| u are starting a business, or if you are already in | | | | flexibility as the amount of processing you carry out |
| business, it’s important to have the right team | | | | and how much your accountant carries out. Transfer |
| supporting you. Your choice of accountant is a very | | | | of data, backups and restoring data are no longer |
| important decision and your success can be greatly | | | | required and you have the security of offsite daily |
| enhanced depending on the advice, knowledge and | | | | backups. Online accountancy also means that you can |
| level of service you receive. When you are looking for | | | | access your accounting information 24 hours a day 7 |
| an accountant here are a few questions you should | | | | days a week if you want to. |
| consider asking to help you make the right choice. | | | | 5. Are their fees good value and fixed where |
| Questions for the accountant | | | | possible? Try and obtain fixed quoted fees where |
| 1. Do they provide a free initial consultation? If you can | | | | ever possible to avoid any unpleasant surprises at the |
| clarify the main issues of business formation, tax, VAT, | | | | end of the year. |
| accounting software and record keeping at this initial | | | | 6. Will they charge you extra fees every time you |
| consultation for no cost, it will greatly reduce your | | | | contact them with a query? Some accountants will |
| setup costs | | | | charge you for every phone call they answer and |
| 2. Do they provide business formation advice? How | | | | letter they write. Ask if your fees include everything |
| you setup and form your business (sole trader, | | | | and if they don’t establish what services are |
| partnership or limited company) can have serious | | | | extras and what they will be charged at. |
| implications and effect on obtaining funding for the | | | | 7. Do they speak Plain English? It might seem like a silly |
| business, past and future tax liabilities of the business, | | | | question but do they explain everything to you in simple |
| and the future structure of the business. | | | | terms and not try to blind you with jargon. These are |
| 3. Do they provide additional services such as payroll, | | | | the people who will be explaining your year end |
| book keeping, VAT accounting and stock control? | | | | accounts and tax liabilities to you. You need to be able |
| Check the various services offered, as some | | | | to understand what they are explaining. |
| accountants will prepare annual accounts and provide | | | | And finally — do you get on with the |
| taxation advice but do not necessarily provide the | | | | accountant. This is a person who is going to be part of |
| additional services such as monthly management | | | | your team and help you to succeed. It’s |
| accounts, book keeping, VAT accounting, payroll and | | | | important that you have a rapport with them and feel |
| stock control. | | | | that you can approach them with any queries you |
| 4. Can they provide online accounting services? With | | | | might have. |
| online accounting services, you can have complete | | | | |