Viridity is a specialist business advisory service offering business software implementation, bookkeeping, management accounting and virtual CFO services to small- and medium-sized businesses.

We ask the tough questions of Rhys Roberts, Viridity

Would you describe yourself as a technophobe or technophile?

A technophile – I’m passionate about finding software solutions that help small business owners do things faster, better and more profitably, so I’m always checking out the latest developments.

What’s the smartest bit of marketing you’ve ever done?

If there is one great piece of marketing available I haven’t yet found it. What I have found is the cumulative power of taking a position and putting it online. I am a strong advocate of cloud solutions and of the importance of keeping your accounts up to date so you can see how your business is performing. Some people will disagree with that, but I keep saying it in lots of places and a proportion of those who think this makes sense call me looking for help. Have a point of view and state it lots of times.

What’s the one resource you’d never be without?

This will sound self-serving, but Xero. I love implementing solutions but I am not really a fan of bookkeeping (too repetitive), but with Xero I don’t have to do much bookkeeping, the software does most of it for me.

What’s the most enjoyable element of your work? And the least enjoyable?

I love it when clients tell me that we’ve reduced their stress levels, given them back some time or helped them save money – that’s what we live for at Viridity!

On the other hand, I hate having to tell someone that their business data is in such bad shape that there’s going to be a lot of manual data entry involved in getting it in order. Data entry is my pet peeve! This most frequently happens when a conversation with a new client starts with, “My data is X years out of date…” Yuck!

What would be your advice to aspiring soloists?

Set up your business today for how you think it will be (or even hope it will be) in two years’ time. That means investing in processes and software to get it right from the start. It is much easier to learn and implement good systems early in your business (when you are not yet running flat out) than it is later on (when you have more money coming in, but are time poor). And if you’re not comfortable with IT, contact Viridity to help you set things up properly from the outset!

What website do you visit every day?

I visit the Flying Solo forums a fair bit – there’s always a lot going on there, and it’s a great way to keep your finger on the pulse of the small business community.

I also log into my Xero file every day so that I can see if anyone has paid me (because of the bank feeds my Xero file is always up to date).

And I do find myself on www.weststigers.com.au quite a lot at this time of year!

What inspires you most about your work?

I get to work with small business owners from all walks of life, and so have exposure to a wide range of industries. We also look after quite a few organisations in the not-for-profit sector, and the work they do is very inspiring.

I love the fact that so many of the clients we work with love what they do, love their businesses. They are sometimes struggling, not always sure of what the future holds, often working far harder than they did in a corporate role, but when was the last time you heard a soloist say “oh no, Monday”?

What do you wear to work?

Another bonus of not being in a corporate job: no tie – not just no tie, to be clear! – but business casual, except Friday when it’s just plain casual.

What do you love most about running your own business?

The variety, the sense of purpose, the real difference we make to our clients, the instant feedback we get from clients (usually good, occasionally bad, I think always honest).

If your office caught fire, what would you grab first? What would you toss into the flames?

Probably my bike helmet! I wouldn’t have to worry about data files, everything we have is in the cloud.

Do you prefer crosswords, logic puzzles or neither?

Logic every time – from Sudoku to backgammon or chess. My wife is a word girl who beats me at Scrabble every time (she could probably do so blindfolded) – and I am not the world’s best loser!

Can you stop at just one chocolate biscuit/savoury snack?

No. Hence the bike.

And now comes the plug for Rhys Roberts, Viridity!

What do you do? Who for? And how does it benefit them?

Viridity is a specialist business advisory service offering business software implementation, bookkeeping, management, accounting and virtual CFO services to small- and medium-size businesses.

Our mission is to help business owners overcome many of the problems they face in running their businesses profitably and efficiently, and we do that by specialising in the use and roll-out of cloud-based systems such as Xero for accounting, Unleashed for inventory management, Vend for retailers (online and offline) and GeoOp for those with a mobile work force.

And where can we find out more about Rhys Roberts, Viridity?

• Flying Solo Directory: www.flyingsolo.com.au/profile/viridity-18654
• My website: www.viridity.com.au
• Twitter: @ViridityAU
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Viridity-bookkeeping-business-solutions/170050856344966

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