Accountants

[EinsteinTax]

We have clients all over the country. In my experience having good cloud based accounting software (like FreeAgent) is more important than being physically co-located.

[boxingbantz]

Had the same accountant at Nixon Williams for five years and have no idea, or care, what he looks like.

[Jessica@WhiteFieldTax]

One (very large) contractor accountant offers face to face meetings in every major city in the UK. It's really a marketing ploy and I - in this thread in fact - have used it on occasion. The truth is, it's something that is perceived as a good thing, but is very rarely used. There does still seem to be a preference for local, but this is diminishing and will diminish further as cloud technologies develop.

To the OP, even though I'm cutting my nose off to spite my face, I wouldn't place too much importance on the f2f aspect.

This.

I think given the right software (FreeAgent, Skype etc) location seems less of an influence when deciding on an accountant.

Yep, once the "fear factor" is gone, geography isn't really an issue.

[Michael at BI Accountancy]

this is diminishing and will diminish further as cloud technologies develop.

This.

I think given the right software (FreeAgent, Skype etc) location seems less of an influence when deciding on an accountant.

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

One (very large) contractor accountant offers face to face meetings in every major city in the UK. It's really a marketing ploy and I - in this thread in fact - have used it on occasion. The truth is, it's something that is perceived as a good thing, but is very rarely used. There does still seem to be a preference for local, but this is diminishing and will diminish further as cloud technologies develop.

To the OP, even though I'm cutting my nose off to spite my face, I wouldn't place too much importance on the f2f aspect.

[Maslins]

We've an office in Glasgow but the other posters are right: you don't need a f2f. Although it is sometimes comforting to know it's there as an option.

Amazing how many of our London based clients like the fact that they could visit us with about an hour's train journey if they wanted/needed to. Inevitably the vast majority never do, but like Alan says it's a comfort.

If you're in Glasgow I'm sure there's loads of FreeAgent friendly accountants up there (given the software firm is based in Edinburgh). We ourselves are based down in Sunny Tunbridge Wells...so if face to face is important to you, we're probably not going to be your first choice.

[Darren at Fox-Bartfield]

Glasgow

As the guys above suggest, not as much need for face to face these days but naturally that's down to the individual. Most of the guys on here (including ourselves) have clients throughout the UK with no real issues.

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

We've an office in Glasgow but the other posters are right: you don't need a f2f. Although it is sometimes comforting to know it's there as an option.

[eek]

What do you need to see an accountant face to face about?

Nowadays its far more self service than it was, and I can't imagine anything a face to face meeting would give you that couldn't be done as well (if not better) over the phone or via email.

[Fred Bloggs]

Does anybody know or can recommend any good accountants for contractors round about the Glasgow area or any good accountants that deal with everything online and over the phone ?

IMO, you select the best accountant for your business irrespective of where their office happens to be. I've had accountants in Blackpool and Coventry and never once had any concern about where their office happens to be.

[Robbie80]

Does anybody know or can recommend any good accountants for contractors round about the Glasgow area or any good accountants that deal with everything online and over the phone ?