“In the Netherlands I had a fantastic system in place. Everything was streamlined and clear. When I arrived in NZ, I went looking for something similar but could not find it. Then somebody tipped me about Afirmo. At that stage it was nowhere near the Dutch system I was used to, but I could see the ambition and good plans to grow into something that would get there.”  

Marjan explored other platforms along the way but found they fell short  

“Xero felt like complete overkill. Too complex, too heavy, and it looks like it was designed in the last century. Then I tried HNRY, but that platform could not deal with multiple currencies, which is essential for me” 

“That was the tipping point. I needed something easier and lighter, but still with the ability to grow alongside my business.” 

 

Quickfire Q&A with Marjan:

Q1. What were you using to manage your accounts and tax prior to moving to Afirmo?

Before Afirmo, I had just moved from the Netherlands to New Zealand. Back in the Netherlands, I had a fantastic system in place — everything was streamlined and clear. When I arrived in NZ, I went looking for something similar but couldn’t find it. Then somebody tipped me off about Afirmo. At that stage, it was nowhere near the Dutch system I was used to, but I could see the ambition and good plans to grow into something that would get there.

Q2. Why did you decide to make the change — was there a defining moment?

I tried the usual suspects. Xero felt like complete overkill — too complex, too heavy, and it looks like it was designed last century. Then I tried Hnry, but that platform couldn’t deal with multiple currencies, which is essential for me. That was the tipping point. I realised I needed something easier, lighter, but still able to grow with my business.

Q3. What have you found to be the most valuable aspects or features of Afirmo?

The ease of booking transactions stands out. It’s intuitive and doesn’t take extra effort. Equally important is the support team — they’re responsive, open to questions, and willing to look at feature requests. I do run into bugs from time to time, which can be irritating, but the speed at which those are fixed actually gives me confidence. The system keeps getting better, and where possible, new features I suggest are implemented quickly.

Q4. In what ways has Afirmo saved you time?

For me, it’s the bank account connections and the way transactions can be matched so easily. What used to take me hours of manual work is now reduced to a few minutes. I’d say it saves me a couple of hours every single week.

Q5. In what ways has Afirmo saved you money?

The package as a whole is excellent value for money. Having access to accountants included means I don’t have to pay extra every time I need advice or small checks. That alone makes the price-to-quality ratio very strong.

Q6. What advice would you give to other small business owners who are considering how to manage their accounts?

Stop doing it yourself. The hidden cost of trying to piece things together on your own is huge. Having a system like this gives you not only control but also backup — and that pays off quickly.