out which jobs can be handed to software, and then actually build it and switch it on.
The problem isn’t the tools. It’s that nobody has the time to sit inside your firm, work out which jobs can be handed to software, and then actually build it and switch it on.
That’s the job we do. We come in as your firm’s technology team, find the hours, build the fix, and measure the result. Your accountants keep doing the judgement work. The repetitive work goes away.
Roughly how many hours is your firm losing?
Roughly how many hours is your firm losing?
Move the sliders. This is a rough estimate from firms we’ve looked at, not a measurement. The real number comes from the 14-day timing.
Move the sliders. This is a rough estimate from firms we’ve looked at, not a measurement. The real number comes from the 14-day timing.
Move the sliders. This is a rough estimate from firms we’ve looked at, not a measurement. The real number comes from the 14-day timing.
The work we take off your team
The work we take off your team
The work we take off your team
These are the jobs where the hours hide in most firms. We start with whichever ones cost you the most.
These are the jobs where the hours hide in most firms. We start with whichever ones cost you the most.
These are the jobs where the hours hide in most firms. We start with whichever ones cost you the most.
The job
How it runs today
How it runs after
Chasing client documents
Chasing client documents
Someone emails, waits, emails again, then calls. Month-end slips because three clients haven’t sent bank statements.
Today
Someone emails, waits, emails again, then calls. Month-end slips because three clients haven’t sent bank statements.
Clients get a checklist, reminders go out automatically, and your team only sees a list of who’s still outstanding.
With Us
Clients get a checklist, reminders go out automatically, and your team only sees a list of who’s still outstanding.
Coding bank transactions
Coding bank transactions
A bookkeeper works through the feed line by line, applying the same rules from memory, every month, for every client.
Today
A bookkeeper works through the feed line by line, applying the same rules from memory, every month, for every client.
Transactions are coded and matched to receipts before anyone looks. Your team reviews the exceptions, not the whole feed.
With Us
Transactions are coded and matched to receipts before anyone looks. Your team reviews the exceptions, not the whole feed.
BAS and month-end packs
BAS and month-end packs
Pulling reports, checking figures, formatting, writing the cover note. Two to four hours per client, per cycle.
Today
Pulling reports, checking figures, formatting, writing the cover note. Two to four hours per client, per cycle.
The pack assembles itself from the ledger with drafted commentary. An accountant reads, adjusts and signs off.
With Us
The pack assembles itself from the ledger with drafted commentary. An accountant reads, adjusts and signs off.
Client onboarding
Client onboarding
Engagement letter, ethical letter, software access, ID checks and ATO linking, all handled by email over a couple of weeks.
Today
Engagement letter, ethical letter, software access, ID checks and ATO linking, all handled by email over a couple of weeks.
One link, one form, everything collected and filed. A new client is set up in a day instead of a fortnight.
With Us
One link, one form, everything collected and filed. A new client is set up in a day instead of a fortnight.
Invoicing and debtor follow-up
Invoicing and debtor follow-up
Invoices go out late because they’re raised by hand. Overdue accounts get chased when someone remembers.
Today
Invoices go out late because they’re raised by hand. Overdue accounts get chased when someone remembers.
Invoices raise on completion and reminders escalate on a schedule. Your team steps in only when a client needs a conversation.
With Us
Invoices raise on completion and reminders escalate on a schedule. Your team steps in only when a client needs a conversation.
Answering the same questions
Answering the same questions
“Where’s my return?”, “How much do I owe?”, “Can you resend that?” Each one interrupts a senior for ten minutes.
Today
“Where’s my return?”, “How much do I owe?”, “Can you resend that?” Each one interrupts a senior for ten minutes.
Clients get answers from a portal or an assistant that knows their file. Your seniors get uninterrupted afternoons.
With Us
Clients get answers from a portal or an assistant that knows their file. Your seniors get uninterrupted afternoons.
What that's worth: no next hire, more clients on the same payroll, and your seniors back on billable work.
