Mastering Cashflow Advisory with Float: A Conversation with Colin Hewitt

Cashflow is the heartbeat of every business, yet it’s often an area that many bookkeepers shy away from advising on. But when approached with the right tools and systems, it can be one of the most impactful services a bookkeeper can offer.

In a recent conversation with Colin Hewitt, founder of Float Cashflow Software, we discussed how bookkeepers can confidently step into cashflow advisory by leveraging simple technology and smart systems. Colin shared valuable insights on how tools like Float can simplify cashflow forecasting, allowing bookkeepers to provide real-time guidance that empowers clients to make smarter financial decisions.

By embracing cashflow advisory, bookkeepers can not only add more value to their clients but also elevate their role from traditional number-cruncher to trusted business partner.

Colin’s story is fascinating. He built Float not as a tech project, but out of frustration from running his own creative agency and struggling to forecast cashflow accurately. What started as a solution to his own problem has become one of the most trusted cashflow tools in the world — and a game-changer for bookkeepers ready to deliver real financial clarity to their clients.

The Problem Every Business Owner Faces

When I asked Colin why cashflow is such a challenge for business owners, his answer was simple: “People don’t see it coming until it’s too late.”

So many small businesses operate reactively — checking the bank balance instead of managing forward visibility. That’s where bookkeepers come in. We have the numbers, the access, and the relationship. What we often lack is the system that turns raw data into insight. That’s the gap Float fills.

Colin built Float to connect directly with cloud accounting software like Intuit QuickBooks, Xero, and FreeAgent, automatically pulling real-time data into clean, easy-to-read cashflow forecasts. No more spreadsheets. No more guesswork.

He calls it “helping business owners sleep better at night.” I call it empowering bookkeepers to finally deliver the strategic value clients desperately need.

Turning Data into Decisions

Bookkeepers are perfectly positioned to help clients understand their cash position — but to do that effectively, we have to move from compliance to clarity.Colin explained that Float helps bookkeepers visualise the future. Instead of drowning in transactions, you can show clients what their next 3, 6, or 12 months look like in real terms — what’s coming in, what’s going out, and when.

The magic lies in what happens next: conversations.

Once clients see their cashflow clearly, they start asking better questions — “What if I hire someone new?” “Can I afford to invest in equipment?” “What happens if I lose a major contract?”

That’s where we step up as Strategic Bookkeepers. We move beyond reconciliation and into scenario planning — giving clients the ability to make informed decisions with confidence.

It’s not about becoming a financial advisor; it’s about owning your role as the bridge between numbers and action.

Why Cashflow Advisory Is the Future

If you’ve been listening to my podcast or inside my Transformation Program, you know I’m passionate about helping bookkeepers evolve into trusted business partners. Cashflow advisory is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to make that shift. It’s tangible, repeatable, and deeply valued by clients. When you help a business avoid running out of cash, you don’t just save them money — you save them stress, relationships, and sometimes their entire livelihood.

Colin and I agreed that this kind of work is the natural next step for modern bookkeepers.

With AI automating more data entry and compliance, it’s our human insight — interpreting and communicating financial information — that drives long-term success. Cashflow advisory perfectly fits that model.

It’s recurring, it’s scalable, and it’s relationship-based.

Making Cashflow Advisory Scalable

One thing I love about Float is how it makes advisory practical.Colin designed it so bookkeepers can manage multiple clients efficiently. You can set up recurring cashflow forecasts, customise scenarios for each business, and even schedule monthly or quarterly review meetings based on live data.

That means you can deliver premium advisory work without spending hours in spreadsheets.

I’ve seen bookkeepers inside The Strategic Bookkeeper Transformation Program build entire service tiers around cashflow. They offer it as part of their monthly advisory packages, creating predictable recurring revenue while delivering incredible value to clients.

Colin emphasised that you don’t need to be a financial analyst to do this. The key is structure. Use Float’s templates, interpret what you see, and frame it in plain English for clients.

That’s what clients pay for — understanding, not accounting jargon.

Confidence Through Conversations

Many bookkeepers tell me they hesitate to talk about cashflow because they don’t want to “sound like an accountant.” I get that. But advisory isn’t about giving tax advice — it’s about facilitating clarity.

Colin shared how bookkeepers who start with small steps, like walking clients through a three-month cashflow forecast, quickly gain confidence. Clients love it. They feel empowered, and that creates loyalty.

Once you start having those conversations, something shifts. You stop being “the bookkeeper who reconciles the accounts” and become “the advisor who helps me understand my business.”

That’s when your perceived value — and your pricing power — skyrockets.

My Takeaway from Talking with Colin

Talking with Colin reminded me how aligned Float’s mission is with what I teach inside The Strategic Bookkeeper Transformation Program. It’s all about helping bookkeepers deliver more value with less stress — using systems, education, and support to move from survival to strategy.

Float isn’t just a software tool. It’s a catalyst for transformation. It helps you step confidently into advisory, communicate your worth, and elevate the way you serve clients.

If you’ve been looking for a way to introduce advisory into your practice, start here. Cashflow forecasting is simple, actionable, and incredibly impactful.

You already have the data — you just need the structure to turn it into insight.

Final Thoughts

Bookkeepers are the unsung heroes of small business. We see the patterns, the pitfalls, and the potential — often before anyone else. By embracing tools like Float and adding cashflow advisory to your offering, you can make a real difference in your clients’ lives and in your own business.

As Colin said so well, “Cashflow is the truth. Everything else is noise.”

When you help clients understand that truth — clearly, confidently, and consistently — you stop being just another bookkeeper. You become indispensable.

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