For most, the idea of purchasing a catering business near a small country town in NSW with a population of just over 750 people would seem daunting. For Ben and Jess Stanley, it’s a successful operation in its sixth year, and still going strong surviving severe drought and COVID.

Eat Your Greens is an award-winning catering and events business nestled amongst the splendor of Mandagery Creek just 2km from Eugowra NSW. Owners Ben and Jess Stanley purchased the business in 2015 and it’s now well established and renowned for showcasing fresh, seasonal produce at the heart of all its menus.

In the early days, while Eat Your Greens became a regional success, behind the scenes, Ben and Jess were struggling to find the right financial support as the business grew.

“We had a bad run with bookkeepers and accountants when we started,” Ben says. “I tried doing it myself but it’s not my forte so we started searching for a local firm who could help and who we clicked with. We interviewed quite a few firms around the Central West because didn’t want to switch again once we committed to someone.”

Ben and Jess were impressed by the team at MBC in Orange.

“We liked how MBC operated,” Ben said. “We went to them for their accounting and bookkeeping services, but now we also use them for business planning, superannuation and if we have any business ideas, we run them past our business advisor.

“They’re efficient and diligent,” Ben added. “Quite often they’re chasing me for information, not the other way around and they make it clear what they need from me. I know that it’s being done properly because they’re on the ball with time management and deadlines. When I was managing the books, I realized there are so many grey areas on things you can and can’t claim. By employing MBC, I saved a fair bit of money claiming things I previously didn’t know about.”

With offices in Orange and Molong, MBC recently announced they have opened an office in Forbes, less than half an hour away from Eat Your Greens.

“We meet with our team from MBC quarterly to look through the numbers and track the future of the business,” Ben said. “While we enjoy our trips to Orange, and also have the option to meet with our financial team at our office, it’ll be great to have access to the MBC office in Forbes for our quarterly catchups. It’s good to have that flexibility.”

A locally-owned firm with over 50 years of experience in the Central West, MBC has expanded to include a diverse number of financial services with a focus on small businesses and the agricultural industry. Current clients span the West and Central West including Orange, Cowra, Parkes, Forbes, Eugowra, Gunnedah, and Tamworth, which gives the team the perfect opportunity for a road trip.

The Forbes office, at 121 Lachlan Street, will be open five days a week from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm offering face-to-face meetings and access to services including training in cloud-based financial software Xero and farm forecasting tool Figured.