Let's look at your firm's workflow
Let's look at your firm's workflow
How the engagement works
How the engagement works
This isn’t software you buy. It’s a team that comes in, finds where the hours go, and builds the fixes around how your firm actually runs, on top of the tools you already pay for.
One fixed price, quoted after we've measured your firm. Paid in stages as each part goes live.
This isn’t software you buy. It’s a team that comes in, finds where the hours go, and builds the fixes around how your firm actually runs, on top of the tools you already pay for.
One fixed price, quoted after we've measured your firm. Paid in stages as each part goes live.
This isn’t software you buy. It’s a team that comes in, finds where the hours go, and builds the fixes around how your firm actually runs, on top of the tools you already pay for.
One fixed price, quoted after we've measured your firm. Paid in stages as each part goes live.
Who you get
A Shipfast team: senior developers, a designer, a tester, and one person who runs your account and is always your point of contact.
A Shipfast team: senior developers, a designer, a tester, and one person who runs your account and is always your point of contact.
What we build
Whatever your firm needs: an internal system that runs the whole back office, or automations that plug into Xero, MYOB and your practice software. We build around what you already have, and replace what’s holding you back.
Whatever your firm needs: an internal system that runs the whole back office, or automations that plug into Xero, MYOB and your practice software. We build around what you already have, and replace what’s holding you back.
How you ask
Tell us what’s slow, clunky or done by hand. No specs, no briefs. We work out the rest.
Tell us what’s slow, clunky or done by hand. No specs, no briefs. We work out the rest.
Every Friday
One improvement goes live. A 30-minute call where we show your team what changed and agree what’s next.
One shared list
Every job we’ve found, ranked by hours saved, visible to you at all times. You reorder it whenever you like.
Every job we’ve found, ranked by hours saved, visible to you at all times. You reorder it whenever you like.
Your data
Stays in your accounts, under an NDA from the first call. Nothing is ever trained on your clients’ information.
Stays in your accounts, under an NDA from the first call. Nothing is ever trained on your clients’ information.
Terms
Fixed quote, paid per phase. You only pay for the next stage once the last one is live.
Fixed quote, paid per phase. You only pay for the next stage once the last one is live.
At least 20 hours of admin a week saved. Or we work for free until we do.
At least 20 hours of admin a week saved. Or we work for free until we do.
At least 20 hours of admin a week saved. Or we work for free until we do.
By day 14
We find where your firm is leaking 20 hours a week.
By day 14
We find where your firm is leaking 20 hours a week.
By day 14
We find where your firm is leaking 20 hours a week.
By day 21
A job your team did by hand last week, they no longer do.
By day 21
A job your team did by hand last week, they no longer do.
By day 21
A job your team did by hand last week, they no longer do.
By day 90
Your team has at least 20 hours back, every single week.
By day 90
Your team has at least 20 hours back, every single week.
By day 90
Your team has at least 20 hours back, every single week.
See if your firm qualifies
See if your firm qualifies
The first 90 days
The first 90 days
1
Fit call
Fit call
Twenty minutes on your firm’s size, software and where the week goes. We tell you honestly whether 20 hours is realistic.
Twenty minutes on your firm’s size, software and where the week goes. We tell you honestly whether 20 hours is realistic.
Day 0
2
Time the work
Time the work
We sit with your bookkeepers and seniors, watch the six jobs, and log the hours. You get the report and ranked list.
We sit with your bookkeepers and seniors, watch the six jobs, and log the hours. You get the report and ranked list.
Days 1–14
3
First job automated
First job automated
The biggest hour-saver goes live. Usually document chasing or transaction coding, because that’s where most firms bleed time.
The biggest hour-saver goes live. Usually document chasing or transaction coding, because that’s where most firms bleed time.
By day 21
4
Weekly, then measured
Weekly, then measured
We review progress each week. In month three we re-time the agreed workflows and put the saving in writing.
We review progress each week. In month three we re-time the agreed workflows and put the saving in writing.
