Name: Chris White
Location: Hildenborough, Tonbridge
Founded: 2021
➡️ What does your business do, and who do you help?
I run CW Licensed Bookkeeper & Accountant (CWABC), an independent accountancy practice based in Hildenborough, near Tonbridge. I help sole traders, landlords, partnerships and small limited companies across Kent, as well as clients further afield who are happy to work remotely.
In simple terms, I take care of the accounting, bookkeeping and tax side of running a business so my clients can concentrate on what they do best. That can mean anything from preparing annual accounts and Self Assessment tax returns to bookkeeping, VAT, payroll, Corporation Tax, management accounts, budgeting and cash flow forecasting.
A big part of what I do is also helping clients make better use of technology. I work with cloud accounting platforms including Xero, FreeAgent and QuickBooks and enjoy finding ways to make accounting processes simpler and more efficient. I have always been very interested in the technology and data side of finance, so rather than seeing bookkeeping as simply recording what has already happened, I like using the information to help clients understand what is happening in their business now.
Most of my clients are small business owners who don't want or need a large accountancy firm. They want someone they can actually speak to, who knows their business and can explain things in plain English. That's the kind of relationship I've tried to build CWABC around.
Ultimately, my job is to take some of the worry out of accounts and tax, keep clients compliant and give them a clearer picture of their finances.
➡️ What sparked the idea for your business?
There wasn't really one single lightbulb moment. I had worked in finance and accounts for more than 30 years, and over that time I had built up a lot of practical experience across bookkeeping, accounting, reporting and financial systems.
I had thought for some time that I could use that experience to help small businesses directly. What appealed to me was the opportunity to work with business owners on a more personal level and give them the sort of practical support that can make a genuine difference to how they understand and manage their finances.
In 2021 I decided to take that idea seriously and started CW Licensed Bookkeeper & Accountant alongside my employed role. I initially became an AAT Licensed Bookkeeper, before extending my licence and becoming an AAT Licensed Accountant in 2023 as the practice developed.
I also saw how quickly accounting was becoming more digital. I've always enjoyed technology, spreadsheets, data and finding more efficient ways of doing things, so starting my own practice gave me the opportunity to combine that side of my experience with traditional accountancy.
I didn't want to build a practice where clients only hear from their accountant when their accounts or tax return are due. I wanted CWABC to be approachable and personal, where clients can ask questions throughout the year, understand what their numbers are telling them and use technology to make running the financial side of their business easier.
It started relatively simply, but over time referrals and recommendations have brought in more clients and the range of work I do has grown with them. Seeing that develop from something I started alongside my day job into an established accountancy practice has been incredibly rewarding.
➡️ How did you win your very first customers?
My very first client actually came through a personal connection. He was the husband of someone I worked with at the time, and he gave me the opportunity to look after his accounts when I was just starting to build CWABC.
My next client came about very differently and taught me an important early lesson about being visible online. When I first built my website, a fellow member of BoB Connections Tonbridge helped me understand SEO and how to improve my visibility on Google and Google Maps. That work resulted in someone finding CWABC online and getting in touch.
What I particularly like about that story is that both of those early clients are still clients of mine today. For me, that's probably a better measure of success than simply how many clients you can attract.
Those early experiences also showed me that there isn't one single way to grow an accountancy practice. Personal recommendations and networking are incredibly valuable, but having a strong online presence matters too. Over time I've continued to develop both sides, with referrals and recommendations sitting alongside my website and local online visibility.
One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that winning a new client is only the beginning. Building a relationship, being available when they need help and consistently delivering a good service is what turns that first piece of work into a long-term client relationship.
➡️ What do you enjoy most about running your own business day to day?
What I enjoy most is solving problems and seeing the difference that something I've done can make for a client.
Accountancy can sometimes be seen as simply producing a set of accounts or submitting a tax return, but there's often a puzzle behind the numbers. It might be working out why something doesn't reconcile, finding a more efficient way of handling a client's bookkeeping, helping someone understand why their business is making a profit but struggling for cash, or taking a process that has become complicated and making it simple again.
I particularly enjoy those moments when a client comes to me with something they are worried or confused about and I can take it away, work through it and give them a clear answer. Quite often, something that feels daunting to a business owner is relatively straightforward when you deal with it every day.
I also enjoy the variety. One minute I might be preparing a tax return, the next looking at bookkeeping for a property business, running payroll, investigating an accounting problem or finding a better way of using software. No two clients are exactly the same, so there's always something different to think about.
Probably the most satisfying part is seeing clients succeed and knowing I've played a small part in helping them get there. When somebody who first came to me needing help becomes a long-term client, recommends me to someone else or simply says that I've made their life easier, that's what makes running CWABC worthwhile.
