Blackrock-based Property Button was founded in April 2012 by Jim Urell and Paddy O’ Farrell. Described as a Hailo-model for the property sector, the initial service enabled property professionals to transfer utility services on behalf of their customers. Within a year, Property Button had over 200 customers. They were also seeing huge demand from the other 1000 estate agents and had plans underway to expand the product range and expand into the UK.

Two years ago the business was the two founders in a tiny attic on Carysfort Avenue in Blackrock. During the interim period we have grown to 800+ customers and managing commercial transactions from 3500+ properties per month, implemented a world-class  technology platform, rebranded successfully, recruited 18 staff, expanded our product range and we are about to launch in the UK. DLR-LEO supported the business with repayable employee grants that enabled us to employ quality professionals at crucial stages hence we could scale up

• Implement a consistent sales management process & IT system
• Agree the stages of a sale (lead – opportunity – agreement – signed….)
• Measure progress and activity and not the outcome

Protect your cash. Break your desired results down into tasks, list the task in your diary, focus all your effort on the tasks, the results will come. Protect your cash.

We built everything ourselves and paid ourselves little or nothing for 18 months. We both agreed 18 months of penury with our wives and bank managers before we started.

Implement a CRM to manage your marketing and sales processes and as soon as you have a critical mass of customers (and hence revenue) implement a financial management system to manage your invoicing, revenue assurance and then costs so you can continue to concentrate on expanding your business.

• Protect your cash
• Concentrate on a small number of things.
• Turn off email and your mobile for a few hours each day