Nixon Williams accoutancy fees rise

[Bumfluff]

I must say that £1300/yr seems quite a lot for what I used to get.

Nixons including VAT is now comming it 12 * 114 = £1368 which is steap, considering there Blackpool based I can't see them justifying it on the basis of office and staff costs, which must be low compared to the rest of the country. Existing clients were paying £90 a month before so for a year thats £1080, so overall a £288 increase or approx 26% increase, Mr Nixon must be smiling

[BrandNewCUKUser]

Yes I was disappointed with this rise too. I'd moved from SJD primarily due to their price rise (and some service issues). I even sought assurances from NW that they weren't planning any rises in the near future. They said at the time they had no plans to in 2011 or 2012 and it was highly unlikely to change - although they wouldn't guarantee it (should've known that was a warning sign!).

The difference between the 'high end' and more expensive outfits and the cheaper ones is not insignificant when you add it up over the year. I worry about changing again though - will this attract unnecessary attention from HMRC?

[psychocandy]

The increase in fees is too much for a least 3 contractors I know using Nixons so they are planning to move, it's alot more than I'm paying and I get good service. There are a number of smaller accountants specialising in contractors out there that are £60 plus vat a month.

Considering the current climate as well and descreasing rates for alot of contractors such a price rise for Nixons might not bring in the extra revenue expected when clients leaving is factored in.

I notice alot of the big contractor accoutancts charge around the same and alot more than the smaller ones, surely the larger ones should have some level of economy of scale so don't understand why there fees are so much higher.

If NW were average I'd also consider switching. However, I find their service EXCELLENT.

As someone who was with a cheaper, local accountant (PCG accredited though) its not worth paying less and getting crap service.

[Bumfluff]

If NW were average I'd also consider switching. However, I find their service EXCELLENT.

As someone who was with a cheaper, local accountant (PCG accredited though) its not worth paying less and getting crap service.

Appreciate in some instances paying less might get you a rubbish accountant but thats not always the case and just because you spend more doesn't mean your guaranteed better service. I've used both lower cost and one of the big high cost accountants and to be honest the service of the lower cost was better and was nearly £650 a year cheaper, but may be I was lucky.

[Nixon Williams]

Perhaps it is time I added my input onto this thread.

Our fee has increased to £95 + VAT which I believe is still very competitive within the market, we last increased our fee in July 2009, taking the simple inflation rate from this date would have brought the fee to £86+VAT.

Over the past couple of years we have invested heavily in our staff plus we have fewer clients per member of staff than many of our competitors who often rely on their clients to do all the work via a spreadsheet.

Part of our service is that we do check and advise our clients to help them keep out of trouble with HMRC etc, indeed we support our clients if they have an enquiry at no extra charge, we make no charge for setting up with us, or if you wish to leave us, neither do we force clients into minimum 12 month contracts.

Although we are based in Blackpool, salary levels are not greatly different to the south of England and we always pride ourselves that we pay above average salaries to ensure we attract the best people and more importantly, that we retain them to ensure a quality service.

So, to sum up, the reasons for the fee increase are, inflation and a higher level of service.

One of the unfortunate facts is that anyone can buy a website and set themselves up as ‘accountants’, there is no legal restriction but I would question how a quality service can be provided for £60 per month.

We are never going to attract clients who simply want a low cost service, which is not we aim for, we always prefer to be known as the best rather than the cheapest.

Perhaps, to our detriment, we choose to review our fees every few years and so when an increase becomes necessary the percentage increase looks large, perhaps we should follow the example of the likes of SJD and In Touch and increase the fee annually.

Alan

[Alf W]

Alan

Personally, I think NW have fallen into the same trap as SJD did last year which is to believe their own hype that their 'higher levels of service' warrant high end fees. At least SJD offered a local 'pop in and see us in our swanky offices with plush furniture' service which I didn't want or want to pay for.

For me, I want no more than a functional, commoditised, efficient accountancy service. These days that should mean a web based interface and an ability to perform 'what if' scenario analysis. 26% increase (even in three years) for no improvement on service or functionality isn't really acceptable.

I was prepared to change accountants last year to ensure we got value for money and I'm prepared to do it again. I remember getting the rate rise email but I mis-read it as the fees going from £90 to £95 which I thought was fair enough.

If any of the other accountancy firms who read this board want to PM me with their propositions then I'm all ears.

[EternalOptimist]

Alan

Personally, I think NW have fallen into the same trap as SJD did last year which is to believe their own hype that their 'higher levels of service' warrant high end fees. At least SJD offered a local 'pop in and see us in our swanky offices with plush furniture' service which I didn't want or want to pay for.

For me, I want no more than a functional, commoditised, efficient accountancy service. These days that should mean a web based interface and an ability to perform 'what if' scenario analysis. 26% increase (even in three years) for no improvement on service or functionality isn't really acceptable.

I was prepared to change accountants last year to ensure we got value for money and I'm prepared to do it again. I remember getting the rate rise email but I mis-read it as the fees going from £90 to £95 which I thought was fair enough.

If any of the other accountancy firms who read this board want to PM me with their propositions then I'm all ears.

Personally, I think NW can run any business model they fckng want to. If you dont like it, dont subscribe. And if you want swanky 'what if' scenarios, find someone who provides them, or do what I do, DIY.
What amazes me is the amount of sh!te spouted about saving a couple of hundred quid a year.

most of us waste that posting here in a single day. I am not an NW customer btw

[Alf W]

Personally, I think NW can run any business model they fckng want to. If you dont like it, dont subscribe. And if you want swanky 'what if' scenarios, find someone who provides them, or do what I do, DIY.
What amazes me is the amount of sh!te spouted about saving a couple of hundred quid a year.

most of us waste that posting here in a single day. I am not an NW customer btw

Too true, they can and if I don't like it I will walk (as I've done before). Doesn't stop me providing a bit of feedback. Like I said, last time this happened I saved myself about £350 for a couple of hours work which is well worth it for me.

All businesses should challenge their suppliers on cost and value for money. Accountancy is a commoditised service and should be competitive.

[gingerjedi]

If they lose 26% of their clients they are still quids in with the reduced workload, they must have factored that in.

How about I keep the perfectly adequate level of service I had before and you keep the rates the same (as I've had to for the past 2 years).

What do you say Alan?

[northernladuk]

If NW were average I'd also consider switching. However, I find their service EXCELLENT.

As someone who was with a cheaper, local accountant (PCG accredited though) its not worth paying less and getting crap service.

To be fair you have been with them what, 8 months or less?