And because it's my own business, I also enjoy being able to continually improve it. If I find a better system or a better way of doing something, I can try it, measure whether it works and change the way I operate. I'm probably never going to be someone who says, “That's how we've always done it, so that's how we'll keep doing it.”
➡️ What has been the toughest challenge you have faced as a business owner so far?
One of the biggest challenges has probably been managing everything that comes with running a regulated accountancy practice while also working in a full-time finance role.
When you start an accountancy business, it's easy to think the main job will be doing accounts, bookkeeping and tax returns. In reality, there is a huge amount that happens behind the scenes.
As an AAT Licensed Accountant I have professional and ethical standards to maintain, alongside anti-money laundering requirements, client due diligence, engagement documentation, data protection, continuing professional development and keeping up with changes to tax and accounting rules.
Then there is everything involved in running the business itself: maintaining the website, marketing, networking, software, systems, invoicing and responding to clients. All of that has to fit around actually doing the client work and, in my case, a full-time job as well.
The challenge has taught me to be extremely organised and to make good use of systems and technology. I've gradually introduced better processes, automation and practice management tools so that routine administration doesn't consume time unnecessarily and, importantly, nothing gets missed.
I've also learned that growth has to be controlled. Taking on every potential client isn't necessarily a good thing if it means compromising the service you give to the clients you already have. I'm much more conscious now of whether a prospective client is a good fit for the practice and whether I genuinely have the capacity to look after them properly.
Strangely enough, dealing with that challenge has helped shape the way I run CWABC. The same approach I use for my own practice, good systems, efficient processes, automation where it genuinely helps and keeping on top of deadlines, is exactly what I try to give my clients.
➡️ What are you most proud of building so far, and what is next for your business?
What I'm most proud of is that I've built CWABC from scratch into an established accountancy practice with a loyal and growing client base, while continuing to work full-time.
When I started in 2021, I was an AAT Licensed Bookkeeper with my first few clients. Since then I've become an AAT Licensed Accountant, expanded the range of services I can provide and developed the systems and processes behind the practice. I've also built relationships with clients across a wide range of businesses, some of whom have been with me since those very early days.
I'm particularly proud that much of the growth has come through recommendations and referrals. When an existing client is prepared to recommend me to someone else, I think that's one of the best indications that I'm doing something right. Equally, it's rewarding when somebody finds me through Google or my website because it shows that the work I've put into building the CWABC brand and online presence is paying off.
As for what's next, I want to continue growing the practice, but I don't measure success simply by having as many clients as possible. I want sustainable growth with clients who are a good fit for the way I work, while maintaining the personal service that comes from dealing directly with me.
Technology will continue to be a big part of that. Accountancy is changing quickly through cloud software, automation and AI, and I see that as an opportunity rather than a threat. I want to keep exploring how those tools can remove repetitive administration and give me more time for the parts of the job where human experience and judgement really matter.
Ultimately, I'd like CWABC to continue developing its reputation as a modern, approachable local accountancy practice that combines technology with genuinely personal service. If I can grow the business without losing that, I'll consider that a success.
➡️ Have any mentors, role models, or other business owners influenced your journey?
The biggest influence on my journey has probably been my wife, who is also an accountant.
I've always admired the way she approaches her work, particularly her professionalism, attention to detail and the responsibility she feels towards getting things right for the people she works with. Having someone so close to me who understands the profession has been a real source of inspiration throughout my own career.
She has also been incredibly supportive of my decision to start CWABC and develop it alongside my existing career. Starting your own business inevitably involves giving up evenings and weekends, particularly in the early years, so having somebody who understands both the demands of accountancy and why I wanted to build something of my own has made a huge difference.
Because we are both accountants, she's also someone I can talk to who understands the pressures and challenges that come with the profession. Sometimes simply having another perspective is invaluable.
More than anything, she has supported me in having the confidence to keep developing the practice, gaining further qualifications and turning what started as an idea into a business with a growing client base.
So rather than having a famous entrepreneur or business figure as a role model, I'd have to give the credit much closer to home.
➡️ If you were starting your business again today, what would you do differently?
If I were starting again today, I would probably put more of the systems and processes I now use in place from day one.
Like many people starting a small business, in the early days I was naturally focused on getting clients and doing the work. When you only have a handful of clients, it's quite easy to manage things manually and think you'll introduce more formal systems when you need them. The problem is that by the time you need them, you're already busy!
Over time I've introduced better practice management, automated processes, structured onboarding, client portals and clearer workflows. They don't replace the personal service, but they make it much easier to keep track of everything happening across the practice. If I started again tomorrow, I'd build that infrastructure before I needed it rather than afterwards.
I'd also have more confidence in the value of my own experience. When you're starting a new business, particularly alongside an established career, it's very easy to think of yourself as a new business owner and price or present yourself accordingly. But while CWABC was new in 2021, I wasn't new to finance. I already had decades of experience behind me.
