CM club: how much does your accountant cost you?

[apotomak]

Just considering getting an accountant to do my accounts. I have a family member who said he'd do it (chartered accountant) but the fee he quoted seemed a bit steep. He thinks around 200 or 300 if I get some of it done myself not just dump him with a whole load of receipts and bank statements...
Just wanted to compare ...

ooo will bump this as i would like to get one also

I dont use an accountant, as i use the SCMA cash book which means as long as you do it properly you don't need one.

But i have seen adverts for accountants for cms in the magazine i get quarterly from the SCMA and they say they start from £80. Not sure what they go up to tho, as it says FROM on their adverts lol

HTH

I've thought about using an accountant but unless there is something complex about your circumstances I honestly can't see how it would benefit me.

That is a reasonable 'mates rate' from a chartered accountant in practice (ie with PII and access to technical backup) - its less than I would charge, assuming I didn't do it for nothing for family .

Note that anybody can call themselves an accountant and offer services to childminders without any requirement for qualification, regulation or supervision (unlike childminders themselves of course!)

Key questions that I would ask of a potential accountant include:

• how do your charges work - what do I get for the £XX you are quoting and how will you charge me for anything that isn't included?
• who will actually do the work; if they are not professionally qualifed how are they supervised?
• is your practice regulated by one of the CCAB bodies?
• what can I do if I am unsatisfied with your service (they shouldn't mind you asking this, a transparent complaints procedure is a requirement of a practicing certificate from all of the CCAB bodies)?
• can I see your Professional Indemnity Insurance certificate?