What are the IdeaBuddy alternatives? Why would you look for one?
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IdeaBuddy is a well-known business planning tool that focuses on idea development and business modelling. Its simple, structured approach makes it appealing for startups and entrepreneurs looking to validate and refine their ideas. However, it may not be the best fit for everyone, especially for those who need deeper financial modelling, performance tracking, or investor-focused business planning.
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If you’re looking for an alternative to IdeaBuddy that better suits your needs, several business planning tools offer unique advantages tailored to different use cases.
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Why Consider IdeaBuddy Alternatives?
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While IdeaBuddy is a solid option for brainstorming and structuring business ideas, it does have some limitations:
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Limited Financial Planning: IdeaBuddy is designed more for business modelling than for in-depth financial planning. It lacks comprehensive financial forecasting features that help businesses create investor-ready financial plans.
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No Advanced Investor Reporting: Investors need detailed reports with financial projections, growth scenarios, and key metrics. IdeaBuddy does not offer investor-specific reports, making it less suitable for fundraising purposes.
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Basic Collaboration Features: While it has some collaborative tools, it lacks real-time editing and more advanced team collaboration capabilities found in other platforms.
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No Custom KPI Tracking: If you need to track business performance over time with customized dashboards and key performance indicators (KPIs), IdeaBuddy may fall short.
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Best IdeaBuddy Alternatives
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Here are the top alternatives to IdeaBuddy and why they might be better choice:
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Modeliks: Offers superior financial modelling, AI-powered business planning, industry-specific financial models, and custom investor reports.
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Upmetrics: Well integrated AI across the planning process. From business plan and pitch deck writing to market research and financial planning.
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Bizplan: Best for crowdfunding integration, helping startups connect with investors.
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Liveplan: A solid all-around choice with guided business planning but with limited financial modelling.
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Cuttles: Simplifies business planning for startups with an easy-to-use interface.
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Enloop: Scores business plans in real-time to help refine and improve them.
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Detailed Assessment of Each Business Planning Alternative
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Below is a detailed assessment of each IdeaBuddy alternative. I used the following criteria for evaluating of each alternative: ease of use, quality of business plan output, financial planning capabilities, performance tracking features, integrations, investor reporting capabilities and pricing. Detailed explanation of each criteria is shown in the table below.
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1. Modeliks – Overall Best Solution (AI-powered business planning and strong financial modelling)
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Positives:
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Ease of Use: AI-driven business planning with interactive suggestions tailored to your business.
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Financial Planning: Driver-based financial modelling that aligns financials with real operational logic.
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Industry-Specific Financial Model Templates: rebuilt templates capture the operational logic of your business, allowing even non-financial experts to create professional financial plans.
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Tracking and Reporting: Predefined and custom financial dashboards for tracking performance.
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Negatives:
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Short learning curve due to powerful financial planning features.
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Accounting system integrations not yet available in Modeliks at the time of writing this article. (coming soon in Q1 2025).
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2. Upmetrics – Best for AI-Assisted Planning & Pitch Decks
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Pros:
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Well-integrated AI assistance for business planning, pitch deck creation, and market research.
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Over 600 templates for various industries.
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User-friendly interface, making it accessible to beginners.
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Cons:
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Financial planning features are not as advanced as some competitors.
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Limited investor reporting and performance tracking tools.
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3. Bizplan – Best for Crowdfunding & Investor Readiness
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Pros:
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Direct integration with fundraising platforms, making it easier to attract investors.
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Step-by-step plan builder with an intuitive drag-and-drop interface.
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Generates polished investor-ready documents.
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Cons:
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Lacks AI assistance, meaning business plans must be written manually.
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Basic financial modelling compared to some other options.
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No industry-specific financial templates.
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4. Cuttles – Best for Early-Stage Startups
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Pros:
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Simplifies business planning for startup founders.
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Clean, user-friendly interface.
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Helpful guides and step-by-step assistance.
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Cons:
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Minimal financial planning and reporting features.
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No AI-powered writing assistance.
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Not ideal for larger or growing businesses that need more advanced tools.
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5. LivePlan – Best for Traditional Business Plans
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Pros:
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Well-established and reliable business planning tool.
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Provides basic financial forecasting and performance tracking.
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Good for structured, traditional business plans.
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Cons:
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Financial planning is limited compared to Modeliks.
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Pitch decks are mainly textual, rather than the graphical style investors prefer.
