Starting a business
Starting a Business
We talk to the founder of HOAD SYSTEMS, who shares an inspiring journey of starting a business.
Summary:
Part 1: Can you introduce yourself please?
Happily married and proud to be the parent of two gifted young men..
Part 2: Starting a business?
As a child, I started carving old lumber into art and crafts. At 19, I earned a Teacher’s Diploma in Design & Technology (DT) and spent over eight years teaching Resistant Materials. Eventually, I shifted from teaching to focus on crafting as a business. Fuelled by my passion for beauty, craftsmanship, precision, and detail, I founded a custom furnishing business.
Part 3: What led you into the world of business?
Creating valuable products can drive significant demand, which was a fortunate result of my first business venture. I quickly realised that blending financial knowledge with creativity is key to growing a business. Luckily, my first cousin, an accountant, taught me basic accounting principles while also teaching me chess. 
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After stepping away from my first business venture, I decided to pursue an MBA and am now in the process of completing the ACCA.
What do you mean by guidance?
Finding a clear path for your business is essential. Even with a strong idea, challenges can arise. We help our clients overcome these hurdles by using our expertise and experience to improve their planning.
If you hadn’t gone into Business Advisory and Accounting, what would you have done?
I had hoped to pursue clinical psychology, but my parents’ financial constraints kept me from attending university. Instead, I started a teaching career and eventually joined my father’s entrepreneurial path.
What were the challenges when you began starting a business?
When I started my first business in 1988, the biggest challenge was dealing with the overwhelming amount of paperwork. Manual accounting was tedious and dull, and I didn’t have any computer skills. In the early ’90s, my brother bought me a computer, and I began using QuickBooks, then DacEasy, and eventually mastered Peachtree Complete by Sage. I learned that embracing accounting technology helps you move faster and eliminate high accounting costs from your business.
Every business should take advantage of accounting technology to ensure sustainable operations. We’ve created a simple accounting HOAD framework that works seamlessly with any software, whether it’s Sage, Xero, QuickBooks, or MYOB.
What are the outcomes of putting these systems in to place when starting a business?
Building a digital business system offers real-time financial transparency at the push of a button, simplifying processes and cutting out redundancy. This not only lowers operational costs but also emphasises core business aspects: people, performance, planet, and profit. For example, my efforts were recognised by Sage when I used Sage 50 Professional, then priced at £150, to manage a multisite academy. It seems to lower expenses, making business more accessible for both individuals and companies.
Who do you see HOAD working with?
Businesses looking to grow and cut down on administrative expenses.
What is your approach to dealing with business?
SMART Trust according to Covey and a ‘quality in, quality out’ process.
What is the simplest way of describing your mission?
Make a positive impact on lives.
When I taught Design Technology at a preparatory school in England, the kids would rush to my class with such excitement that I occasionally worried about Health & Safety rules! That level of enthusiasm is exactly what I love to see in people. Whether it’s a child eagerly attending design class or an entrepreneur, there’s pure joy in witnessing the results of smart work.
What do you think are the positive aspects of this job?
The human element of the job is key. Our goal is to help people become self-sufficient while giving them the tools they need to unlock their full potential.
This question is always difficult to answer, but can you describe yourself?
Kind, empathetic, trustworthy, strong, and motivational.
How do you see your industry changing in the next few years?
Manual accounting with Excel spreadsheets is on its way to becoming obsolete. In the near future, it might go the way of the dinosaurs, thanks to the rise of nearly cost-free advanced accounting technology. The real value comes from blending human knowledge and expertise with integrity to tackle and overcome challenges.
The last word?
Business is all about people and the relationships you build, especially when you’re just starting out.
SUCCESS IS NOT AN ACCIDENT!
