You're the Only Beancount User at Your Firm—Hide It or Evangelize?

General
1

I’ve been using Beancount for my clients for 8 months. Rest of my firm uses QuickBooks. Nobody knows yet. I’ve been handling my clients’ Beancount setup silently, delivering reports, life is fine.

Now I’m thinking about telling them. Two paths: (1) Keep quiet forever, (2) evangelize, risk being labeled “the difficult person.” I know Beancount saves me time (custom reports, automation), but I have no hard numbers. Just feels faster and more true.

Have others done this? Hidden a different tool, then either came clean or got found out? What happened?

2

I tried evangelizing once. Got called “idealistic.” My firm wasn’t ready. Then I just did it quietly for 5 years. When I left, nobody cared because I delivered results. The tool doesn’t matter if the work is good.

3

Evangelizing means showing ROI. Do you have time tracking data (hours/client with Beancount vs QuickBooks)? Numbers convert skeptics. Stories don’t.

4

I was the only Beancount advocate at my firm. Chose option C: proved ROI silently, then showed numbers. Convinced 2 people. Firm didn’t change, but allies formed.

5

I know Beancount saves me time

But can you prove it to your firm? And more importantly, do you care if they believe? If you’re happy and clients are happy, silence might be the smarter play.