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Mike McDerment
This week we spoke with the founder of FreshBooks, an online business that helps small business owners collect money, streamline their business, as well as track time for billing. Mike started his business after feeling the pain that most 
small business owners experience with trying to collect money as well as track what money is owed. The system is super straight forward, and is very easy to use. It will allow the small business to collect their money through traditional means or through a credit card, whether you have a credit card processor or not. Simple is the key word.
Mike shared with us that it has been difficult to keep FreshBooks simple, and yet continue to add value added usability. Often times our customers keep asking us to do more and to offer more. Where do you draw the line?
Then we talked a little bit about the culture at FreshBooks, and what do they to to maintain it. From the hiring to the day to day operations, FreshBooks strives to hire those that would fit into the system with the same values. This has helped them build a team that can work together and strive to grow the organization in a consistant way.
In our final segment with Mike, we got to know him a little more on the personal level. He lives in Canada, he shared with us what was the first car he drove, and what was the latest book he read. Mike also shared with us that he mistakenly first named his business SecondSite, and then realized he needed a new name. Surfing in Costa Rica is his favorite place to vacation.
Mike also shared with us some of his marketing secrets and what they do to cultivate customers. Having a great product though is the key to marketing. Most small businesses overlook this, but it is very accurate. Mike and his management team then do a lot of great customer service activities to make sure all their customers are having a great experience.
If you’d like to learn more about Freshbooks, please visit their website at www.freshbooks.com . Thanks Mike for your time and your willingness to share your story.