"You get what you pay for" is never truer than when choosing an accountant

Are you looking for the cheapest deal or are service, care and accuracy important to you?

We accept we are not the cheapest but it’s not all about price. There are other factors we recommend you consider when making this incredibly important decision, not least to make sure you are comparing like with like.

Your first problem is there is a difference between preparing a set of accounts and …. preparing a set of accounts. Yes, I really did say that twice.

Some accountants adopt an approach where they simply take their client’s numbers, input them into accounts or tax software and push the “go button” to generate reports.

They work on the basis that these reports have been prepared from their client’s records and consequently all risks lie with the client, i.e. YOU. Their fees will be the cheapest because they are spending the least amount of not only time, but also care, on your financial affairs.

Contrast with the approach we take at Wood and Disney where we carry out a number of checks and tests of your financial data, including detailed reviews of the following areas:

• Your balance sheet and profit and loss account – do the numbers actually make sense?

• Identifying and correcting any obvious errors or omissions to reduce the risk of an enquiry from HMRC.

• Contacting you about any complex issues that arise and discussing accordingly so we can take appropriate action fast.

• Reviewing your numbers to make sure we have legitimately maximised claims for tax relief in all relevant areas. 

• Identifying accruals and prepayments to ensure your profit is not over/understated.

• Revenue recognition and its impact on profit.

• Assessing the level of work-in-progress in your business and how this has been calculated.

• Considering your stock levels and the impact of writing-off any obsolete or slow-moving stock items.

• Should the book value any of your tangible fixed assets be written down. Do you indeed still own and use these assets in the business, or have they been scrapped as they’ve become obsolete?

• How much do your customers owe you and how old are these debts? Should we make a specific provision for doubtful debts if recovery is unlikely and claim the relevant tax relief in this accounting period. 

One of our key aims is to reduce wherever possible our clients’ tax or VAT liabilities in line with the tax legislation, as well as minimising exposure to potential tax enquiries. This work is often carried out in the background, with our clients completely unaware we are doing it for them. 

But how can you compare prices when you don't know which set of accounts you are paying for?

If you are looking for the cheapest deal, then you should stop reading and look elsewhere for your new accountant.

Wood and Disney have a great reputation and to maintain this we must always work to our high standards, do things properly and act with integrity.

We believe we offer an exceptional service which we have achieved by investing heavily in our staff, in their training and development, and by using the latest technology and being innovative in our approach.

This high-quality service provided by suitably qualified and experienced professionals  is reflected in our fees.

Trust is the most important element in the relationship between a business owner and their accountant and this starts with being absolutely transparent about fees.

You can find out more about Wood and Disney's transparent pricing policy by reading >> Do you know exactly what you are paying your accountant for?

Think of us as an investment

You may not see that the cost of an accountant is actually an investment, and right now may not be the right time in your business life to choose Wood and Disney.

So, if you choose not to go any further with us that’s absolutely fine, but just remember that the average age of a company at Companies House is just 8 years old and that only 28% of businesses survive more than 10 years.

Our most recent client data shows that the average age of our company clients is 12.68 years and that their net asset values (retained profits after dividends and an indicator of resilience and longevity) have grown on average by 241% in the last five years and 582% in the last 10 years.

This proves that we are living our vision which is: -

To defy the norm of business failure statistics and help 100% of our clients not only survive more than 10 years but to create a genuine asset to pass on to another generation.

Find out why paying a little more for your business advice could be the best investment in your business that you've ever made

>> Appointing an accountant should be an investment in your business.

What's you next decision going to be?

• Leave our website and find another accountant? If so, I wish you every success in the future and should your circumstances change, and you need to speak to us please contact us again another time.

 OR

•  Are you going to contact us for more information?

If you want to find out more about the Wood and Disney difference take a look at  our dedicated page "12 signs you need to change your accountant", where we talk in more detail about the minimum levels of service you should expect from a good accountant and how Wood and Disney don't just deliver each service point but will exceed your expectations!

If you're ready to talk through how Wood and Disney can help you Build a Better Business then why not give us a call on 01206 233170 or fill in the contact form below and we'll get back to you.