(This series of blog posts will detail my activities in starting and running Hodgetastic Ltd.)
So over the next week my task is to find an accountant, as soon as I started hodgetastic I was sent about 20 leaflets and letters through the post from various companies offering me everything from accountancy to domains and websites (not one offered me SEO though).
The problem is I have no idea what makes a good accountant? where do you go to choose an accountant and what does an accountant usually charge? what do I provide to an accountant to make sure everything is ship shape?
All these are questions I hope to answer over the next week.
The company Hodgetastic a strange one, most of the payments at the moment are through paypal or bank transfer (mostly affiliate payments or event tickets), do I need to find an accountant that has experience with this, I know a lot of people recommend Free Agent Central, is that a good option? (if you want to sign up via that link, we get 10% off)
I’ll be calling around this week other small companies I know and some of the british affiliates to ask what there solutions is as well as business link and other government advisers.
If you’ve got the same questions as me, comment on the post and hopefully we can find this out together, if you already know the answers, comment on the post and hopefully you can help some one.. if you are neither of those, comment anyway 
Related posts:
- Starting a Company : Bank Accounts and Accountants So we return to the series on my running Hodgetastic...
- Starting A Business – Know your flaws This is part of my series on starting a company,...
- Starting A Business Continued So one of the suggestions for me to blog about...
- Diary of a Freelancer – Day One It was a strange day yesterday when through some unusual...
Lee Bandoni (2)
Mark Walters (2)
Andrew Burnett (1)
Barry Carlyon (1)
Becky (1)
Carla (1)
channel5 (1)
Dean Cruddace (1)
Frog (1)
James (1)
I’d recommend Sagars in Leeds (http://www.sagars.co.uk/) – have a chat with Fergus Beadle who’ll help you figure out what’s appropriate.
They did my tax return this year and also handle anotherself-employed Ensembli director’s accounts.
I’d recommend you contact a good few possibilities and then visit and talk to them all. You’ll be starting a working relationship for hopefully years to come, so time spent now means less cash outlay in future, as your accountant will understand and guide you through all the future developments of your company. If you choose someone who’s interested in your ideas and aspirations they’ll help make them happen.
Our accountant, when I was part of a Design Consultancy, helped us set up our Ltd Company and was specifically informed on the needs & liabilities of the design profession and so advised on more than just the tax side of things.
Happy hunting, and keep ALL your receipts (paper & digital) it’s amazing how the pennies add up for what you can claim tax relief on!
I use someone I know through networking, and it costs me £450 a year. I looked at other companies and they wanted another £200. Having said that, my accounts are pretty easy as there’s not much going out of the business. I’m also very well organised so I’m able to present all my paperwork in a single file and in date order. Don’t leave it until the last minute; as soon as something needs dealing with, do it, or at least once a week.
sagars is an of client of mine from way back theyre pretty cool, tho a little expensive.
a word of warning, i know a lot of accountants and they all seem to be dropping staff like files… my advice is try riley and co in halifax, theyre really good.