Your business has outgrown its spreadsheet.
It started as a quick way to keep track. Now the whole business depends on it, only one person really understands it, and everyone’s nervous about breaking it.
We replace spreadsheets like that with a proper system, built around the way your business already works.
30 minutes, no cost, and no obligation. We’ll tell you plainly if you don’t need us.
You’ve probably outgrown it if…
None of these is a disaster on its own. Three or four together usually means the spreadsheet is now costing you more than it saves.
- Two people can’t safely work in it at once.Someone saves over someone else’s changes, or you take turns.
- There are copies everywhere.“Final”, “final v2”, the one on Dave’s laptop. Nobody’s sure which is right.
- One person holds it all together.If they’re off sick or on holiday, things quietly stop.
- Getting a simple answer takes an afternoon.“How many jobs did we do last quarter?” means filtering, copying and checking.
- It’s slow, or it crashes.Years of rows, lookups and colour-coding have made it heavy to open.
- You type the same thing in more than once.Into the spreadsheet, then into an email, then into your accounts.
- You can’t easily see it away from the desk.On site, on a phone, or from home, it’s awkward or impossible.
If that’s you, you’re in good company. Most businesses get here, because the spreadsheet worked well enough for long enough.
What changes with a proper system
A system built for your business keeps what works about the spreadsheet and removes what doesn’t. Here’s how the day-to-day tends to change.
| Area | With the spreadsheet | With a system built for you |
|---|---|---|
| Working together | One person edits at a time, or changes get lost. | Everyone works at once, each seeing what they need. |
| Mistakes | A typo or a bad sort can quietly break a formula. | Entries are checked as they’re typed, so bad data doesn’t get in. |
| Answers | Built by hand each time someone asks. | The figures you check every week are always ready. |
| History | Overwritten, or spread across old copies. | A record of who changed what, and when. |
| Access | Tied to one file on one computer or shared drive. | Works on a phone or laptop, with logins for each person. |
| Repeat typing | Copied into emails, quotes and invoices by hand. | Entered once and reused wherever it’s needed. |
We start from the spreadsheet you already have
Your spreadsheet isn’t a mess to be thrown away. It’s years of knowledge about how your business actually runs, and it’s the best brief we could ask for.
Your data comes with you.
We move your existing records into the new system, so you don’t start from an empty screen.
It fits how you work.
The columns, colours and workarounds you rely on tell us what the system needs to do. We build around those, not around a template.
It can happen in stages.
We can replace the most painful part first and leave the rest in the spreadsheet until you’re ready.
You can still export.
If someone likes to work in a spreadsheet for the odd report, they can still download one. It just stops being the master copy.
How the free review call works
You don’t need to prepare anything technical. Just bring the spreadsheet, or describe it.
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Tell us what it does
Fill in the form below with a line or two about your spreadsheet and what’s frustrating about it. We’ll reply within one working day to book a time.
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Walk us through it
A 30-minute call, by video or in person. Share your screen and show us how the spreadsheet gets used day to day.
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Get a straight answer
We’ll tell you whether a system is worth it for you. If it is, we’ll follow up with a written proposal and a fixed price.
Sometimes the answer is “keep the spreadsheet”. If a tidy-up or an off-the-shelf tool would do the job, we’ll say so on the call.
Who you’ll be talking to
Outgrown Spreadsheets is a service from Bevl Software, a software company in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. We build and look after the custom systems our clients use to run their businesses every day.
You’ll speak to the people who’d actually design and build your system, not a salesperson. We work from CoSpace in Stevenage and we’re happy to visit you anywhere in the UK.
Is this for you?
A good fit if:
- a spreadsheet runs an important part of your business, like jobs, orders, stock, bookings or customers
- several people need to use it, or soon will
- you’ve tried off-the-shelf software and it didn’t fit the way you work
Probably not a fit if:
- it’s a personal spreadsheet that only you use and it works fine
- you need a website or online shop rather than a system for running the business
Questions people ask
Is the call really free?
Yes. There’s no charge for the call and no obligation afterwards. It’s how we find out whether we can help.
Our spreadsheet is a bit embarrassing. Does that matter?
Not at all. We’ve seen plenty of colour-coded tabs and “do not touch” columns. The messier it is, the more it usually tells us about what you need.
What does a system like this cost?
It depends on what the spreadsheet does and how many people use it, so we don’t guess before we’ve seen it. If a system makes sense, you’ll get a fixed price in writing, and we can split the work into stages to spread the cost.
Will we lose the data we’ve already got?
No. Moving your existing records across is part of the job.
We use Excel or Google Sheets. Does it matter which?
No. Either is fine, and so is a mix of the two, which is more common than you’d think.
Can it connect to the other software we use?
Often, yes. Tell us what else you use, like your accounting software or email, and we’ll check what’s possible on the call.
Do you only work with Hertfordshire businesses?
No. We’re in Stevenage and like meeting local businesses in person, but we work with companies across the UK. The call can be done by video.
Book a free review call
Tell us a little about your spreadsheet. We’ll reply within one working day to find a time that suits you.
Rather talk now? Call 01462 558585.