Moving into the blogging world can be a tough one for people who don’t understand the world of accountancy. I’m one of those and a few years ago when I had my own company I went through a transitional stage from novice to amateur. So when it’s time to start your own blog and take account of your accounts here’s a few tips to get you on up and running! Find an accountant whose expertise is relevant to your business If your accountant deals largely with handyman services and you’re an insurance broker or cloud software developer, spare him the time of having to research and understand your business and find an accountant that can pick it up straight away. An accountant unqualified in your area could make some initial costly mistakes and whilst you can always look into professional negligence claims if such a problem arises, you’re best off saving yourself the hassle by buying into the right accountant from the start – even if their service are a little dearer. Don’t let location be a barrier The bulk of accountancy work doesn’t have to be done face-to-face. Don’t let distance be a barrier. Of course an initial meeting in person could be beneficial just to know that you’re dealing with a real person, although even here a Skype call would suffice. Quite often, an accountant will be able to tell you whether they need to be in close contact – it will depend a lot on the nature of your business and the way in which the accountant likes to run their work. Choose a chartered accountant for that extra peace of mind Accountants that belong to a professional body will most likely have qualifications behind them that your average unchartered accountant might not. Such accountants also have to follow the rules and standards of their company and so may be more trustworthy than your average independent one-man accountancy firm. That isn’t to say that unchartered accountants should be avoided – when dealing relative simplicities such as taxes and general book-keeping these guys may be all you need and much cheaper. However, if you need help with unique loans and insurance policies and more complex stuff, an accountant higher up on the rung might be better choice to trust. Follow references and recommendations Like all businesses in the digital age, accountants rely on the power of a website and social media to advertise themselves. See what the quality of their website is like and if they have any references from previous clients. Check out their social media and see what other projects they’ve been involved in. LinkedIn is always a good place to go searching. Recommendations from other people can also be good indicators. If you don’t know anyone else who is self-employed that can recommend you an accountant, talk to a local business association. Every town and borough in the UK will have a local business group that meets regularly for lunch that you can confide in – some members of the group may even be accountants themselves.]]>
Leave a Reply