Switching
Changing accountants is less work than you think
Most business owners stay where they are for too long — not because they are happy, but because they dread the hassle. That hassle is smaller than it looks, and the bulk of it is ours to deal with.
The split
Who does what
Six things need to happen. Four of them are on us.
The tasks that stay with you take about half an hour in total.
Objections
The questions everyone asks
Do I have to give notice to my current accountant myself?
The notice has to come from you — no one can do that on your behalf — but we supply the letter and take over the contact from there. In practice, one email from you is enough to set things in motion.
Can I switch partway through the financial year?
Yes. There is no need to wait for 1 January. It does help to make the change just after a return has been filed, so no half-finished period is left hanging. We look at the best moment together.
What if my old accountant refuses to cooperate?
Your records are yours; they have to be handed over. A firm affiliated with the Royal Netherlands Institute of Chartered Accountants (NBA) is also bound by a professional duty to cooperate in the handover. If things do get sticky, we take over the conversation.
Do I have to change accounting software?
Usually not. If you work with a package you are happy with, we connect to it. Only when your current set-up makes the work structurally more expensive do we propose a change — and then we show you the figures behind that advice.
What does switching cost?
Taking over the file and checking the opening balance are included in your first year with us. What the regular work costs after that is set out in the proposal you receive up front.
How long does it take?
From your go-ahead to a fully working administration usually takes two to four weeks, depending on how quickly the file comes in.
Next steps
Look first, decide later
An introductory meeting commits you to nothing, and either way it gives you a second opinion on the current state of your accounts.