http://www.bookmarklee.co.uk/2010/02/04/10-key-actions-you-need-to-take-when-starting-an-accountancy-firm/ Helping accountants, those who work with accountants and those who use accountants Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:14:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 http://www.bookmarklee.co.uk/2010/02/04/10-key-actions-you-need-to-take-when-starting-an-accountancy-firm/comment-page-1/#comment-7487 Hugh W Dunlop Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:24:24 +0000 http://www.bookmarklee.co.uk/?p=1321#comment-7487 As I service almost entirely small businesses working under SA requirements I agree an approximate fee beforehand (how long is a piece of string?) judged on years of experience. (Something like HMR & C database whereby the can estimate an approximate annual return for any type of business by reference to its peers) Then clients sign an undertaking that they will be sent a copy of their tax return for approval along with my fee note which must be paid in full, and cheques given 14 days to clear, before the return is submitted to the Revenue. This is time to be tough. Cries of hardship, and other excuses must be ignored. If clients are due a refund, they are asked to sign an agreement that my fees may be deducted and the balance (if any) forwarded to them. Thanks to the Revenue's current filing penalty regime, I find clients more than usually anxious to pay their fees on time and avoid penalties. As I service almost entirely small businesses working under SA requirements I agree an approximate fee beforehand (how long is a piece of string?) judged on years of experience. (Something like HMR & C database whereby the can estimate an approximate annual return for any type of business by reference to its peers)
Then clients sign an undertaking that they will be sent a copy of their tax return for approval along with my fee note which must be paid in full, and cheques given 14 days to clear, before the return is submitted to the Revenue.
This is time to be tough. Cries of hardship, and other excuses must be ignored.
If clients are due a refund, they are asked to sign an agreement that my fees may be deducted and the balance (if any) forwarded to them.
Thanks to the Revenue’s current filing penalty regime, I find clients more than usually anxious to pay their fees on time and avoid penalties.

]]> http://www.bookmarklee.co.uk/2010/02/04/10-key-actions-you-need-to-take-when-starting-an-accountancy-firm/comment-page-1/#comment-6432 Affordable Accountant Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:24:59 +0000 http://www.bookmarklee.co.uk/?p=1321#comment-6432 I like your advice and in particular point ten is very important to consider. In my opinion accountants are sometimes reluctant to seek advice or a second opinion from another accountant, but we all need to remember that we do have our own areas of expertise but the help and guidance of another accountant with greater knowledge of a specific technical issue will only help you learn and in turn provide a better service to your clients. I like your advice and in particular point ten is very important to consider. In my opinion accountants are sometimes reluctant to seek advice or a second opinion from another accountant, but we all need to remember that we do have our own areas of expertise but the help and guidance of another accountant with greater knowledge of a specific technical issue will only help you learn and in turn provide a better service to your clients.

]]>