How Do I Know If My Bedford Accountant Is Charging a Fair Price?

If you are reading this it probably means you are questioning whether you are getting good value from your accountant. I hear this all the time. Someone tells me they pay £80 a month, £150 a month or even £400 a month but they still do not know if the price is fair. The truth is that price alone tells you nothing. What matters is what you are actually getting for that price.

I have seen clients overpay by hundreds every year and I have also seen people underpay and then wonder why their accountant disappears when they need help. I want to break this down in a way that makes sense so you can judge your accountant honestly.

1. What should be included in a fair monthly fee?

A fair price covers the essential services that every limited company or self employed person needs. At the very least your fee should normally include:

• Annual accounts
• Corporation tax return (if limited)
• Self Assessment for the director
• Payroll for one director
• Basic bookkeeping support or checks
• Advice throughout the year
• Reminders for all deadlines
• Your Confirmation Statement
• Regular communication

If your accountant charges extra for every tiny thing then the monthly fee is meaningless. I have seen so many clients bring me piles of random charges from their previous accountant. In my opinion this shows the accountant did not plan properly from the start or they are trying to maximise revenue at your expense.

A fair fee is simple and transparent.

2. The price must match the level of support

In my experience the biggest complaint Bedford business owners have is that their accountant never replies. They pay their monthly fee yet emails go unanswered for days. Calls are ignored. Advice is poor. Questions are not welcomed.

If you are paying a monthly fee you should expect:

• Same day acknowledgement
• Clear answers
• Real advice
• Someone who knows your business
• Help before a problem becomes serious

If you are not getting this then the fee is not fair no matter how cheap or expensive it is.

3. Does your accountant actually save you tax?

A fair fee is one where the accountant saves you more than they cost. I have seen so many clients paying low fees but losing thousands because nobody ever:

• Explained salary and dividend planning
• Checked the Director’s Loan Account
• Reviewed their structure
• Looked at pensions strategically
• Fixed VAT issues
• Used allowances
• Planned year end properly

A good accountant pays for themselves. A bad accountant costs you money even when their fee looks cheap.

4. Are you being charged for basic advice?

This is one of my biggest frustrations. I have seen clients charged £50 to answer an email. £100 to explain dividends. £75 for a phone call. In my opinion this is completely unfair.

If you pay a monthly fee you should not be charged for asking simple questions. Advice is part of the job. You are paying for support not just form-filing.

If your accountant charges for every question they are not a partner. They are a transaction.

5. Does your accountant prevent problems or just react to them?

A fair price includes proactive support. When we work with clients we:

• Tell them when an issue is coming
• Plan dividends in advance
• Explain VAT deadlines
• Keep the bookkeeping clean
• Review their numbers mid-year
• Make suggestions without being asked

A reactive accountant will let problems develop then charge you to fix them. A proactive accountant stops problems from happening at all.

That difference is worth far more than the monthly fee.

6. Compare price vs workload vs responsibility

Here is something many people forget. The accountant carries the responsibility. You carry the legal liability. A fair fee reflects:

• The amount of work your business creates
• How many submissions you have
• Whether you are VAT registered
• Whether you employ staff
• Whether you run multiple businesses
• Whether your records are clean or messy

A one-man self employed carpenter should not pay the same as someone with three limited companies and VAT. But the fee should still be clear, honest and justified.

7. Watch out for “cheap” accountants in Bedford

I have seen countless new clients come to me after using extremely cheap accountants who:

• Filed returns incorrectly
• Missed deadlines
• Ignored emails
• Never advised on tax
• Left the books in a mess

The client then has to pay me to fix everything which means the “cheap” accountant was actually very expensive.

Cheap rarely means good value. It usually means corner-cutting.

8. Watch out for accountants who overcharge without justification

On the other hand some accountants charge premium fees but give basic service. That is equally unfair.

If you are paying more than average then you should get:

• High-level tax planning
• Regular reviews
• Personalised advice
• Rapid communication
• A clearly managed service

If you are paying premium rates but getting a budget service you are being overcharged.

9. In my opinion the fairest price is…

A fair price is the price where:

• You feel supported
• You feel understood
• You get proactive advice
• Your tax is minimised legally
• Your deadlines are handled
• You do not feel anxious contacting your accountant
• The service saves you money and time
• You feel like you have a financial partner, not a form-filler

This is the standard we hold ourselves to at Towerstone. Clients know we do not offer weekend or in person evening appointments but we do speak with clients in the early evening when needed. The key is communication, clarity and partnership.

The Bottom Line for Bedford Business Owners

You know your accountant is charging a fair price when the value you receive outweighs the fee you pay. It is not about being the cheapest or the most expensive. It is about whether your accountant protects you, supports you, communicates properly and actually helps you run your business.

If you constantly feel unsure, unsupported or confused then the price is not fair no matter what it is. The right accountant should make your life easier and your finances clearer. Anything less is not good enough.