We met Jamie in 2003 when we established our drive-through coffee business. Jamie, and now Tim, has been very influential and helpful in establishing the correct business structures, allowing us to branch out into a franchising arm of the business, and also to protect the assets of the existing company and its intellectual property. We have found that the advice and support we receive from Jamie and Tim goes beyond simply being able to contact them on the phone. They also provide us with industry averages and comparisons for our business, so we know where our margins are supposed to be in comparison to other coffee operators. We find that information really helpful in benchmarking our business. We also appreciate the relationship we have built with Jamie. It is one of mutual respect and understanding, and I believe, friendship. They are nice and easy to work with, very approachable, and give advice that is easy to understand for non-accountants like us. You have to give Jamie and Tim a call. Even though they are based in Ballarat, they are probably more accessible than any accountant I've ever come across in Melbourne. The relationship and friendship you will build with these guys far outweighs the importance of them being located close to you in your local suburb.

I'm Peter Woolard from Studio 101 Architects. We're a Geelong-based practice that specialises in commercial, residential, and interior projects. We're really passionate about architecture and getting the best results for our clients, and we've been recipients of many industry awards. We love doing what we do, and to help us along the way, Jamie and his team have been a key ingredient to our success. We've been in business now for over 10 years, and Jamie and his team have been with us right from the start. We started off back in 2000 as a sole trader, then moved into a company structure and also set up a family trust, which has helped both from a taxation point of view and from an asset protection point of view. That's been important for most businesses, particularly in the world of architecture.

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I'm Paul Were from Dontek Electronics. We supply equipment for solar pool heating, and we met Jamie about four years ago after we lost faith with our previous accountant. Jamie came in, presented himself, and seemed a fair and reasonable kind of fella, so we took him on board. Over the years, he's simplified our company structure, which has given us greater earnings. The other thing Jamie's done is guide us through setting up our self-managed super fund, which enabled us to go out and purchase a new building. That new building has given us the opportunity to grow our business — we've since brought on new machinery and more staff, and it's basically changed the way we feel about our corporate identity, which has helped us grow and grow. So we've got to take our hats off to Jamie for that. The other thing Jamie's done is always be there as our support — I suppose we always need someone to lean on sometimes, whether it's a simple decision like buying a car, employing reps, or putting on new factory equipment. He's been there guiding us through it, always available to speak with us, and basically works as a team with us. What I'm saying is, Jamie's not just our accountant — he's actually our business partner. Anything we want to do, we bounce it off Jamie, and two heads are better than one. We're a very small company — we only have nine to twelve staff — so having someone to contact or discuss business ideas with isn't something I really have, other than my lovely wife, who also works in the business. If you're a small business, or even a large business, and you're struggling in some fields, not too sure on your direction, and you want some positive motivation, guidance, and someone with the ability to steer you in a positive direction, Jamie would be the guy I'd recommend you speak to.