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No industry-specific financial models.
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6. Enloop – Best for Automated Business Plan Scoring
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Pros:
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Real-time scoring system that rates your business plan and financials.
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Automates financial forecasting and explanations.
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Simple and easy to use.
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Cons:
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Lacks advanced tracking, reporting, and pitch deck features.
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Basic templates that don’t offer much customization.
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Conclusion
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IdeaBuddy is a great tool for quickly structuring and validating business ideas, but if you need advanced financial modelling, investor-focused features, or performance tracking, exploring alternatives is a smart move. Modeliks stands out with its AI-driven approach,financial planning depth, and investor reporting features, while Upmetrics, Bizplan, and LivePlan cater to different needs such as AI-assisted planning, crowdfunding, and traditional business plans. Cuttles and Enloop are great for startups and simple automation.
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The best choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and how in-depth you want your business planning process to be. Choose wisely and ensure your business plan aligns with your long-term goals.
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Why Advisory Services Matter for Accounting Firms
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The accounting profession is shifting. Compliance and bookkeeping remain essential, but today’s clients expect more. They want guidance on how to run their business smarter, manage cash flow, and plan for the future.
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According to a CPA.com survey:
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Clients pay ~50% more for advisory services compared to traditional compliance.
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65% of clients need advisory support.
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45% expect their accounting firm to provide it.
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This means the demand is already there. The opportunity for accounting firms is clear: move beyond bookkeeping into high-margin advisory services.
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The Challenge: Scaling Advisory Without Burning Out
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For most small and mid-sized firms, the hesitation is simple: ❌ Limited staff time ❌ No standardized tools for forecasting & reporting ❌ Concern about overcomplicating workflows
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The good news? Advisory can be delivered at scale, without adding headcount or creating inefficiencies — if you have the right system.
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The Solution: Modeliks for Advisory Services
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Modeliks helps accountants transform their existing relationships into advisory partnerships by automating the heavy lifting.
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Here’s how it works in practice:
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1️⃣ Connect QuickBooks in Minutes Sync client actuals directly — no messy spreadsheets or manual imports.
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2️⃣ Build Budgets & Automated Financials Instantly generate a forward-looking P&L, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow statement, tailored to each client.
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3️⃣ Deliver Dashboards & Variance Analysis Clients see Actual vs. Plan vs. Previous Periods. You provide insight into why numbers moved — without building reports from scratch each month.
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The Impact for Accounting Firms
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Firms using Modeliks see: ✅ New revenue streams by offering planning & reporting as premium packages ✅ Higher client retention thanks to consistent value beyond compliance ✅ No extra headcount required, since processes are automated ✅ Improved positioning as trusted advisors, not just bookkeepers
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As one accountant put it:
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“Our clients can now make confident decisions. For us it’s a game-changer — we finally sell insight, not just compliance.”
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Why Now Is the Time
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Client expectations are rising. Competitors are moving into advisory. Technology makes it easier than ever to scale.
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If you’re an accountant or firm owner, now is the time to position your practice for the next decade. Advisory services are not just an add-on — they’re the future of accounting.
\n","slug":"high-margin-advisory-services-accountants","date":"2025-09-02T08:30:06","categories":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybToxMQ==","name":"Business Plans"},{"id":"dGVybToxNA==","name":"Financial Forecast"},{"id":"dGVybTozNQ==","name":"News"},{"id":"dGVybTozNA==","name":"Partners"},{"id":"dGVybToxMg==","name":"Pitch Decks"},{"id":"dGVybToxMw==","name":"Reports & Dashboards"}]},"mainCategory":{"mainCategory":["financial-forecast"],"videoHeader":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlQEwnWOdKQ"},"tags":{"nodes":[{"name":"accounting advisory services growth"},{"name":"budgeting and forecasting"},{"name":"business planning"},{"name":"consulting firm profitability strategies"},{"name":"Financial analysis"},{"name":"financial forecasting"},{"name":"financial modeling"},{"name":"financial planning"},{"name":"financial planning for professional services firms"},{"name":"financial reporting"}]},"featuredImage":{"node":{"id":"cG9zdDoxMTU0Mg==","sourceUrl":"/images/cms/Screenshot-2025-09-02-at-10.27.59.png","altText":"How to offer Advisory Services at High Margin?"}},"seo":{"metaDesc":"Learn how accounting firms can add high-margin advisory services without extra headcount. Discover how Modeliks helps accountants deliver financial planning, reporting, and dashboards that clients will pay more for."},"modified":"2025-09-02T08:30:10","related":null},{"id":"cG9zdDoxMTQ4Mw==","title":"How to Manage & Grow Your Professional Services Business: A Strategic Playbook","content":"\n
Running a professional services business is demanding. Whether you’re a founder, consultant, accountant, or finance leader, the challenges are similar:
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Managing multiple clients
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Tracking projects and timesheets
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Ensuring profitability while scaling
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Moving beyond basic bookkeeping into strategic financial insights
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The truth? Many services firms outgrow spreadsheets faster than they realize. A project-based business requires a planning and reporting framework that adapts as you grow – not one that breaks every time a new client, project, or team member comes onboard.
