What can an accountant help with?
- Year-end accounts and business tax returns
- Personal tax returns for sole traders, freelancers and owners
- VAT or sales tax registration and returns
- Payroll and workplace pensions
- Management accounts and cash-flow forecasting
- Tax planning and business advice
When should you hire an accountant?
- You are setting up a company (LLC, corporation or limited company) or going self-employed
- Tax deadlines and paperwork (IRS, HMRC or your local tax office) are taking too much of your time
- Your business is growing and you need better financial visibility
- You want proactive tax planning, not just compliance
Questions to ask before you hire
When you compare quotes, these questions help you find the right fit:
- Are you a CPA (US) or a member of a recognised accountancy body such as ICAEW, ACCA or CIMA (UK)?
- Do you specialise in businesses of my size or sector?
- Which accounting software do you work with?
- Is your fee fixed monthly or charged per job?
What affects the cost?
Every business and project is different, so prices vary. The main factors are:
- Business structure (sole trader, partnership, LLC or limited company)
- Turnover and number of transactions
- Services needed (VAT, payroll, advisory)
- Quality of your existing records
The simplest way to understand the cost for your situation is to compare a few quotes side by side.
Last updated: 13 October 2026
