margie adams fourlane 2
Editor's Note: This is another installment in our ongoing series highlighting this year's Insightful Accountant's "Top 100 ProAdvisors." Over the remainder of the year, we will introduce you to our winners, getting their insights on a wide range of topics, including what it is like to be a leader in their profession, how to stay on top and what the future holds.
There is a core value that defines the mission statement every Fourlane team member can recite – a statement that founder and CEO Marjorie Adams says each of its regional offices and consultants across the country adhere to every day. The value is, “Always Provide a Solution.”
The driving premise behind that statement is to never say “no” to a customer. “We say, ‘No, but…,” Marjorie says. If it’s not a service Fourlane offers, her team provides alternative places to look. And if QuickBooks cannot help, they will provide suggestions of apps that can help.
This is a methodology and strategic positioning that Marjorie believes is at the center of being a trusted advisor for your clients today. After working several years as controller for a large, private manufacturing company, she decided training was her specialty and ventured into the accounting software industry. Along with Rob Adams, she co-founded Fourlane in 2009.
The move has paid off, as Marjorie is considered one of the top QuickBooks trainers in the country, an multiple Insightful Accountant “Top 100 ProAdvisor” and a CPA Practice Advisor Top 40 Under 40,” among other accolades. She also is instrumental in providing product feedback to Intuit, where she currently sits on the Intuit Solution Provider Council.
Based in Austin, Texas, Fourlane is an award-winning professional services firm that provides a wide range of business services and solutions for small- to medium-size businesses, including advisory services, CFO services, bookkeeping and financial systems consulting. Fourlane also offers expert QuickBooks-oriented services, including consulting, programming, integration, data conversion, training, support, and more.
And in addition to being the Intuit’s “No. 1 Premier Reseller Partner,” Fourlane has been Intuit’s prestigious “Premier Reseller of the Year” every year since 2010.
What does it mean to you to be recognized out of more than 200,000 ProAdvisors in the world?
This recognition is very significant to me. It is a lot of work to push ourselves further each year, and find new ways to use or extend QB. Being recognized for pushing these boundaries and finding new ways to train the community makes it worth the effort. Further, with my own internal team, the award inspires them to know they are working with a leader in the community.
Your first thoughts on getting news of the honor?
Thank goodness. I had my first baby this year and have not been as present in the community as I usually am able to be. I was nervous this would hinder my chances, but worked hard outside the leave to continue growth. I also love seeing who else is on the “Top 100” list, because I feel lucky to be on the same list as some of the greats QB minds.
How has your ProAdvisor practice changed or evolved over the last couple of years?
We have had a big focus on simplification. Every customer has elements of being a snowflake, but we want to replicate processes with them as much as possible. This encourages simplification for their teams, too.
Why is continuing to enhance your skills and acumen critical to staying one step ahead of the curve?
The consulting world has been flooded with new businesses starting up. The ability to be QBO-certified for free is throwing more consultants than ever into the mix. We have to show what makes us unique and be ready to adjust that as others catch on to our efforts.
What do you do?
I solve problems and simplify the workflow process. My main customer currently is our company, but this practice extends down to our customers as well.
Give us a snapshot of today's accounting landscape.
With the economic uncertainty, we are seeing a big uptick in the conversion customers. People do not want to spend money on the high-end systems when we can use QuickBooks and an app or custom plug-in to accomplish the same end goal.
Every customer has elements of being a snowflake, but we want to replicate processes with them as much as possible. This encourages simplification for their teams, too.
What was the best piece of advice you ever received?
Ever is hard, because as an entrepreneur, I take advice and use it, so I am constantly taking advice. Control what you can control. In our world, we can’t control Intuit, nor our clients. We have to have a way to progress where we are reliant on our own work instead of that of others.
How do you create balance in your work and personal life?
Right now, I am struggling with this, so maybe next year it will be better.
What's on your to-do list thru the rest of 2017?
Hire, hire, hire. We have the work, just not the staff. Finding great people to add to our remote team is No. 1 on our list. Also, we are NASBA approved for ACE/CPE self-study training, so we want to add to those courses.
Special thanks to our program sponsors, including Canon imageFORMULA Document Scanners, ADP, Finagraph, "Scaling New Heights" and Intuit's QuickBooks ProAdvisor Program.