All posts in Trash the Timesheet

The “Commitment”

by cfarmand on November 7, 2012 in Beer Accounting, Brewery Accounting, Brewery CPA, Change is coming, Chris Farmand, CPA Fun, Firm of the Future, Jacksonville CPA, Technology, Trash the Timesheet with No comments

The next phase in brewery development is what I call “the commitment.”  Capital is committed, a location is committed, equipment is committed and en-route, construction starts and anxiety sets in.  You are actually doing this!  Along with your commitment to brewing awesome beer, you also have a commitment to your financial fitness.  Bookkeeping, payroll, brewers reports, tank labels, and brewing & packing schedules are a FEW of the items you must keep in order to ensure your fitness.  **I caution new breweries not to skimp on the back office expense for the sake of saving a few dollars in the beginning.**  The old adage “you get what you pay for” also applies to the accounting and consulting world. After reading the remote accountant reviews, and coming to a conclusion, here are a few steps to take that ensures that your back office is in order:

  1. Interview outsourced controllership firms – Take the temperature of the team.  Do they speak your language? Do they dress like you?  Are they excited about your entry into the market?  Do they intimidate you? Would you hire these people to work at your brewery?
  2. Research who is the expert in the space – While you may not be able to hire the expert during year 1, they may have some helpful advice to share.  Set a goal to eventually get to the level where you can work with the expert.
  3. Talk to other breweries – Breweries love to help other breweries, so ask them what their back office looks like.  Do they do it in-house or outsourced? Are they happy with the results?  Is it clean, or are they managing it on Excel?  Do they know what their cost per BBL is?

Your commitment to financial fitness is as important as the beer you produce!

Potential interview questions:

  1. What is your experience with TTB reporting?
  2. Can you help my brewery grow?  How?
  3. What retail/restaurant experience do you have?
  4. What manufacturing experience do you have?
  5. Are you familiar with industry specific software that can help my processes?
  6. Our goal is to grow distribution statewide and then expand across multiple states, can you grow with us?
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Considering your move

by cfarmand on September 10, 2012 in Beer Accounting, Brain Mojo, Brewery Accounting, Brewery CPA, Change is coming, Chris Farmand, CPA Fun, Early Adopter, Firm of the Future, Jacksonville CPA, Technology, Trash the Timesheet with No comments

To keep up the momentum of the last post I have come up with a list of five “thought points” a potential brewery should consider while planning their arrival; enjoy:

  1. Capital – Do you have the money it takes to open a brewery?  I see undercapitalized businesses across many industries, and it doesn’t work.  Under capitalization is the equivalent of roofers affixing shingles with bubble gum, it simply won’t last if you didn’t hire the experts from Best Indianapolis roofing company for this job.  Seek council to understand the capital requirements to open a brewery; oh yea….use nails.
  2. Plan – Do you have a plan?  I am not talking about a traditional business plan.  I am talking about a PLAN.  Traditional business plans are for winemakers, you’re brewing beer guy. I am talking about: brewery layout, 1, 3, 5 year goals, parking, expansion, marketing, staff, benchmarks.  Can you feel the energy you are about to bring? We can’t predict the future, but we can plan.
  3. Distribution – What does distribution look like in your state?  Here in Florida, all wholesale must pass through a distributor.  Some states have self-distribution and that is a GOOD thing.   Depending on your state, a refrigerated truck purchase may be on the horizon.
  4. Back office – I am confident you know how to operate all those valves and tanks, but can you balance your check book?  The accounting and compliance piece may be a little more than the wife can handle.  Hire someone knows the industry, they will get it!  This is important for two reasons: 1) because proper record keeping will keep the TTB out of your hair and 2) you want to know if your operation is profitable.
  5. Culture – Who will you serve?  I understand anyone who bellies up to the bar and has money; but what does that person look like?  Culture benefits more than just the patrons, it’s the unspoken writing on the wall every business owner strives for.  Define your culture, and the people will come.
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Craft Brewing

by cfarmand on August 15, 2012 in Beer Accounting, Brain Mojo, Brewery Accounting, Brewery CPA, Change is coming, Chris Farmand, Firm of the Future, Tax, Technology, Trash the Timesheet with 6 Comments

West Coaster’s bear with me; Midwesterners please be patient.  I know what I am about to say is SO a decade-old for yall, but here I go.  I am excited about craft brewing!!!  This industry is less than 5 years old to my wonderful city, and the momentum is not slowing. While I love beer, my excitement stems from the contribution these businesses are having on the US economy.

