Getting financial advice
You don’t need to be a financial expert to be in business. A good accountant will free you up to concentrate on your work, while giving you confidence that your numbers are working for you.
A proactive accountant will help you reduce your tax, maximise profits and achieve your goals. Successful business owners seek financial advice regularly — no matter what state their accounts are in.
Why seek expert help
A good accountant is key to the financial health and success of most businesses and self-employed people.
It’s their job to help make the numbers work for you by:
- making sure you’re compliant
- advising you on how to reduce your tax
- helping you maximise cash flow.
They will also objectively assess how your business is performing, where you’re falling short and how you can improve.
Lots of accountancy firms also offer business advisory and coaching services to help you with strategic planning.
The monthly fee for most accountancy services puts off some business owners, contractors and self-employed people — but the old adage “you get what you pay for” rings true. Investing in a good accountant will save you money in the long run, and set your business up for success.
Do ask for an estimate before making an appointment.
If you’re worried about the cost, many advisors offer a free initial consultation.
When to seek financial advice
While you should check in with your accountant on a regular basis, it’s particularly important to get financial advice when you are:
- starting out
- having trouble paying your bills
- looking to grow
- closing or selling your business
- getting ready to seek investment
- considering large bank loans
- filing your taxes, or dealing with tricky tax issues.
Case study
Fixing cash leaks
Richie runs a home maintenance and repair business. He has a good client base but sometimes finds it hard to cover costs – even in busy months.
Richie decides to consult with an accountant, who closely analyses his financial statements.
His accountant notices many of his customers aren’t paying him on time, and he’s using several high-interest credit cards for a lot of his expenses.
She helps him set up better invoicing methods, consolidates his debt, and moves him to a lower-interest credit card. She also works with him to put together guidelines on when, and when not to, use the credit card for work expenses. And she coaches him on how he can manage his money better in the future.
Choosing the right person
Different accountants have different styles and areas of expertise.
Some focus mostly on bookkeeping and tax time matters. Others offer a full range of business services.
If you are starting out, find an accountant who has experience dealing with people in your industry and stage of business, eg launching a start-up or becoming self-employed. You’ll get the most value from a diligent, proactive accountant who dissects your financial documents and spots potential problems before they arise.
For help with your day-to-day finances, a bookkeeper might be a good alternative.
They can keep you up to date with accounting, tax and payroll obligations.
The first meeting
When you meet your accountant for the first time, bring them up to speed on all the different parts of your work.
Examples of helpful documents include:
- past financial records
- a cash flow forecast
- projections
- a business plan.
If you’re new to business, contracting or working as a sole trader, an accountant who specialises in these areas can help you create these documents. They can also help you with other important first steps, including:
Be prepared to answer lots of questions and be challenged — a good accountant will unpick your documents and ideas to get a true reading on the financial health of your business.
Don’t be surprised if your accountant or lawyer asks to check your ID.
It’s to comply with anti-money laundering rules.
Use this free template to help you write a great plan for launching your new business.
A business plan helps you set goals for your business, and plan how you’re going to reach them. When you’re starting out it’s a good idea to do a full and thorough business plan.
Quick-focus business plan
Quick-focus planning to make sure you work on the right things for your growing business - every day.
It’s important to take time to reflect on your business strategies and plan. It doesn’t have to be a difficult or time-consuming task.
Common mistakes
- Only seeking help when your situation gets bad — seeing an expert early on might help prevent financial trouble in the first place.
- Not seeking advice from an accountant when you’re making big business decisions.
- Sticking with an accountant who is not the right fit for you — it’s important to find an accountant you trust and who has experience working with businesses like yours.
