Accounting flat rates

**Craig@Clarity** · 14 November 2013, 09:52

Hi John,

I won't comment on prices here as NLUK will chip in with the usual search thread

My only input here is that the sole trader option may be taken out of the equation for you assuming you're a freelancer and you're contracting via an agency.

**kaiser78** · 14 November 2013, 09:54

Originally posted by John77 View Post

Ok so I'm new to all this, I've got a quote from a local accountant (which I may or may not use after reading on my other thread about online options!). Does the below sound like a reasonable figure? I know it's hard to say just want to make sure I'm not being ripped off (much)

Sole trader £400 ish per yr
ltd company £1000 per yr
Ltd company with IR35 £1200 per yr

I've not got anything to compare this against just yet, I appreciate thre isn't just the money to consider, the company who quoted the above have experience of dealing with the likes of me and did appear to know their stuff when I had a long chat wi them yesterday. Thanks in advance!

These fees appear to be average cost from what you read on here.

**Martin at NixonWilliams** · 14 November 2013, 10:15

Originally posted by John77 View Post

Ok so I'm new to all this, I've got a quote from a local accountant (which I may or may not use after reading on my other thread about online options!). Does the below sound like a reasonable figure? I know it's hard to say just want to make sure I'm not being ripped off (much)

Sole trader £400 ish per yr
ltd company £1000 per yr
Ltd company with IR35 £1200 per yr

I've not got anything to compare this against just yet, I appreciate thre isn't just the money to consider, the company who quoted the above have experience of dealing with the likes of me and did appear to know their stuff when I had a long chat wi them yesterday. Thanks in advance!

All sound reasonable, though you should consider their knowledge of the contractor market aswell as the price. We once had a client join us from a high street accountant who hadn't heard of IR35 before!

**DirtyDog** · 14 November 2013, 10:48

Why would it cost more if you were inside IR35?

**John77** · 14 November 2013, 11:10

Thanks all for the responses. I wan to go down the ltd option as I know some roles require it.

As for ir35 the a accountant suggested there is a greater overhead in dealing with HMRC if I end up falling within it but obviously going to try and avoid that!

The accountancy sounded experienced to me and told me they have a fair few clients in my situation they are also happy to work entirely online so submitting paperwork whilst away from home should be straightforward enough. Call me old fashioned tho I can see situations where it would be nice to go and speak to someone face to face rather than using a purely online service.

Thanks for all your help!

**northernladuk** · 14 November 2013, 11:37

Originally posted by John77 View Post

Thanks all for the responses. I wan to go down the ltd option as I know some roles require it.

As for ir35 the a accountant suggested there is a greater overhead in dealing with HMRC if I end up falling within it but obviously going to try and avoid that!

The accountancy sounded experienced to me and told me they have a fair few clients in my situation they are also happy to work entirely online so submitting paperwork whilst away from home should be straightforward enough. Call me old fashioned tho I can see situations where it would be nice to go and speak to someone face to face rather than using a purely online service.

Thanks for all your help!

Well I have been with a contractor specialist and haven't seen a need to see him face to face in 7 years, the guys around me on my bank of desks are exactly the same. Most contractor accountants are not purely online. Most of the specialist are available by phone and will respond to mails in a day or so. They are also specialists in contractor accounting and know a hell of a lot about they way we work and IR35. The fact he is charging a different rate for IR35 would put me right off.

There is a thread with recommendations and comments from people stickied at the top of the thread. If you are starting out I would personally strongly suggest you go for a specialist. SJD have offices all over the place so if you are in or near a large city it is likely they will have someone not so far off.

I've done local small outfits and been burned badly but have now had 7 years with a specialist without a hitch.

**DirtyDog** · 14 November 2013, 11:45

Sometimes having a local accountant makes it easier to go and smack them round the head when they make really, really basic mistakes.

Not that my local accountant ever did that. Unlike my online one.

**John77** · 14 November 2013, 19:26

Food for thought thanks for that ill have a good look through the sticky!

**Sockpuppet** · 14 November 2013, 23:34

Ask what it includes. Does it include payroll etc.

Accounting flat rates