Rolf Silver: End 2 End

Who are you and what is your business?

My name is Rolf Silver, I’m a UK chartered accountant and I am the CEO of End 2 End. I manage End 2 End with my partner Sara Marin and we try and promote our business as an accountancy stroke management consultancy business.

We help people raise money and make business plans. It is very varied the type of work we come across because of the nature of what we do.

Where did the original idea come from?

Well in Spain, in general, accountancy services are pretty poor. Mainly because of the lack of professional institutions and partly because of the structure of the economy. Here the economy is geared towards taxation accounting, whereas in the UK and Northern Europe the emphasis is based on accounting as a business support mechanism as opposed to a cost centre. So we try and promote that area within Spain.

How long did it take to get your business off the ground?

We set the business up probably two and half years ago now. I set it up with Sara who is the Spanish end of the business. We did it for people who wanted to set up their own business but were finding they couldn’t get professional advice. Equally for people who had investments or fully-owned companies in Spain.

Who is your clientele? Is it more the International market, Spanish market or a mix?

We do have some Spanish clients but they tend to be more in the compliance area of the business. It tends to be much more in terms of providing administrative support, IVA, tax returns, etc. and they don’t tend to be the core of the business which is more internationally based. I have to confess that we do not chase Spanish clients, because we find the concept of what we do is very difficult for them to grasp. Our clients are of a much more Northern European.

Is there a common mistake you see a lot of small businesses make here with subjects such as tax, bookkeeping and the like?

The one mistake that every company makes, and this is all small companies, is the obsession with profit and not understanding the role of cashflow. And that’s the sole reason that creates so many company problems

Is the paperwork difficult for a new business?

Yes, Spanish administration is a problem for people here.

What is your business experience / background / qualifications?

I’m a UK chartered accountant and Sara is a member of the Collegio de las Economistas.

What are the positive aspects about having a business here?

The weather. We moved here as a personal choice as opposed to a professional choice. In terms of business, none of the clients ever mind coming here. Also there are good links to the whole of Europe, so effectively I can be anywhere in Europe within 2 or 3 hours and I have all the benefits of living in a really nice area for the family.

Are there any other useful contacts, tips or information you think would be useful to other foreign entrepreneurs in Barcelona?

Employ a good accountant.