{"id":936,"date":"2017-11-07T05:19:23","date_gmt":"2017-11-06T18:19:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sage-new-clone.local\/en-au\/blog\/?p=936"},"modified":"2026-02-05T20:15:59","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T09:15:59","slug":"choose-accountant-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/choose-accountant-business\/","title":{"rendered":"How to choose an accountant for your business"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--generic\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/category\/money-matters\/daily-money\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Daily money<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHow to choose an accountant for your business\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2017-11-07T05:19:23+11:00\">November 7, 2017<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"How to choose an accountant for your business\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/choose-accountant-business\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/author\/keirthomasbryant\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/05\/keir-blue-tie-rounded_med_hr-150x150-1.png\" class=\"entry-author__image\" height=\"40\" width=\"40\" fetchpriority=\"high\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Keir Thomas-Bryant<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Choosing an accountant is one of the most important business decisions you\u2019ll make. Finding a good accountant \u2013 or a trusted advisor \u2013 that really understands your business will be invaluable to its growth. While choosing the wrong accountant could end up costing you time and money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are five important things to consider when choosing an accountant:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-get-references-and-check-accreditation\"><strong>1. Get references and check accreditation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s wise to do a background and accreditation check, which you can usually do online. Ask the prospective accountant to provide client references. It\u2019s also useful to get a recommendation from someone in your industry to be sure the accountant has a real understanding of your business\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-create-a-shortlist-of-candidates\"><strong>2. Create a shortlist of candidates<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Have an introductory chat with a few accountants, get quotes and make a shortlist. Establish how they prefer to communicate with their clients and if this suits your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Traditionally, many accountants only met with clients once a year. Today, younger and more forward-thinking accountants are embracing the online world and using platforms like Skype and FaceTime to keep clients updated on a more regular basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-check-accountant-fees\"><strong>3. Check accountant fees<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Often companies are charged by their turnover level, but you should really only pay for completed hours. Check how the accountant works out their fees, as this can potentially save you thousands. Always ask for a quote based on workload rather than what your business is making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-stay-in-contact-with-your-accountant\"><strong>4. Stay in contact with your accountant<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><mark class=\"highlight-and-share\">Ensure your accountant will have the time to stay in regular contact. If not, they won\u2019t be able to provide you with the best advice. Companies often go into liquidation simply because they haven\u2019t kept their accountant in the loop.<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-could-you-be-getting-added-value\"><strong>5. Could you be getting added value?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Pick an accountant that understands customer loyalty and retention. Many go above and beyond for their clients. Some are happy to recommend accounts software based on your business needs. Others like to hold regular networking events and business workshops. Some will even give you regular reviews of your finances free of charge, and make recommendations to help you boost profitability.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Subscribe to the Sage Advice Newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Get a roundup of our best business advice in your inbox every month<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-20ec4af6-53dd-41ab-81ed-95d438e3bb90\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Subscribe<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1064\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/01\/GettyImages-626184462-1064x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/01\/GettyImages-626184462-1064x810.jpg 1064w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\t\t\t\tChoosing an accountant is one of the most important business decisions you\u2019ll make. We detail five things you need to consider to choose the right one.\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":280,"featured_media":557,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[78,73],"tags":[208,200,211],"business_type":[10],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[99],"imagine_tag":[39,38],"coauthors":[271],"class_list":["post-936","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-money","category-money-matters","tag-accounting-tips","tag-small-business","tag-start-up","business_type-small-business"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-au","author_name":"Keir Thomas-Bryant","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/01\/GettyImages-685899594-1.jpg","imagine_tags":{"39":"Small business","38":"Start up business"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice Australia","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/936","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/280"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=936"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/936\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/557"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=936"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=936"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=936"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=936"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=936"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=936"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=936"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=936"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=936"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}