Why BeMore Accounting recommends Bluevine to SMB clients

Bigger isn’t always better. This is especially true in the service industry, when a personalized approach to client management is often sacrificed so businesses can maximize revenue. While maximizing revenue is the goal for any business, it shouldn’t come at the cost of quality and customer success.

Michelle Blakemore understands that. After more than five years of working for one of the largest accounting firms in North Central Florida, she noticed something felt off. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the firm had taken on too many new clients and, as a result, they were being treated as numbers instead of people with unique needs.

Craving that individualized approach, Michelle decided to leave the big firm in 2022 and start her own business to better align her work with her values. With BeMore Accounting & Consulting, Michelle would be able to put people first—and the profits would follow.

Meet Michelle

Michelle is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Internal Auditor, but she’s always loved the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) responsibilities of her role—i.e., preparing financial statements, processing payroll, and managing all accounting functions for multiple clients at once. She was even offered a CFO position at a company, but turned it down to pursue her own business.

While she started out with clients in the North Central Florida area, Michelle’s goal was to become a trusted source for accounting services in Florida, Georgia, and beyond. Though it was a challenge at first, she was able to nail down a balance of in-person and virtual services, with the flexibility her clients needed as pandemic-era restrictions came to an end.

At one point, Michelle actually stopped accepting new clients so she could scale the right way—and continue to offer personalized, high-quality services to the clients she had. After about two years, she slowly hired a small team and resumed taking on new clients.

With the accountant dashboard, I have access to all my clients’ accounts with one login.”

– Michelle B., Founder of BeMore Accounting & Consulting

The problem

As the head of a boutique accounting firm, Michelle not only needed a banking platform to manage her clients’ accounts—she needed one that worked for her own business finances. Plus, she was fed up with her traditional bank account.

“Why have an online app if I need to go to a branch to do basic things?” she says. “It took me two hours to open my account with a traditional bank, and I had to go in person. It was the most painful process I’ve ever been through.”

Michelle didn’t want a banking solution that overcomplicated simple tasks, and especially not one that charged fees if her business didn’t meet certain requirements.

“Luckily, one of my clients raved to me about something called Bluevine, so I checked it out.” Michelle adds, “It was the fastest I’ve ever opened an account—it only took like five minutes.”

The solution

Already impressed with how the banking platform simplified her business finances, Michelle discovered Bluevine’s accountant dashboard,^BVSUP-00076 a suite of tools designed specifically for accounting firms and professionals. That’s when she started recommending Bluevine to her clients.

Now, with Bluevine, Michelle is able to access all her clients’ Bluevine accounts with a single, secure login. Each member of her team has their own login with custom permissions, too.

“I use the accountant dashboard to basically get the information I need from my clients without having to bother them.” Michelle adds, “My favorite feature is being able to download all my clients’ statements in one click.”

Did you know?

As a Bluevine accounting partner, you can unlock exclusive perks for both you and your clients, including referral rewards, signup bonuses, and free plan upgrades. Learn more

Why switch your business bank account?

If Michelle’s story is any indication, switching your business checking account can be easier than you think. With a painless application process and streamlined onboarding, you could have a new account up and running in a matter of minutes.

“If a client is having issues with their current checking account, I always recommend Bluevine,” Michelle says proudly.

In fact, nearly 25% of BeMore Accounting & Consulting’s clients use Bluevine Business Checking as their primary account. According to Michelle, some of the banking features that excite them most include:

• Sub-accounts – Great for setting aside money for taxes, payroll, and more.
• Built-in invoicing and payment tools – Easily send and accept payments from one place, with custom approval flows so your accountant can track cash flow.
• Annual percentage yield – Ability to earn APY on your checking balances.
• No monthly fees for Standard plan – You also have the option to upgrade to Plus or Premier if you want more advanced features or higher APY.^BVSUP-00166

Michelle Blakemore is the founder of BeMore Accounting & Consulting, a boutique accounting firm that serves small business clients in North Central Florida and beyond, including medical practices, traveling nurses, construction companies, and real estate businesses. Michelle and her team take an individualized and data-driven approach to help clients manage day-to-day processes, prepare for year-end taxes, and more.