How business size affects which firm fits
Two businesses can both want to cut telecom costs and still need different help. A firm built for large lease portfolios may not suit a ten-location bakery, and the reverse is also true. This article explains why Fairview asks about your size and what to do if you are not sure where you fall.
Why size matters at all
Size changes the work in three ways.
- Volume of documents. A larger business has more contracts, more vendors and more invoices to sample. A smaller one may have a handful of vendors and a stack of monthly bills.
- Kind of spend. Larger businesses often have negotiated contracts and leases with detailed terms. Smaller businesses more often have standard-rate services such as card processing, waste hauling or wireless plans.
- Who is available. A larger company may have an accounts payable team and a legal contact. A smaller one may have one person doing everything.
One provider describes recovery audits as mainly suited to organizations with large invoice volumes, and notes that fixed or hourly fees may suit smaller or simpler audits. Treat that as one view, not a rule.
The two firm types in general terms
Fairview works with two kinds of partner firm today. One type reviews leases and supplier contracts for larger businesses, checking that billing matches what was agreed. The other type looks at costs by spend category for smaller businesses, such as utilities, shipping and telecom, along with procurement and contract compliance. More firms will join, and the categories on the services page will grow.
There is no fixed size cut-off between the two types. Fairview matches each request by hand, so a business near the line is still matched.
How the request paths work
Fairview has three paths:
- Larger business: goes to the matched firm of that type.
- Smaller business: goes to the matched firm of that type.
- Not sure or another need: goes to Fairview for manual matching.
Each path has its own form, described on the request a professional page. The matching steps are explained in how matching works at Fairview.
If you are in the middle
Many businesses do not fit neatly. Signs you may be in between:
- You have a few large contracts and many small vendors.
- You grew recently and your finance team has not.
- You are part of a group but run on your own budget.
- You have a single property lease but a large payroll.
Pick the path that matches the cost you most want reviewed, not the label you prefer. If one contract is the concern, ask yourself which firm type handles that kind of contract. If you cannot decide, use the "not sure" path. Fairview will match the request by hand, and you can explain your situation in the message field.
What to put in your message
A short, specific message helps with a close call. Include:
- The categories you want reviewed.
- The number of locations or vendors, in your own words.
- Whether you have in-house finance staff.
- Any contract with a renewal date coming up.
Do not include account numbers or passwords. Share documents only after a firm contacts you.
Fees and size
Fee models differ between firms. Providers in this field use different models, and which one a given firm uses is for that firm to state. [CONFIRM: a partner firm supplies and approves its fee model] Fees are agreed between you and the firm. Read contingency fee versus flat fee before the first call.
A quick self-check
- Do you have a dedicated accounts payable function? If yes, you may sit toward the larger path.
- Is your main concern a lease or a large supplier agreement? See lease audit and compliance.
- Is it recurring bills such as utilities or wireless? Those pages are being prepared as firms join.
A wrong first choice is not final. If a firm decides it is not the right fit, tell Fairview and the request can be matched again.
Tell us what you need reviewed. We match you by hand with an independent partner firm. You keep your existing vendors.Find out what you are overpaying.