Startups, small businesses and SMEs are constantly facing challenges, either in strategy, marketing or operational aspects. These are topics that cannot be solved easily no matter how much money or grants can be claimed. Many IT companies and consultancy firms have sprung out of the blue to help SMEs claim grants and charge SMEs overvalued fees for IT products or consulting projects.

Here is an example of such a claim:

Recently an IT company tried to sell me their in-house CRM software, priced at $5,000 which is ICV claimable. Well I had some ICV vouchers so I thought why not? However after the salesperson showed me the software, I felt that it was simply lousy and I can find better and cheaper alternatives online using cloud CRM software, which only costs $5 per month.

- Mr Richard Lee, Owner of ZeSpring Pte Ltd

Accountant SG condemns such behaviour by these IT companies and grant consultancy, as these legal but unethical claiming of grants not only do not help the SME and small business at all, but also a wasteful drain on taxpayer's money. IT products and business consulting services should seek to improve the SME's business, rather than purely for the consultant's own pockets.

We aim to help SMEs through real, strategic and operational level value-added consulting.