Just this week I had the opportunity to hang out with the CEO and CMO of the invoicing and time tracking application FreshBooks. Earlier I had read a tweet from the company that indicated these top-ranking folks would be passing through Chicago (my home town) on their way to a tradeshow. The tweet also indicated that they were booking appointments to speak with FreshBooks users and enthusiasts along the way. You can read about why they set out on their road trip on the FreshBooks blog.

Not known to be shy, I reached out to see if we could meet up. I had to leave a stack of tax returns to make the appointment (on Oct. 12!), but it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. It was a chance to talk to the minds behind one of the coolest new cloud apps. FreshBooks, in my book, is a excellent product—on par with other cloud vendors like Bill.com, SmartVault and Intuit Online Payroll. It’s a tool, like these others, that can improve the way accounting professionals work with their clients.  

Some of you may not have heard of FreshBooks. To clarify, the application is not accounting-based. It’s a time and invoicing solution that is simple and works very well. It allows clients to accomplish the basic tasks, while leaving the accounting to the pros. And quite frankly, most clients don’t want to deal with accounting anyway. They want to send invoices and track time…and then move on to running their business.

If you want to get to know the Freshbooks people, come to the Sleeter Conference. They’ll be there, and rest assured they’ll have something fun planned. Even better, if you visit their booth, tell them Jody sent you and get a special treat!

Jody L. Padar, CPA, MST, is a Certified Public Accountant experienced with Complex Federal & State Income Tax Compliance for Business & Individuals. Jody is an adjunct professor at Oakton Community College, where she teaches Taxation and QuickBooks Courses. She is part of Intuit Trainer Writer Network and speaks nationally on various Technologies and Taxation. She can be reached at www.newvisioncpagroup.com.