Building Better Financial Understanding Since 2019
We started trunavexilo because too many small business owners were drowning in receipts and spreadsheets. Six years later, we're still teaching practical expense categorization skills that actually work in the real world.
How We Got Here
Back in 2019, I was helping a friend sort through three years of business expenses for their tax return. It took us two full weekends. The frustrating part? Most of the confusion came from not knowing which category to use for recurring purchases.
That's when it clicked. People don't need fancy software right away. They need to understand the logic behind expense categorization first. Once you grasp why fuel costs are treated differently from vehicle purchases, everything else falls into place.
We launched our first workshop series in Limerick with twelve participants. Today, we've worked with hundreds of individuals and small business teams across Ireland, teaching practical finance management without the jargon.
What Guides Our Work
These aren't corporate values pulled from a template. They're principles we actually use when designing courses and working with learners.
Practical First
Theory matters, but we start with the receipts in your wallet right now. You'll categorize real transactions from day one, not memorize abstract rules.
Honest About Complexity
Some expense decisions are genuinely tricky. We don't pretend otherwise. When something requires professional judgment, we say so and explain why.
Context Matters
Irish tax law has its quirks. We teach categorization approaches that align with Revenue requirements, not generic international standards.
Our Path Forward
Six years might not seem long, but we've learned a lot about what actually helps people manage their finances better.
The First Workshops
Started with evening sessions in a borrowed meeting room. We focused on sole traders who were managing their own books. Twelve people showed up to the first one, which felt like a win.
Expanding Content
Developed our structured program after realizing people needed more than one-off workshops. Created comprehensive materials covering everything from basic categorization to handling complex scenarios like mixed-use assets.
Team Growth
Brought on experienced finance professionals who actually enjoy teaching. Our approach stays practical because everyone on the team has spent years working with real business accounts.
Looking Ahead
Planning new program formats for autumn 2025. We're exploring ways to help people maintain good categorization habits long-term, not just learn the basics once.
Meet Someone From Our Team
We keep our team small and focused. Everyone who teaches has spent years working directly with business finances before joining trunavexilo.
Eoghan Driscoll
Lead Programme Coordinator
Eoghan spent twelve years doing bookkeeping for small businesses around Munster before joining us in 2022. He's seen every possible expense categorization mistake, which makes him excellent at explaining why certain approaches cause problems down the line.
He's particularly good at working with people who find finance intimidating. His background includes working with trades businesses, which means he's familiar with industries that have unique categorization challenges.
Outside of work, Eoghan volunteers with a local community development group, helping them set up proper financial tracking systems. He's also been trying to perfect his sourdough technique for about three years now.
How We Actually Teach This Stuff
Financial education often fails because it's either too theoretical or too software-focused. We try to find the middle ground where people develop genuine understanding.
Common Challenge
Mixed Personal and Business Expenses
People struggle when they use the same card or vehicle for both personal and business purposes. It's messy and confusing to separate later.
Our Approach
Systematic Tracking Methods
We teach simple documentation habits that make separation straightforward. You'll learn how to handle split expenses without creating extra work or needing complex calculations.
Common Challenge
Inconsistent Categorization
When you categorize similar expenses differently across months, your financial reports become unreliable. This makes it hard to spot trends or control costs.
Our Approach
Decision Framework Training
Instead of memorizing categories, you'll learn the logic behind categorization decisions. This helps you stay consistent even with unusual transactions you haven't seen before.
Real Scenarios From Recent Programmes
These examples come from actual questions participants brought to our workshops in 2024 and early 2025.
Project Case
The Subscription Confusion
A participant was paying for design software monthly but also bought one-time training courses. She wasn't sure if these should be categorized together or separately, and it affected how she tracked professional development costs.
What We Covered
Recurring vs. One-Time Costs
We worked through why subscriptions and training courses serve different purposes in financial tracking. She learned to separate them, which helped her see exactly how much she was investing in skills versus tools.
Project Case
The Home Office Question
Someone running a consulting business from home wanted to claim office expenses but wasn't sure what qualified. He'd been avoiding the whole topic because it seemed complicated.
What We Covered
Proportional Allocation Methods
We covered Revenue guidelines on home office expenses and walked through the calculation methods. He left with a clear system for determining what portion of utilities and other costs he could legitimately claim.
Ready to Get Your Expenses Sorted?
Our next programme starts in September 2025. Spaces are limited because we keep groups small for better interaction.
Get in Touch