What Tick9 does

Tick9 is a Hull-based systems integrator and implementation consultancy that helps UK mid-market businesses (£5m–£250m revenue) build finance-led operating systems. Founded in 2016 by Stephen Fewster, the firm operates as an iplicit Authorised Partner and Authorised Integration Partner, and implements a portfolio of cloud-native platforms — iplicit (cloud accounting/finance backbone), Cin7 (inventory and operational control), Cyferd (custom business applications), and Qlik (analytics) — alongside bespoke Cyferd-built applications that close functional gaps in standard ERP and accounting systems.

The underlying technology approach is "finance-led": iplicit serves as the financial backbone, Cin7 connects operations, Cyferd enables purpose-built applications on a shared low-code database, and Qlik delivers analytics. Custom applications include the Cyferd Accounts Payable product, which applies OCR and AI-powered invoice mapping with Microsoft 365 integration, plus client-specific build-outs such as TesTex NDT's unified back-office and field technician apps and Harvest Pet Products' PO, sales order, onboarding, and CRM ecosystem.

Tick9's business model is professional services-led, with revenue from iplicit implementations at £18k–£28k per project, custom Cyferd application builds, multi-year software licence pass-through (annual or 3-year fixed terms), and annual support contracts reviewed yearly. Distribution is direct and consultative — a 2-minute online Health Check, HubSpot-driven enquiry management, and 15-minute consultation calls feed into scoped, quoted engagements delivered by a small senior team. The firm's stated differentiation is exclusive focus on the UK mid-market, finance-led architecture, and senior-only consulting against a Big 4 alternative.

Name

Tick9

Legal name

Tick9 Limited

Website

https://tick9.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tick9 is a Hull-based UK consultancy that implements iplicit, Cin7, Cyferd, and Qlik for mid-market businesses (£5m–£250m revenue), building finance-led operating systems with custom applications on Cyferd.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kirk Ella

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Implementation and Professional Services: Tick9 earns fees for implementing ERP/accounting platforms (iplicit, Cin7, Cyferd) and custom application development. iplicit implementations typically run £18k–£28k. Multi-system projects are phased. Tick9 also provides annual support contracts (reviewed annually) and chargeable change requests for work beyond the standard support scope.
2. Annual Support Contracts: Tick9 Annual Support is reviewed annually. Tick9 Support covers configuration changes within existing scope (up to 30 minutes per task), vendor ticket management, minor report adjustments, and user administration. Changes beyond existing scope are chargeable separately. Support hours are Mon–Fri, 09:00–17:00 UK time.
3. Software Licences (Third-Party): Tick9 facilitates the purchase of third-party software licences (iplicit, Cin7, Cyferd, Qlik) on behalf of clients. Licences are available on annual or 3-year terms. Annual licences are subject to software provider price increases (typically up to 10%); 3-year licence costs are fixed for the full term.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Tick9 is a UK-based systems integrator and implementation consultancy that helps mid-market businesses (£5m–£250m revenue) deploy and configure cloud ERP and accounting platforms — iplicit (cloud accounting), Cin7 (inventory), Cyferd (low-code custom applications), and Qlik (analytics). Tick9 also builds purpose-built custom applications on the Cyferd low-code platform to close functional gaps in standard systems and provides ongoing annual support contracts.

Product overview

Tick9 is a UK-based consultancy specialising in finance-led operating systems for mid-market businesses (£5m–£250m revenue). Rather than a single unified product, Tick9's offering is a platform-plus-services model: Tick9 implements and configures a portfolio of partner platforms — iplicit (cloud accounting/finance backbone), Cin7 (inventory/operations), Cyferd (custom business applications), and Qlik (analytics) — and builds custom applications on Cyferd to fill gaps in standard platforms. The core architecture is finance-led: iplicit serves as the financial backbone, with Cin7 connecting operations, Cyferd enabling bespoke applications, and Qlik providing analytics. Tick9 also offers custom application development (seen in case studies like Cyferd Accounts Payable for AP automation, Harvest Pet Products' app ecosystem, and TesTex's unified operations platform), implementation services, and ongoing support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tick9 Implementation Services End-to-end implementation, configuration, and integration services for partner platforms (iplicit, Cin7, Cyferd, Qlik). Projects are scoped and quoted, with iplicit implementations typically priced at £18,000–£28,000 and a typical 15-week timeline including 23-day average go-live from kick-off.
• iplicit Cloud Accounting Implementation Certified iplicit Authorised Partner and Authorised Integration Partner delivery for UK mid-market businesses. Implements iplicit as the finance backbone, offering real-time multi-entity consolidation, project accounting, unlimited reporting dimensions, native AP automation, and fixed asset management.
• Cin7 Inventory & Operations Implementation Implementation and integration of Cin7 inventory management software, connecting orders, fulfilment, multi-channel and multi-warehouse stock visibility to the iplicit finance backbone for distributors and manufacturers.
• Cyferd Custom Application Development Builds purpose-built applications on the Cyferd low-code platform that integrate directly with clients' existing finance systems (Sage X3, iplicit, QuickBooks, Sage 50, Exchequer) via API. Applications include purchase order apps, sales order apps, customer onboarding apps, CRM modules, and unified back-office/field operations platforms sharing a single database.
• Cyferd Accounts Payable Solution Smarter invoice management application built on Cyferd featuring OCR technology with AI-powered invoice data extraction, configurable approval workflows, and Microsoft 365 mailbox integration that automatically captures incoming invoices. Integrates with Sage X3, Exchequer, Sage 50, and QuickBooks so validated invoice data flows directly into the finance system without manual re-keying.
• Qlik Analytics Implementation Implementation and configuration of Qlik analytics and business intelligence platform, delivering reporting and data analysis capabilities alongside the core finance and operations platforms.
• Tick9 Annual Support Contract Recurring annual support subscription covering configuration changes within existing scope (up to 30 minutes per task), vendor ticket management, minor report adjustments, and user administration. Support hours are Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00 UK time. Changes beyond scope are quoted separately.

