How Clarico deliver peace of mind through clear communication
Starting a new business can feel like working in the dark. It’s difficult to see what’s next or even if you’re facing the right way. But for clients working with Clarico, the light is always on.
Led by Andy Wang and Caitie Copley, Clarico is built on two fundamental tenets. “Accountants should meet two emotional needs for clients,” Andy says, “One is peace of mind and the other is clarity. If you can give clients both of those, then you're doing really well.”
Based in Adelaide, Australia, Clarico are a team of seven people working both remotely and locally. They combine technology and a progressive mindset to help their clients, specializing in the health and wellness sector. But their specialty isn’t restrictive; Clarico’s priority is to “look for personality first, industry second.”
Andy and Caitie find that their passion for creation and growth aligns most with small-business owners, so they comprise the majority of Clarico’s clients.
A clear purpose
Having worked for over 10 years as an accountant prior to starting Clarico, Andy knows the common issues facing clients. They’re usually centered around one of two basic problems:
Impenetrable accounting concepts
A lack of communication
Translating and simplifying
Between professionals who have studied accountancy and are used to it, it’s fine to use esoteric language. But for many business owners—especially small business owners—that language is not only foreign, but also intimidating.
That’s what the team at Clarico make their point of emphasis. They break down confusing concepts into ideas and terms their clients understand. Once their clients know the way the processes work, they’re able to make more informed business decisions. That gives them peace of mind.
Communicating for clarity
To be able to break down complex concepts, Andy, Caitie and their team first create an atmosphere that welcomes discussion. As Andy puts it, “We’d rather have a client say to us, ‘Hey, you’re communicating too much’ rather than ‘You're not communicating enough’. That’s always something we can dial back.”
If clients are hesitant to ask questions, they’re not going to know everything that’s going on with their business, and that’s what Andy and Caitie want to avoid. It’s in the name: Clarico is a marriage between Clarity and Company.
Finding clients that fit
A stuffy, overly-formal accounting style isn’t what they deliver at Clarico. Instead, they have a straight-up, helpful, and clear approach. Andy and Caitie want their team to be themselves, always.
They look to attract clients who resonate with their style of business. And if a client isn’t for them, or they aren’t for a client, there are no hard feelings. Andy is proud to say that they “don’t approach things with a competitive or combative mindset.”
Using technology to stay at the top of the game
Clarico have always had a strong IT focus. Initially, a lot of their work was helping clients choose and implement the right technology. This worked for them because as a young business, they have a keen interest in technology themselves: finding it, testing it, and discovering new ways to use it to be more efficient.