How/why did you choose your accountant?

[MyAccountantOnline]

Their is plenty of advice in numerous sources telling people how they should choose an accountant but I'd really like to know -

How and why your chose your accountant

Thanks all:)

[RobertG]

To rephrase your question I can tell you how we are chosen by clients - referrals. We do not advertise as such, not even YP.

[Ashley_Price]

One word "Referral".

[MyAccountantOnline]

To rephrase your question I can tell you how we are chosen by clients - referrals. We do not advertise as such, not even YP.

Its certainly how I get probably 99% of my clients Robert too and like you I dont advertise now. The majority of my referrals are other clients and the local bank (who I dont bank with!)

I'm interested to see if trends are changing and what sources other clients are referred from.

[MyAccountantOnline]

One word "Referral".


Can I ask was that another professional eg bank manager/solicitor or someone else in business?

[Mattonella Tile Studio]

We initially chose which accountant to visit because they were local, and spotted their advertisement in the same publication we advertise in. But it was the initial meeting which clinched it.

He was open, approachable, friendly so I decided there and then we'd sign up.

[RobertG]

We get referrals from banks as well but 99% come from existing clients. One of our clients who is a household name actress came from such a referral and so it goes on. She has since passed us to other actresses who then gave us actors/producers and from there film companies. Over the last 18 months that has mushroomed where we are now fully involved in developing British,US and co produced films. No advert would have done that!

[Philip Hoyle]

Same here. Referrals from existing clients are now 100% of our new clients. We're so busy, existing client referrals are the only ones we take on. Right from our first client a decade ago, our client growth has been driven by referrals.

For fun, I keep a "family tree" of where clients come from showing who was referred by who. It is how I became a kind of specialist in IR35 and IT contractors - I'd never had that kind of client until one was referred to me by their neighbour (a joiner client!). I took her on and rapidly learned enough about IR35 and IT contractors to do the job right. Then she referred three other IT contractors who were literally sat in the same room in a Merchant bankers office in London. As the four of them left and moved onto other contracting roles, they referred their new "co-workers" to me, and soon I had a few dozen IT contractors, none of which had come through adverts etc. Even now, several years later, I still have a steady stream of new clients coming via that same "tree branch". I can honestly say that had I not taken on that local joinery client, I would have missed the chance to be the accountant for almost 100 IT contractors over the past 10 years!

Same when I took on an ethnic minority client - soon I had many of their friends, family, neighbours, etc, in a variety of trades and businesses.

Funny thing is that at the top of the many successful "tree" branches are some very small and simple clients - the kind you could easily think were not worth having - i.e. pensioner tax returns, window cleaners, etc., but they have been the most fruitful in the big scheme of things due to their referrals.

Generally the clients who I expected to perform better in terms of referrals, i.e. solicitors, financial advisers, estate agents, other professionals generally, havn't performed anywhere near as well in comparison. Strange one that!

[RobertG]

I absolutely agree Philip and of course referrals are the result of satisfied clients. Satisfied clients are the result of attention to detail, communication, skills and professionalism. Interesting the family tree thing. Like you I still have the clients that I started with 20 years ago (apart from those that have retired or unfortunately passed away).

As for the clients, an accountant said to me a few years ago not to waste time with taxi drivers. How rediculous, these can be some of the richest mines for referrals especially in London. Incidentally that same accountant has stood still for years.

[Astaroth]

Being new to the area etc wasnt really able to get a referral so went for the other route of visiting a number of them onsite and discussing my situation and a few basic points of consideration and went with the one that I felt firstly listened (a couple talked over me and so their "advice" didnt factor in my then employee and rental incomes etc) and secondly gave what felt like true advice - some gave the impression they simply suggested what would give them the biggest income where as a couple came up with a strawman of a plan, rough costs and tripping points etc

[Zeno]

While I will not deny referrals are the best form of growth, they are not without problems.

A problem I experienced from having so many clients in the same industry who are known to each other (In many cases working together) is that they compare things like fees and tax liabilities then complain when they have a higher tax bill or their friend gets a lower fee, regardless of their individual circumstances.

The example that sticks out in my head is two musicians who were in a band together. One had a full time job earning at higher rates, one was retired and the employed one would complain every year he was paying too much.

[MyAccountantOnline]

As for the clients, an accountant said to me a few years ago not to waste time with taxi drivers.

That was actually the start of my 'family tree' - taxi drivers are great because they chat to so many people! I had a super taxi driver as my first client and he was a lovely guy he promised he'd get me lots of clients as he liked me so much and I'd helped him set up his business, he was indeed true to his word - I think he must have talked to everyone that got in his cab as I had the most obsure, but good clients, from him.

