Why Kregel & Company chose Ignition over Anchor for the long term
After experiencing both Ignition and Anchor, Kregel & Company CPA chose Ignition as its long-term technology partner, helping the firm grow MRR by 141%, eliminate A/R, and build a fully digital accounting firm designed to scale.
"We looked seriously at multiple platforms because we wanted to make the best long-term decision for our firm. Going through that process reinforced why we'd trusted Ignition for the last 10 years and why we'll continue building on it for the next 10."
Scott Kregel, Founder, Kregel & Company CPA
Challenge: Choosing the right long-term technology partner
Scott Kregel has never viewed technology as just another software purchase.
As Founder of Kregel & Company CPA, every investment is made with the long term in mind. Since becoming a Certified B Corporation in 2013, the firm has intentionally built a modern accounting practice that reflects its values, embracing fully digital workflows long before they became the industry standard.
"We needed an integrated solution for digital invoicing and payment collection," Scott says. "The formal engagement letters and integration with Xero were the frosting on the cake."
Since implementing Ignition in 2015, the firm has built an entirely digital client experience. Clients receive proposals online, sign engagement letters electronically and pay digitally, allowing the team to work seamlessly while maintaining a professional, consistent client experience.
As the firm grew to nearly 400 clients and $2 million in annual revenue, Scott wanted to challenge one important assumption.
Were they still building the business on the right platform?
Rather than simply renewing the status quo, the team undertook a detailed evaluation of the market, including Anchor, to ensure they were making the right technology decision for the future.
“We wanted to make sure we weren't staying with something simply because it was familiar,” says Scott. “We wanted confidence that we were investing in the right platform for where our business is headed."
That meant moving beyond product demos and understanding how each platform would support the firm's day-to-day operations.
"It's easy to compare feature lists. What really matters is how the platform performs when you're using it every day with hundreds of clients. That's what we wanted to understand."
Solution: Why Ignition stood out where it mattered most
Experiencing both platforms gave Scott and his team something few firms have: firsthand insight into what really matters when choosing technology for a growing accounting practice.
The evaluation quickly shifted from comparing features to evaluating how each platform would support the firm's operations over the long term.
"One of the biggest lessons from the process was that there's a real difference between seeing software in a demo and relying on it to run your business every day."
For his admin team, the operational differences became increasingly clear as the team worked through real-world scenarios.
"Going through the evaluation reminded us how much we'd built around Ignition. We weren't just comparing software anymore. We were evaluating the systems that underpin how we engage clients, bill them and get paid."
One workflow stood out in particular. With more than 70 payroll clients, Kregel & Company relies heavily on Ignition's robust integrations, such as Gusto, to automate billing based on employee counts.
"The Gusto integration has become part of how we run the business. Without that automation, we'd be manually reviewing payroll changes and billing adjustments every month. Experiencing both platforms really highlighted how valuable that workflow is to us."
The team also realized that choosing a technology partner wasn't simply about solving today's challenges. It was about selecting a platform they trusted to continue investing in innovation while supporting the firm's growth for years to come.
"We weren't looking for the platform with the longest feature list. We were looking for the partner we had the most confidence building our business on," says Scott.
That confidence has translated into measurable business results.
Over the past decade, Kregel & Company has grown monthly recurring revenue by 141% while increasing clients by 43%, all while maintaining a lean team of just 11 full-time employees.
Perhaps even more significantly, the firm has effectively eliminated accounts receivable through automated payment collection.
"As a fixed-fee firm, A/R doesn't exist thanks to Ignition,” says Scott.
Ignition also gives Scott greater visibility into the future of the business.
"I'm excited about the Ignition dashboard reporting and seeing our projected monthly revenue numbers for the rest of the fiscal year," he says. "It helps me plan ahead and motivates me if I see a forecasted dip in projected revenue."
Looking back, Scott believes evaluating Anchor ultimately strengthened the firm's confidence in choosing Ignition as its long-term technology strategy.
"Evaluating both platforms gave us exactly what we were looking for: confidence that we'd already chosen the right platform, confidence in the way our business operates today, and confidence that Ignition will continue to support where we're headed next."
After experiencing both Ignition and Anchor firsthand, the team chose the platform they believe gives them the strongest foundation for the future.
"We're always going to evaluate new technology because that's part of building a better business. But after experiencing both platforms, we're more confident than ever that Ignition is the partner we want beside us as we continue to grow."