The company
Tim Kirkham is the founder of two distinct businesses based in Lafayette, Indiana: Kirkham Inc., a consulting firm specializing in health physics, and Lavender Bee Company, a family-run farm producing lavender products and honey. His journey with Zoho Books began as he sought an efficient and user-friendly accounting solution to manage the finances of both his consulting firm and the farm.
"We were looking for a solution that could handle the complexities of both businesses without breaking the bank"
Tim Kirkham,
Founder,
Kirkham Inc and Lavender Bee Company
The challenge
At Kirkham Inc., Kirkham faced the challenge of tracking billable hours and project expenses accurately. Each consulting project required meticulous financial recording, a task that was cumbersome with QuickBooks.
The Lavender Bee Company, on the other hand, presented a different set of challenges. Managing diverse transactions, including cash and credit card sales at the farm, was difficult with QuickBooks. Additionally, the need to integrate Venmo transactions and track various product sales (lavender, honey, and skincare products) required a more flexible solution.
"QuickBooks was too complex and expensive for our needs, especially when we started Lavender Bee Company. We needed something simpler and more cost-effective. The traditional methods of financial recording and reporting did not align with the unique transaction processes of both businesses. Our previous system couldn’t capture the nuances of our sales flow"
Tim Kirkham,
Founder,
Kirkham Inc and Lavender Bee Company
The solution
Kirkham discovered Zoho Books through online research and appreciated its user-friendly interface and affordability. Transitioning from QuickBooks, he found the migration process straightforward, especially given the ability to import essential data without needing extensive historical records.
Zoho Books’s implementation process involved setting up the system to handle the specific financial needs of both businesses. For Kirkham Inc., this meant tracking billable hours and project expenses accurately. For Lavender Bee Company, it involved managing sales transactions and maintaining financial clarity, ensuring every sale was recorded correctly.
"I started on the free plan of Zoho Books since my business was just getting started and I didn’t need all the features right away.This was a great benefit to me. As the business grew, I gradually added on modules only when I needed them. It’s fantastic because Zoho Books grows with your business needs. Zoho Books was easier to navigate and use, even for someone like me who is not an accountant. The online resources and support were incredibly helpful."
Tim Kirkham,
Founder,
Kirkham Inc and Lavender Bee Company
Benefits and ROI
With Zoho Books, Kirkham estimates that he saves 30% of the time normally spent on accounting processes compared to QuickBooks.
“The streamlined interface and simplified accounting processes enabled me to manage my businesses more effectively,” Kirkham shared. “I can clearly see where things are now, unlike before, where it took weeks of hard work.”
The clarity provided by Zoho Books translated to informed decisions and precise tracking of client deposits. “Zoho Books saved me many weeks of manual reporting; once the process was established, it became a game-changer,” he explained. “It saved me hours each week that were previously spent running reports.”
"Switching to Zoho Books from QuickBooks resulted in probably 30% time savings. This was due to both the quick accounting and the ease of figuring out how to account for a given transaction. Zoho Books made it much simpler for me compared to QuickBooks. Zoho Books’s support seems to care more about me and my business than QuickBooks support did. Zoho Books has made managing our finances so much easier."
Tim Kirkham,
Founder,
Kirkham Inc and Lavender Bee Company
Looking forward
Looking ahead, Kirkham plans to reduce his consulting work over the next few years to focus more on Lavender Bee Company and enjoy his farm. “With Zoho Books, I feel equipped to manage my businesses efficiently as they grow,” he quipped.
"For any business grappling with accounting challenges, especially those with a unique model like ours, Zoho Books is a revelation. It’s transformed how we operate, and I believe it can do the same for others"
Tim Kirkham,
Founder,
Kirkham Inc and Lavender Bee Company
