Marvin Spagnol, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and the founder of Equitas Advisory, brings a wealth of financial experience to his boutique accounting and advisory firm. Since its inception, Equitas Advisory has been dedicated to helping start-ups and small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) navigate the complexities of business finance. Marvin’s professional journey, which started in 2004 as a junior accounts administrator, exposed him early on to the challenges that small business owners face.

‘‘My professional journey began with a junior position in a small manufacturing company,’’ Marvin explains, ‘‘but as the sole accounts person, I was quickly thrown into the deep end.’’

This role, he says, allowed him to work closely with the business owner, providing a firsthand view of the financial struggles and day-to-day challenges that small businesses encounter. Over the years, Marvin advanced through roles in financial management, ultimately serving as CFO for a subsidiary of a global elevator company. Through these roles, he observed a common thread: many of the problems companies face are rooted in financial decisions, or missteps, taken during their start-up phase. This realisation fueled his commitment to creating a firm specifically designed to help young businesses avoid these common pitfalls.

At Equitas Advisory, Marvin aims to demystify the role of accountants for start-ups, which he feels are often misunderstood. “Many start-ups see accountants as just another expense,” he notes, “which leads them to forgo the professional advice they need early on.”

In his view, this perception can lead to costly mistakes. Instead, he emphasises that accountants can serve as strategic partners, helping businesses build a foundation that supports sustainable growth. Marvin attributes this gap in understanding to the profession’s historical focus on compliance rather than education. “While institutions have recently made efforts to inform young people about the value of accounting, more needs to be done within the profession itself to highlight our role as strategic advisors,” he says.

Equitas Advisory’s focus on accessibility and support for young businesses extends to its unique fee structure, which is carefully crafted to avoid stifling start-up growth. Many accounting firms, Marvin says, fall into the trap of maximising timesheets, which results in delayed responses and an overall reduction in client satisfaction. To avoid this pitfall, Equitas Advisory has invested in automation, streamlining administrative tasks and allowing the team to focus more on the personal touch each client requires. “Our fee structure is designed to reflect the unique phase, life cycle, and complexity of each client’s business,” he explains. “We don’t burden them with unnecessary overhead costs, which we offset through automation efficiencies.” This flexibility enables Equitas Advisory to serve as a long-term partner for growth, not simply a compliance service.

Financial planning is often overlooked by start-ups, Marvin notes, which can lead to two types of challenges: industry-related and self-inflicted. Without the expertise of financial advisors, new businesses frequently launch without adequate feasibility studies or strategic planning, often resulting in unsustainable financial burdens. “Even the most brilliant business ideas can fail if entrepreneurs don’t have a solid understanding of the challenges they’ll face. We can help to address these issues by working closely with clients to anticipate potential obstacles, making it easier and less costly to resolve issues down the road,” he says.

Education is another cornerstone of Equitas Advisory’s approach, as Marvin recognises that start-up founders often lack experience in managing the complex financial aspects of running a business. At Equitas Advisory, clients are encouraged to learn the financial knowledge they need to make strategic decisions, from understanding opportunity cost to seeing the importance of disciplined financial reporting. “We ensure that our clients understand their business deeply. Our mission is to grow alongside them, providing guidance that’s not just about survival, but about strategic growth.”

As a boutique firm, Equitas Advisory is uniquely positioned to serve start-ups and SMEs, which form the core of its client base. “In many ways, we’re also a start-up, facing the same challenges as any new business,” Marvin reflects. This shared experience allows the firm to empathise with its clients in ways that larger firms may not.

In fact, Marvin’s decades of experience across industries have enabled him to build a team that provides big-firm expertise within a small, flexible, and client-centric environment. The result is a firm that understands and relates to the struggles of young businesses, offering customised solutions that meet each client’s specific needs.

Equitas Advisory’s services encompass the full spectrum of accounting and advisory needs. The firm’s accounting services offer thorough financial management, reporting, and analysis to support informed decision-making and strategic growth. Its bookkeeping solutions are tailored to Malta’s business landscape, ensuring reliable data for proactive decision-making. Equitas Advisory also provides guidance on company transfers, liquidations, and dissolutions, ensuring clients navigate these processes with ease and confidentiality. The firm’s support in securing government grants is also particularly valuable for start-ups, assisting them from application to project execution while ensuring compliance with EU regulations. VAT compliance is another critical area, with Equitas Advisory offering expertise to navigate Malta’s complex VAT landscape with confidence and their Tax advisory services help clients optimise their tax position while remaining compliant.

Looking to the future, Marvin sees three key areas of change on the horizon: access to finance, compliance, and technology. Start-ups, in particular, face challenges securing funding, with banks adopting increasingly conservative risk profiles. ‘‘I anticipate that this trend will continue, making it essential for firms like ours to help clients develop solid financial planning and alternative financing strategies. Access to finance is becoming more difficult, especially for start-ups. Banks’ risk appetites have shifted, and this will likely continue, making our support even more critical.”

Compliance, an ever-evolving area in the accounting profession, also poses challenges that Equitas Advisory is prepared to tackle. ‘‘Statutory obligations are always changing,” he explains, “and it’s vital for us to stay prepared so we can continue serving our clients effectively.” The rise of technology, especially artificial intelligence, has further implications for business, transforming how firms operate and interact with clients. Equitas Advisory has embraced these changes, incorporating technology to optimise internal systems and improve client service.

For Marvin Spagnol and Equitas Advisory, the future is about building on this foundation, helping businesses navigate an increasingly complex landscape while remaining agile and prepared. “As a firm that’s also growing, we’re constantly looking for ways to refine our approach and ensure that we’re not only meeting current client needs but also preparing for the challenges of tomorrow,” Marvin concludes.