Finally, I would probably have invested in my online presence earlier. My website and Google visibility have become an important source of enquiries, but I've learned that a website is never really “finished”. It needs to evolve with the business, and I've spent a lot of time learning about SEO and how people actually find local services online.
That said, I wouldn't want to change too much. Building the practice gradually has given me the opportunity to learn what works, make mistakes while they were still small and develop CWABC around the needs of the clients I actually have rather than the business I imagined I might have when I started.
➡️ What makes your way of doing things different?
I think what makes my approach different is the combination of personal service, experience and technology.
CWABC is deliberately a small, independent practice. When someone becomes a client, they deal directly with me. There aren't different departments to navigate or a different person answering their question each time. I get to know the client, their business and how they like to work, and I want them to feel comfortable picking up the phone or sending me a message when they have a question.
I've worked in finance and accounts for more than 30 years, but I'm also a bit of a technology enthusiast. I describe myself as a tech-savvy accountant because I'm always looking at how technology can make things easier for my clients. I work with Xero, FreeAgent and QuickBooks, alongside other cloud-based tools and automation, and I particularly enjoy working with data and finding better ways of doing things.
At the same time, technology should make the relationship with your accountant better, not replace it. There's little benefit in introducing an app or automating a process just for the sake of it. It has to save time, improve accuracy or give the client better information.
I also try very hard to explain accounting and tax in normal language. Clients shouldn't need an accounting qualification to understand their own finances. If something is complicated, part of my job is to make it understandable and explain what it actually means for them.
Ultimately, I think clients choose CWABC because they get the best of both worlds: the personal relationship and accessibility of a small local practice, combined with a modern, digital approach to accounting.
➡️ What is one thing people often misunderstand about your industry or the work you do?
One of the biggest misconceptions at the moment is that technology, and particularly AI, means a small business can simply automate its accounting and no longer needs professional advice.
I'm probably an unusual person to challenge that idea because I'm a huge supporter of technology. I use cloud accounting software, automation and AI myself, and I'm always looking for ways they can make accounting more efficient. But there's an important difference between using technology to help do the work and assuming it can take responsibility for getting everything right.
Software can process transactions, suggest how something should be categorised, automate bookkeeping tasks and increasingly provide useful analysis. What it doesn't necessarily know is the full context behind a transaction, the circumstances of the business owner or whether the information it has been given in the first place is complete and correct.
Tax and accounting aren't simply about putting numbers into the right boxes. There are judgements to make, rules to interpret, questions to ask and sometimes occasions when something just doesn't look right. That's where experience and professional judgement still matter.
I think the future is actually much more interesting than “AI versus accountants”. The best outcome is accountants using technology and AI intelligently to remove repetitive work, improve efficiency and spend more time helping clients understand their businesses.
And as for accountancy being boring, I don't think it is! Behind every set of accounts is a real business and usually a real person trying to achieve something. Working out what's happening, solving problems and helping somebody make sense of their numbers can be surprisingly varied.
So my view is: embrace the technology, absolutely, but don't confuse automation with advice.
➡️ Can you share an example of a customer, project or job that sums up what you do well?
A good example is some of the property bookkeeping work I do. A fellow member of BoB Connections Tonbridge approached me because he was unhappy with the bookkeeping solution he was using for his property businesses. He has three companies involved with HMOs, and I took over the bookkeeping for all three.
The aim wasn't simply to replace one bookkeeper with another. I looked at how the work was being handled and developed a more efficient way of processing and managing the bookkeeping behind the scenes. A lot of what I enjoy about accountancy is looking at a process and asking, “Can this be done better?”
One of the nicest pieces of feedback I've had is that the whole process now feels seamless. The client doesn't have to chase me or constantly check whether something has been done. I've effectively become an “invisible presence” in the background, keeping everything up to date and dealing with what needs to be dealt with while he gets on with running his businesses.
That client subsequently recommended me to another property business owner who was experiencing similar frustrations with their existing bookkeeping arrangements. I now look after the rental bookkeeping for that client's two HMO companies as well.
Both had previously been unhappy with the service and cost of their old bookkeeping arrangements, so being able to give them a more efficient solution has been particularly satisfying.
I think it sums up what I try to achieve with CWABC. Good bookkeeping shouldn't create more administration for the business owner. Ideally, much of the work should happen quietly and efficiently in the background, while still giving the client accurate, up-to-date information when they need it. If the client has to keep chasing their accountant or bookkeeper to find out whether routine work has been done, something isn't working as well as it should.
➡️ What do customers tend to appreciate most about working with you?
The feedback I receive most often tends to come back to reliability, responsiveness and making things straightforward.
Clients have described me as thorough, knowledgeable, prompt and attentive, and I've had particularly positive feedback about the speed and level of customer service I provide. I think reliability is a big part of it. If I've said I'm going to deal with something, I want the client to know it will be dealt with without them having to chase me.
