GetMyInvoices has several interfaces with well-known accounting software providers. In our interview series we would like to introduce you to some of the providers and their software. This week we want to do this at this point ChillBill present, an accounting program that automatically sorts and manages invoices.
How did ChillBill come about?
We have both been self-employed since the tender age of 18. Anyone who has ever been or still is self-employed knows that bookkeeping is tedious, time-consuming and nerve-wracking. As part of his master’s thesis at the Vienna University of Technology, Clemens worked on an iPad app for automatic invoice recognition. He was so impressed by the potential of this work that he presented it to a company. They were excited about it. So Clemens decided to look for a co-founder and start a company based on the idea. That’s when I joined ChillBill.
What would you do if you weren’t at ChillBill?
I definitely would have started a different company. It was always clear to both of us that we didn’t want to be employed anywhere long-term. It’s usually restrictive and doesn’t give me the freedom I want. At ChillBill we try to give our team as much freedom as possible. We motivate everyone to learn and try new things.
What has been your biggest “aha” moment so far that you would like to share with other founders?
Financing is a dog. We underestimated that at the beginning. We thought we had enough private reserves to last a very long time, but the financial pressure is increasing every week. This will be an enormous burden from which little good will come. We should have sought funding much earlier.
What do you think accountants and tax advisors will be doing in five years?
The entire industry is changing. I think that the tax advisor of the future will handle everything digitally. The entrepreneur will receive daily feedback about his finances and will know at any time what payments will be made to him. The tax advisor will take on a greater advisory role and therefore be an even better business partner than before. IT skills will soon become increasingly important in accounting. We know from the past that innovations always create more jobs than the other way around.
What is the most important step to automate a business?
I would ask the question differently. Why do many start-ups grow so quickly? Most young companies try out many tools and optimize their work processes right from the start. The lack of budget becomes a virtue by analyzing and optimizing many processes. This is what makes start-ups or technology-oriented companies so strong.
Back to the original question: You have to be open to new technologies and not close yourself off to them. Otherwise all you need is a laptop and internet :).
And last but not least, why should entrepreneurs choose ChillBill?
We think about how we can make life easier for companies. Every business needs proper accounting, but the current process is difficult and complicated. It really is a pain in the ass process and we want to ease that pain. Anyone who has ever done their own bookkeeping knows what I’m talking about. With ChillBill, companies simply send their invoices by email, and cash receipts can be photographed and sent using a cell phone. This communication via email was important to us as it does not interrupt the daily workflow. The invoices are processed by our intelligent invoice recognition software Merlin. The process is completed for the company by sending the invoice. The tax consultancy can access all the data at the same time and import it into their accounting systems. Carrying folders into the office is a thing of the past. Since October there have also been ChillBill partner tax consultancies that cover the costs for ChillBill!
