Frequently Asked Questions
Not all accountants are the same and for many businesses finding an accountant can be tricky. While choosing an accountant in Cardiff can be a difficult process, especially if you are a new business startup, it’s much simpler if you approach it systematically and ask the right questions. As a guide below are a few of the more common questions we get asked by prospective clients considering using our services…
Q: How easy is it to change accountants and why should I change?
A: If your existing accountant is offering you an excellent pro-active service at a fair fee then stick with them. However, different accountants will save you different amounts of tax and provide different levels of business advice. If your present accountant doesn’t offer the type of service you want and that we do offer, then changing over to us is very easy. It involves just one letter from you and we take care of everything else for you. Your existing accountant is not usually allowed to charge you for providing the normal handover information.
Q: You seem to offer a lot. Are your fees expensive?
A: No! We offer fixed fees linked to the value of what we provide. We’re not always the cheapest and as with many things in life the cheapest is often the most expensive in the long run. However, we are not expensive and we offer excellent value for what we provide. Most importantly we never undertake work without agreeing the fee arrangements in advance so you always know where you stand. We look to build long-lasting working partnerships and relationships with our clients.
Q: I’ve just had my accounts done and don’t need an accountant until next year, so is there any need to contact you now?
A: We can’t over emphasise the importance of tax planning at an early stage, not crisis driven advice. Ideally you do tax planning before the year even starts but after that, the earlier the better. The same is applicable to all areas of advice and we are about helping you change the future, not just reporting what has already happened. It is never too early to seek advice.
Q: Will you come to visit us for an initial consultation?
A: Yes. It often helps to see your business, books and records, etc at first hand and we are always happy to invest our time without charge to show you what we can do. Of course, if you prefer to visit us, that’s fine too. We aim to make using us an your accountant as easy as possible, so we are always flexible.
Q: When and how soon can you come to see us?
A: When’s good for you? Let us know and we’ll do our utmost to help. If you need to see somebody urgently, we’re always out and about and can arrange to see you very quickly.
Q: Is your fixed quote guaranteed for more than one year?
A: We’re not in the business of providing low quotes just to get your business for the first year and then raising the fees. We want you as a long term client who trusts us to do what we say we will do. We quote what we anticipate to be a fair fee for the value provided and would only anticipate normal inflationary increases if the work stays the same. Very occasionally there may be reasons why the amount of work involved exceeded what was expected but we would sit down and discuss these with you. In some cases, where it is clear exactly what work is involved we can guarantee the fee for more than one year.
Q: You seem to be offering so much that I’m just not used to from my present accountant. How do I know you will deliver?
A: All we can say is that as accountants, you’d expect us to be a bit analytical, which is true. As such do you really think we would offer you something we couldn’t deliver that is backed up by our 100% risk free guarantee. Our clients are used to this level of service. You are also more than welcome to speak with some of our existing clients who have the experience of our service. See what our clients say.
Q: You are based in Cardiff, do you offer accountancy services further afield?
A: Yes! Although we are based in Cardiff, and provide accountancy services to many local businesses, with our head office at St. Mellons we are conveniently located near the M4 and can easily work with clients Newport, Swansea and throughout South Wales.
Q: You have been established for 30-years, are you up-to-date with modern practices, such as ‘Making Tax Digital’?
A: Established in 1990, we have been serving the local business community for a very long time. In fact, the combined experience of our partners is in excess of 135 years. Does this mean we are ‘stuck in our ways’? The answer is an emphatic “NO!”. Making Tax Digital (MTD) is a good example. Ever since the new rules were first announced in 2015, the team at Hayvenhursts have been familiarising themselves with the rules and how to comply with them. We consider ourselves experts in terms of making tax digital. We even own bridging software which allows us to submit VAT returns to HMRC via many different sources. This bridging software allows reports to be directly imported from software such as Xero and Sage, as well as the direct import of spreadsheets.
Q: Aren’t all accountants the same?
A: While many accountancy practices may have a similar approach and could be deemed “all the same”, we are definitely not. Although as accountants, numbers will always be important, equally as important is the relationship with our clients, working together to achieve the businesses goals and delivering fantastic customer service.
Next Step:
Please contact us if you need further advice, have any questions about our services, or would like a free consultation.