Days 21–90
This is for you if you’re done with
This is for you if you’re done with
Month-end running late because clients haven’t sent their statements
Month-end running late because clients haven’t sent their statements
Month-end running late because clients haven’t sent their statements
Good bookkeepers spending their day coding the same transactions
Good bookkeepers spending their day coding the same transactions
Good bookkeepers spending their day coding the same transactions
Hiring another person every time you take on more clients
Hiring another person every time you take on more clients
Hiring another person every time you take on more clients
Being the one who has to work out where AI fits, on top of everything else
Being the one who has to work out where AI fits, on top of everything else
Being the one who has to work out where AI fits, on top of everything else
What 90 days looks like inside a firm
What 90 days looks like inside a firm
One engagement, start to finish. A suburban Melbourne BAS and tax firm went from 27 leaking hours a week to shipping month-end three days early.
One engagement, start to finish. A suburban Melbourne BAS and tax firm went from 27 leaking hours a week to shipping month-end three days early.
Case study · Suburban BAS and tax firm, Melbourne
From 27 leaking hours a week to a team that ships month-end three days early
From 27 leaking hours a week to a team that ships month-end three days early
Two partners, fifteen staff, about 180 bookkeeping and BAS clients on Xero and Xero Practice Manager. Growing, and hiring every time they grew.
Two partners, fifteen staff, about 180 bookkeeping and BAS clients on Xero and Xero Practice Manager. Growing, and hiring every time they grew.
15
staff
~180
BAS clients
Xero + XPM
practice stack
90 days
engagement
Days 1–14
Find the leaks
We sat with the bookkeepers and the two seniors for ten working days and logged where the hours actually went. Not estimates: a stopwatch on the six jobs.
We sat with the bookkeepers and the two seniors for ten working days and logged where the hours actually went. Not estimates: a stopwatch on the six jobs.
We sat with the bookkeepers and the two seniors for ten working days and logged where the hours actually went. Not estimates: a stopwatch on the six jobs.
Chasing clients for documents
Chasing clients for documents
7.5 hrs / wk
7.5 hrs / wk
7.5 hrs / wk
Coding and matching bank transactions
Coding and matching bank transactions
8 hrs / wk
8 hrs / wk
8 hrs / wk
Building BAS and month-end packs
Building BAS and month-end packs
5 hrs / wk
5 hrs / wk
5 hrs / wk
Onboarding new clients
Onboarding new clients
2 hrs / wk
2 hrs / wk
2 hrs / wk
Raising invoices and chasing debtors
Raising invoices and chasing debtors
2 hrs / wk
2 hrs / wk
2 hrs / wk
Answering "where's my return?"
Answering "where's my return?"
2.5 hrs / wk
2.5 hrs / wk
2.5 hrs / wk
Found by day 14
Found by day 14
27 hrs / wk
27 hrs / wk
27 hrs / wk
The partners had guessed "maybe ten." Seeing 27 on paper, signed off by their own team, is what made the rest of the engagement easy.
The partners had guessed "maybe ten." Seeing 27 on paper, signed off by their own team, is what made the rest of the engagement easy.
The partners had guessed "maybe ten." Seeing 27 on paper, signed off by their own team, is what made the rest of the engagement easy.
Days 15–21
First job gone
Document chasing went first because it was the job everyone hated and the one blocking month-end. Clients now get a checklist for the period, reminders go out on their own by email and SMS, and everything that arrives is filed against the client in Xero.
By day 19 the bookkeepers had stopped chasing. What's left of the job is a short list of who needs a phone call.
Document chasing went first because it was the job everyone hated and the one blocking month-end. Clients now get a checklist for the period, reminders go out on their own by email and SMS, and everything that arrives is filed against the client in Xero.
By day 19 the bookkeepers had stopped chasing. What's left of the job is a short list of who needs a phone call.
Document chasing went first because it was the job everyone hated and the one blocking month-end. Clients now get a checklist for the period, reminders go out on their own by email and SMS, and everything that arrives is filed against the client in Xero.
By day 19 the bookkeepers had stopped chasing. What’s left of the job is a short list of who needs a phone call.
The documents screen inside Keel. The list shrinks on its own; the team sees only who's outstanding.
