How Much Do Accountants Charge?
How much you can expect to pay for accounting services largely depends on what sort of help you need, and their particular pricing structure. You may be charged based on your turnover, as well as what type of legal structure your business is.
It varies, so when you’re shopping around for a new accountant, look out for what is included in the price. For instance, some accountants add extra value to the cost of their services by including access to bookkeeping software.
Consider the level of support that you’re likely to need, too. Some accountants will charge you extra for the time they spend answering any questions on top of their service fees. Others simply charge a fixed flat rate, which includes additional support costs.
Like most important purchases, it’s useful to do your research before committing to anything. Check out our page to compare the cost of online accountancy packages.
Why do online accountants charge less than local ones?
Accountancy fees can also depend on where your accountant is based. High-street accountants do tend to be a bit more expensive. They have to pay city-centre rates, after all, and that’s not cheap.
Online accountancy does widen your options, enabling you to hire an accountant at the other end of the country. This means you’ll be able to shop around for the services that you need and at the best price, but does make it more difficult if you prefer regular face-to-face meetings.
For most people this isn’t really a problem. Even local accountants tend to rely more on email and phone these days, rather than in-person appointments.
Will an accountant charge me for a tax return?
To be blunt, most likely yes. But what you get charged by an accountant for a tax return is likely to be worth it for what they can save you. Tax allowances, tax relief, and passing on the sheer headache of submitting a tax return are all in favour of getting a professional to do it for you.
It’s also worth keeping in mind what we said earlier. Some accountants will provide other services as part of what they charge you for a tax return. This can turn out to be quite valuable, especially if it saves you time in other areas of your business.