Key questions you should ask an accountant before you sign-up
Invoicing software provider FreshBooks recently published an article on eleven questions you should ask an accountant before you register with them. The answers to these questions should help you evaluate if an accountant is the right fit for you, and your business.
So, to save you time, and help you decide if we could be a good match, we thought we would answer them for you.
1. What qualifications and experience do you have?
Our Chartered Accountancy team is made up of three senior accountants and four junior members. Senior accountants are qualified members of ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants). Junior members of the team are also working towards being qualified, and are all enrolled in ACCA and/or AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) programmes.
As a business we are specialists in supporting SMEs and sole traders. Due to the added complexities and size of our team, we do not provide services for larger organisations. We prefer instead to work closely with smaller organisations to help them grow and overcome challenges.
Currently we support over 500 entrepreneurs across Oxfordshire, the winder UK, and overseas. Having worked with business owners and sole traders in almost every sector, from hairdressing to skatepark building, we confident we can support you.
Specialist industry knowledge includes:
- Property
- Business Services – HR, Marketing, Consultancy, Legal, etc…
- Construction
- Trade – Electricians, Plumbers, Painter & Decorators
- Automotive
- Energy
- Heath & Wellbeing
- Retail
- SAAS (software as a service)
We are always taking on new clients and growing our knowledge base. So, if your sector is not listed here, please ask.
2. How long have you been in business?
Modus Accountants was founded by Mark Spolander in March 2018. With a background in running multiple businesses – including, property development, printer cartridge retail, and business coaching and mentoring – Mark found it difficult to find an accountant that stayed connected with him throughout the year, not just when the accounts were due.
Setting up Modus Accountants, Mark wanted to create a proactive, Oxfordshire accountancy service, designed by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs – A service that ensured compliance with UK regulations, but also provided additional business advice and support. Helping business owners easily access extra guidance when they need it.
3. Do you have any references from small businesses?
Of course, we do. You can check out our Google reviews here, or you can head on over to our case study directory where you can view video testimonials and written client case studies.
4. What information do you need from me?
This really depends on your business. What we like to do before anyone joins us is have a call or meet with them to get to know them and their business.
We want to work with business owners who value the extra support we provide, so this process helps us gauge if they are the right fit. We don’t just work with anyone, so as we are going to be working closely with each other, we want to make sure we get along and that your way of working compliments ours.
5. How can you help me with tax?
Yes, we can. Tax is always an important topic for business owners and sole traders. We want to make sure you are paying the right amount of tax and use our experience to limit your tax exposure. In addition to this we also make you aware of any new tax saving opportunities that apply to your business. You can find out more about or tax and VAT services here.
6. How Should We Keep in Touch?
We stay connected with clients in three separate ways, phone, email, and WhatsApp. It is personal preference which one you prefer, but our team are happy with either of these options.
Once you have been onboarded with us, you will be given a dedicated account manager who will be your main contact here at Modus. By allocating you a member of our team, you will always have someone who understands your business, the support we are providing you, and if you are facing any challenges.
If this person is away, and you require support during this time, your account will be allocated to another member of our team. As part of this temporary handover, key notes are provided to ensure there is no disruption to your service.
Want to enquire about our services? Fill in our contact form, email the team at hello@modus-accountants.co.uk, or call us on 01993 225 030 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
7. Can I achieve my goals?
Yes, you can. Whether you are looking to grow your business into a global leader, or establish a strong local business, we are here to support you.
8. Am I doing anything wrong?
If you are doing something wrong, we will tell you. We take the stress out of compliance services and do all the heavy lifting. To make things easy we provide you with guides on what information to send us, and reminders of deadlines to ensure you avoid any late fees or fines.
If you are unsure of anything our lines are open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and you are free to ask any questions. We do not charge extra for the odd call here and there and include all our costs when you sign-up.
9. How will you help me prepare for tax season?
Tax season is bit of an odd term. As mentioned above, we can help with both tax and VAT returns, providing advice to help limit your exposure, and keep you compliant. Should any financial benefit be gained from new government schemes or initiatives, we will be sure to make you aware.
IMPORTANT – At Modus Accountants tax advice is only provided to clients once we have access to your business accountants. We do not provide tax advice to non-clients.
10. Can you offer me advice on this deduction?
By all means. As mentioned above we do not provide tax advice to non-clients, but if there is something specific you require support on our team are kept up to date with the latest industry practices and regulations to ensure you are fully supported.
Working with over 500 clients its likely that any deductions have previously been discussed with other clients. Therefore, we will be able to draw on our experience to ensure you benefit from any potential savings.
11. Am I using the right business structure?
Advising business owners on their structure is something we do on a weekly basis. Working with hundreds of business owners, we can confidently advise you on any changes you are looking to make, and how they could impact the business and accountancy requirements.
If you have any questions about your business structure and want advice on how to move forward, you are free to talk with your account manager. Or as a little something extra, once a month clients have the opportunity to book in a free 1hr support session.