The Real ROI of Great Accounting: Stories from Our Clients
When founders talk about scaling, they often speak of hiring, marketing, or product development. Very rarely do they talk about accounting.
But here’s the thing: the right accounting partner doesn’t just do the books. They become the lever that unlocks clarity, confidence, and growth.
At Ashton McGill, we’ve seen it first-hand. Instead of giving you theory, we want to share real stories of six clients who trusted us with their finances. Each one saw transformation, measurable ROI, and renewed belief in what’s possible.
71 Brewing: Scaling with Confidence
The Challenge:
When 71 Brewing set out to bring craft beer back to Dundee, they quickly found themselves wrestling with complex financial systems. Their setup was manual, siloed, and opaque, making it difficult to plan ahead, attract investment, or grow with confidence.
The Transformation:
We migrated them from Sage to Xero, implemented a brewery management system, and built dashboards that turned data into clear insights. Together, we created dynamic budgets and forecasts that helped them navigate uncertainty and secure funding. We became an extension of their board, running scenario planning during the pandemic and providing ongoing strategic guidance.
The ROI:
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Real-time dashboards gave leadership the clarity to act quickly.
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Dynamic forecasts built trust with investors and lenders.
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Quarterly board support aligned finance with long-term plans.
We act as an extension of the 71 Brewing team, hosting quarterly board meetings, supporting them with the knowledge and tools they need to grow to new heights.
And just this year, 71 Brewing joined forces with another of our clients, Bon Accord Soft Drinks, creating one of Scotland’s leading craft beverage groups. It’s a powerful example of what happens when a bold vision is paired with the right financial support: growth that goes beyond numbers to reshape industries.
Bold St Media: Turning Creative Energy into Scalable Growth
The Challenge:
As a fast-growing creative agency, Bold St Media had the energy, ideas, and ambition, but their financial systems weren’t keeping up. They needed clarity and structure to match their momentum.
The Transformation:
We gave them more than compliance. We built a finance system that supported their creativity, simplified reporting, and turned accounting into a growth tool.
The ROI:
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Simplified reporting showed exactly where the agency was thriving.
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Streamlined systems freed the team to focus on creativity.
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Clearer numbers gave confidence to scale sustainably.
KIND WORDS
We love working with the team at Ashton McGill! The way you approach accountancy is so refreshing and has brought so many positive impacts to our business. Thank you!
– Eilidh McCluskie, Bold St Media
Civic Square: Making Vision Possible
The Challenge:
Civic Square had huge ambitions: reimagining civic spaces, building community-powered systems, and reshaping how we think about place. But ambition without financial clarity is a tough road. They needed tools and partners to help turn bold ideas into practical action.
The Transformation:
We introduced systems, skills, and support that matched their mission. By aligning financial strategy with their values, we gave them the clarity and tools to pursue audacious projects without losing stability.
The ROI:
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Tools that supported their ambitious, purpose-led projects.
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Clarity to back bold ideas with practical planning.
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Systems that strengthened their foundation for long-term growth.
KIND WORDS
“Working with Ashton McGill has transformed us and what is possible with such big ambitions ahead, and the tools, support and skills to know how to approach it.”
– Immy Kaur, Civic Square
Launch With Us: From Startup to Serious Player
The Challenge:
Launch With Us was in the early stages of growth, moving quickly but without the financial structure needed to scale. They needed visibility on performance and a clear way to track contribution at a team level.
The Transformation:
We introduced regular performance reporting, cash flow forecasting, and profitability analysis per team member. This gave them real clarity on where the business was performing and where changes were needed.
The ROI:
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Team-level reporting highlighted contribution and profitability.
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Data gave leaders confidence in decision-making and goal setting.
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Accounting became a tool for progress, not just compliance.
KIND WORDS
“The revenue and profitability per team member report is a game-changer. It helps massively in ensuring each team member is hitting targets and contributing positively to the business.”
– Matt Lewis, Launch with Us
Yatter: Clarity in a Fast-Moving Industry
The Challenge:
Operating in the digital marketing world, Yatter was scaling fast and needed financial partners who could keep pace. In a sector where things move quickly, slow or reactive accounting simply wouldn’t cut it.
The Transformation:
We provided proactive financial insights, scenario planning, and systems that let them adapt with speed. Instead of bottlenecks, they had clarity.
The ROI:
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Real-time insights let them pivot faster in a dynamic market.
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Felt supported by a finance team as invested as they were.
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Our support underpinned their successful acquisition by Velstar.
KIND WORDS
“Most people I talk to complain about their accountants being slow or unhelpful. I never had those issues. Ashton McGill just got it. They went above and beyond, and it felt like they were as invested in Yatter’s success as I was.”
– Gavin Bell, Yatter
Jeffreys Dunkeld: From Frustration to Financial Confidence
The Challenge:
Before working with us, owner Jeff Laing was fed up. Years of poor service from previous accountants left him feeling undervalued and frustrated. His retail business, Jeffreys Dunkeld, needed modern systems, proactive insight, and a finance partner he could actually rely on.
The Transformation:
We introduced better reporting tools and systems that gave Jeff real visibility. Monthly and quarterly reports provided the insight he needed to both celebrate wins with his team and spot areas for improvement during the year– not months after it was too late. Within weeks of switching, we also uncovered a missed employment allowance that previous accountants had overlooked, resulting in a significant tax reclaim.
The ROI:
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Quarterly reports highlighted wins and flagged improvements.
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Always-available advice turned frustration into financial confidence.
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Identified missed allowances that immediately strengthened the bottom line.
What Unites These Transformations
Every story is unique, but the thread that connects them is clear:
✓ Clarity over Confusion
Clients moved from opacity to transparency.
✓ Confidence over Hesitation
With better data, they made bolder choices.
✓ Growth over Stagnation
Their financial systems became enablers, not constraints.
✓ Partnership over Service
In each case, we weren’t just accountants. We became part of the team.
This is the real ROI of great accounting. It’s not just about balancing the books. It’s about unlocking potential, supporting ambition, and driving transformation.
Ready to Write Your Story?
These aren’t outliers. They’re proof of what’s possible when you stop treating accounting as a tick-box exercise and start using it as a growth engine.
If you’re ready to see the same transformation in your business, let’s talk.
✓ Trusted by 220+ ambitious founders to make accounting simple, strategic, and growth-focused.