Comparing Accountants

**malvolio** · 30 December 2016, 14:30

How do you match "free if out of contract for a while" with a rate higher than other similar companies? Nice line but...

And don't use accountants to do IR35 reviews, use specialists, preferably ones that look at the whole contract. Although for Public Sector work that's probably pointless now anyway.

If you think they do what they say on the tin, go for them. They won't bugger you up or land you with a big bill and you can change next year if something else doesn't work out.

That's the thing about contracting: you sometimes have to bite your own bullets...

**northernladuk** · 30 December 2016, 14:31

IR35 review in my opinion is an absolute must everytime. Cost vs fallout makes it a no brainer BUT personally I'd get it done be a specialist like QDOS B&C etc. You get a free one with some QDOS products as well.

Also in my opinion I'd be going Freeagent now I've used it. Can't see what anyone else's portal can do that would make it so much more attractive. I'd put a bespoke portal as a slight con not a pro.

Most accountants will give you breaks if not in contract so not sure that's a unique pro either.

Not really fussed about the CuK award as a differentiator personally.

One con could be they don't post on here regularly with solid advice like some do that offer most of what you said.

Lot of personal opinions in the above so guess it's down to how you feel. Am sure they are just as capable as many of the others and if you feel good about them then could be worth going with that feeling.

**ruasonid** · 30 December 2016, 15:28

What are the main benefits of FreeAgent/a FreeAgent accountant (except being able to switch to another FreeAgent accountant)?

**northernladuk** · 30 December 2016, 15:31

After changing accountants twice and neither being particularly smooth it's a big benefit to me. Plus continuation of a portal I know and trust.

FA seems to be emerging as a good choice as well so that's a plus.

**SlipTheJab** · 30 December 2016, 15:37

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

After changing accountants twice and neither being particularly smooth it's a big benefit to me. Plus continuation of a portal I know and trust.

FA seems to be emerging as a good choice as well so that's a plus.

@NLUK Do you pay for FreeAgent yourself or is it part of your Accountants package?

**malvolio** · 30 December 2016, 16:02

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

IR35 review in my opinion is an absolute must everytime. .

Normally I'd agree, but they won't be any use at all after April if you are working for one the PS organisations (i.e. anyone that has to respond to FoI requests) since under the new rules they will be ignored.

And as I said, get the contract reviewed, not the IR35 bits of it, most of which will be negated by the client/agency contact anyway. With the average contract worth several 10s of thousands, a couple of hundred up front is not a bad idea.

**northernladuk** · 30 December 2016, 16:16

Originally posted by SlipTheJab View Post

@NLUK Do you pay for FreeAgent yourself or is it part of your Accountants package?

Part of package.

**northernladuk** · 30 December 2016, 16:17

Originally posted by malvolio View Post

Normally I'd agree, but they won't be any use at all after April if you are working for one the PS organisations (i.e. anyone that has to respond to FoI requests) since under the new rules they will be ignored.

And as I said, get the contract reviewed, not the IR35 bits of it, most of which will be negated by the client/agency contact anyway. With the average contract worth several 10s of thousands, a couple of hundred up front is not a bad idea.

Good points. Agreed about the PS.

**quackhandle** · 30 December 2016, 17:34

FreeAgent is one of those times where I thought: "Why didn't I do this ages ago?"

But as ever with contracting, you live and learn.

qh

Comparing Accountants