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That’s where having a structured financial planning and reporting system becomes a game-changer.
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Who is This Playbook For?
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This strategic framework is designed for:
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Founders & Owners of Service Firms — who need clarity on profitability and growth drivers.
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Consultants — who want to optimize billable hours and scale without burning out.
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Accountants & Accounting Firm Owners — who want to expand beyond bookkeeping and offer high-value advisory services like forecasting, management reporting, and fractional CFO solutions.
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Finance Leaders (CFOs, Finance Managers, Controllers) — who require accurate reporting, scenario planning, and board-ready insights without wasting hours in spreadsheets.
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If you run a project-based business, use timesheets, or manage multiple clients, this playbook is for you.
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How to Grow Profitability in Professional Services
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Professional services firms often face profitability challenges because margins are tied to capacity, efficiency, and client mix. Here’s where the right planning approach makes a difference:
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1. Plan by Project (Not Just Company-Level)
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Each project has its own revenue, costs, and resources. Without project-level visibility, it’s impossible to know which work is actually profitable.
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2. Track Actuals vs. Plan
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It’s not enough to create a yearly budget. Monthly actuals vs. plan reporting helps you quickly see where projects are off track and adjust before problems snowball.
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3. Build Scenarios
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What happens if a big client leaves? Or if you add two more consultants next quarter? Scenario planning gives you the confidence to make tough decisions with numbers to back them up.
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4. Monitor Utilization & Capacity
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Employee utilization is the heartbeat of a services firm. By linking financial forecasts to billable hours, staffing, and client demand, you can identify bottlenecks and prevent costly underutilization.
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How Modeliks Helps
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At Modeliks, we’ve built a platform that turns these best practices into a structured, repeatable process.
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With Modeliks, you can:
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Plan by Project, Department, or Client Build forecasts by any dimension of your business — project, geography, store, or team.
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Automate Actual vs. Plan Reporting Sync with QuickBooks or upload trial balances from Excel. No more rebuilding reports every month.
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Get Dashboards & KPIs That Matter Variance analysis, profitability by client/project, utilization, and other insights are ready in minutes.
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Run What-If Scenarios Test different client acquisition strategies, pricing models, or staffing plans.
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Scale Without Adding Headcount Accountants and consultants can serve more clients in less time, while founders and finance leaders gain clarity without extra hires.
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Why This Matters Now
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Most firms wait until they have 100+ employees to rethink planning. But the truth is, dimensional planning and reporting matters at 20 employees, as much as at 200.
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The earlier you set up a scalable framework, the faster you can:
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Increase profitability per client
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Retain clients longer by delivering insight, not just compliance
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Attract investors, lenders, or partners with investor-ready plans
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Free up time to focus on strategic growth instead of fixing spreadsheets
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Key Takeaway
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Growing a professional services business isn’t just about winning more clients — it’s about building a system that lets you manage projects, measure performance, and grow profitably.
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That’s what this playbook is about — and why we built Modeliks.
