# hartley  > hartley is an AI advisory assistant for small business owners, delivered through their accounting firm. Unlike generic AI tools like ChatGPT, hartley connects to the client’s real financial data and delivers grounded, honest insight using proven advisory frameworks.  ## About  hartley (askhartley.ai) is built by Clarity HQ, the NextGen advisory system for accounting firms operating in 30+ countries. hartley is the client-facing extension of Clarity’s AI advisory platform.  ## What hartley Does  - Answers business questions using connected financial data from Xero, QuickBooks Online, and Sage - Provides insight grounded in the 7 Key Numbers, 5 Levers of Success, and CLEAR Advisory Map - Escalates complex or sensitive questions to a named person in the accounting firm - Gives accountants visibility into what clients are asking and thinking about - Creates natural upsell and cross-sell opportunities for the firm - Can be white-labelled with the firm’s own branding and name  ## Key Differentiators  - Connected to real data, not generic AI - Built with guardrails to prevent sycophantic or misleading responses - Framework-aligned (same methodology the accountant uses in advisory meetings) - Accountant visibility dashboard - Named-person escalation  ## Who It’s For  hartley is for accounting firms who want to give their small business clients access to AI-powered advisory insight between meetings. Available to any firm, with deeper integration for Clarity HQ members.  ## Links  - Website: https://askhartley.ai - Clarity HQ: https://clarity-hq.com - Book a Demo: https://clarity-hq.com/book-a-demo