The Suit Magazine

These days, many businesses are more concerned with their cash flow than catering to their clientele. Michael Murray, owner of Your Virtual Bookkeepers, Inc., does the exact opposite. He strives for a fun, fulfilling business atmosphere while providing the best customer service possible.

Your Virtual Bookkeepers, which Murray founded in 1988, is an accounting and bookkeeping firm with well-developed online capabilities. They have three main niches: multi-level marketing businesses, restaurants and small start-ups. The two main services they provide to these clients are tax planning and virtual bookkeeping. “What we’re trying to do to is keep their tax plans up-to-date while making sure that we maximize the dollars that they keep in their pockets,” he said. “We’re trying to give our clients that little edge.”

Focusing on customer satisfaction rather than profit margins is a surprising vision, particularly since the company has faced recent client losses in the real estate and mortgage industries. Growth in general has hit a plateau due to the economic downturn. But business is still steady enough, and Murray stands by his principles. “We think we’ve done as well as we have because we rely on technology, and because we listen to our clients,” he said. “We’re still not happy that we aren’t growing like we’re used to, but we’re working on that.”

Murray’s commitment to great service has gained him loyal customers who keep his business afloat. One of Murray’s clients, for instance, is thriving despite tough times. And when that customer decided to expand the business, he invited Your Virtual Bookkeepers to get more involved and keep track of all financial records.

“We stepped up and supported him with increased bookkeeping services and tax planning support, and we’re now handling 100 percent of his accounting, from billing his customers to paying his vendors. Our relationship has become extraordinarily strong,” said Murray.

The relationship has grown so well, in fact, that the client has referred Your Virtual Bookkeepers to other businesses. That, says Murray, is what makes his work worthwhile.

“You feel good about it. You’ve got a client who’s happy. That makes it fun to come into the office. It makes the staff feel good, it makes me feel good, and you know you did something well.”

Looking forward, Murray is sticking to what works. “As always, our number one goal is to have fun. We work hard, but we want to have fun doing it,” he said. “Our number two goal is make a good living and not to be greedy. Our number three goal is to support our community.”

Faster growth would be nice, but Murray insists that this is “not the most important thing” for the moment. Business is reliable, employees are happy, and clients more than satisfied. For the team at Your Virtual Bookkeepers, that’s the real bottom line.

www.yourvirtualbookkeepers.com

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