Quantifiable outcome

• 23 days average go-live from project kick-off for iplicit implementations
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• iplicitcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTick9 is an iplicit Authorised Partner and iplicit Authorised Integration Partner. The partnership enables Tick9 to implement and deliver iplicit cloud accounting to UK mid-market SMEs. iplicit secured a £25m investment from One Peak in January 2025 to drive product innovation and expand its partner network. Tick9 positions iplicit as the 'finance backbone' in its three-pillar approach (finance backbone, operational control, gap closure).
• Cin7coreTechnology or IntegrationCin7 is positioned as the 'operational control' pillar in Tick9's finance-led operating system model. Cin7 provides inventory management capabilities that connect to the finance backbone (iplicit).
• CyferdcoreTechnology or IntegrationCyferd is Tick9's platform for building purpose-built applications — the 'gap closure' pillar. Tick9 builds custom applications on Cyferd that integrate with finance systems (Sage X3, iplicit, QuickBooks, Sage 50, Exchequer) to address workflows that standard platforms cannot handle.
• QliksupportingTechnology or IntegrationQlik is Tick9's analytics and business intelligence tool, included in its platform portfolio. Referenced alongside iplicit, Cin7, and Cyferd as one of the four core technology tools.
• Microsoft 365supportingTechnology or IntegrationTick9's Cyferd Accounts Payable solution integrates with Microsoft 365 — monitoring designated mailboxes to automatically capture incoming invoices, receipts, and supporting documents. This is a key integration enabling automatic invoice capture without manual forwarding.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sapphire Systems: UK Sage Platinum Partner and ERP implementation consultancy focused on mid-market businesses. Directly comparable target segment (UK mid-market) and Sage/cloud ERP delivery model, competing for the same pool of £5m–£250m revenue prospects.
• K3 Business Technologies: UK ERP and retail technology provider delivering Microsoft Dynamics, Sage, and other platform implementations to mid-market firms. Comparable partner-led delivery model and customer segment, with broader retail-vertical exposure.
• Version 1: UK and Ireland-based technology consultancy delivering ERP, cloud platforms, and data services to mid-market and enterprise customers. Comparable as a senior-led, partner-ecosystem-based systems integrator targeting UK/Irish mid-market businesses.

Others

• Softcat: UK IT infrastructure reseller and managed services provider. Not a direct competitor for ERP implementation, but a comparable UK mid-market technology buyer ecosystem that overlaps with Tick9's target CFOs and IT decision-makers.
• Bytes Technology: UK software licensing and IT services reseller serving mid-market and enterprise customers. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct ERP implementation competitor, but operates in the same UK mid-market technology buyer ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Sage Group: Global accounting and ERP software company whose UK products (Sage 50, Sage 200, Sage Intacct) form the incumbent landscape Tick9 helps businesses migrate away from. Comparable customer base and category, but vastly larger scale and proprietary product economics.
• OneAdvanced: Major UK provider of business software (ERP, HR/payroll, practice management) with an in-house implementation services arm. Broader portfolio and scale than Tick9, but overlaps in mid-market cloud ERP delivery and customer profile.
• The Access Group: Large UK vertical SaaS and ERP software group serving mid-market organisations across multiple sectors. Comparable target customer profile, but Access sells proprietary platforms rather than implementing third-party software like iplicit/Cin7/Cyferd.
• KPMG UK: Big 4 professional services firm with a significant ERP/finance-transformation practice. Tick9 explicitly positions against KPMG and other Big 4 firms in mid-market ERP implementation; broader portfolio but overlapping capability and customer set.
• IRIS Software Group: UK software group offering accounting, HR, payroll, and ERP solutions with implementation services. Comparable UK mid-market focus, but materially larger scale and a much broader product portfolio than Tick9.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tick9ltd
• Facebookfacebook.com/tick9ltd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tick-9-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tick9