Traditionally accountants, like solicitors, record time to calculate how much to bill their clients each year.

This means that every call, email, letter and piece of work is noted during the days, weeks and months and all jotted up to form the bill sent to the client.

This all seems OK so far but we hate this approach with a passion and here’s why:

1. It increases the amount the client pays because the client ends up paying for inefficiencies in the accountants business. Let’s say that an accountant hasn’t got the latest IT technology and chooses instead to type up the accounts, this is how they want to work but the client would pay more on a time based approach.

2. It discourages the client from talking to their Accountant for fear of extra invoices. Why would you pick up the phone and ask for advice if you knew you would be charged more. It would be the last place you would go, after friends, family and google when instead it we should be your first port of call.

3. It creates conflict between clients and accountants where there should be harmony. If you are sent an invoice you are not expecting or one that is higher than expected it is right that you should question it. You may even disagree with it and this is where conflict can arise.

4. Time is wasted just recording and collating time. Think about the mechanics of recording time, a timesheet is produced each day by every employee and these are collated into a weekly, monthly times sheet. That’s a lot of work just too record time.

5. There is the possibility of time being dumped on clients. How often do you look at the clock during the day and think blooming hell how did it get to be 3pm? If this happens where time is recorded then an individual has to justify what they have been doing during the day inevitably some people will just make it up and dump time on clients.

6. It puts unnecessary pressure on our employees. Whilst some people thrive under pressure many do not and if you have to justify every minute of every day then the pressure is enormous. Especially when you have to justify how long everything takes.

We have chosen another way.

We don’t record time and give you a fixed, paid monthly, fee inclusive of all work we do for you.

This help because you know what you will be paying, whether you call us once or ten times to resolve an issue. You are encouraged to call us and talk and you won’t get any extra bills. Because of this we find that we then become the first person you call with a business or an accountancy issue rather than the last.

In short it helps us foster a closer working relationship with you and we become more efficient in the way we work.

If you are tired of paying over inflated fees for your accountancy, or are a reluctant to call your accountant for fear of extra fees then give us a call we are happy to help.