Testimonials

Our biggest challenge before we joined Sidekick was not being clear on where we wanted to go in life. We both had an idea in our minds of what we wanted life to look like in the future but we had no clear road map or action plan to make sure we achieved it. We didn’t have many people in our personal lives who had achieved what we wanted to so lacked the necessary knowledge and all-important accountability to go after it.

It really made us feel like we were just ‘winging it’ and in the back of our minds we knew that every small daily decision would add up to create our future and we wanted to be in the drivers seat on what that looked like. We also often felt stagnant despite knowing there was so much potential for us if we just had the right support and guidance.

That all changed after we joined Sidekick and one of the first questions Richard asked us was ‘Where do you guys want to be in 5 years?’ As simple a question as it was it’s not something we had ever been asked before even by our closest friends and family. It got us excited and inspired to make sure our visions aligned. It was actually really special to sit and listen to each other as we shared what was important to us in our future. Richard helped us to break our big goals down into small actionable steps which we were able to start ticking off from Day 1.

After 9 months with Sidekick we know exactly where we’re going which gives us invaluable reassurance and certainty for the future. We know our values and this influences the small decisions when it comes to daily farm life as well as investments and in our personal life. Richard helped us create an appraisal system that has already helped strengthen our working and personal relationship with our staff and which will in turn undoubtedly strengthen the efficiency and profitability of our business. We feel so empowered knowing Richard ‘gets us’ and wants to see us succeed. We look forward to going to each meeting having ticked off every goal we set in the previous meeting.

It’s worth investing in good advice and accountability. This was really not something we had factored into the budget and as good savers and being fairly thrifty it was a big decision for us to invest in this. However its already one of the best business decisions we could have made and highly, highly recommend Sidekick to anyone who’s wanting to take their business from good to great.

Since joining the team with Sidekick we have found a great level of service. It seems they are really interested in our business and offering advice to help us to grow and become better. As small business owners we are extremely busy doing what needs to be done for our clients and it sometimes takes a little reminding to do what needs to be done for our business.

Through quarterly business planning sessions to one-off get togethers to work through any issues we have, Sidekicks are always there and available to help. They will also connect you to other like-minded businesses who they feel may be of assistance. We may not be able to afford a board of trustees but Sidekicks are very much part of our team.

In its 50 plus years, Edgeworth Farm has grown to nearly 500ha. Agronomic management had grown
with it but financial management was stale and needed a kick along, no longer just being a tax
accountant was acceptable so here entered Richard, Kirsty and the team not only could they kick,
after all it’s written on their cars, they weren’t afraid to either.

On the recommendation of my daughter, Richard Wheeler {Wheels}, Kirsty and the team sat down in
the farm office along with the directors. They outlined what was being offered: planning meetings,
budgeting, annual accounts, and liaising with the bank all at a very reasonable cost.

We liked what we saw so took a deep breath and moved all our work across to them, and a year on the
rest is history. Out with the old accounting software and in with Xero and Hubdoc. Statements are
now photographed or emailed to the hub where a push of a key completes the bi-monthly GST
return and then they lie in wait for the year-end commitments.

Richard and the team are young committed and enthusiastic, we’ve made a decision that will both
grow our business and theirs. We can now get on with farming and look forward to the 4 planning
meetings per year.

I unreservedly recommend Sidekick Rural to you.

Sidekick in my opinion has changed the face of rural accounting and has taken “doing the numbers” to a whole new level. Having been with Sidekick for only 6 months, they have completely changed the way we do business – in such a positive, proactive way.

Their modern, fresh approach to not only accounting, but business planning, mentoring, forecasting, and succession planning is executed smoothly and professionally by a very friendly, well qualified and helpful team dedicated to providing a great service. Among the positives, being a Xero based accountancy firm, meaning our own Xero program got a real super-tune, with the addition of Hubdoc, Paysauce, and Figured- all easy and accessible add-ons though any Xero subscription which has made day to day office life for us so much easier.

Being able to continue our meetings via online sessions has been another big benefit especially in these trying times with COVID-19. Very happy to have made to choice to come across to Sidekick and look forward to working closely with Richard, Kirsty, and the team in the future.

Could not recommend them enough!