Case Studies
CPP Testimonial 1 – Chandler Gooding, by Bob Gooding (former owner)
Turning hard graft into sustainable profit growth
Providing start ups and small businesses with support to grow
Key Services provided:
- Outsourced accountancy function (VAT, PAYE, etc.)
- Proactive business support
- Advice on pricing, with a focus on margin
- Cost control
The situation:
In 1980 Chandler Gooding Corporate Publishing (CG) had just completed a management buyout. With a blue-chip client list and a small team of writers and designers led by two partners and the finances were entrusted to a part-time bookkeeper.
Working all the hours in the first year CG won a hatful of awards for their publications and clients were queuing up for their services. Eight years later, the company was seen as a success but the finances were a disaster and they weren’t making any money!
How CPP helped:
Peter Ciccone had just set up CPP and offered to carry out an independent review of CG to identify what might be going wrong. A month later he came back with a report listing an array of problems covering invoicing, purchasing, time cost analysis, estimating and staff management!
CPP’s report was a revelation; it gave insight into what was needed to do to turn hard graft into sustainable profit growth. The report was followed with an offer of practical support to help recruit a better-qualified internal accountant working under the supervision of CPP as management consultants.
The arrangement proved to be very successful and most importantly, it was also affordable to CG. There was a standard monthly charge for the basic package and any additional services – like dealing with VAT inspections – would be invoiced separately.
The results of CPP support:
As Chandler Gooding grew during the 90s CPP became more integrated with the business with Peter attending board meetings as a non-exec advisor on business strategy. By this time CPP were providing a full range of accountancy services including invoicing, payroll, VAT returns and management accounting.
What the client says:
“In addition to his obvious professional skills as an accountant he has an unerring ability to look at a problem from a fresh perspective and work out innovative solutions. The CPP approach is also very proactive. Board meetings frequently included a report that looked at our activities in a different light, perhaps comparing our performance with others in our sector or analysing the benefits of expanding into other business areas.
CPP’s advice has undoubtedly played a significant part in helping me realise value from my business and laying the foundations for a financially secure retirement through excellent suggestions on and implementation of tax efficient remuneration strategies coupled with realistic and practical commercial advice given in a simple and easy to understand manner”.