Behind the Scenes - A Blue Fox Client Onboarding Call

Humans Serving Humans with ​Financial Peace of Mind

​Even I can be surprised sometimes.
 
Recently, I listened in on a new client onboarding call.  
 
I don't typically attend these calls. I'm the marketing person behind the scenes at Blue Fox (you know, the one showing up in your inbox with beautifully written newsletters).  
 
But our CEO suggested that I listen to this one. She said I might be surprised by the conversation and to keep in mind that many of our clients come to us in the same state of mind.  
 
Financial shop talk is what I thought I would hear.
 
Boy, was I wrong!
 
This is what surprised me: 
 
"What are you looking to gain from our partnership?" we asked.
 
"I'm looking to gain stability," said our new client. "I've been working really hard to teach myself the finance side but realized I need to close the gap with your expertise.  We could never trust our numbers. Numbers are facts, and we should be able to trust them to make decisions!"
 
These are some of the words our client shared with us. But it was the unspoken emotion behind their words that struck me.
 
They were frustrated, unsettled, timidly raising their hands. They knew it was time to ask for help. And now that help was there; all the emotions were coming to the surface.  
 
It was almost like they had financial management PTSD. 
 
What in the world happened to cause this level of stress?

​​It wasn't any ONE thing that was catastrophic. The simple answer is that our client is recovering from a not-so-good bookkeeper who made lots of mistakes and has since left the organization.  And now, those mistakes are rearing their ugly head, causing a whole shitstorm of re-work, cash flow challenges, and tax compliance issues.  
 
(That's why we always say you want a bad-ass bookkeeper, not a bad one!)
 
As the call went on, I could sense our client feeling more and more relieved in the spirit of our partnership.  
 
Can you blame them?! They just gained a financial thought partner and another set of hands to oversee accounting data entry, management, and reporting.
 
Isn't it clear? What Blue Fox really delivers is peace of mind! 
(And more time, consistency, financial access, process improvement, etc., etc., etc.)
 
And then the shop talk started, just as I suspected. The conversation was now all financials, processes, transfer of responsibility, data architecture, and high-level recommendations.
 
Here's a snapshot of EVERYTHING discussed (and then prioritized):

• Getting QuickBooks up to date
• Planning for equipment replacement
• Financial modeling
• Data analysis to streamline operations
• Expense allocation
• Data architecture
• Aligning systems
• Payroll accounting
• Tax and compliance notices
• A/R balances
• Point of sale systems
• Setting up a more natural Chart of Accounts
• QuickBooks tags
• QuickBooks projects
• Internal controls for receipts
• How to become a certified WOM (Women-Owned Business)
• Calculating overhead percentages for grants
• Allocating admin costs

 
My marketing mind was swimming at this point :) That's when I stopped paying attention (a symptom of being a creative person) and just started writing.
 
Nonprofit leaders need to know that they are not alone in feeling overwhelmed by financial management.
It's common for organizational leaders to have a background in service delivery/programs, marketing, or fundraising, not financial management and strategy. AND THAT'S OKAY! 
​ 
That's why companies Blue Fox exist!  
 
We set our clients up with the most efficient and tech-savvy financial processes to save them time and frustration. Then we provide access, information, and analysis to give clients the power to make strategic, data-driven decisions.
 
The onboarding call was almost over, so I zoned back in and heard our client say, “You have no idea the amount of confidence you're giving me! "It makes me sad for the stress we've experienced, but we're so happy we found Blue Fox to help us!"
  
Confidence.
Peace of Mind.
Kindness.
Understanding.
Patience.
 
We’re not your average accounting firm, are we?
Far from it!
 
Our CEO always says, “We’re just humans serving humans.” 
 
An outsider might think that we’re just a bunch of bean counters performing accounting, payroll, and tax work for our clients.  But we know it’s more than that. 
 
When a nonprofit organization improves its financial stability, its leadership can take better care of staff members and deepen its ability to provide mission-driven services.  Humans serving humans.
 
And that, my friends, is the ripple effect of care, kindness, and humanity.

Written By: Chelsea Clementi, Director of Marketing & Business Development, Blue Fox