Choosing solicitors\accountants

Gambler

Hey all,

Just wondering, my main company is part of a larger group and so I have always used their solicitor\accountant but I am starting a second venture that is more in the retail sector and as part of that I want to find a new solicitor and accountant just for dealing with this business.

My main question really is how do you go about choosing your new solicitor or accountant. I've been looking primarily for someone close to the proposed retail outlet location but nearly none of the accountants and most of the solicitors don't really have much in the way of a website or information online to go on for research so I am planning to meet a few of them over the next couple of weeks but aside from getting a general idea of what they are like I am wondering what sort of things I should ask them specifically?

Thanks for any advice you can give!

ssbob

Gambler wrote: »

Hey all,

Just wondering, my main company is part of a larger group and so I have always used their solicitor\accountant but I am starting a second venture that is more in the retail sector and as part of that I want to find a new solicitor and accountant just for dealing with this business.

My main question really is how do you go about choosing your new solicitor or accountant. I've been looking primarily for someone close to the proposed retail outlet location but nearly none of the accountants and most of the solicitors don't really have much in the way of a website or information online to go on for research so I am planning to meet a few of them over the next couple of weeks but aside from getting a general idea of what they are like I am wondering what sort of things I should ask them specifically?

Thanks for any advice you can give!

Hi Gambler,

I am an accountant myself so not sure about the solicitor side of things.

On getting an accountant, you can go to the accounting institutes who will provide you with a list of accountants in your area, the main accounting bodies CPA, ACA and ACCA all have very decent websites.

When you meet with an accountant, the first meeting will be informal and you will discuss your business, plans for the future and what you expect from your accountant, what you need to do is determine pricing for what the accountant is going to do for you, this will all go into a letter of engagement so that there are no arguments at year end.

If it is a small company whereby you won't need an audit I would advise going with a small firm as they will be more SME orientated.

Hope this helps

Bob.

kennyb3

+1 to a lot of what is said above. Im also an accountant in a firm based in D9. I would also say to get a referral if possible (and possibly more than one) and look for one that has been in business a while (avoiding the cheap pop up shops that are the trend at present). Good business (in any form) will always be given good word of mouth.

Ring 2/3 in your area and compare quotes, maybe meet a couple and see what feels right.

Best of luck with it.

Brian

Kinetic^

Ask someone for a referral for their accountant.

dbran

Hi

There are many new accountancy firms who give an excellent service, are hungry for the business that other more established firms cant or don't wish to service. Don't discount them just because they are giving you a good deal.This is so especially if you are looking for just tax compliance work and not necessarily high end tax planning.We aren't all pop up shops u know.;).

Joking aside, most importantly you should make sure that you are going to a qualified accountant. There are many out there who say they are "qualified by experience" and unfortunately I tend to spend a lot of my time fixing the mess that they leave behind.

Best of luck with your new business and your search for an accountant.

Kind Regards

dbran

kennyb3

@dbran - sorry if i caused any offence, i ve no problem whatsoever with new firms popping up and people going out on their own so long as they are honest and hard working (which im sure you are:))

I was simply referring to the whole 'get your accounts and tax done for €299 plus vat' merchants. How they can make statements like that with knowing any facts i ll never know - What if the turnover is a couple of million with messy records and significant adjustments required?

Anyway i think you know where im coming from, but just wanted to be clear im not taking a pop at anyone.

dbran

Hi Kenny

No offense taken at all. We are both on the same page here.

Kind Regards

dbran

Kinetic^

Cowboys ted, they're all cowboys!

J.Ryan

As an accountant, I would agree with earlier posts, ask your friends for recommendations.