Intro added August 6th, 2018.
How do you congratulate a company who just broke $1 trillion in worth? By thanking them for the opportunities to collaborate along the way.
Back in summer 2016 we partnered with Atlanta’s Apple flagship store and Xero to bring local business owners the latest in accounting software. More than just getting an opportunity to rave about how great Xero is for small businesses (which we 100% believe, no endorsement needed), the showcase was one of those rare opportunities to collaborate with local business owners and meet the future leaders in our community. If there is one takeaway from working with Apple that day, it’s that innovative, forward-thinking ideas are always worthy of sharing, and that we have to create those opportunities whenever we can.
At Acuity we’ve always known Apple’s contribution to our culture is more about people than anything else, and now it’s the perfect time to thank them: for bringing the world closer together with the tools and the conversations that we need to keep moving forward. So cheers on being the first trillion dollar company in the U.S. — it is well deserved!
This post was originally published on May 26, 2016.
When you get a call from Apple Inc., you answer — So when we recently answered our phone to hear Apple on the other end asking us to partner with them as their in-store small business accounting expert, we said yes. This month, we had the opportunity to hang out with them along with many southeastern entrepreneurs to demonstrate how small business owners can utilize Xero on Apple products to be more efficient each and every day. Once a month, Apple stores call in small business experts to lead conversations about technologies that can help their businesses scale. We were excited to present “a day in the life of an entrepreneur” in which our fictional CEO uses Xero throughout his day to ensure his business stays on track.
As many friends of the Acuity blog may know, we’re huge fans of Xero and as one of their largest gold partners in the U.S., we’re always excited for an opportunity to work with them to help transform our clients’ businesses. Entrepreneurs have to wear hundreds of hats and that can often include being a bookkeeper. Luckily, Xero was very intentional in the way they built their app to integrate well with MacBooks, iPhones, iPads and even Apple watches so bookkeeping doesn’t have to stay on your “to do or not to do” list forever. You can take control of your books wherever you are, on whatever device you may have.
The Demo
From Waffle House breakfasts to client dinners, Acuity’s founders, Kenji Kuramoto and Matthew May, walked attendees through an entrepreneur’s busy and unpredictable day. With Xero, you’re able to do everything from checking unpaid client invoices to submitting receipts for reimbursement right from your mobile device.
The Xero/Apple integration really does provide a simple, intuitive, and beautifully designed way to manage day to day accounting and have on-going access to current information to help your business thrive.
What Questions Did We Get Asked the Most?
Cloud security is a big concern for small business owners, so we answered a lot of valid questions about how to make sure you are keeping confidential information, confidential. Another popular question was “why should entrepreneurs choose Xero over QuickBooks Online or vice versa?”
At the end of the day, most of the small business owners in attendance simply recognized their accounting processes just weren’t cutting it and were hoping to find a quick and easy way to get their bookkeeping on track. We were able to recommend our DIY bookkeeping plan (which includes a FREE Xero subscription) as a great first step in the right direction.
What’s Next for Apple and Acuity?
Good news – the event was a hit and there are plenty more coming your way! Be sure to check out our Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn pages so you know when to catch us.
If you have questions about Xero or tackling bookkeeping on your own, we’re here to help. Just let us know.
