Helping entrepreneurs achieve business success

Creating a business which delivers more for its clients than is typically expected is a sure-fire way to build strong, long-standing relationships, setting your business up for success. Friend & Grant, a chartered accountancy practice with a branch at our Churchill Square Business Centre in Kings Hill, has done just that, by providing their clients with a more holistic service. Its founder, Mark Friend, shared how he has sustained growth in the business, which he set up over 30 years ago.

Putting clients first fuels business growth

Putting clients first and providing them with high-quality services is a core value for Friend & Grant. Starting out as an accountancy firm, Mark wanted the practice to provide more than just financial advice for aspirational entrepreneurs, aiming to build relationships and become a trusted advisor with the capabilities to offer clients business advice, from recruitment solutions, compliance and general goal planning and problem solving. Mark shared: “If you’re someone with a big dream, trying to build a business or take your business to the next level, that’s the type of client we attract.”

This culture within Friend & Grant of being client focused and nurturing those clients has enabled the firm to maintain them for considerable periods of time. This has enabled the company to evolve with the businesses it helps: “One of my first clients I still have after 30 years of working together. He has actually packed in his business and now I manage his personal tax affairs.”

Kings Hill Churchill Square office provides new business opportunities

Friend & Grant has witnessed significant growth since its launch; alongside its traditional SME client base, the company now deals with businesses with a £20m turnover. Seeking opportunities for further growth, the company opened a satellite office in Churchill Square Business Centre in October 2023, to enable them to reach a wider pool of clients. Mark explained: “We already had a lot of clients based in West Kent and so we wanted to provide them with a more convenient place to meet than our other office in Strood. We also wanted to attract a local staff base and two of the people who joined us live in the Kings Hill area. There is also a lot of business in Kings Hill so we wanted to harness the potential business opportunities there.”

Mark also explained how their office is a flexible base for their staff. “We have four permanent team members and space for eight employees, so my business partner and I will come down on a regular basis, as will our marketing manager and other mangers in the practice will too.”

Friend & Grant’s top tips for business success

While building a business was a “real step into the unknown” for Mark, he shared with us his top tips for achieving business success:

• Don’t stand still: “Look to always grow your horizons, always read and be learning.”
• Be client focussed: “It’s all about clients so be very client focussed and ensure you deliver the highest quality service.”
• Nurture talent: “If you don’t have a team, you’ve got no business. Value your team, give them opportunities to grow and involve them in the business as much as possible.”
• Know where you’re going: “Be very clear about what your end goal is going to be so that you have a clear direction for your business.”

As a serviced workspace provider that has built our success on going the extra mile for our customers, we’re delighted when they share our values. Friend & Grant’s story is a great example of how putting your customers first can help you achieve your own business goals.

If you are looking for a workspace to help you reach a new pool of clients, please get in touch.