I am surprised that being as so many people on here are clearly keen on using the net that they still chose an accountant from a referral.

[MyAccountantOnline]

While I will not deny referrals are the best form of growth, they are not without problems.

A problem I experienced from having so many clients in the same industry who are known to each other (In many cases working together) is that they compare things like fees and tax liabilities then complain when they have a higher tax bill or their friend gets a lower fee, regardless of their individual circumstances.




I have had the comparison of tax liabilities a few times!

[Ashley_Price]

Can I ask was that another professional eg bank manager/solicitor or someone else in business?

Nope, it was other businesses who used the same accountant.

Another "professional" might be (I'm not saying definitely) getting a payment for the referral. I only believe referrals where there is no gratuity involved.

[Trainer Bubble]

I spent ages asking around my local area and getting positive testimonials. I eventually chose a very reputable firm based on several recommendations.

Unfortunately, the day I went for my appointment I was running late and inadvertantly walked into the accountants next door to the one I was supposed to be visiting. They said they had no recollection of my appointment (not surprising really), but sent me to an office really quickly and in no time I was talking to my new accountant.

I have since been really happy with the service they provide and wouldn't change them. I'm glad I did all that research!

[MyAccountantOnline]

I was running late and inadvertantly walked into the accountants next door to the one I was supposed to be visiting. They said they had no recollection of my appointment (not surprising really), but sent me to an office really quickly and in no time I was talking to my new accountant.

I have since been really happy with the service they provide and wouldn't change them. I'm glad I did all that research!

Fantastic!:D

[David Griffiths]

I have had the comparison of tax liabilities a few times!

Who hasn't? :)

I've even had one client cite another as earning the same and paying less tax. Checked his file, and he was earning the same, and paying more or less the same tax! Of course I couldn't tell the other client that.

I've even had it from two clients who were in a gang of three subbies that worked together, shared work and costs, so basically earned the same. Problem was that one had a 31 March year end and the other had 30 June. Some years I got it in the neck from A, if earnings had gone up, or from B if earnings had gone down! (I didn't set things up like that, btw)

[Zeno]

I've even had it from two clients who were in a gang of three subbies that worked together, shared work and costs, so basically earned the same. Problem was that one had a 31 March year end and the other had 30 June. Some years I got it in the neck from A, if earnings had gone up, or from B if earnings had gone down! (I didn't set things up like that, btw)

And guess what would happen if ones circumstances required more work and a higher fee.

[David Griffiths]

And guess what would happen if ones circumstances required more work and a higher fee.

I'd charge them all one third of the difference! :p

(Now everybody else will be wondering if I'd really do that or if I'm jesting!)

[silvermusic]

Having all my business on-line I stuck in the Word accountant and my home town in Google. I figured if they were any good at this internet lark they be happy to take those trading purely online.

The one I found has been superb, and I've recommended him to others too, interesting point those that are accountants have made about referals. :-)

I did phone a couple of others locally, but they seemed to be stuck in the dark ages as far as trading online goes, not that it should really make any difference. Even had one who said we only deal with proper businesses????

[maxine]

I did some research locally, went to a few appointments, then ended up going with none of those but a lady who we did a bathroom refit for! The reason for that was because we hit it off a lot better than the firms I had met with as she took the approach of helping us to help ourselves and more emphaisis on advice and support rather than bookkeeping and compliance which we viewed as standard.

[KM-Tiger]

Referral.

I walked round the corner to a similar firm to ours and asked them who they used and was he/she any good.

I was told he was and it proved to be true!

[Gillie]

Fell over mine!! No, mine has been around before I went into business (ie I have known him for quite a while) ... churlish really not to use him!

[betterlanguages]

We weren't happy with our original accountant. (Great when we started up, out of their depth when we registered for VAT). We chose our new accountant by having a beauty parade of local companies. The successful choice won because they were reasonable on price (not the most expensive, neither the cheepest), didn't want us to use that software package beginning with "S" which accountants love but we really struggled with, they were knowledgeable in the areas where we needed help, (including being honest when they didn't know, and finding solutions).

Location was also a factor because they are nearby. One practice lost the business because they took ages to send a quote.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Mike

[AdamJ]

I went to a big national (Baker Tilly) on the basis that big was good. They were rubbish.

I then met with two local ones and chose one on the basis he was wearing a spotted dicky bow and had a small dog in his office with nail varnish on its claws. He turned out to be an idiot. Unsurprisigly.