My name is Randy Baril and I am an RPI-trained mathematician, a Xero and Quickbooks-certified partner, and a passionate believer in cask ale.
Why Draughts & Ledgers?
It’s a social situation. Uncomfortable people are grasping for safe topics to fill the silence. Inevitably; “Soo… what do you do?”
“Bookkeeping” isn’t fun1. It isn’t interesting2. It’s necessary3. It doesn’t inspire4 and it won’t fill the silence5. It’s a good thing that’s not my response.
I started my bookkeeping business in 2017. Over the past year, I’ve thought about my one year plan (achieved!), five year plan, and how I can bring the most value to my clients. Ultimately, leading to the question, “Why Draughts & Ledgers?” Besides the obvious and delightful pun.
Every business needs a system to track their finances. It can run the gamut from those unbelievably stressed business owners scrambling to gather bank and credit card statements in April for their accountant to those reading over the monthly financial reports they just received from their bookkeeper. I want you to be in the second camp. This is where you can hear out suggestions and adjust the budget accordingly for the following month. No surprises, no scrambling, no guessing.
I believe that most small breweries would like to outsource their books. The founder/owner/brewer/janitor got into the business to bring their beer to the masses, not to chase pennies just because it is necessary. The hang-up can sometimes be the price. Think of it this way: your business’s success is very serious. It determines the paycheck for many people. It provides a valuable service or product in your community. People put their own reputation at risk by giving you referrals. The most important component of your business is your finances. The books are the only factual
source of information when it comes to making financial decisions. In the same way, think about your eyes. If you were welding a bright tank, would you shop around and try to find the cheapest welder? The welder with the fastest turnaround? The welder that will slash his prices for you? Absolutely not! You would want the best of the best. And the best welder would be valuable and worth it.
In my mind, I’m constantly thinking, “How do I become the best welder? How do I bring the most value and all but guarantee success to my clients??” It all goes back to that question I get about my business,
“Soo… what do you do?”
I could list my services here. However, I want to bring the most value to my clients. I want to be the best for them. There are a lot of bookkeeping companies that can do your reconciliations, accounts payable, receivable, loan amortization, asset depreciation, etc. However, not all bookkeepers truly partner with their clients. When I choose to partner with prospective clients, this is a huge professional commitment. This means that the books are going to be done correctly, in a timely manner, and then we are going to use that information to grow. A common misconception is that a business’s books are for taxes. Yes, the government requires records, however, the bigger picture and a huge opportunity is missed when the books aren’t used by the owner to shape and mold the business into the most profitable and powerful entity it can be. Analyzing the financial reports is often the step that is overlooked, and it is the most important step. I bring value to my clients by analyzing the books, making suggestions, financial coaching, confidential consulting, bringing referrals, providing honest feedback, business scaling strategies, budgeting, cloud document storage, and most importantly, a trustworthy support system. Approximately 70% of small business owners don’t have partners or employees. Having someone to share successes and failures, ask questions, and bounce ideas off of can make all the difference.
“Soo… what do I do?”
I partner with smaller breweries.
And then I do a lot.
-Randy Baril
1 I actually DO think it’s fun. It’s a constantly changing puzzle, a formal system in search of optimization.
2 You’d be amazed at the interesting things that can pop out of the data.
3 It is absolutely necessary to have good data if you are to make the best decisions.
4 I can think of nothing more inspiring than seeing a business owner in control of their finances and building their dream.
5 While good bookkeeping is more about listening than talking, sharing stories of my clients successes and triumphs is one of my favorite past-times.
Draughts and Ledgers, Ltd is a virtual bookkeeping service that focuses on providing efficient financial processing and analysis to smaller breweries. Founded in 2017 by Randy Baril, the company is based in Lowell, MA. Randy is a RPI-trained mathematician with over a decade steeped in the Boston beer scene. He is certified as a bookkeeper on a variety of accounting platforms including Xero, QuickBooks Online, and FreshBooks. He is a founding and lifetime member of the Digital Bookkeeper’s Association.
