Struggling to Grow Your Accountancy Firm in 2025?

The Early Years: Before Samera

I started out far from the world of accountancy. With a first-class degree in Engineering from Bristol, I thought finance was where the real action was. The buzz of the City lured me in. After stints with investment banks and a career-launching role at Coopers & Lybrand (now PwC), I was chasing the dream: six-figure salaries and the adrenaline rush of big deals. But something didn’t sit right.

The long hours. The absence of purpose. The gnawing feeling that life was slipping by while I clocked in for someone else’s vision.

When my father fell ill and I married my incredible wife, Smita, clarity hit like a lightning bolt. I wanted to be present for life – not buried in the grind of investment banking. With Smita’s unwavering support, I quit my high-paying job in 2002. No plan. Just a desire to chart my own course.

Starting Samera

On October 16, 2002, Samera Ltd was born. I was a mid-20s accountant with zero clients and a big dream. My first client? A florist. Let’s just say it didn’t work out.

The lightbulb moment came from Smita herself – a dentist with little knowledge of finance or business. She introduced me to her colleagues, all of whom shared the same struggles. That’s when I realized my niche: the dental market.

It wasn’t easy. I built my first website with MS FrontPage, wasted money on ineffective advertising, and gave speeches to sceptical audiences of dentists across the UK. But each setback taught me something invaluable. Slowly, the word spread. Clients trickled in, and Samera found its footing.

Learning to Build a Team

The hardest lesson? You can’t do it alone. My first accounting client handed me a box of invoices and bank statements, and I had no idea where to start. Enter Mahen, my first hire. He stayed for over a decade and helped me build the foundation of what Samera is today.

I also ventured into outsourcing to India long before it was popular. It wasn’t smooth sailing – technical hiccups, language barriers, and cultural differences challenged us at every step. But persistence paid off, and today, our offshore team is a critical part of our success.

Mistakes, Growth, and Resilience

From dealing with team members poaching clients (you know who you are!) to managing the chaos of COVID, every misstep pushed me to innovate. During the pandemic, I decided to form my own offshore team—a game-changing move that brought stability, efficiency, and renewed growth.

The Next 20 Years at Samera

Looking ahead, I’m focused on building a firm that thrives without me micromanaging. Here’s how:

1. Leading, Not Doing
   I’ve learned that growth comes from stepping back. My role is to lead, strategize, and support my team – not get bogged down in day-to-day tasks.
2. Investing in Our Offshore Team
   Our offshore team isn’t just back-office support anymore – they’re building client relationships and visiting the UK in 2025.
3. Fostering Culture
   A strong, unified team culture is the backbone of any business. Whether it’s a holiday in Goa or a Christmas gathering, I prioritize keeping my team connected and thriving.
4. Mastering Digital Marketing
   From my early experiments with MS FrontPage to running a global content production team, digital marketing has been key to Samera’s growth.
5. Leveraging Technology
   AI and automation are the future of accountancy, but they’re only as good as the people who wield them. Training my team to master these tools is a top priority.
6. Expanding Services
   Over the years, we’ve added finance brokering, dental practice sales, digital marketing, and more to our offerings. Diversifying has been a game-changer.