Joanna Pieloch » How to choose an accountant for your business?

If you have a toothache - you go to the dentist. If your car is broken - you have it repaired by a mechanic. You are not trying to solve the problem by yourself, you trust the specialists. What do you consider when choosing this particular clinic, this particular garage? How do you know that they will do it right? Of course, first you will ask for recommendations among family, friends, verify opinions in the Internet - and that is right, satisfied clients recommend further. What's important - when they turn out well, they stay with this people, get attached to them and use their services regardless of where and in what form they are currently employed.

You can use a similar procedure when choosing accounting for your own company.

First of all, you should define your expectations and confront them with the opinions of recommenders. If you run a large business, you may need a many specialists from various fields. In the case of micro, small and medium-sized companies, it is better to focus on an unconventional approach and individual solutions that will be provided by a dedicated accountant. Companies are not equal, what works for one customer, for another, in another industry, does not necessarily have to work. Just as good lawyers operate in specific specializations, so do professional accountants - they do not deal with every form of accounting, every industry, every settlement.

Then consider the preferred form and frequency of contact with the accountant. Will you not be disturbed by talking to various consultants, sending scans to the program, without knowing who is sitting on the other side and how is dealing with your documents or would you prefer to have contact minimum by phone with a specific person whose knowledge and education you can verify? Depending on your needs, in the era of the Internet and mobile phones, the contact does not have to be personal, but it is worth taking care of your dedicated accountant to save time for introducing each interlocutor to the subject of business and to prevent receiving anonymous advices. You should also take into account that by signing a contract with the office, and not with a specific person, you have no guarantee that the accountant who got to know your company, implemented its business and accounting specifics, will be with you for a long time. In accounting offices staff turnover is high, in half a year you can already be served by another person.

Price is also a criterion which people mainly follow when signing new contracts. It should be remembered that the price should not be suspiciously low or excessively high. Of course, you should familiarize yourself with the price list in terms of your needs - a low price may contain a small number of documents and several hours of consultation, which in the case of smaller activities may be sufficient, and a high price - a comprehensive package of services, most of which you will not use at all. The principle that the price should be adequate to the quality of services should be followed.

When choosing an accountant, remember that you give important matters of our business, settlements and contact with state administration to other hands. Before signing the contract with the owner or manager, who have marketing training behind them and whose purpose is to enthrall and acquire the customer, you should decide to talk to the person who will directly service you - this person should also suit you personally, after all, you will have the most frequent contact with them.

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