Fiaz Ashraf is an inspirational entrepreneur, business leader, investor, philanthropist and podcast host.
As Founder and CEO of the AFA Group – parent company of several high growth businesses including AFA Insolvency and Clear Start Accountancy, Fiaz has built a multi-million pound international operation with offices in the UK, India and Canada.
Fiaz is entrepreneurial to the core. He first cut his teeth, helping his father on the Liverpool markets during school holidays and on weekends, and fast forward a few years, set up his own business selling phone packages.
It was when recession hit, and Fiaz’s previously thriving telecoms business went under, that he learnt the hard way how easy it is to get into debt and for it all to spiral.
This led Fiaz to take a job in a debt management business, with a master plan to soak up as much knowledge as possible before eventually setting up his own business in helping people manage their money.
When this company was sold, Fiaz exited with only £25,000, and using this as his only funding source, set it aside for staff wages to support the launch of his long-held dream business, AFA Group, offering via its various divisions, a suite of services to support individuals and companies with financial management – from monthly budgeting services and debt management to general accountancy support.
His operation has supported thousands of clients to date with significant cost savings, thanks to Clear Start Accountancy’s pioneering, tech-enabled, personal budgeting service for both business and private individuals, reducing their living costs, with the assistance of the company’s bespoke software ‘Client Master’.
Client Master, specially developed by Fiaz and his team, is a highly innovative programme, available to customers via an app, and which monitors spending patterns and assists clients in managing their outgoings, with push notifications for savings on monthly expenditure on utilities, insurance policies, petrol, groceries, as well as other everyday products and services.
Fiaz is passionate about giving back to the community, and supports a range of charities and not-for-profit organisations, contributing vital funds as they endeavour to provide essential aid to their beneficiaries. In the 12 month period to 31st July 2023, Fiaz and his group of businesses shared much-needed funds with twelve organisations including CEO Sleepout, War Child, UNICEF, Orphans in Need, Makki Masjid, Zakat Foundation, AL-Khair Foundation, Smile Aid, Human Appeal, AL-Firdous Organisation, Penny Appeal and the Amir Khan Foundation.
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