Crunch Accounting

Crunch launches new £5.5million software platform following four-year development programme

Crunch launches new £5.5million software platform following four-year development programme

Crunch, the UK’s first online accountancy provider, this month launches its new mobile-optimised digital platform to its 11,000 customers from all sectors and regions of the UK. The launch follows a four-year, £5.5million development programme to create a new secure, fast and reliable software service with a major focus on a simple, intuitive user experience.

The software and services firm that has been uniquely providing certified chartered accountants on-demand alongside accounting software for more than a decade, is launching the new platform, named ‘Ada’, in honour of the English mathematician and computing visionary Ada Lovelace. It will be available to Crunch customers in a range of new packages. The packages, to be phased in over the coming months, cover four different levels.

Launching today is Crunch Two, which is tailored specifically for the one person smaller limited companies, or personal service companies where the company owner works as a freelancer or contractor - this covers the majority (90%) of current Crunch clients. Also launching today is Crunch Three, a package including bookkeeper support designed for limited companies with up to four directors and ten employees. Both packages provide unlimited use of the new Crunch software and access to its team of expert accountants and client managers.

The ‘Ada’ platform currently provides 43 new, improved and unique features across Crunch’s range of packages, including Open Banking, which connects directly to many UK banks to enable easy bank transaction import and reconciliation. It also facilitates the automatic raising of dividends by calculating the maximum amount customers can take out and creating the official documentation at the click of a button - far simpler than the process in any other accounting software.

Crunch’s software also automatically creates the company Year End and CT600 return, as well as P11Ds for directors. Once a Crunch accountant checks all information is correct and tax-efficient and the client has approved them, the software files them automatically with Companies House and HMRC at no additional cost.

The new Crunch software also saves business owners’ time by allowing them to create recurring invoices and expenses and to record expenses on the go by simply taking a photograph of the receipt. Crucially, the software also enables MTD (Making Tax Digital) compatible VAT returns.

CEO and founder Darren Fell said: “Our new software offers a ridiculously easy way for contractors, freelancers and small business owners to easily manage their business finances. We’ve produced a new slick, efficient and intuitive platform with all of the crucial functions our customers need to run and grow their business. This new software platform is backed up by our unique software and service offering, meaning customers get unlimited access to our team of expert accountants and client managers, so they can focus their efforts on the business they love, not on the numbers.”

Today’s launch will be followed next year with a new software only product, and Crunch One, a renewed package for sole traders and the self-employed.

“As well as benefiting current customers, our new software also puts us in a position to be able to launch new packages early next year, introduce new features and open up Crunch’s services to a wider range of clients,” added Darren Fell.

Brighton’s Crunch wins two national awards

Brighton’s Crunch wins two national awards

Brighton-based online accountancy firm Crunch has won two national industry awards. The business was awarded Large Firm of the Year award at the Accounting Excellence Awards earlier this month, in addition to Mid-Tier Firm of the Year (Turnover between £10m - £25m) at the British Accountancy awards days later.

The Accounting Excellence and the British Accountancy award ceremonies, landmark events in the accounting calendar and now both in their ninth year, aim to celebrate the firms and individuals in the British accounting profession that are championing and pushing the industry to new heights. Crunch beat four other firms in the category to win the title as Large Firm of the Year, whilst beating another five to be named Mid-Tier Firm of the Year.

Crunch was founded in Brighton by Darren Fell in 2009. Over the past ten years, the company has evolved from the UK’s first online accountancy firm to an all-encompassing software and service platform for freelancers, contractors and small businesses, with over 200 staff and over 11,000 national customers. The company also announced the launch of its new operation, the Crunch Bookkeeper Network, earlier this year which offers additional bookkeeping services to its clients from remote working book keepers.

On winning the awards, CEO and founder Darren Fell said: “In the past year we’ve been working incredibly hard on innovating Crunch and building the business beyond our four walls to deliver faster growth. We are now exceeding £10m turnover and are on schedule to scale the business by 20% year on year from 2020. It’s incredibly rewarding to have this hard work recognised by these two prestigious accounting awards and is testament that our unique software and services platform has been now fully embraced by the accountancy industry.”

Brighton business leader wins national award

Darren Fell, CEO and Founder of Brighton-based accountancy firm Crunch, has won the Practice Pioneer of the Year award at this year’s Accounting Excellence Awards.

This national award celebrates service innovators, marketing strategists, technology gurus and inspirational leaders in the accounting industry.

Darren founded Crunch in 2009 and has led the company’s transition from an online accountant into an all-encompassing service that aims to simplify the lives of self-employed people.

In addition to marking Darren’s achievements at Crunch, building a £9.4million turnover business which grew by 18% last year, this win recognises his work supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs through partnering with the Albridge Academy and running community platform Crunch Chorus.

The awards ceremony took place in London’s InterContinental Hotel and was hosted by Countdown’s Rachel Riley.

On winning the award, Darren said: “The world of accounting has changed dramatically since I set up Crunch, but at its heart is great customer service and value for small businesses. We started out as a bit of an outsider doing things differently by combining technology with the insight that chartered accountants bring, so it’s brilliant to be recognised by our peers like this.

“This award is a testament to the hard work of everyone at Crunch. Our team has now grown to 185 employees and we now look after more than 10,500 clients. I‘m really proud of how we’ve worked together to grow the company and help so many small businesses to thrive.”