In the branding sessions that we did during 2024, we experienced aaaaaaall the things that need to happen when you are creating a firm:
- Name
- Color palette
- Logo
- Fonts
- Mission (and possibly Vision and Purpose)
- Personality / Tone of voice
- Ideal client
… the list seemed to go on and on.
And then we were told we needed UVPs – unique value propositions.
Okay, exactly what is a unique value proposition for an accounting/bookkeeping firm? “We give you accurate books!” That should absolutely NOT be a differentiator from our competition. Accurate bookkeeping and accounting are simply the starting point for any firm.
But after pondering the dilemma for a bit, Kim and Heather’s backgrounds came to light as certainly something unique – Heather’s path of engineer turned accountant and Kim’s background of math and systems consulting isn’t the normal path into the field either. And while their backgrounds and experience don’t immediately scream “SAME!!”, the use of technology and the focus on process are undeniably shared.
And that is when the idea hatched that Luma’s “UVP” is that we combine ACCOUNTING + TECHNOLOGY + PROCESS – this is where Luma… shines (pun intended).
Technology
When looking at the calendars of both, you notice a pattern – each has been attending at least 2 conferences a year that not only focus on accounting (particularly on how to run a bookkeeping/accounting firm) but also on technology that is used in the industry. There are a lot of people out there, accountants included, that – if being honest – hate change. Not so with Heather and Kim – they really ENJOY learning new software when it produces efficiencies. In fact, the hardest thing at times is to NOT demo the newest piece of tech that Jason Staats recommends.
Process
A lot of accountants and bookkeepers really enjoy a good SOP (“standard operating procedure” for those not in-the-know) but Kim and Heather come by their love of process from their original careers in systems and management consulting (Kim) and process engineering / FDA manufacturing (Heather) which we believe brings in additional depth and richness. They are each able to listen to a client describe how they are doing things in their business and immediately identify specific points where a change in the process might be more efficient, particularly if there is a software platform involved in the solution.
So that is the story of how Luma’s “secret sauce” – ACCOUNTING + TECHNOLOGY + PROCESS – came to be. It was this combo that sparked the change of our original “enjoys change” Core Value to the more specific and unique “looks for opportunities for innovation” – we thought it was important to make that change because when we are looking to bring on new team members, this makes clear to applicants that if they are not wild about learning new tech or in analyzing the pain points mentioned by clients, Luma is not going to be their BEST. EXPERIENCE. EVER.
And once again, our mission comes into play!
Luma Accounting, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, was founded on this idea of combining accounting expertise with technology and process. This innovation-driven approach helps small businesses gain financial clarity and efficiency.
Serving small businesses across the U.S., Luma Accounting provides bookkeeping, accounting, and job costing services tailored to owners who value both accuracy and innovation.
If you or someone you know owns a business that could use some “secret sauce”, visit us at www.lumaaccounting.com – we’d love a chance to search for some innovations!
