Most spreadsheets I see were built years ago, by someone who needed an answer quickly and got there with what they knew at the time. They still work, more or less, so nobody touches them. The trouble is that Excel has moved on a long way since then, and it is very hard to know what you are missing when you don’t know it exists. That is why I offer a free spreadsheet review.
What is a free spreadsheet review?
It is a 30 minute meeting where you show me a spreadsheet you rely on and I look at how it is built. I’m not there to criticise it. I look for ways to make it faster, safer and easier to use, and I give you ideas you can act on, whether that is something you fix yourself afterwards or something you would like help with.
Who is it for?
Sole traders who keep their own figures in Excel, finance teams with a few key workbooks that everyone is nervous about, and admin staff who inherited a spreadsheet and were never shown how it works. If a spreadsheet matters to how you run things, it is worth a look.
What do people typically find?
The same few things come up again and again:
- Figures typed in by hand that could be pulled in automatically (manual re-keying).
- Formulas that have quietly broken or been overwritten.
- No data validation, so anything can be typed into any cell.
- Copying and pasting between files to get a report out.
None of these are anyone’s fault. They are what happens when a spreadsheet grows over time without anyone stepping back to look at the whole thing.
What happens after the review?
There is no obligation. You leave with ideas, and that may be all you need. If you would like more help, there are a few routes: a bespoke spreadsheet project built around how you work, training so you or your team can do it yourselves, or one of my bookkeeping models if your spreadsheet is really doing your bookkeeping. I’ll tell you honestly if the best answer is to leave things as they are.
Why a spreadsheet review is worth your time
A spreadsheet that mostly works can hide small problems for years. A formula that doesn’t pick up the last row, a total that doesn’t include a new column, a lookup that returns the wrong match. They don’t announce themselves. A fresh pair of eyes, from someone who has worked with Excel since 2008, is often the quickest way to find them.
Questions I get asked
Does it cost anything? No, the review is free.
Do I need to send the spreadsheet in advance? It helps if you can tell me what the spreadsheet is for and what frustrates you about it. We can go through the details together on the call.
What if my spreadsheet is a mess? That is very normal, and it is exactly the kind of thing I like to look at.
Will you try to sell me something? I’ll tell you what I would change and why. What you do with that is up to you.
Book your free spreadsheet review
If you would like a second opinion on a spreadsheet you rely on, you can book your free spreadsheet review here. If you have a question first, get in touch and I’ll be happy to help.
Traci