Eleanor and Daniel met at a large accountancy practice in the city centre, where they spent a decade looking after businesses that were far too small to get much attention.
The work was good, but the model was not. Clients were billed by the hour, so they stopped calling. Questions waited until year end. Small problems quietly became expensive ones.
In 2015 they set up Ashby & Cole with a simple idea: charge one fixed monthly fee that includes every phone call and email, and give each client a named accountant who actually knows their business. If you can ask without worrying about the bill, you ask sooner, and we can help more.
Ten years on, we still work the same way. We are not trying to be the biggest firm in Bristol. We would much rather be the one our clients recommend to their friends.
- 2015Eleanor and Daniel start out in a shared studio in Stokes Croft with eleven clients.
- 2018Priya joins and we launch our payroll service.
- 2021We move to Tallow Lane, a short walk from Queen Square.
- 2024Tom joins to look after new clients and our sole traders.
- 2026We set up Making Tax Digital for Income Tax for every eligible client.
