As many of us continue to respond to the impacts of climate change, it’s important to consider how the small business landscape will change, not just for our small business customers but our accounting and bookkeeping partners too.
When Xero was founded in 2006, we were just at the beginning of what was to become the new era of accounting, in the cloud. The potential benefits of the cloud were exciting and a source of much curiosity for accountants and bookkeepers. Today, it feels like we’re at a very similar stage of the adoption curve when it comes to small business sustainability. Now that many firms have embraced the cloud and are reaping the benefits, topics like carbon emissions, waste and water management, and electric vehicles are now woven into conversations with colleagues and clients.
While these aren’t new ideas, they are fast becoming an important consideration for small businesses. Who do small businesses go to when they have questions? In many instances it is their advisor. In a Xero study undertaken in 2021 we found that 68% of small businesses want to improve their sustainability practices, but many don’t know where to start.