Choosing and Using an Accountant

6. Fees

6.1 The hourly fees you are charged will usually be anything from twice the hourly pay of the accountant upwards.

• You will be charged different hourly prices for work done by different grades of staff - a junior, a senior, or a partner.
• There may be a premium charge for work done by the tax partner.

6.2 Your audit, PAYE, VAT and HM Revenue & Customs tax work can often be done for a fixed annual fee.

• This all-in fee basis is almost always the most economical option, especially if an agreed amount of 'free' advice is included as part of the deal.
• If your business's accounting systems are efficient, the accountancy firm will have less work to do, so the fees should be lower.

6.3 Generally speaking, accountancy fees are a good investment.