My Journey: Building Software for Small Businesses and Charities

After years in corporate software development, I found my calling: helping small businesses and charities transform their operations through custom software. Here's my story, and a showcase of recent work.

The Corporate Years

I spent the early part of my career working in corporate environments, building enterprise software. The projects were interesting, the technology was cutting-edge, but something felt missing. We'd spend months building features that barely moved the needle, and the organisations we served could afford to waste that time and money.

Meanwhile, I'd see small businesses and charities struggling with spreadsheets, manual processes, and software that didn't fit their needs. They couldn't afford traditional development agencies charging £50,000+ and taking 6+ months to deliver. There was a huge gap in the market.

The Shift to Small Organisations

I started taking on projects with small businesses and charities on the side. These organisations had real problems that software could solve, but they needed someone who understood their constraints: limited budgets, urgent needs, and often volunteers or small teams managing complex operations.

What I discovered was that by focusing on their actual needs (rather than building every possible feature), using modern tools, and being pragmatic about technology choices, I could deliver meaningful solutions in weeks, not months. The impact was immediate and tangible.

Case Study: DKC Volunteer Portal

One of my proudest projects is the DKC (Distinguished Key Club) Volunteer Portal. DKC is a youth charity organisation that needed to manage hundreds of volunteers, track hours, organise events, and communicate with participants - all while being run primarily by volunteers themselves.

The Challenge

Before the portal, DKC was managing everything through:

Multiple spreadsheets scattered across Google Drive
Email threads that went on forever
Manual tracking of volunteer hours
Paper sign-up sheets at events
No central place for volunteers to see what's happening

The volunteer coordinators were spending more time on admin than actually coordinating volunteers.

The Solution

We built a custom web portal that includes:

Volunteer Dashboard: Each volunteer can see upcoming events, their hours, and achievements
Event Management: Coordinators can create events, manage sign-ups, and track attendance
Hour Tracking: Automated logging of volunteer hours with verification workflows
Communication Hub: Announcements, event notifications, and messaging
Reporting: Real-time reports for board meetings and grant applications
Mobile-Friendly: Works on phones for on-site event check-ins

The Technology

Built with Next.js, TypeScript, and integrated with Google Sheets (their existing data) for a smooth transition. Hosted on Vercel with automatic deployments. Total build time: 6 weeks from kickoff to launch.

The Impact

The results were immediate:

Admin time reduced by 70%
Volunteer engagement increased - they can now see their impact
Event sign-ups tripled because volunteers could easily see what's available
Grant applications became much easier with automated reporting
The organisation scaled from 50 to 200+ volunteers without adding admin staff

"This system transformed how we operate. What used to take our coordinators 10+ hours a week now takes maybe an hour. And our volunteers actually use it - which never happened with our previous attempts at organisation tools."

- DKC Programme Director

The AI Revolution Changed Everything

When AI development tools like Claude and GPT-4 became available, it fundamentally changed what was possible. Projects that used to take 3 months could now be delivered in 3-4 weeks. The cost savings meant I could serve even smaller organisations and charities.

But here's the thing: AI is a tool, not a replacement for understanding the client's needs. The DKC portal worked because I spent time understanding their workflow, their volunteers, and their pain points. AI just made it possible to deliver the solution faster and more affordably.

Why Small Businesses and Charities?

People often ask why I focus on smaller organisations. The answer is simple: the impact is immediate and visible. When you help a 10-person business stop wasting 5 hours a week on spreadsheet hell, you're giving them back 260 hours a year. For a charity, that's 260 more hours spent on their mission.

Plus, these organisations are often overlooked by traditional development agencies because the projects aren't big enough to be profitable using old-school methods. AI-accelerated development changed that equation.

What I Learned

After years of working with small businesses and charities, here's what I've learned:

Start simple: Launch with core features and add more based on real usage
Meet them where they are: Integrate with tools they already use (like Google Sheets for DKC)
Mobile matters: Many small business teams are on-site or on-the-go
Training is crucial: The best software is worthless if people don't know how to use it
Be transparent: Tell them how you work, including that you use AI to accelerate development

Looking Forward

I founded Beyond Spreadsheets to focus full-time on this work. The combination of AI-accelerated development and deep experience with small organisations means I can deliver exceptional value at prices that make sense for businesses and charities.

If you're running a small business or charity and feel stuck with spreadsheets, manual processes, or software that doesn't fit - let's talk. I'd love to help you build something that actually works for your needs.

Want to See More?

The DKC Volunteer Portal is just one example. I've helped construction companies escape spreadsheet chaos, built booking systems for small service businesses, and created custom dashboards for charities tracking their impact.

Let's Discuss Your Project