An initial meeting is more useful when both sides are specific. These questions help reveal what a proposal really covers and how the relationship will work after you sign.
Experience and responsibility
Ask who will be responsible for your work, what experience they have with similar clients and which professional body—if any—the firm belongs to.
- Do you work with clients like me?
- Who will be my main contact?
- How can I verify your qualifications or registration?
- Do you outsource any part of the work?
Scope and fees
A fixed monthly figure is only useful when the inclusions are clear. Ask for the assumptions behind the quote and examples of work that would be billed separately.
- Exactly what is included in the quoted fee?
- What commonly creates an additional charge?
- Are software subscriptions included?
- When and how can the price change?
Deadlines and communication
Agree how records will be shared, when the firm needs information and what response times you can reasonably expect during busy periods.
- When will you need records from me?
- How do we exchange documents securely?
- What is your normal response time?
- What happens if I want to move to another accountant?