\n","slug":"financial-planning-for-professional-services","date":"2025-09-01T11:47:08","categories":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybToxMQ==","name":"Business Plans"},{"id":"dGVybToxNA==","name":"Financial Forecast"},{"id":"dGVybTozNQ==","name":"News"},{"id":"dGVybTozNA==","name":"Partners"},{"id":"dGVybToxMg==","name":"Pitch Decks"},{"id":"dGVybToxMw==","name":"Reports & Dashboards"}]},"mainCategory":{"mainCategory":["financial-forecast"],"videoHeader":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E87pBDPZzPc"},"tags":{"nodes":[{"name":"accounting advisory services growth"},{"name":"budgeting and forecasting"},{"name":"business planning"},{"name":"consulting firm profitability strategies"},{"name":"Financial analysis"},{"name":"financial forecasting"},{"name":"financial modeling"},{"name":"financial planning"},{"name":"financial planning for professional services firms"},{"name":"financial reporting"}]},"featuredImage":{"node":{"id":"cG9zdDoxMTQ4NA==","sourceUrl":"/images/cms/Screenshot-2025-09-01-at-13.39.02.png","altText":"Financial planning for professional services"}},"seo":{"metaDesc":"Discover how to manage and grow your professional services firm with project-based financial planning, reporting, and forecasting strategies."},"modified":"2025-09-01T11:47:11","related":null},{"id":"cG9zdDoxMDQyMA==","title":"Modeliks 2.0 is Live!","content":"\n
Today we released a massive new update of Modeliks. A multidimensional Modeliks 2.0. I am both happy and sad to see Modeliks grow up. I liked baby Modeliks. He was cute and a little clumsy. Now, we created a beast.
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We listened to your feedback and made Modeliks by far the best financial planning and reporting tool for SMEs. Alright, I might be a bit subjective, but here is what’s new:
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Multi dimensional planning and reporting. This means that you can plan and track performance by organizational unit, whether that is business units, departments, geography, stores, projects. However your company is structured, you can have clear targets and track performance across your whole organization.
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Consolidation: if you plan on a business unit level, Modeliks will consolidate your financial plans upwords.
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Allocations: allocate costs from the head office down to the operating units. Why? Some costs are incurred in the head office, or regional offices, but should be allocated down to the operating units, in order to get a correct picture of profitability across the organization.
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Quickbooks integration. Connect Modeliks to your Quickbooks and have your planning and monthly reporting automated, error free and done in minutes.
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Account grouping. Group several accounts into one group account. For example, you can create a Utilities group account and make your Energy, heating, phone, internet, water accounts part of the utilities group. Why? Because when you plan, you don’t want to plan on every single small account that you have in your accounting system. It is too tedious and messy. So, group them logically, plan on groups, and make planning and reporting easy and useful.
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Initiative planning and evaluation. You have a new initiative in mind for your business? Create a business case and see how it will impact your business. If the numbers say it’s good, keep it. If not, drop it.
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Monthly forecasting. Now you can forecast up to 3 years on monthly basis.
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Lastly. Speed. Modeliks is now 10 times faster than before.
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And there is a lot more to come in the next few months. Stay tuned for new features, and in the mean-time, plan, manage and grow your business with Modeliks 2.0.
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Let’s recap. Now you can:
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Build driver based financial models for any business
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Do it by department, business unit, geography, stores, projects
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Run scenarios and evaluate new initiatives
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Track actual performance vs budget, on every level in your organization. Especially easy with the Quickbooks integration
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Automate monthly investor and management reporting
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And write professional and detailed business plans with the help of our AI assistant.
\n","slug":"modeliks-2-0-a-live","date":"2025-04-01T08:59:31","categories":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybToxMQ==","name":"Business Plans"},{"id":"dGVybToxNA==","name":"Financial Forecast"},{"id":"dGVybTozNQ==","name":"News"},{"id":"dGVybTozNA==","name":"Partners"},{"id":"dGVybToxMg==","name":"Pitch Decks"},{"id":"dGVybToxMw==","name":"Reports & Dashboards"}]},"mainCategory":{"mainCategory":["financial-forecast"],"videoHeader":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-61deO4BkFg"},"tags":{"nodes":[{"name":"budgeting and forecasting"},{"name":"business planning"},{"name":"Financial analysis"},{"name":"financial forecasting"},{"name":"financial modeling"},{"name":"financial planning"},{"name":"financial reporting"},{"name":"market analysis"},{"name":"modeliks"},{"name":"quickbooks"}]},"featuredImage":{"node":{"id":"cG9zdDoxMDQyMg==","sourceUrl":"/images/cms/Modeliks-2.0-Post-image.png","altText":"Modeliks 2.0."}},"seo":{"metaDesc":"A massive new update of Modeliks is here. A multidimensional, Quickbooks integrated, faster than ever Modeliks 2.0. GROW your business, NOW!"},"modified":"2025-04-01T09:20:31","related":null}]}2:["$","$L8",null,{"post":"$9"}]
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