Accountancy

What do clients actually want from an accountant?

So, what do most people see of the work accountants do, they send their accountant a shoe box (of sorts), or if they're fortunate enough to have bookkeeping software, they share access, the accountant fills in the right paperwork, at the right time, and both parties see each other again the following year. Job done.

Do you think of having your accountant as part of your team to call for advise whenever you feel out of your depth and need someone to sense check something? We offer a comprehensive annual retainer which includes time spent helping clients with financial goal setting for their business to long-term tax planning, there is so much more that accountants can offer. However, many business owners have little idea of just what a great asset (excuse the pun!) a really good accountant can be for their business.

So, how can accountants go about demonstrating their value to clients?

At B2B Accountancy we believe clients take a lot more into account than affordability and efficiency. We have learnt that clients like accountants to be proactive, working in real time with their businesses and being responsive is a great way to build trust. If we simply stayed in touch with our clients once a year I could totally understand if they shopped around and found a better service somewhere else, as 'we haven't spoken for one year!' that's a long time with communication being so easy in todays world.

Of course, nothing is more important to our business success than a repeat customer – one who appreciates the value you bring to their business and who, in return, will drive quality referrals your way, so we believe communication is king!

Look beyond the basics and consider the following:

1. Peace of mind

Our clients – sole traders and small business owners owners – are always busy, meetings and more meetings and tasks and more tasks so they are constantly performing juggling act. It is exhausting and stressful and unless they are au fait with accounting practices, nothing is likely to cause them more stress than the financial side of their business.

We sit by the side of your business like an accounting function whether you need us to be hands on or less involved. Our communication with you is limited as we know what we need to do and we'll up date and when we are done, the whole process will runs smoothly. You can be confident that we have the job under control and you have the freedom and confidence to get on with running your business.

2. Clear projections

As business owners you are constantly looking for (and sometimes worrying about) the future, therefore why not focus not only on the last 12 months, but also the year ahead? As an accountant, no one is better placed to advise clients on long-term planning for your business, let's help? Those are sometime big business decisions, such as preparing a tax bill, taking on an additional employee, or planning to reinvest in their company do you need someone to run them by first?

3. Available and accessible help

Increasingly, business owners want to have more control over every aspect of their business, we offer complete transparency in the work we carry out and give you your own portal to save those hours of countless email searching and the peace of mind that your sensitive data is in a secure portal in the cloud. By running in real time you have your financial situation available 24/7.

4. Keeping up-to-date

We can help you keep up to date with financial developments in the world and changes in Government taxes and schemes and more so since the pandemic, Grants being issued by local government. We can translate the jargon into something understandable.

5. Preparing for Making Tax Digital

Like it or loathe it, fear or revere it, MTD is coming and it’s our job to help our clients with the transition.

We know there are at least a few rumours surrounding MTD; we can provide a simple explanation of what it will actually mean for your business and help you to understand MTD and give you the tools and the knowledge needed to face the coming changes with confidence.

Final thoughts

Digging a little deeper to find out what our clients want is always on our mind. Please email us if you feel you need some advice and support on the things that really matter to your business, and let us have the opportunity to demonstrate the value we bring as an informed and professional service provider.