Intelligent SME.tech Issue 68 | Page 14

// CASE STUDY //
Luke Owen Rural Services is a sole trader in the UK providing a mixture of agricultural and fencing contracting. While growing his business, Founder Luke Owen was struggling to juggle all the paperwork the company was generating in invoices and receipts. He turned to accounting software from Sage which has improved how existing customers and prospects see his business and ensured he completes his VAT return correctly.

AGRICULTURAL SOLE TRADER FINDING FREEDOM WITH SAGE ACCOUNTING

ollowing an incorrect VAT

F submission, Luke Owen Rural Services had to undergo a VAT inspection, which can be a stressful experience. After this Owen knew that, moving forward, he had to log everything using accounting software.

He initially turned to QuickBooks, but he found himself spending a lot of time re-submitting entries and trying to get to grips with the interface. So, this was sidelined pretty quickly, and he switched to Sage Accounting, a name he recognised, and he figured there must be a good reason why so many larger companies swear by it.
Apart from when he does his VAT returns, Owen submits everything via the Sage mobile app, meaning he can do it on the go, rather than letting it build up. Submitting transactions can be done at a click of a button, without having to dedicate days to uploading invoices and receipts. This means Owen has more time for himself and his family.
Luke Owen took the time to answer questions from Intelligent SME. tech.
Tell me more about your business and what it offers.
My business is a mixture of agricultural and fencing contracting. Over the past few years, I’ ve been doing more fencing work tied to environmental projects, such as creating river buffer zones that protect river species from livestock.
I also do predator-exclusion fencing for a range of publicly funded environmental clients such as natural resource companies, national parks and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds( RSPB), where I try
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