Some of my bookkeeping clients have described what I do as almost being an “invisible presence” in the background. I really like that description because much of good accounting and bookkeeping should feel seamless to the client. They shouldn't have to spend their time wondering whether something has been reconciled, submitted or dealt with.
I also think clients appreciate being able to deal directly with me. CWABC is my practice, so when somebody emails or calls, they aren't passed between different departments or dealing with someone who doesn't know their business. Over time I get to know how each client operates and what matters to them.
Another thing that's important to me is explaining things clearly. Accountancy and tax contain enough technical language already, so I try not to add to it unnecessarily. If a client asks me a question, I want them to come away understanding the answer rather than simply being given an accounting term.
Ultimately, I want clients to feel that the accounting side of their business is under control. Some of the best feedback I can receive is actually very simple: “I don't have to worry about it because I know you're dealing with it.”
➡️ What advice would you give to someone in Kent who is thinking about starting their own business?
My biggest piece of advice would be not to wait until everything is perfect before you start, because it probably never will be.
Starting a business can feel overwhelming when you look at everything at once. You need customers, a website, bookkeeping, insurance, marketing, a bank account, tax registrations and probably half a dozen other things you've never had to think about before. But you don't have to solve every problem on day one.
I started CWABC alongside my full-time job, which gave me the opportunity to build the business gradually. I started with one client, then another, learned what worked and developed the practice from there. Five years later, I'm still improving things. I don't think a business is ever really finished.
I would also encourage people to talk to other local business owners. Joining BoB Connections Tonbridge was valuable for me because it introduced me to people with skills and experience I didn't have myself. One member helped me understand SEO when I was developing my first website, which directly resulted in one of my earliest clients, and networking has subsequently brought clients and referrals into the practice.
Don't be afraid to get professional help either. Trying to save money by doing absolutely everything yourself can sometimes be an expensive way of starting a business. An accountant, solicitor, insurance broker, website specialist or other adviser doesn't have to take over. The right person can simply help you avoid mistakes and concentrate on the things you're actually good at.
And keep an eye on your numbers from the beginning. Turnover is exciting, but it isn't the same as profit, and profit isn't the same as cash in the bank. Understanding what you're earning, what you're spending and what you'll eventually need to put aside for tax makes running a business considerably less stressful.
Most importantly, if you've done your research and believe there's a market for what you want to do, sometimes you simply have to start. Your first version doesn't need to be your final version. Mine certainly wasn't.
➡️ What is your favourite place in Kent to grab a coffee, take a break, or find inspiration?
I'm probably going to be diplomatic and choose two!
Being based in Hildenborough, Angel Café is a great local place to stop for a coffee and something to eat. I think businesses like that are an important part of village life, and it's always good to support independent businesses on your doorstep.
When I'm in Tonbridge, my wife and I also enjoy stopping for a coffee at Basil. Tonbridge has a really good mix of independent businesses, cafés and places to meet, and it's one of the things I enjoy about working and networking locally.
More generally, I'm a big believer in supporting local businesses where I can. Running CWABC has introduced me to so many different business owners around Hildenborough, Tonbridge and the wider Kent area, and you realise just how much work goes into keeping an independent business going.
So I couldn't honestly nominate just one favourite, but Angel Café in Hildenborough and Basil in Tonbridge would certainly both be on my list.
➡️ Is there anything we haven't asked that you'd love people to know about you or your business?
One thing I'd like people to know is that you don't have to be a large business, or have complicated accounts, to benefit from having an accountant you can talk to.
A lot of the people I work with are sole traders, landlords and owner-managed businesses. Some are well established, while others are only just starting out. The questions they have might seem small to them, but if it's something that's keeping them awake at night or stopping them making a decision, then it matters.
I think people can sometimes be reluctant to contact an accountant because they're worried they don't know the right terminology, their records aren't perfect or they'll be judged for not understanding something. That's really not how I work. I'd much rather somebody asked me a question early than worried about it for six months and only mentioned it when it had become a problem.
I'm also a small business owner myself, so I understand that every cost matters and that running a business involves far more than simply doing the thing you originally went into business to do.
CWABC has grown considerably since I started it in 2021, but I don't want to lose the reason I started it in the first place: providing approachable, practical accounting support where clients deal directly with me and feel comfortable asking for help.
So if there's one thing I'd like people to take away, it's that accountancy doesn't need to feel intimidating. Ask questions, understand your numbers and don't wait until something has gone wrong before asking for help.
You can contact Chris at CW Licensed Bookkeeper & Accountant (CWABC) here:
Name: Chris White
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01732671101
Website: https://cwabc.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cw-bookkeeper-accountant/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChrisWABC/
Instagram: @cw_licensed_bookkeeper
X: @AccountantCw
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