Chris Pollard

Chris Pollard is the founder of The Print Smith Ltd, a specialist print consultancy that helps businesses and individuals produce stunning, high-end printed products. With over 35 years in the industry, he has worked with prestigious clients like Harrods, Moët Hennessy, Bombardier, Rolex, and Hilton. A self-proclaimed paper geek, Chris takes pride in crafting luxury coffee table books, bespoke packaging, event stationery, and premium hospitality collateral. 

Launched during COVID, The Print Smith has gone from strength to strength. Recently, Chris expanded into a town-centre shop, adding in-house printing capabilities to serve both his high-end clients and the local community. His long-term vision is to grow this side of the business into something sustainable for the future, paving the way for a gradual step back from day-to-day operations.

The Challenge:

As a solo consultant, Chris was juggling creative work, client liaison, production management, and accounting. It quickly became clear that he needed an accountancy solution to take the stress off his shoulders and allow him to focus on growing his business without distractions.

Chris explained, “I wanted someone who could handle everything, and one person to contact, not a faceless contact centre. Most of all, I wanted someone I could trust to manage my accounts.” 

Having tried other accounting providers before, Chris had faced frustrations with missed deadlines and even penalties. Though wary of another letdown, he knew he needed a reliable accounting partner. 

Choosing Crunch:

For Chris, the decision to choose Crunch wasn’t made lightly. Given his past experience, he was understandably cautious. However, his fears were quickly resolved from the first contact with Crunch. The reassurance and personalised service from Crunch quickly demonstrated that we weren’t like other providers.

The Crunch Difference:

From the start, Chris was impressed by the difference in approach. He shared, “I love the Crunch offer of taking the pain of accounting away. Crunch clearly has a top team, and they’re always happy to reassure me that everything is taken care of.”

The transition from his previous accounting software, VAT, payroll, and bookkeeping was seamless—no chasing required on Chris’s end. “I am 100% confident that you’ll be with me at every step. That’s so reassuring and means I can truly just focus on my business,” he added.

Bookkeeping, in particular, has been a gamechanger. While Chris once enjoyed handling it himself, the dedicated bookkeeper as part of our Premium Plus offering means he’s had much-needed valuable time freed up. This time can be dedicated to what Chris does best… delivering beautiful print!

Chris’ recommendations:

Looking back, Chris encourages other entrepreneurs to take the leap sooner rather than later.

And when it comes to finding the right accountant? His advice is simple: “Focus on the ‘core’ of your business. Trust someone else to look after time-consuming and often confusing admin and accounting. It makes a huge difference. I honestly wish I had found Crunch sooner.” For Chris, Crunch isn’t just an online accounting provider; it’s a trusted partner who genuinely supports his business. And perhaps most importantly, Crunch allows him to focus on what he loves, without accounting worries holding him back.

“Crunch has given me complete peace of mind. Never have to chase. Always supported. I just feel like you’re genuinely on my side.”

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