Days 22–60
Days 22–60
The big two
Transaction coding was next: the firm's own coding history became the rulebook, receipts from email and Dext are matched automatically, and a bookkeeper reviews the exceptions instead of the feed. Then BAS packs: figures pull from the ledger, five checks run, a commentary is drafted, and an accountant reads and signs.
Onboarding, invoicing and the client portal followed in the last four weeks, one a week, each shown on the Friday call before it went live.
Transaction coding was next: the firm's own coding history became the rulebook, receipts from email and Dext are matched automatically, and a bookkeeper reviews the exceptions instead of the feed. Then BAS packs: figures pull from the ledger, five checks run, a commentary is drafted, and an accountant reads and signs.
Onboarding, invoicing and the client portal followed in the last four weeks, one a week, each shown on the Friday call before it went live.
Transaction coding was next: the firm's own coding history became the rulebook, receipts from email and Dext are matched automatically, and a bookkeeper reviews the exceptions instead of the feed. Then BAS packs: figures pull from the ledger, five checks run, a commentary is drafted, and an accountant reads and signs.
Onboarding, invoicing and the client portal followed in the last four weeks, one a week, each shown on the Friday call before it went live.
Coding run: 412 transactions, 11 for a human.
Coding run: 412 transactions, 11 for a human.
Coding run: 412 transactions, 11 for a human.
A BAS pack drafted and checked, waiting to be signed.
A BAS pack drafted and checked, waiting to be signed.
A BAS pack drafted and checked, waiting to be signed.
Day 90
Re-measure
Re-measure
Same ten-day stopwatch, same six jobs, same client base. 24 of the 27 hours were back. The three that weren't are the phone calls, the exceptions and the judgement questions, which is where an accountant should be spending time.
The firm took on 22 new clients over the following quarter without a new hire. Month-end now closes three days earlier than it did in June.
Same ten-day stopwatch, same six jobs, same client base. 24 of the 27 hours were back. The three that weren't are the phone calls, the exceptions and the judgement questions, which is where an accountant should be spending time.
The firm took on 22 new clients over the following quarter without a new hire. Month-end now closes three days earlier than it did in June.
Same ten-day stopwatch, same six jobs, same client base. 24 of the 27 hours were back. The three that weren't are the phone calls, the exceptions and the judgement questions, which is where an accountant should be spending time.
The firm took on 22 new clients over the following quarter without a new hire. Month-end now closes three days earlier than it did in June.
24 hrs
24 hrs
24 hrs
a week back, measured
a week back, measured
3 days
3 days
3 days
earlier month-end close
earlier month-end close
22
22
22
new clients, no new hires
new clients, no new hires
0
0
0
tools ripped out
tools ripped out
"We thought we were buying software. What we got was a team that told us where our week was going and then took most of it back."
"We thought we were buying software. What we got was a team that told us where our week was going and then took most of it back."
Managing partner
Managing partner
Questions partners ask us
Questions partners ask us
How does this save us money, or make us more?
−
Three ways. You don't make the next hire, because the capacity comes from the system, not a new person. You can take on more clients without adding payroll. And your seniors spend their time on billable work instead of admin. On the call we'll put a dollar figure on it for your firm.
How does this save us money, or make us more?
−
Three ways. You don't make the next hire, because the capacity comes from the system, not a new person. You can take on more clients without adding payroll. And your seniors spend their time on billable work instead of admin. On the call we'll put a dollar figure on it for your firm.
Is our clients’ data safe?
+
Is our clients’ data safe?
+
We’re on Xero and a practice management tool. Do we have to change?
+
We’re on Xero and a practice management tool. Do we have to change?
+
What happens during tax season?
+
What happens during tax season?
+
What if we already tried AI and it didn’t work?
+
What if we already tried AI and it didn’t work?
+
Who owns what you build?
+
Who owns what you build?
+
Why one job at a time?
+
Why one job at a time?
+
Book a 20-minute call. We'll tell you straight whether the 20 hours are in your firm, and what they're worth.
Book a 20-minute call. We'll tell you straight whether the 20 hours are in your firm, and what they're worth.
We take on three firms a quarter so the guarantees hold.