Integration and the Internet: an unbeatable combination for firm success.

Sponsored by Thomson Creative Solutions

"I've always believed strongly in integration," says Dave Ligotri of Ann Arbor, Michigan, a CPA for 22 years. "I've never understood why some accountants try to cobble together software from different companies. My belief in integration is mainly what drew me to Creative Solutions in the first place."

After working for a large public accounting firm for six years and then serving as the CFO for a restaurant management company for nine years, Ligotti began to get restless. Eight years ago, Ligotti started Oakwood Business Services to handle what he calls "client accounting services." His first client was his former employer, which outsourced its accounting, administrative, and IS work to him. Since then, he has added many additional clients, many of them restaurants. He has built his business around outsourcing accounting services for small businesses. "These are wonderful services for an accounting practice to provide. They're non-seasonal, and they're profitable. And, they can be leveraged to provide a full range of professional services, all in one shop."

Positioned for growth as a one-stop shop 

"We've grown significantly over the last eight years, mainly because we've positioned ourselves as a one-step shop. The technology, including integration and the Internet, enable us to deliver," says Ligotti. "These technologies have provided us with an incredible advantage. We are able to compete with large firms with more capital, and even service bureaus, because we can do what they can't do for their clients--simplify their life. We can do payroll, invoices, or even provide clients the software to do it themselves--and roll it into the general ledger. And then we can efficiently perform professional services such as tax returns and financial statements."

"Integration and the ability to serve our clients individually using private portals via the Internet are the keys to our success. We integrate the various parts of the accounting function at one hub, our firm. And the client has to make only one phone call a week instead of three or four," Ligotti explains. "Because we're dealing over the Internet, data are entered just once by the client. Once we have client data, it's shared among our various payroll, accounting, and tax programs automatically. We never have to re-enter data to perform the variety of services we offer. Plus, the Internet has allowed us to cut our processing time significantly and has enabled us to deliver our services more efficiently than ever."

Transcending geography

"The Internet has made it possible for accountants to be independent of where their clients are. We currently do accounting work for clients in Michigan, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, West Virginia, Louisiana, and Florida. Some of my business comes from franchises, and those calls can come from anywhere," says Ligotti. "If the call comes from New Mexico, I'm not worded. We both have Internet access, and Creative Solutions' NetClient[R] sits between us. We can exchange financial statements, tax returns, information to complete the payroll, and complete the payroll checks in a secure environment--whenever it is convenient. In some cases, we host the client accounting software over NetClient. It may seem odd to some people, but I have never actually met some of my best clients--and yet I am completely confident that I am providing them top notch service."

Seizing a great opportunity

"What I do, in my mind, is pretty simple," Ligotti reflects. "I happen to know how to run an accounting function because I was a CFO for about nine years. Technology makes it possible to integrate accounting, payroll and all these other functions, but other companies that do this kind of work can't provide the integration, the personalized service and the one-stop shopping that I can." Ligotti sees this as a great opportunity. "Technology such as integration and NetClient have leveled the playing field and made it possible for firms like mine to compete with much larger firms.