Two years ago I was given the awesome opportunity to help open a local brewery.  While I spend most my time in the back office, I can feel the energy.  The smells, employees, fork-lifts, tanks, patrons, all exude positive energy.  What makes craft breweries so exciting?  I came up with a few thoughts:

  1. “Love not War” – While their ingredients may be special, expensive, and exotic, I can promise you blood is not being shed over them.  It is a peaceful product which if you hang around long enough…. will make you smile.  Take that diamonds!
  2. BRIC, be gone – During the last 5 years, the U.S. has taken a slight beating from Brazil, Russia, India, and China.  I meant to say the U.S. (minus) the craft brewing industry.  Communism and slave labor can’t intrude.
  3. Ingredients – This one is my opinion; well actually; all of these are my opinion, but especially this one.  The luscious, succulent ingredients craft breweries are using don’t interest the big boys.  Why should InBev purchase breweries using expensive German hops when they can continue to sell us the watered down, rice filled, cheap crap?   Economics 101 folks: the big boys understand their space.
  4. Communities – Who doesn’t crave a little community in their life? Every time a craft brewery opens, a new community is born.  Whether you lean on the brewery for an afternoon pint or host a fundraiser in the taproom, it brings people together to help a local cause.

Craft Breweries are here to stay.  The economic development they bring to cities is awesome and communities love them.  This excitement is why I love to serve the industry.

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Energy Farming

by cfarmand on February 22, 2012 in Change is coming, CPA Fun, Firm of the Future, FPA, Greg Kyte = badass, Jacksonville CPA, Knowledge management, Trash the Timesheet with No comments


Last week, I had the opportunity to hear Jim Cederna speak. The majority of Jim’s talk focused on his fundamental approach to change.
Executive Summary:

Financial Success comes from two places:
1) Ecstatic Customers
2) World Class Operations

How do you achieve those?
1) With a Plan
2) The right People
3) Productive team environment

The talk went into great details on the 3 P’s and many awesome examples were given.
Thanks Jim!

Ok, so here’s the deal. Many of you may or may not know, I struggle with the “people” part of the equation. (When I say people, I am talking about the team, not customers) Its the truth, I am not going to deny it; some people say I have a harsh(er) delivery than most. I never fluff reality; I get straight to the point. Last week my “a-ha” moment came when Jim suggested that we lead our team with strengths and surround our self with the opposite. What a simple idea!! Two Chris’s in the same office would be a challenge. This got me thinking, what are Chris Farmand’s strengths? I came up with: Caring, Charmer, Listener, Selling, Comforter, Witty, Clever, Sees the world from 30k feet, Energy cultivator.

So here it is people………..

I am a energy farmer looking to align myself with people who can process energy into RESULTS.

Can ya feel me?

ps: We are hiring :)

pss: Share your strengths below

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IC Opportunities

by cfarmand on February 14, 2012 in Brain Mojo, Change is coming, CPA Fun, Engagement Agreement, Firm of the Future, IC Opportunities, Jacksonville CPA, Jason Blumer, Knowledge management, Tax, Technology, Thriveal, Trash the Timesheet with 3 Comments

I spent the last 48 hour in chilly Chicago with a group of thought leaders who command attention in the accounting arena. Jody Padar organized the first annual (maybe quarterly) IC Opportunities Event which brought together practitioners, vendors, media, marketers, state societies to discuss the direction of the profession. Greg Kyte, our resident comedian, welcomed us with a colorful keynote. Vendors in attendance included representatives from Intuit, Thomson Reuters, Wolters Kluwer, Sharra Chan of Orange Door, Jennifer Warawa of Sage, Kasey Bayne of Freshbooks, Sarah Johnson of Inovautus, Peter Wolf of Azamba Consulting, Kathleen Echeverria of bill.com, Tamera Loerzel of Convergence Coaching and Michael Redisch of Cloudsway. Our media friends were Danielle Lee of Accounting Tomorrow and Rick Telberg of CPA Trendlines. Oh, and how can I forget, Jackie Brown representing the MACPA, only the COOLEST state society in the land.

Jody started the brain dump bright and early with a discuss on “the Gap.” The four areas we focused on were Mobile, Could, Social, and Project Management. In groups, we discussed the external and internal forces that prevent firms from adopting. The discussion moved to suggestions on how the four areas could gain more traction with the traditional firms. In the afternoon Geni Whitehouse, Jason Blumer Kasey, Sharra, and Joe Manzelli moderated deeper round table talks on Social, Cloud, and Project Management.

I was honored to be invited to an event like this. I was so happy to leave the comfort of my office, during tax season, and engage my brain in the future of accounting. My take-aways from the event were; the profession is moving in a direction to offer creative services above and beyond the traditional “tax-man” services. Acceptance of cloud and mobile technology will be a must for these services to flourish.

Jody, when is the next one?

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Video Conferencing

by cfarmand on August 21, 2011 in Change is coming, CPA Fun, Firm of the Future, Jacksonville CPA, Technology, Trash the Timesheet with 4 Comments