Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions

Here are some of the questions we’re often asked by people looking to work with us.

Hopefully they’ll give you the answers you need to help you decide if we’re the right fit for you.

1.  How much do you charge?

We don’t send out a price list, and here’s why…

Each client is unique and has different needs depending upon the size of their business, how they are set up, the number of staff they have, the industry they are in etc.

So, we gather all of this information first and it forms the basis of our proposal to you, which outlines the services we recommend and what these will cost.  This way we can be sure that you’re operating with the accounting support you need, and we will never recommend a service if it’s not applicable or of benefit to you.

2.  I’m not local to Lincoln – does this matter?

It really doesn’t matter where you are in the UK, because we love tech; we can use Zoom for meetings, and as long as you are happy to use the systems we advocate, everything can be done online.

But if you are local to us, we’d love to catch up with you over a coffee if you are happy to.

3.  Do you work with any kind of business?

We work with sole traders and limited companies within the service industries, as that’s where our expertise and experience lie.

We do insist on doing all of the bank reconciliation and receipt processing as part of the bookkeeping, as this is so often the area which causes problems if it’s not done correctly.

4.  Do I have to change the accounting software I use?

You need to be prepared to change to Xero if you’re currently using a different software.

We are a Xero only practice and this is why…

  • we use it every day, so we know a thing or two about how it works
  • we believe in simplicity and using one software keeps it simple
  • it works for everything our clients need and more

Xero has so many benefits for you and your business.  The features it includes are designed to make your life easier when doing your bookkeeping.

5.  My accounts are in a mess…can you help and how long will it take to fix them?

If your accounts are in a mess, we can get you back on track.  There’s nothing that can’t be put right!

We do a health check on your accounts to get an idea of what needs to be done, then we put in place a plan to put them right, so you understand what’s going on with your numbers.

In our experience it is not a quick fix, and we go through a period of change with you from your old way of doing things to a new and better way.  It’s very much like a period of recovery…how long it lasts depends on how much change needs to be made.

6.  I’m halfway through my year – can you still take me on?

Absolutely we can take you on at any point in your tax year.

As far as our pricing is concerned, apart from your yearend tax returns, you will only pay for the services you have from the point you start with us.  Your tax returns are the same price for the year whenever you start with us, so there may be a catch-up fee to pay depending on what point in the year you join us.

We use GoCardless to collect our fees each month by direct debit, as this helps you to spread the cost and you don’t have to worry about a huge bill at the end of the year.

7.  Is it easy to move from my current accountant to you?

Yes, it’s really easy to move across to us.

We contact your current accountant and ask them to send us all the information we need so that we can take you on.

But we do always recommend that you speak to your accountant first to let them know you are leaving.

We try and get you onboard as quickly and seamlessly as possible.  Each client’s onboarding journey is slightly different, so it could take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks depending on how soon we receive all the info we need from both you and your current accountant.

If you have any other questions at all, please head on over to our contact form to get in touch with us.