NIXON WILLIAMS, SJD, Accounting4freedom

[Robwg]

I am with SJD - can't really complain about the services at all. Very helpfull.

[itcontractor07]

Hi Simon,

I am sure you are aware about your reputation, that it is good and attracting a lot of new contractors. Although sometimes many of us are stuck in deciding between few companies like Nixon WIlliams and SJD. During this comparison, one of the prime things is cost. One the cost that is going to be incurred monthly and another to setup the company. I am not sure why you charge £125+VAT for company formation whereas rest of the people give it for free, this is one of the biggest point I would say if you can think would be of great help for us and you as well. Although rest of the people say it is free, they are going to charge for it if we leave them before 12 months (Although not 125£+VAT).

Just as a suggestion if you can think of reducing the company formation fees or preferably completely waving off with a cluase saying if we leave you before 12 months you could do the same as the rest of the guys in the market are doing.

This is just my opinion as I have personally gone through the comparison

CHeers

[simondolan]

Hi,

Thanks for the input.

I am aware that we are not the cheapest around (nor indeed the most expensive by a long way - the two other major players charge twice as much as us).

We charge seperately for the Company because we take many clients over from existing accountants, and clients who have set their own Company up. Obviously neither of these need a New Company.

As you know nothing is for free and the firms that offer a "free" company have to absorb the cost, so that leads to an increase in monthly fees across the board. You then get a situation where the monthly fee is higher for every client, regardless of whether they needed a Company or not.

I'm not making them wrong for doing so, its just that we have different views about price structuring.

Sure - Nixon Williams, Quay and a few others charge less than us, but then I'd say that we have far more qualified staff, a broader range of qualifications, a nationwide network of offices which enable our clients to see their accountant at a location to suit, a recognised authority on IR35, have been recommended by the Sunday Times, have won the Accountancy Age awards for Excellence and are one of the Sunday Times top 100 Best Companies......

Hi Simon,

I am sure you are aware about your reputation, that it is good and attracting a lot of new contractors. Although sometimes many of us are stuck in deciding between few companies like Nixon WIlliams and SJD. During this comparison, one of the prime things is cost. One the cost that is going to be incurred monthly and another to setup the company. I am not sure why you charge £125+VAT for company formation whereas rest of the people give it for free, this is one of the biggest point I would say if you can think would be of great help for us and you as well. Although rest of the people say it is free, they are going to charge for it if we leave them before 12 months (Although not 125£+VAT).

Just as a suggestion if you can think of reducing the company formation fees or preferably completely waving off with a cluase saying if we leave you before 12 months you could do the same as the rest of the guys in the market are doing.

This is just my opinion as I have personally gone through the comparison

CHeers

[Jammy Dodger]

Hi Everyone are you using the above accountants if yes can you please give me an honest opinion on their services they have provided you with as I am thinking of using them as my accountants but have heard both positive and negative things about each.

Accounting4freedom have said they will match the cost of Nixon williams too.

So would appreciate if anyone using these accountants can give me honest feedback on them.

Thanks

I had the same dilemma about a month ago, as after being with the likes of Brookson and Filetravel for the last 4 years and Gordons imminent swinging axe, I decided to set-up my own Ltd.

In summary, I made my choice of Nixon Williams based on reading various thread discussions on this excellent forum (for which I noticed that Alan of NW was always posting, and I liked the transparency and regular help that was given on the forum postings).

I looked at all the rates, for which NW were competitive (but what I didn't want was the cheapest with no service. I'm the type of person that would rather pay a little bit more if there is a much better service to be had).

NW were very efficient in helping me set-up, and were prepared to answer all the stupid questions that I had ...and still have !...(but hey, I gotta start somewhere in learning the ropes).

I was quite pleased with the way it was all dealt with, and would recommend NW (in fact, I have already recommended them to 3 or 4 fellow contractors also looking to make the jump to a Ltd).

My plan is to see how it goes with NW over the next 6 months.

so far, no complaints....and Alan and Shirley are both very helpful.

the only thing that was a pain in the backside (not related to NW) was sorting out the PL insurance. Randell & Dorling via PCG were useless...and I went round in circles losing lots of time getting cr4p expensive quotes. In the end I went for Caunce Ohara, but if NW had have offered to sort this out for a minimum fee as part of the package I would have opted for that.

and no...i'm not on commission or get a discount.....I learnt a lot from this brilliant forum before I made all my choices.....so just trying to add my two penneth now as it might help someone else.


Mike F

[AZZIK]

Trafalgar Risk management procides good PI and PE insurance plus give some legal aid so may be worth looking at
https://www.trafalgar.uk.com/asp/for...i&formProc=new

[itcontractor07]

Hi Simon,

I really appreciate your time in responding to this message. Also I definitely appreciate what you said about the qualifications & your network etc. Seeing the current situation in the market, if I were you I would pick as many customers as possible as this is the right time, and I am sure you will maintain the service standards by expanding to meet the growing requirement. Currently there being a tug between few players and one of the factor being price although other factors like quality of service, qualifications etc do matter. But dont you think people like NW (reading from this forum) will pick up if they maintain the quality and I wouldn't surprised if they are also one of the contendors for the awards you have achieved in the coming future. I may be wrong,so pl correct me if you feel I am wrong.

Somehow my gut feeling is that if you reduce the company formation fee or completely waive off the fee, you will see atleast 25% & 50% increase in your customer base respectively...that's just my gut feel. In my case if there was no co. formation charge with you, I would have sorted this dilemma atleast 2 weeks before by joining you.

Thanks.

[Bluebird]

And would that review be up or down?

Hey, I'm in business which direction do tiy think I want my costs heading !

[AZZIK]

That is a good point made as one of the reasons I am hesitating joing SJD is the comapny formation costs are too high and monthly charges are slightly high compared to NW. Which ever accountant I take I am most likely going to stay with them for a year.

Ideally I would like good service and from what I hear from people both SJD and NW offer good service so with the only difference in costs most likely I will go for NW.

[Bluebird]

You can always form your own company - UKplc charge £25,

then go to SJD

or use Companies House - as the name would suggest THAT is what they are there to do - they don't just talk to Company Formation agencies and you can do it on-line.





http://websites.uk-plc.net/UK_PLC/epage12868.htm

[simondolan]

Sure - I think NW will be picking up a lot of new clients at the moment and good luck to them.

To my mind though, choosing an accountant should be based on much more than just price - if people simply want to choose the cheapest then we won't win the business that's for sure. To use an old analogy all cars will get you from A to B but they cost very different amounts.

Hi Simon,

I really appreciate your time in responding to this message. Also I definitely appreciate what you said about the qualifications & your network etc. Seeing the current situation in the market, if I were you I would pick as many customers as possible as this is the right time, and I am sure you will maintain the service standards by expanding to meet the growing requirement. Currently there being a tug between few players and one of the factor being price although other factors like quality of service, qualifications etc do matter. But dont you think people like NW (reading from this forum) will pick up if they maintain the quality and I wouldn't surprised if they are also one of the contendors for the awards you have achieved in the coming future. I may be wrong,so pl correct me if you feel I am wrong.

Somehow my gut feeling is that if you reduce the company formation fee or completely waive off the fee, you will see atleast 25% & 50% increase in your customer base respectively...that's just my gut feel. In my case if there was no co. formation charge with you, I would have sorted this dilemma atleast 2 weeks before by joining you.

Thanks.