The choice of whether or not to hire an accountant depends on your unique situation, but it's important to carefully weigh the pros and cons before deciding.
You may not need an accountant if...
If your starting a business, you may not need an accountant if you're just starting out and have no employees or inventory. In fact, the majority of small businesses don't hire accountants until they've been in business for at least six months. If you're just starting out, there are plenty of tools available that can help you manage your books invoices and cash flow until you get to the point where having an accountant makes sense.
But you should consider hiring an accountant if...
As your business grows and becomes more complex, it's important to have someone on your team who can help you manage finances and ensure taxes are paid on time.
- Do you have more than one person working for you?
- Are you are looking to expand your business?
- Are you planning on taking on loans or applying for grants to help your business grow?
- Do you want someone to make sure all of your taxes are done correctly each year?
- Do have questions about how to set up your books or what types of records you need to keep for your business?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, it's time to contact an accountant. Here are some of the most common reasons small business owners hire their own accountant:
- Accounting is not your job
- Tax season is a pain
- You want better records
- You want to know if you're making a profit
- Confusion about payroll
- The bank won't lend to you until you have an accountant
- You need bookkeeping advice
Of course, It depends on your situation but in most cases, hiring an accountant for a small business is beneficial. Starting a business with an accountant by your side is the best way to avoid common mistakes, save time, and maximize your profits. Accountants provide a range of services for small businesses, including:
- Tax filing and management.
- Bookkeeping and financial management.
- Business plan development.
- Financial advice and planning.
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Get a demoWhere to find a small business accountant near me?
A good accountant will work with you to develop a plan for growing your business, track its progress and provide guidance to help you make smart decisions along the way. The first step in finding a small business accountant in the UK is to determine your needs.
- How much time do you have?
- How much money is tied up in your business?
- How complicated is your business?
- How complex are your accounting needs?
You can find local small business accountants in London through specialized websites such as https://www.findanaccountant.co.uk/ or the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) official directory.
You can also ask your attorney or banker for referrals, or search online for "small business accountant near me." Try and avoid searches like "cheap accountant for small business". Just because you're running a small business does not mean that you have to settle for the entry-level service. If you are comfortable with the use of digital, you should consider searching for online accountants for small business.
Once you've found an accountant, make sure they're qualified by checking their credentials and asking questions about their experience working with businesses like yours.
How much is a small business accountant?
In the UK, an accountant doing the basic accounting services will charge between £25 and £35 per hour. More specialist services like tax planning and business planning advice may be much more expensive, in the region of £125 to £150 per hour.
